Chainsaw for Under 150

[katwillny]

Hi all,

I am in the market for a chainsaw but my budget is only $150, can someone please recommend a decent one within that budget? thanks all

 

[wood-fan-atic]

The old addage - "You get what you pay for " comes to mind. You do not mention what your cutting needs are. If you are going to scrounge and c/s/s your own supply, you will most likelybe disappointed with a 'discount' chainsaw from your local Wal-mart( the poulan "wild-thing" comes to mind in the $150 range). If you can save up a couple more $$, you'de be better served with a (@ least) 16" Husqvarna. They do sell a 'residential' chainsaw that you could probably make do with. I get by with the 142e model (no longer available, i think). Buy a set of files ( $6), and watch some videos on youtube for instruction on sharpening. "Let the buyer beware".

 

[mayor mcheese]

My buddy just bought a stihl ms 180 at our local dealer on sale for $180. it's a really good cutting little saw. and its a stihl

 

[katwillny]

Thanks guys. I just went and purchased the Poulan PP4218AVX Pro 18-Inch 42 CC. Works great for what i needed it which is to occasional cut some small to mid sized branches that fall in my backyard. Once in a blue I do some scrounging and this will come in handy. Thanks all.

 

[Backwoods Savage]

Hopefully you are all set Kat. May it serve you well.

 

[katwillny]

Thanks Dennis. Is it cold in Michigan Yet? Its supposed to drop down to 38 tonight here in NY. Great night for Yankees Baseball. Nothing like playoff baseball next to a fire.

 

[Backwoods Savage]

Kat, it has been cold but right now we are basking in Indian Summer. I expect that will end shortly. We've had enough frost to kill most everything and the weather has been great for getting out the corn and beans. I suspect the sugar beet harvest is doing fine too but we don't have very many right in our area. If we go to the city (Saginaw) then we pass through a lot of sugar beet country. I remember raising some when I was a young lad but it was a really nasty job. Not so much so today though unless we have a wet fall. I don't farm now so now I don't have to be in the mess.

 

[yanksforever]

Hi all,

I am in the market for a chainsaw but my budget is only $150, can someone please recommend a decent one within that budget? thanks all

sell all your computer geek stuff and buy a good one.

 

[Occo370]

I just bought the stihl 170 Its my first saw. It's great $170

 

[burntime]

After the first heating season and you save some money go get a bigger one. It will save a ton of time! Keep the one you bought for limbing...

 

[BucksCoBernie]

keep an eye on craigslist. I picked up a Husqvarna 455 Rancher for $175....works fine. Its a $400 saw new.

 

[Chris S]

I bought my mS290 on CL for 200, and my 046 used for 400 both in great shape. Both were owned by people who thought they needed them, and after looking at them for afew years decided thet needed tha cash more. I did look at a few that were well used before I found the ones I bought.
I wouldn't want a saw that was used by a tree service every day. Not that they wouldn't take care of it, just a lot more hours & wear.

 

[Got Wood]

Hello Kat .... See your in Beacon (I'm in Lagrange), checked Craigslist and found this ad today for a used Poulan in Nanuet:

(broken link removed to http://hudsonvalley.craigslist.org/tls/1939108622.html)

POULAN 18"CHAIN SAW - $100 (Nanuet)
Date: 2010-09-06, 11:47AM EDT
Reply to: [email protected] [Errors when replying to ads?]

Poulan Wild Thing (18") 40cc Chain Saw -Cash $100 OBO
Used 2x, Excellent condition, Like new
What’s green and purple and cuts through small trees like a hot knife through butter? It’s the distinctive Wild Thing 2375 chainsaw from Poulan, and because it’s so easy to use, it’s a great choice for light to medium cutting, especially for first-time saw users.
The Wild Thing’s 18-inch bar and chain and high-performing engine provide plenty of power and bite, but it’s the saw’s user-friendly simplicity that makes it so attractive. A unique air filter system helps the filter last longer to cut down on fuel consumption, and a larger-than-most gas cap means less spilled fuel.
Safety measures include a throttle lockout to prevent the user from accidentally squeezing the trigger, wide handle spacing for good control and to accommodate step-through starting, and a chain brake activated by a nicely sized front hand guard.
Comes in a hard plastic carry case w/ small gas plastic gas tank.

