The First Saw You Bought

[Loony661]

I see a few guys went down memory lane in Mastermind’s thread about the MS400. I got sucked into each story but didn’t want to continue the derail. So here’s my story:

I first ran a chainsaw when I was 14. Dad and Grandpa watched me close. It was a cheap Poulan of some kind that dad won in a raffle.. Dad and Grandpa had an 038 AV Super that they used for making firewood to heat both houses for years while I was growing up. Eventually they both gave up the wood stoves for pellet stoves.. I on the other hand got a job at a local machine shop (Fastenal) as an 18 yr old kid going to school, and I took the very first (“big”) paycheck I ever made and went to the Stihl dealer and bought an MS290 Farm Boss with a 16” bar. Spent my whole check! That saw served me well for quit a few years bucking firewood. I eventually got power hungry and bought an MS460 - I still own this saw! After that, I sold the 290 and never looked back. Have had quite a few saws since then. What’s your story?

 

[Duce]

Husqvarna 50 from an auction, then 262, 371 from Paul Ebel. Then things WTH, 257's,261,262's,272's,346's,357's,371,365sp too many 372's, 385's,390's,394,562's,550's,572's, it's just one big snowball.

 

[slackinoff]

Not the first saw I ever ran but the first one I ever bought was a farmertec kit saw, MS440. Second was a 1982 Husqvarna 61, third was another 61, a 1988. I'm up to 3.5 now and it's only been 3 months.

 

[andyshine77]

Don't laugh, McCulloch 610 Timber bear, I was 16 at the time. The thing actually cut well and never let me down.

 

[Sawdust Man]

I learned (when l was about 14) on a husky 2100cd w/ 60" bar, ripping old growth fir logs to fit 'em on the Woodmizer, then dad bought a new 3120xp which I wore out over the course of about 8 years.
After I got married, I bought "my" first saw, a 372xp, then a 353 then my own 3120, then a used 066, then......
Still have the 353 and the 372xp (which has been extremely ported)
Now I have way too many saws, (is that possible?)

 

[FederalQ]

Farm Boss MS290 as well. Ran that for years until I saw a CL ad for a pristine condition 031av. Went to look at it and the guy was the former local Dolmar/Husky dealer that had gone out of business. He also had a used Dolmar ps5105 for sale. I ran both of them and ended up buying the Dolmar. I had never run a pro grade saw before and haven’t looked back since. Sold the 290.

 

[David Young]

First saw I bought was a stihl 025. Then I found AS and started doing some tweaks to it. Muffler mod and carb swap mostly. It was a good saw. I traded it off after getting more saws. I have some project 025/250 out in my shed. Just to have one for nostalgia. I should build one up this winter.

 

[bryanr2]

Stihl 041 at a pawnshop for $250. Then a 10mm 044 at a pawnshop for $450 at 18. Loved that 44 as my only saw for a decade before learning about saw forums. Traded it for a basically new 2153. Took me on quite a journey for several years. Have had over 50 saws ported by mastermind. Gave up the hobby to focus on being a great dad to 2 girls. Now I only have a ported 288, a 440/46hybrid, 261cm Arctic, 395xp for runners. And a nos 288 and 262xp. I enjoyed all the saws, regret selling a couple (especially when the buyer/ friend ignored/ refused my attempts to buy back (at a profit) ). Oh well- ya live and you learn.

 

[tickbitintn]

455 rancher.... my brother who is "not easy on stuffs" said he had a husqvarna and had not had any problems with it.....
Well truth be told my now wife bought me a "wild thang" but I returned it and got the hoosky....
So all of this is actually HER FAULT!!!! LOL can't believe I'm just now realizing this....

 

[jakethesnake]

Man. I don’t remember what the first one I paid for was. Possibly a 346. I remember the first one my old man bought me. Poulan wild thing. Vibrated bad but honestly I ran it everyday of the winter for a few years. I stole some parts from it recently It still would’ve run. I’m not gonna use it though so….

we had a job come along where I needed a good saw so he bought me a 55 rancher. It’s still my go to I run it quite a bit more than my 346. Might even sell the 346 good saw. I think the fact I’ve abused the 55 for 20 years without any problems besides fuel lines may have something to do with it. They’re good saws

 

[jakethesnake]

Now I’m more interested in cheap junker saws. I’ve got pretty much what I need. 50-88 cc. Can pretty much do anything I’m willing to do

 

[pbillyi69]

the first saw i bought was a husky 372xpw the 75cc version. the first saw i owned was a stihl 046 that i built out of a pile of broken saws. and the first one i ran was a husky 266se im not sure on the letters that followed but it was 1983 and the saw was brand new. i still have the saws plus a bunch of others.

 

[GerbrandR]

Hi everyone, I am a new member here. Have been reading here off an on. Not much of a woodcutter myself, but I like chainsaws.

This Stihl I bought new in 2012 I think. The Husqvarna 55 i bought second hand around 3 years ago and since then I bought a few more.

 

[Pincher]

Growing up on the farm I remember a heavy Homelite that was retired with a Jonsereds 70e. I don't think I was big enough to run the Homelite but I did run the Jonsereds. First used saw I owned was a 50cc poulan/craftsmann. First new chainsaw I bought was a Makita 4300. Last chainsaw I purchased is an 550xpg.

 

[henry r]

the first saw i had was an old electric stihl i ended up with as i was the only one in the family that might use it.

then after i started cutting wood with friends i was given a 359.

the first saw i bought was either a homelite SXL12AO from the local tip shop or a solo 650VA and a PM 270 Canadien i got as a pair. it is hard to remember, it went down hill rather quickly.

 

[ammoaddict]

Husqvarna 50. Bought it new in 1986. Still runs good.

Sent from my moto g(7) power using Tapatalk

 

[av8or3]

My first was a new 026 my wife bought me for Christmas. I traded it for an 034 New Years Day. Only saw I owned for over 20 years. Got a few more now.

 

[sundance]

My first was a Jonsereds 49SP I bought in 1981. Still got it and use occasionally.

 

[Michpatriot]

First saw I sought out and bought was a Stihl 201tc. Was looking for a compact truck\camping saw. I think it'll be replaced by a 036\034 thats going together. But there's been a few that stand out growing up, the first I ever remember using was a Sky blue Homelite that was my Great Uncles that got handed down to my Dad, loud and strong to a 12 yr old. Then Dad bought a Stihl 028, and I've been a creamsicle fan ever since..a couple garbage picked Homelites and Mac snuck in and out but for work I run Stihl.

 

[066 redeye]

Second hand 066 flat top.
Still got it.