best saw for £500

[flatyre]

Hey folks was topping a conifer hedge yesterday, all going well until my ms250 started dying when the trigger was fully pressed, removed the cover and could see fuel spitting out into the filter on full throttle, then after lunch it wouldn't start at all, and still no sign of life this morning. Managed to finish the job with an old husky 36 I keep as a spare. Anyway the wife suggested treating myself to a new saw as she would fit the bill as my Christmas present. My local echo dealer has offered me a new cs-390csx for £400 and the local husky guy offered me a 555xp for £500. Neither of which are particularly great deals but that's what they offered. I don't do a lot of big tree felling, mostly topping or removing conifers, chopping firewood, and taking out smaller trees on occasions. Basically I need something more than a farmers saw but don't need a full pro setup. The echo seems like a good little saw but at £400 a bit steep as I have seen them for a good bit less on the mainland. The 555xp's looks had me drooling but the fact that it needs to go back to the dealer any time it needs a tune up put me off, as for Stihl, I haven't owned any modern ones but have friends who have and wasn't impressed with what I saw. Surely £500 would get a good semi-pro small to mid sized saw for regular but easy work?

[shavey]

Now thats a budget you will find a variety of good saws for that money

Cheers

[flatyre]

I've been told that all echo saws are of the same grade, semi-pro. Whereas its a bit more difficult with Stihl and Husqvarna as they have homeowner, semi-pro, and professional grade ranges. The local husky guy says any saw starting with 5 is pro grade, is this true?

[Tom Mabbutt]

FR Jones currently do 550xp's with a 15 inch bar for £530.60, great saw. I have a 560xp and I love it (just treated the her to a Sugihara bar, she's deserves it). Have used 550xp's and they are nice and light and really go.

[shavey]

I've been told that all echo saws are of the same grade, semi-pro. Whereas its a bit more difficult with Stihl and Husqvarna as they have homeowner, semi-pro, and professional grade ranges. The local husky guy says any saw starting with 5 is pro grade, is this true?

 

Hopefully the above saw users will be along to give you some advice

But the husqvarna 5 series sound racey :lol:

 

I only tend to go for another brand of heavyweight saws :thumbup:

[TimberCutterDartmoor]

Forget S&H. Echo / Dolmar. I have an new old school Dolmar 115; what a saw!!!

[harvey b davison]

You could always ask shavey about a dolmar.

[geoff]

The echo 390 is a pro saw, and a very nice one at that, if it is big enough for you it is a good choice, as it's light, easy to use, and a brisk saw in the cut.

 

Having said that, for 500 smackers you have a fair choice, nice of the misses to treat you so choose wisely.

[geoff]

Forget S&H. Echo / Dolmar. I have an new old school Dolmar 115; what a saw!!!

 

Wise words:thumbup1:

[TimberCutterDartmoor]

But the husqvarna 5 series sound racey :lol:

 

So long as you don't leave it in the sunshine. Shade only.