Will include (2) firewood log splitters.
1-handheld logslplitter
1- logsplitter axe with 40" handle

MUST SELL.

 

[spur0701]

I picked up a used Makida 6401 from Home Depot tool rental for about $140 back in the spring.....it's been working great all summer.

 

[Tony H]

Hello Kat .... See your in Beacon (I'm in Lagrange), checked Craigslist and found this ad today for a used Poulan in Nanuet:

(broken link removed to http://hudsonvalley.craigslist.org/tls/1939108622.html)

POULAN 18"CHAIN SAW - $100 (Nanuet)
Date: 2010-09-06, 11:47AM EDT
Reply to: [email protected] [Errors when replying to ads?]

Poulan Wild Thing (18") 40cc Chain Saw -Cash $100 OBO
Used 2x, Excellent condition, Like new
What’s green and purple and cuts through small trees like a hot knife through butter? It’s the distinctive Wild Thing 2375 chainsaw from Poulan, and because it’s so easy to use, it’s a great choice for light to medium cutting, especially for first-time saw users.
.

Too funny "like a hot knife thru Butter" The poulans I and my friends have had can't even cut the butter !!

If you find the poulan lacking sell it and look for a used Stihl / Husky/ Dolmar saw take your time and you will run across someone who got one used it a few times and decided they don't really need it.

 

[mayhem]

Thanks guys. I just went and purchased the Poulan PP4218AVX Pro 18-Inch 42 CC. Works great for what i needed it which is to occasional cut some small to mid sized branches that fall in my backyard. Once in a blue I do some scrounging and this will come in handy. Thanks all.

I have a Craftsman version of basically the same saw...bought it in 1997 and I'm just this year putting money into it for repairs. Its never let me down and I've cut about 30 or so cords of firewood with it over the years. While a nice Stihl or Husy would be great, this is plenty of saw for a homeowner and its very simple to operate.

 

[CountryBoy19]

Not that it matters much anymore now that the OP purchased, but watch Craigslist. I picked up my MS170 nearly new with extra chains for $75. I put a $26 carb on it and muffler modded it. I now have a very cheap, very light, fast cutting little machine. Will it keep up with big saws? No, but it will outcut saws in it's size-range.

So far I've cut my firewood for the next 4 years with it and it's still going strong. Just got done cutting 2.5 cords of Hedge and it really didn't have too many problems. The only problems were chain catching/snagging when I was cutting a felling wedge and I was doing more of a ripping style cut. Other than that it cut just fine.

 

[mayhem]

^^ Agreed watching local CL ads. I'm waiting on a reply with pics and details for a Husky 359 listed at $300.

 

[wood-fan-atic]

That depends,King. If you are limbing some light storm damage in your yard occasionally, the 'wild thing' would probably do you just fine. But if your felling some trees or bucking some 24"-30" diameter oak that the local tree co. just dropped in your driveway- then you might run into a problem at a MOST un-oppertune time! :shut:

 

[elwoodps]

If you're willing to buy used, and frequently search all the craigslists within what you consider reasonable driving distance, you'll occasionally find really high quality used saws well within your budget.

Here's one that just showed up on the Reading, PA list yesterday.

Stihl 026 Pro chainsaw - $105 (Reading )

(broken link removed to http://reading.craigslist.org/tls/2000682458.html)

That's one of the best ~50cc saws ever made. Very light. And though the guy says "older model" it's not THAT old: The "026 Pro" was the last 026 variant that Stihl made before they changed to the current model designation ("MS 260") around 2007. There's very little difference between the 026 Pro and the MS 260, which sells new for over $500. And Stihl professional saws last for a long, long time.

I know that Reading's likely too far for you to drive to pickup a used saw. I just posted this to give you some idea of the deals that occasionally show up when a seller has no clue about the value of what he he has.....

 

[KingNFM]

That depends,King. If you are limbing some light storm damage in your yard occasionally, the 'wild thing' would probably do you just fine. But if your felling some trees or bucking some 24"-30" diameter oak that the local tree co. just dropped in your driveway- then you might run into a problem at a MOST un-oppertune time! :shut:

All my posts were deleted and so was my account....I re-registered...but just wanted to come back and say thanks again.

I'm currently borrowing one from my step-father...it's an 18" Craftsman, hopefully it will do the job. I've never used one before so I figure this will be a learning experience.