Thread: Budget chainsaws

Originally Posted by hybridfiat

I agree.
Ive had one chainsaw, a Husky 62cc bought new in 1992. It was used weekly to hack up dry dead white gum and York gum for 5 years then several trailer loads of wood every winter since. It hasnt missed a beat. It has low down grunt that tears through regardless. So does my tiny Stihl, it will run a sharp chain full depth through a dry white gum log without hesitation.
Nothing personal but Id rather have a good secondhand tool to a new piece of ##### anyday.

Similar experience here,
20 years ago I bought a secondhand Husky 281 from a commercial firewood contractor, it's still going strong & I'm milling with it now.
It's my intention to replace it sometime, so i'll buy a new Husky 395 from my local Husky dealer. My thinking is if I get the same life & use from the 395 that I've had from the old 281 then i'll be 72 or more years old. Effectively this will be the last saw I'll need to purchase for the rest of my life, at $1900 that good value for me. Then there's the peace of mind that comes with the long term reliability of the saw and knowing the dealer is there to servicer or even fix it if ever required.

There's no right or wrong in whether to buy a cheap fly by night brand or an established & expensive brand, it simply comes down to your own values & objectives.

Good luck with your choice

$1600 odd for a 660 is not expensive when 3 weeks ago it put $2000 in my bank for dropping cypress in gippsland all week. If I or any one else was to roll up to a job and pulled out the baumer ag special and said we charge $65 per hour for felling im sure you would be told to f### off back to ebay.

Yeah but not all these guys can go mill felling with out their Felling tickets and Loggers numbers Mate thats why we ve got pro saws farmsaws and then cheapies.

Originally Posted by Krunchie

$1600 odd for a 660 is not expensive when 3 weeks ago it put $2000 in my bank for dropping cypress in gippsland all week. If I or any one else was to roll up to a job and pulled out the baumer ag special and said we charge $65 per hour for felling im sure you would be told to f### off back to ebay.

That just about says it all
well said

I think the differences in perspective might be due to some of you using your saws regularly and some of us only occasionally.

I could not possibly justify the cost of the equivalent stihl. I have 2 stihl brushcutters and they earn their keep. A saw never would.

Horses for courses...

Originally Posted by damian

Horses for courses...

Spot on.

If you are a pro, you would be a fool not to spend the money on a pro saw ... you would also be a fool to spend money on the non-pro versions of the stihl or husky.

If you cut a bit of firewood or do a bit of tree thinning then you either get a cheap second hand stihl (or other brand name saw) or a cheap ebay saw.

It's obvious from the responses in here that there are a heap of people who own these cheap saws and don't have problems. These so called "pros" banging on about how cr@p they are, 1. probably have never owned an ebay cheapy, 2. can make an expensive saw pay for itself, whereas a "hobbiest" can't and 3. haven't bothered to either read and/or address the OP original question and would rather just continue to grind their axe.

Originally Posted by Vernonv

Spot on.

If you are a pro, you would be a fool not to spend the money on a pro saw ... you would also be a fool to spend money on the non-pro versions of the stihl or husky.

If you cut a bit of firewood or do a bit of tree thinning then you either get a cheap second hand stihl (or other brand name saw) or a cheap ebay saw.

It's obvious from the responses in here that there are a heap of people who own these cheap saws and don't have problems. These so called "pros" banging on about how cr@p they are, 1. probably have never owned an ebay cheapy, 2. can make an expensive saw pay for itself, whereas a "hobbiest" can't and 3. haven't bothered to either read and/or address the OP original question and would rather just continue to grind their axe.

I think you're off the mark there Vernon, I'm not a pro but still use quality tools. I'm aware of cheap saw and thier problems from reading posts on here.I know about good saws from owning them. I don't think anyone is banging on, it's just open discussion/debate, that is what forums are for I think

Originally Posted by johnnyroberts

I'm aware of cheap saw and thier problems from reading posts on here.

Then you must also be well aware (from the very posts in this thread) that there are a number of "cheap" saw users that are happy with their cheap saws and don't have any problems ... but you seem to have blinkers on in that regard.

Some people seem to approach these discussions with a sort of religious fervour, rather than looking at the facts.

Originally Posted by Vernonv

Then you must also be well aware (from the very posts in this thread) that there are a number of "cheap" saw users that are happy with their cheap saws and don't have any problems ... but you seem to have blinkers on in that regard.

Some people seem to approach these discussions with a sort of religious fervour, rather than looking at the facts.

yep sure thing Vernon, whatever you recon

That's classic Johnny ... but it kinda confirms what I was saying about the whole "religious" thing ... regardless of the facts presented by numerous real life users of these saws, you refuse to believe, fob off the facts with a flippant remark and continue to stick to your long held doctrine.

Oh well, ignorance is bliss.

"Religous fervour" I like that
It really boils down to experience doesnt it. My 40 years of experience of buying cheap tools and wishing I hadnt later when they didnt perform like the more expensive tool I turned down is just my experience.
I still do it now and then but it is false economy in the long run. I get caught each and every time. A cheap shifter, a cheap clamp, a cheap screwdriver etc etc.
Small expenses that add up to a lot of waste.

Sometimes you can get a cheapy and it works fine.

IME though, I've come to the point of buying well and crying once.

Originally Posted by Krunchie

$1600 odd for a 660 is not expensive when 3 weeks ago it put $2000 in my bank for dropping cypress in gippsland all week. If I or any one else was to roll up to a job and pulled out the baumer ag special and said we charge $65 per hour for felling im sure you would be told to f### off back to ebay.

On this one - personally I don't think Johnny home owner cares what kind of saw is being used to fell the tree, I think the manner and performance of the person doing the job is more what they will have trouble with. Look at the end of the day it's only us in here that can at a quick glance tell a B Ag saw from a Stihl and johnny home owner has hired someone else to do the job as they can't do it themselves

Originally Posted by Vernonv

Some people seem to approach these discussions with a sort of religious fervour, rather than looking at the facts.

"religious fervour" Whoa, I'm keeping out of that one
Instead, lets consider another fact that is often overlooked when discussing the cost of an item as this forum is -
Fairly or unfairly, those of us who can buy a saw for "bussiness reasons" are at a distinct advantage when purchasing a top-end brand instead of a cheaper model. We can claim the 10% GST back 3 months later then claim the remainder off our tax as depreciation. This makes the real cost of the expensive saw a great deal less than what joe public has to pay.

cheers,
Dean