What yer cheap saw favorites?

[hacskaroly]

save the 3/8 .063 carbide chain. Its enough drivelinks to make one 28" loop.

A standard Stihl Carbide chain for a 20" bar runs about $70. I hear they are great for plunge cutting in the ground and cutting tree roots to make stumps easier to pull out with a tractor. I wouldn't have a problem buying surplus saws....well I take that back, I suppose some people consider my CAD a problem!!

 

[mainer_in_ak]

670 on the left 6700 on right. Dayum these things come apart so easy. Still gotta install new seals and a fresh set ah koyo 6202's in each.

No decomp bllsht. Metal oiler gears pressfit on the crank, they never strip out like the plastic ones.

 

[FergusonTO35]

Back on the topic of cheap saws: there is a really nice 2021 MS-250 at the pawn shop for $169.95 and I know they will go quite a bit lower just by asking. But, I just bought a super low miles 2024 MS-194C for $175.00 and the fun money is getting low. I kind of wish they would raise the price so I don't feel bad about leaving it there!

 

[hacskaroly]

I kind of wish they would raise the price so I don't feel bad about leaving it there!

I feel ya! I have projects enough and not enough fun money to cover them right now...have to prioritize what I am working on. I did splurge for a customer return Husky 455, they didn't know what they were doing with the saw, the original chain flew off, the next two Tri-Link chains they used were cranked down hard and run to dull and not sharpened. Customer complained that the saw was crap. I was able to take it off the store's hands for $5.

 

[Outback]

You overpaid.

 

[Wood Doctor]

One of my good friends has a Husky 455. I serviced it once. He loves the saw and uses it all the time. Not cheap: new ones run $600 with sales tax.

 

[mainer_in_ak]

I feel ya! I have projects enough and not enough fun money to cover them right now...have to prioritize what I am working on. I did splurge for a customer return Husky 455, they didn't know what they were doing with the saw, the original chain flew off, the next two Tri-Link chains they used were cranked down hard and run to dull and not sharpened. Customer complained that the saw was crap. I was able to take it off the store's hands for $5.

Wow, that's a heck of a deal! When I first bought my land, that's what i started out with, along with an old 42 cc craftsman and a ms 290.

With the 455, I found that the flimsy sheet metal around the oiler gear, didn't seal up very well, allowing too much debris onto the plastic worm gear. Stripped within a few tanks! I sealed the sheet metal into a bed of right stuff gasket maker. Never stripped another oiler gear.

 

[Outback]

Sense of humor much? I've owned a couple of 4 series saws. Both were free. I stand by my statement that he over paid. Both as a joke and a fact.
Huskies are my favorite cheap saw. I liked the 500i I got in pieces in a box for $130. Not enough to keep it though.

 

[FergusonTO35]

One of my good friends has a Husky 455. I serviced it once. He loves the saw and uses it all the time. Not cheap: new ones run $600 with sales tax.

I'm the last person who could be called a saw snob and I don't have a problem with clamshells or homeowner grade saws as long as they work. But, that's a total rip off. You can get a new MS-261 or 550 for that much. Or an Echo 590 for way less!

 

[hacskaroly]

MS-261

Currently new 261s are averaging between $779 - $799. 550s area sitting around $650 - $699. I agree, the Echo 590 is looking more appealing at $450ish.

For the general user, it all depends on what you have for sale around you. Our store only carried Husky 435, 440, 450, 455, 572, and 592. The store seemed to lean more towards Stihls which we had a wider variety of them. So if someone wanted a 550 or any other variant, then they would have to hit only a couple of other vendors that might have those.