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NWC Ohio | I can go to a local box stores and buy a Stihl, Husquvarna, or Echo, along with others. Most of the box store mechanics will agree with the professional dedicated dealer shops that the box store models are homeowner (lesser) grade than the dedicated dealer shops (professional) offerings.
Here we currently run mainly Stihl (3 with 14” -20” bars ), Husquvarna (18” bar, a pound or so lighter than the stihl comparable, much nicer nicer handling especially cutting ditchbanks), one Echo (old 24” bar that seems the most cantankerous of all of them and most needed maintenance), and a couple cheap off brands top handles with 12” bars (tanaka from Cutters Choice catalog and a similar green colored one from Menards). Both were less than half price of a comparable Stihl or Husquvarna top handle saw at that time, 13 years ago. The Tanaka has held up better than the other top handle saw. Each saw has its place in what we do. Last new saw was the two top handles in 2013, MS 270 Stihl bought lightly used around that time, and the Husquvarna 350 in 2005ish for reference.
I’m lucky that not far from here is a branded dealer that sells and services both Stihl and Husqvarna. Those are my top two choices. In a family that had owned and operated 3 saw mills and heated 8 or more houses with wood, Stihls drastically outnumbered all the rest. They also outlasted many other off brands and Echos. Echos aren’t bad saws, but from a performance standpoint, the ones we have or had just don’t compare to the Stihls and Husquvarnas. Cousin has a couple Dolmars. I have no experience with them but he likes them.
Reality is what would I buy today is dependent on the amount of use I intended with it. If you’re only using it a couple times a year for some light work, might consider battery powered (Milwaukee here). If gas powered light occasional use, probably go with something cheap, Echo fits that’s bill. If it was for heating a house, Stihl or Husquvarna from branded dealer for cutting. Echo or cheap top handle for small limbing and brush clearing.
I worked in a box store for a short stint many years ago. Poulan Wood shark chainsaw said right on the front cover of its owners manual “for occasional light duty use only”. I found that to be interesting funny. Great uncle had one, it was the shortest lived, most cantankerous saw any of us had ever seen or operated. Back in that time frame MacCullough (spelling?) Eager Beaver chainsaws seemed pretty good, but didn’t have the lifespan of the Stihls.
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Buying A New Chainsaw Question
