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kickin buck

Hi everyone I have done very little wood cutting. I own a homelite saw that I bought for removing fell trees in my way. With heating bills so high I decided that next year I will have a wood stove indoor.Im going to need a good brand saw looking at stihl,husky,dolmar,and jonsered.I really dont need a big saw being I am a small guy I whant something I can handle all day if need be. Im looking for something with a 16 inch bar. Any recomendations?

newguy18

husqvarna 350.It comes with an 18" bar but it'll cut like the dickens with a 16" bar.

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Eric Frei

Here's a comparison between the 350 and 346xp

If you can afford the 346 get that.

Husqvarna Outdoor Power Equipment -

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shaggs

G'day Kickin Buck
Check out what dealers you have in your area for servicing, advice and repairs.
Some of the local guys to you on this site may have the best prices for you.
Good Luck

SawTroll

That is the old 45cc 346 - the new edition 50cc one will make much more of a difference - it performs about like the Dolmar 5100S......

kickin buck

So what do you guys think of the dolmars

newguy18

i've never used one myself but I have friends that own and use them everyday and they love them espicially the 7900.

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shaggs

We don't have them down under.
Mainly huskys and stihls for the pro's.

Sam Beazley

Another good reliable saw is a Tanaka

shaggs

G'day Husky Man,
How do you rate the Tanaka?
Haven't used them but seen them advertised.
How do you go for parts?
Cheers

newguy18

I have a local dealer who sells them and he highly recomends them but 350 bucks for a foreign saw that I have no knowledge of or have heard nothing about from pro users.You can find them here as well.
Portable Generators, Heaters + Wood Stoves, Snow Blowers, Pressure Washers | Northern Tool + Equipment

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SawTroll

The 5100S is a goodie as a smaller allround saw, but not as nimble as the 346xp for limbing etc (a bit heavier, and the inboard clutch puts the bar further sideways from the sentre of gravity)....

Steve Tipton

I've got 2 Tanaka TCS 34's. A good saw and a cheaper alternetive to 020/200T, I think better than 192T

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Heightmaster

newguy18

if you even for a minute considered a ms 290/310/or 390 get this instead.
Poulan® 40cc Wild Thing™ Chain Saw — 18in. Bar, Model# P4018WT | 18in. Bar | Northern Tool + Equipment

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Therrin

I just checked that out, looks niffty. Not for sale in Ca. though, why's that?

(except that this state is full of nazi democrats, of course)

newguy18

it isn't nazi democrat approved.

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shaggs

Hi Steve, did you get them mail order or locally? What about parts availablility?

Steve Tipton

I bought one as new from a used tool store at Petersham, looked like it had never been started. The second one I got from a customer who hadf hardly used it and is now too old to bother.
I haven't needed any parts yet, but they are available from Parklands Trading, who are local. I think the local dealers can get them in as well. At $320 for one and $250 for the other, it was worth a try for a spare against $1400 for an 020.
So far, so good!

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Sam Beazley

Hi Shaggs My local mower shop is a agent for Tanaka and what ever parts i need i ask him and he orders it in for me from Parkland or if he's got it in stock i just buy it then i would rate it on a scale of 1-10 maybe 4 or 5

newguy18

so how does tananka compare to a husqvarna?

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arborjockey

nobody makes a bad saw tanaka, stihl, husky, heck shindawa. There all competitive the question is can you get parts. coming from some one with a mechanical back ground these machines need lots of maitnence. and Iv used all of them. My best advice is to treat what ever saw you get like its your 1st born baby. make sure your dealer is close, he has parts in stock and never tell him your using it for industrial use so that he'll waranty it.

newguy18

I'm sticking with husky.I do all my own repairs period.I don't trust others working on my equipment.My last stihl ticked me of so I threw it out of a tree then traded it to my stihl dealer for my 51.

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arborjockey

personally I think tht husky makes superior product as well. I do have a problem with them selling out to wal-mart, home depot, lowes, ect... they ran the mom and pop saw shops out of buiness. the stihl products are good just way overpriced. my husky trim saw was 320.00 the stihl is 500.00

Therrin

I'd have to disagree with the statement "noone makes a bad saw".

I've got an electric Craftsman that someone gave me that'll make you eat those words You certainly get what you pay for though. Stihl may be overpriced, but I have 4 of them now and love each one.

dannyboysfc

I now own 3 Stihls: 192T, great pruning saw(not as strong as the 200 but noticably lighter- lighter on the wallet too); MS260 great strong sm-med sized saw I think it has a 18" bar and will work hard all day every day all year; then I have an older 044, still as strong as new with no problems.

My advice is get a pro quality saw that fits your needs, go to your local saw shop and ask them for whats gonna give you the best value for your needs.

SawTroll

The price issue varies from market to market, Stihls often are "cheaper" than comparable Huskys here (pro saws only).

Both make some very good, some good, and some less than good models - but my nod goes to Husky more often than not...........

Sam Beazley

Hi newguy18 the Tanaka is alright on the smaller trees but on the bigger trees i prefer the husqvarnas. And i also use the Tanaka as a back up saw

newguy18

If i come across one i might give it a go.

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