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My Husq 350 is toast, I'd like to replace it but not sure which direction to take. As a girlie I gotta have one that is easy to start, the 350 was a very easy. I liked the power the 350 offered so don't want to step down...opinions?
As a girlie I gotta have one that is easy to start, the 350 was a very easy.
You know about the compression button? The blue one on the top of the saw assuming that model has it?
My Brother ran a tree service for years and bought Huskies exclusively, his saws never gave him any trouble and they were being used constantly. Having said that with Husky moving into the big box stores I have to question whether they have compromised quality.
What I would suggest is Stihl, if you go to dealer they do have pro saws that will be the same power and a lot less weight. You might be surprised to find out even some of those little saws for working in a tree can run into the $600 range.
My Huskie has been generally OK, but does stuff sometimes that make me wonder about QC as well. For whatever reason, the muffler bolts decided to loosen and fall out last year. I've never had an engine where that happened.
For small jobs, it is much easier to pull out one of my electric chainsaws. I even have a little polesaw with 12" blade that can be powered by a 1200 watt generator. Super lightweight, press switch and it is going, release it and it stops and allows you all the time you want to fiddle with tops or branches or brush, then is ready and waiting for you.
If I was doing serious work in the woods, I'd pony up for a Stihl as well.
My father (82) went through a series of saws, bought them, tried them returned them. Tried most of the major brands. Settled on the Echo. It is substantially easier to start, by a lot, not just a little bit easier. It is not necessarily the best brand for
ruggedness and durability, but definitely the easiest to start.
I borrow it and work the heck out of it. Then I end up taking it in for repairs from time to time. When using it, it seems like I spend as much time sharpening the chain, tightening the chain, adjusting things as cutting. One thing makes a huge difference. Get rid of the homewoner safety chain it comes with and replace it with a real chain. It will cut 500% better. You just have to be more careful and prepared for kickback. Safety chain prevents kickback, but also prevents cutting.
I was a dealer 30 years ago. Sold Echo, Stihl, and others. found echo underpowered. The new Huskys are really light, but I have not used one enough to really evaluate. I still have 2 30 year old stihls that cut 4 to 5 cords per year.
I like Stihl the best. They are easier to buy in that the models numbers go up as they have more power. Also they always start for me, but note I keep my saws well maintained.
But how much power you need depends on how large around the trees are in your area you are cutting. If you need a longer bar for larger trees like on the west coast, then also need more power. If the saw you have been using worked ok, then get the same or equal power.
Another factor is parts and service. If you only have a husky dealer nearby, then get a husky! But if there is also a Stihl dealer nearby, then consider those as well. See how easy they are to start. Also how heavy various models are.
Note: Keep an eye on the air vents when sawing. Wood chips will fly up and block off the air flow which is needed to cool the engine. Sometimes the wind is blowing just right and those chips go right there. This can cause a chainsaw to overheat! (Brush the chips off with your hand every now and then.)
Also stay away from chainsaws sold in retail stores. They are designed to be used 2 times a year by homeowners and will not hold up heavy use.
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