Hot Knife meets butter (Makita 6401 bought from Home Depot Rental Dept. review)

[schwaggly]

me and my buddy score some monster oak and I was thinking of asking for help cutting it as it was so big. My echo crapped out on me and we were using my buddies husky and it was struggling. I took the advice from the forum and started calling around the local Home Depots. I called Salem, Ma and the had 3 so I picked up a Makita 6401 at the rental center at HD for $141. I used my store credit from my echo and have $ left over. Only 1 of the 3 was in good working order. It started right up and sounded great. The guy swapped out the air filter and spark plug for me, gave me a sprocket. He also ran a compresion test which came out at 120 and 140 with the low compression button pushed in. I asked to do it without the button pushed and it came out to a little over 170. He said the spec for new is 180. I swapped out the safety chain for a full chisel and OMG this thing rips it has plenty of torque even when it's buried. The oiler adjustment screw is stripped out and the flow is a little light so I have been manually oiling before each cut with good results. I will be getting the screw replaced within the week. I have a 24" bar and chain on order then I'm good.

short story it rips and was cheap but needs minor tinkering and a chisel chain

 

[Highbeam]

I wish I could find a deal like that. I tried my local HD for a used rental and they thought I was nuts. You can buy a new 6401 there too if you want.

 

[schwaggly]

I wish I could find a deal like that. I tried my local HD for a used rental and they thought I was nuts. You can buy a new 6401 there too if you want.

I called about 10 HD and the first time I called Salem they said no as well. You have to get the right store and the right guy or gal on the right day. The fact that they are 1/4mile down the road from a place that rents stihls has kept the mileage low on mine of course YMMV.

 

[mayhem]

Tried this a few times myself. Local HD doesn't rent out gas powered equipment so I have no local resource. Next nearest HD is an hour's drive.

 

[bayshorecs]

Just bought mine from the HD in the quad cities (IL/IA). They said they will have 2 more for sales in a week or 2.

 

[wendell]

I love mine. If you get the right saw you get a heck of a deal and you got a heck of a deal.

 

[Lanningjw]

I also purchased the 6401 from HD for $181, it was rented rented out for 24 days by 12 differnt people. I think they put a new air filter on it after each use. I put a better B/C on it and it works great. I also have the 79 cc bore kit that I am gonna put on this winter. Its a real nice saw for the money.