step up from my farmboss

[Highbeam]

I just moved up from my 290 to a Dolmar 6400. It was a home depot rental saw and I am very happy with the upgrade. Better antivibe, more power, nice dawgs, bigger tanks, almost no plastic, upgradable, etc. I put a 28" bar and skip chain on the dolmar and it's a fine machine. It cost me 300$ for the saw with the 20" bar.

My 290 has been sitting in the orange saw box for about a year now. I need to clean it and sell it. People on CL are asking more for used 290s than I paid for mine new! Of course the 290 is 3/8, 0.50, 20" bar.

 

[Ashful]

To you guys fretting over whether your wife will approve of your new saw, you have failed in training. My wife walks into my shop, points at a 1000 lb. machine, and asks, "did you always have one of those?" No way does she know how many saws I own, or what brand/model they may be.

 

[jeff_t]

I just moved up from my 290 to a Dolmar 6400. It was a home depot rental saw and I am very happy with the upgrade. Better antivibe, more power, nice dawgs, bigger tanks, almost no plastic, upgradable, etc. I put a 28" bar and skip chain on the dolmar and it's a fine machine. It cost me 300$ for the saw with the 20" bar.

My 290 has been sitting in the orange saw box for about a year now. I need to clean it and sell it. People on CL are asking more for used 290s than I paid for mine new! Of course the 290 is 3/8, 0.50, 20" bar.

290s are on craigslist here every day for $300-450. What they actually go for, I have no idea.

Funny thing is I've been halfheartedly trying to sell my 6401 for a few months for $300, but since it is blue and not orange, everyone thinks it's a throwaway POS that's maybe worth a hundred bucks. Which is sad because it's a heckuva saw that will cut circles around a 290, and is more easily rebuildable if someone actually wears it out.

By the way, I know where there's a good saw for sale

 

[jeffesonm]

I have a 660 and only take it out when I absolutely have to. It's too heavy to be fun. The 62cc 036 is 13 lbs and cuts great with a 20" bar and sharp chain.

 

[Osagebndr]

To you guys fretting over whether your wife will approve of your new saw, you have failed in training. My wife walks into my shop, points at a 1000 lb. machine, and asks, "did you always have one of those?" No way does she know how many saws I own, or what brand/model they may be.

Ok so you are now my heroBy the way an echo CS 590 is a very good saw at really good price check one out

 

[claydogg84]

Ok so you are now my heroBy the way an echo CS 590 is a very good saw at really good price check one out

The 590 may be a good saw, but not much, if any of an upgrade in this situation.

 

[D8Chumley]

To you guys fretting over whether your wife will approve of your new saw, you have failed in training. My wife walks into my shop, points at a 1000 lb. machine, and asks, "did you always have one of those?" No way does she know how many saws I own, or what brand/model they may be.

That's awesome! My wife has no idea how many saws I have either but she loves sitting on the couch when the stove is crankin' and it's a-hole cold outside. The way i see it, it's none of her business lol. I don't tell her how many pocketbooks she can have, and I get a helluva lot more use out of my saws

 

[TreePointer]

The 590 may be a good saw, but not much, if any of an upgrade in this situation.

+1

Echo 590 = 13.3 lbs, 3.89 hp
Stihl 290 = 13.1 lbs, 3.69 hp

590 is the lowest horsepower 60cc class saw on the market from the major saw producers. I'd look elsewhere for an upgrade from a modded 290.

 

[firemn260]

Wow I didn't realize the 290 had such a good resale value. If it's underpowered and heavy for its class why is it so disireable?

I did find a 044 that's in rough shape. If I can get it for the right price I may go for it.

 

[D8Chumley]

Rookies don't know any better? Lol that's the first new saw I bought, Xmas 2010 with the money I got as presents. It was a decent saw but I had a 20" bar on it and it struggled a little in hard wood

 

[TreePointer]

Wow I didn't realize the 290 had such a good resale value. If it's underpowered and heavy for its class why is it so disireable?

Not around here. You can find a decent 290 for $250, give or take, all the time.

Why is it so desirable? It's not, but but many folks think it is. It's a "FarmBoss." If it has "Boss" in the name it must be wicked fast, powerful, and awesome, right?

Stihl marketed it as a farm/ranch/midgrade model--something better than the homeowner/entry level saws. After a while, it became Stihl's "best selling chainsaw" and sold even more of them because they told customers that it was (drumroll, please) their best selling chainsaw (smack forehead). Stihl managed to get folks to buy its decades old design off their shelves until very recently.

 

[Oakwood5]

Was in the same situation as you. Was able to find a 038 super for a very reasonable price. It is very old and has no new technology but it is fun to run and it rips. Brought it in to the local stihl dealer and he said he felt it was one of the best saws stihl made. All I know is it's cuts and runs great. Still take the 290 for scrounging and it does the job.

 

[Bigg_Redd]

If it's underpowered and heavy for its class

It's not. It's underpowered and heavy compared to a pro saw of similar CCs that costs twice as much.

why is it so disireable?

Because it is a solid saw and an outstanding value

 

[firemn260]

I really appreciate everybodys advice. I have spent alot of time searching old topics on this forum lately and have found some great info also.I'm glad there are still some people out there willing to take the time to help someone less knowledgeable.

I have been clearing some land the last few days so the farmboss has been getting some good cut time. Even treated it to a new full chisel chain. Really is a great saw for my needs and I guess I'm just being impulsive wanting another bigger saw.

I did stop by the local stihl dealer and check out some new pro saws. They are definitely not cheap.
After a long chat with the owner I was asked if I would be interested in work8ng for him part time when their workload gets backed up. I love working on 2 strokes so I'm excited to learn more about saws.

 

[Wildo]

See post #28

buy it

spend $200 on 7900 p&c

send out to get ported etc. pumping out well over 7hp and a stellar power to weight ratio

and never look back for less than a new pro saw.

 

[Babaganoosh]

See post #28

buy it

spend $200 on 7900 p&c

send out to get ported etc. pumping out well over 7hp and a stellar power to weight ratio

and never look back for less than a new pro saw.

Just picked up a home depot rental 6421 myself. You know I'm putting that 79cc piston and cylinder on it! It cuts really nice at 64ccs but I have an 036 for that. These are really nice saws and far superior to a farm boss

 

[jeff_t]

I have the 7900 thing too. I'm willing to sell that one, but then I'd be buying another p&c for the Makita

 

[golfandwoodnut]

How big of trees do you cut? I have some monsters and the 660 is great to have for the variety of bars you can put on it, but it is heavy for every day cutting. But man it can chew up the wood fast. Also the gas. It is also great for making lumber with the Alaskan sawmill. I also have a 390 that is good for every day cutting and a smaller husky for little stuff. The 361 is supposed to be really nice.

 

[firemn260]

How big of trees do you cut? I have some monsters and the 660 is great to have for the variety of bars you can put on it, but it is heavy for every day cutting. But man it can chew up the wood fast. Also the gas. It is also great for making lumber with the Alaskan sawmill. I also have a 390 that is good for every day cutting and a smaller husky for little stuff. The 361 is supposed to be really nice.

I have a few really big white oaks ready to be bucked. My neighbor gets alot of logs and gives me what ever is to big for him to handle. I have a skidsteer to moving it around is no big deal. He gave me a large very green black walnut and it was giving the 290 a workout.

 

[Osagebndr]

It sounds like you may need a 461/660 for big stuff and use the 290 for easy stuff. I'm in the same boat sort of , I have a 361 that handles all I give it just would like a larger saw for really big stuff