If half of your heating comes from a wood stove and that wood stove depends on firewood, then why would you buy a low end consumer saw. Don't assume Poulans of today are the same as your Dad's 15 year old Poulan because they aren't.

Yes, I understand you're on a budget. Why don't you look for a good used professional saw for about the same price. (ex: Stihl 026, 028, 038, 034, 036).

You might also check out the rental department at Home Crapo. They sell used Makita DCS6401's as low as $184.50. They're fantastic saws and most of the time they're like new and very well maintained.

I believe that the main feature PP has a chrome cylinder. There were a few other features that slip my mind at the moment. I personally would have bought a new PP over a used saw. Use good oil, keep it clean and get an extra chain when you can and it will serve you well.

Well what's done is done. I made that assumption and bought the saw on a budget; it may have been a mistake, but only time will tell. I'm thinking I won't have to use it more than 4 or 5 times a year. If it really proves to be a bad saw, well, a hard lesson learned indeed it will be. If it lasts me a few years, then great that's all I'm looking for. I didn't need, nor could I afford, a "Cadillac" of a saw; just one to get me from point a to point b. Our local supply company specializes in Echo power tools. Any thoughts on those saws? At any rate, I started this thread to see if anyone out there could let me in on any specific problems I might encounter with this saw. Thanks for the info though, I'll keep it in mind.

Suggestions:

- Read up a little on how to use a chainsaw and avoiding binding a cut.
- Know what kickback is and how to prevent it.
- Get yourself some PPE (Personal Protection Equipment). Helmet, chaps, glasses, hearing protection, steel toe shoes. Don't skimp on this. One ER visit will cost easily double these items plus you could very well have a lifelong injury.
- Learn to sharpen with handfiles.
- Do not let your sawchain touch anything other than wood. Keep out of dirt, watch for nails and rocks, etc.
- Keep the saw clean. Grooves of bar, filter, etc.
- Think about purchasing a wedge or two.
- Always refill your bar oil tank when you refill your saw with gas.

The Echo saws are not bad for HO use. The used HD saws are a great deal (I have two).

Thanks Tom, I did buy a new one actually and picked up an extra chain while I was at it. I like the simplicity of the tightening mechanism.

Masiman, thanks for the advice, though I'm no stranger to weilding a saw. It's been a while and I'm no pro, but it's nothing new either. I will keep myself as safe as possible and keep my witts about me too. Thanks for the concern. I just may pick up an Echo whenver this one goes out on me.

So far I haven't really heard any proof of a bad product so I'll breathe a sigh of relief on that one and just take notes as I go along. Thanks guys.

Sorry about that, I was not talking down to ya. I saw the "Is there anything specific I can be expecting or watch out for? " coupled with the Poulan purchase and assumed you were a new user.

They can work okay. If you don't know anything else, and you keep it sharp and clean you'll probably think it is as good as anything else out there.

If you have a big log you need to block up sometime that your Poulan won't handle without alot of time and effort on your part, head down to your HD and rent their Makita 6401 (rents with a 20" bar). You'll notice a sizeable difference.

Good luck and stay safe.

"Is there anything specific I can be expecting or watch out for?" Not getting oil to the bar and chain. It only takes a little sawdust or wood chip to plug that 1/8" hole in the bar. I usually check my chain periodically to make sure there's a film of oil on the drive links.

Thanks turnage, I'll be sure to keep a close eye on it.

I did get to use the saw for the first time yesterday evening. It did everything I wanted it to do, though probably not with quite as much gusto as other saws, but that's OK I wasn't in any kind of rush. It starts and handles pretty easily. I was basically using it to square off ends and knock off limb remnants and even split a couple necks that I can't split with my mauls. I have to say so far I'm pretty happy with it. Will update if anything happens.

Just a thought, does anyone make or has anyone thought of making a teflon coated chain and/or bar? Might be a neat idea.

After you get sometime on the saw and get used to sawing again, you may find a more aggressive chain to be useful. It seems to me the safety chains that came on the saw aren't too aggressive. Visit your local saw shop. As masiman said, safety equipment is a good thing. When I started working the woods on the slopes and rough ground- I started wearing chaps and never went again w/ out them. Usually wear my 3 way helmet too.

I'll keep an eye out for a better chain but all I've seen so far is the Oregon brand OE chians. Perhaps our nearby Big Blue Store will have an alternative. I routinely use eye and hearing protection as well as steel toed boots. I hadn't really considered chaps very much as the use of the saw will be very limited (I'm no "axe man"), however, the "You can never have too much safety" mentality says I should get a pair.

Stihl sawchain is very good but also more expensive. The Oregon sawchain is good, it seems to need sharpening a little more frequently though. Your bar should say what chain to run on it (pitch, gauge and # links). Check out the Oregon sawchain FAQ if you have any chain questions.

Hey thanks for the link. I can deal with sharpening. I used to be a michinist in the Navy so I have quite a bit of experience sharpening cutting tools. But if the design of one is better than what I've got it may be an option later on.

It seems like I have owned about 5 or 6 Poulan saws and they were all junk. My problems were..

1)The spring mechanism that recoils the pullstring breaks easily.

2)The oiler stops working.

3)The "vibration reducing" handle broke completely off of mine.

4)Carburetor problems (vapor lock??)

Keep in mind that Craftsman is a re-branded Poulan Pro (the one with a broke handle was Craftsman). The last Poulan I bought was a 18 inch model at Wal-Mart. I brought it home and it wouldn't even start brand new. That was it for me, I took it back and went and bought a new Husqvarna for about $300. I haven't had a single problem since (knock wood). The way I look at it, I probably spent $600 on all of those junk saws when I could have got a good one in the beginning and saved myself all of that trouble.

I just want to add, when you start the saw, don't hold it in the air and snatch the cord like you see a lot of people do, that will surely ruin the recoil mechanism I mentioned. Put it on the ground on put your foot through the handle to hold it still while you start it.

I do use the foot through handle technique. I figure if the manufacturer designed it to be used that way then that's the way it should be used. I agree with buying a good one right off, however our budget simply would not allow for it. Gene Berg, a Volkswagen mechanic(amongst other things) genius once said "Buy the best and cry once." I think that's a great philosophy if you can put it to practice. Anyway, I'll be on the lookout for the problems you mentioned, thanks for the heads up. Though I have to say, it started up the first time just as the manual said it would. However it needs a slightly longer than noted warm up period under choke before it will idle on its own.