I need a commercial grade chainsaw (or 2)

[Rob Breckenridge]

I have blown out 2 Poulan Pro's on OB so far, they are crap and I will not be buying from home depot again. Looking for a commercial grade saw that I can do work with, $ is a bit tight but hoping a generous NEFA member might be able to cut a deal, thanks guys!

[Dave Jackson]

We have a husqvarna that we may part with.
Not a bad mid sized saw. About the equivalent of a ms270 from Stihl.

If you want to buy a new one, that will last you and drop anything you probably have in NH, check out the STIHL FARM BOSS MS290.
It's their #1 selling saw. We have built Maple Hill with it.
I've got many landscape contractor buddies that rely on that saw.
Bang for the buck mixed with reliability, the Stihl MS290 can't be beat. Around $375-425 I reckon.

I own the MS270 from Stihl because its lighter with plenty of punch and packing it around is better than the MS290 which weighs more (but has more balls).


Yes, Stihl or Husqvarna are the two choices to go with from here on out and Stihl's start easier than Husqvarna.

[Ken Hannan]

Make sure you only use the best available highest octane gas w/ chainsaws. The alcohol apparently is very bad for these motors. Wrecked my old husquvarna because of that. My new Husqvarna kicks arse.

I always run it till dry when done, and then put in alcohol free fuel mix when it's going to sit. Will just use that premix long-shelf-life stuff for small cutting projects. About $7/pint.

[Jim Bobka]

My small motor repair guy said the same thing about the higher octane gas. I've got a Poulan Pro as well and it won't start for sheeet. I've got to take it apart and clean carb/gas tank.

But the gas prices keep going up. No problem there.......

[Jay Melllo]

Stihl >>> Husqy. They're more money, but you get a lot more saw. My Stihil MS 290 is bullet proof and I've done a TON of work with it. You're looking at $600 plus though most likely. Don't buy from Home Depot. They sell a lower grade piece of equipment with the same model number (different engines, etc.). Go to some place like Norfolk Power Equipment (down here in SE MA) or the equivalent up in NH.

Good tip with the high octane. I'm going to start doing that. $0.60 cents extra per little red jug is worth a long lasting saw.

[Sean Franchi]

and try not to ever leave gas in the tank. if i know i'm not going to cut for more than a couple weeks i'll just unscrew the gas cap and dump her out, beats running the saw till it runs out if i'm done cutting for the day. stihl all the way. plus their calendar chicks are smokin

[Guy_Lyman]

Rob, I also have the Stihl MS 290 Farm Boss. I love it.
Definitely use premium gas. Check out Gary's Power equipment in Winchester right across from Kulicks Gas station.
A good saw is an investment

[Rob Breckenridge]

yeah, I didn't know what I didn't know. I alway's buy the best camping-fishing gear available, should have done the same with the chainsaw, it really is an investment but I think the time is coming.

[Jim Bobka]

Word. Try to save a hundred bucks and end up wasting days.

[Sean Franchi]

saw some used stihls saws for sale at gardner power equipment phone 978 632 7669

[Rob Breckenridge]

thanks Sean, do you think it is ok to buy used?

[Christopher Gerow]

This thing can get the job done. For realz
Even the decoration is pretty cute!

You can buy it off me....for let's say, 4 happy meals?

[Rob Breckenridge]

I was thinking something more along these lines

[Bob Johnson]

I vote for Giant ass saw thing!!!

Too Funny.

On a reality note…We got the part and I now have access to my Dad's old 290. So we got that going for us…

[Rob Breckenridge]

290 and giant ass saw thing should be good.

[Dave Jackson]

Come to Maple Hill and you can demo the 270, 290 and a Professional saw, all from Stihl.
We cut sh!t down...

[Patrick Harris]

thanks Sean, do you think it is ok to buy used?

Yes, you can. Be sure to buy it from repute small engine repair shop.

I bought used Husqvarna with assurance that it has 3 months warranty on it or free repairs.

Runs great! Worth spending $120 on it.

[Rob Breckenridge]

good feedback from all! will do my best to get to maple hill soon.

[Sean Franchi]

used saw's are fine. i've cut most of flatrock with a 1980's era stihl 034

[Rob Breckenridge]

Currently I am using a KDGC members Husquavarna, she does the job, still would like to have one to call my own.

[Jeff laterreur]

stihl no longer makes the ms 290 its been replaced by the ms 291. the MS291 is better then the 290 but the price jumps. the MS 271 runs about the same price as the old 290 but just less power.

[Dan Doyle]

I purchased a Stihl MS-261 (18" chain) on Saturday from a small local dealer for $600. I could probably have found it cheaper if i went to a "large box store" (home depot, lowes, walmart, etc) but i prefer buying from the small local mom-and-shop folks.......

I used it for about 3 hours on Saturday and this baby is a beast!!! But it is a relatively lightweight beast at 11 lbs. so it doesnt wear you out. I'm doing all sorts of fairway work (The Oasis at Warwick) - carving fairways with large-diameter trees; dead limbs; thick prickers; vines; stumps; etc. It cuts about twice as fast as the 2 other smaller (16") Stihl chainsaws that i own so the extra cost was totally justified from a time-management perspective.

Dan Doyle

[Gary Cyr]

I own the Stihl MS 362 20 inch blade and it's murderous!!

It's right at the point where Stihl changes from high end residential to low end commercial grade. It's about $850. But if you send me a phone number I'd text you a video of me taking out 18 inches of Red Oak in about 20 seconds!

[Dave Jackson]

Dan, I bought a saw like you did.
Gary, Tom bought a saw like yours. Thing is effing amazing. Another level.

[Rob Breckenridge]

Gary's video is prety impressive, thing went through oak like butter! why are saws so damn expensive?

[Gary Cyr]

They gave me an explanation of why it was such a better saw than the ones a few levels down. It had something to do with engine Compression and blah blah. I can't remember the whole thing. I just knew I had some serious cutting to do including getting through the trunk of a 90 foot tall Beech tree. If your ever seen Beech wood, it's one I'd the hardest woods there is. The saw mostly sits around now. I could sell it but at this point I don't want to.