Cheap saw for homeowner/DIY

[TGB]

Ah yes, sorry about that. Clicked on a link for 646 and read the blurb on the 636 instead. But the 646 would still be better on a 15". Mind the OP may not be that interested in the fastest cutting combination; so perhaps running an 18" on that saw would be ok.

[Darkslider]

Interesting thread and has given me a lot to think about. I'm after a cheap saw for occasional firewood duties at home and it might get taken into the woods with me no more than once a month to do a bit of minor felling/clearing as part of a mountain bike track I'm involved in building/maintaining. Having done my CS30 recently I think I'd value a slightly longer bar to make the saw a bit more versatile over a bit more power, nothing I'd do would be overly time critical so I don't mind taking a bit longer to do it if it's going to make my life easier.

 

With a budget of about £150 Stihl/Husqvarna are out of the question really, even the second hand saws seem to fetch really strong money and aren't that much cheaper than their new counterparts. The better of the cheaper brands seem to be Solo, Echo and possibly McCulloch (who have more in common with Husqvarna than Husqvarna would want us to believe?)

 

The Solo 646 being discussed on ebay at £189.99 looks a good deal, but as a wildcard has anyone had any experience with Sanli saws? A UK distributor with full warranty and dealer/spares backup sounds promising, and I've managed to find a few good reviews like this one:

 

http://www.forestryjournal.co.uk/newsitefiles/2011/0611/ChineseChainsaw.pdf

 

 

 

 

As the CS45 is widely available for less than £150 with a 45cm Oregon bar and chain, is there any reason why I shouldn't go for one as a cheap and cheerful introduction into basic chainsawing? Or is it worth stumping up the extra £40 and getting an equivalent Solo or an inferior (in terms of power/bar length) Stihl MS170?

[Goaty]

Just got an email from toolstation. The write up is either translated from foreign to english or the author is not familiar with chainsaws. Note terminology! I have no knowledge of this saw or experience with it, but its cheap!

Toolstation: Einhell BG-PC 1235 Petrol Chainsaw 37cc

[Daveyboy]

Cheap for reason. "Me love you long time, ten dollar - make you hollar!" kinda way.

 

It'll work but it won't work like a stihl.

[shavey]

how about a makita ea320sc or a dolmar ps-32c semi proffesional saws with lots of new features easy start lateral side tensioning ,sprocket rim so you can change from 3/8 to 1/4 chains both models in the price range of £150 -£190

[hedgesparrow]

the budget you are looking at the mitox is £179 chinese but good saw coppicer has one and it cuts well. 2 year warrenty. and they stick by it his went wrong took it back and replaced it. he cuts loads with his. he says my sthil 170 is a better saw drawback with 170 only a 12inch bar. so get into some bigger stuff be pushing the sthil. for quality and 5 year warrenty get a echo may be a bit more but it will be going strong in 15 years time

[aesmith]

One think I'd say about Sanli is that the specifications look poor if you read the detail. They're selling their 38cc machine with a 16" bar, but the motor has no more power than a Stihl MS170 (1.2kW). I saw a few recommendations for Echo, but they seemed to be just as expensive as Stihl, except for their very bottom model which I thought too small for what I needed.

[Cuttup]

Husky 236 for £170. Tidy wee saw for occassional use. Friend bought one recently. Stihl doing a similar deal but I'm more towards Husky myself. Used Solo saws in the past not a good experience overheating, cutting out etc. Definitely avoid unknown cheapie brands!

[doobin]

That Sanli in the FJ review looks exactly the same as the £50 Chinese saws the author mentions. 'Silver stripe' and everything....

 

OP, if you cut to the chase and buy an Echo, Husky or Stihl, you'll thank us later. MS 171 will outcut all that Chinese junk. It's just the way it is. I'm not denying that the Chinese can make good stuff. But those saws are not it.

[Stubby]

Thing with the Chinker is if the dealer is close by ,and it has a warranty , he can just get a new one every month for ever and ever in the world amen .....