chain saws on a stick comparison

[BudinTenn]

Wondering if anyone here has any experience with the different brands of pruning chains saws. Big difference in the price of the Poulan at Lowes vs the Echo, Stihl & Husqvarna brands. The higher priced units are obviously more heavy duty. Are they worth the higher price? I would expect I'll use one a few hours a year. Thanks

 

[KentT]

I have the Poulan Pro -- I wouldn't recommend it. Cuts OK, but so tempermental and hard to start, you kinda avoid using it...

 

[jdbower]

I've got a pruning saw attachment for my trimmer (a 4-stroke Toro). Works OK, but still a bit of a nuisance - I'd rather get a ladder and use my Black and Decker 18V saw in most cases and if I can't reach with that a pole saw won't help so I resort to a rope saw.

 

[MossRoad]

I bought a Poulan Pro combo pack that had the string trimmer and pole saw together. Mine starts and runs fine. The string trimmer works great. I do not recall my model # and it is outside right now. I can find it tomorrow if I remember.

However, I have some negative comments about the pole saw.

First, the chain bar can tilt on its bolt. There is only one bolt and I constantly have to tighten it. When it tilts, it pries on the plastic shroud. Sooner or later it is going to break.

Second, if I leave it sit on the floor the bar/chain oil tends to drain out of the tank and make a puddle on the floor. I have not found a good storage angle for it.

Third, it is a heavy @##$%@ piece of equipment to hold over your head for any amount of time. You will get sore.

Fourth, it bogs the engine down easily. I do not think it has quite enough power to cut 8" limbs. It is fine for pruning.

The positives of the unit are it changes between the string trimmer and pole saw very, very easily. Just loosen a knob, bush in a thumb button, remove the attachment, slide another one it until the thumb button clicks, tighten the knob and off you go. It has a nice support on the housing so you can set it down to fuel it and it won't tip over on its side. To start it, you just flip the choke lever to start and pull the cord. It fires up and the choke stays engaged. You let it warm up and as you hit the trigger, the choke comes off. Nice feature compared to my older manual choke equipment. The unit has a very nice reach. I am 6' tall and can trim stuff up around 11' without lifting too far. A bit higher if I reach above my chest.

Overall, I give it about 7.5 out of 10. It needs a bit more power for the saw and a sturdier mount for the chain bar.

 

[QRTRHRS]

I have the Poulan Pro -- I wouldn't recommend it. Cuts OK, but so tempermental and hard to start, you kinda avoid using it...

I have a Poulan that I bought at Lowe's. I would have to go out to the garage to see what model as it has been awhile since I used it.

Being a Stihl kind of guy, I really did not want to buy a Poulan but I did not think I would have enough use to justify the 500 or so for a Stihl or something similar.

I can live with the tempermental engine part but the first time I used it, the head spun around as soon as I tried to put a little cutting pressure on a branch. No way I could tighten it up on the shaft enough to stop it from turning so I drilled a hole and tapped a hole for a machine screw. That worked but I really should have just returned it for a refund.

 

[two_bit_score]

The higher priced units are obviously more heavy duty. Are they worth the higher price? YES, absolutely.I would expect I'll use one a few hours a year. Thanks Even a few hours a year can and probably will become more frequent when you have a quality machine to do the work.

 

[HCJ]

I have used the Stihl Kombi system extensively, with the chainsaw attachment. It works great! You can also attach other implements to the same motor if that would help. The fact that it breaks down into two short lengths helps in transporting it on a tractor or 4-wheeler in brush, or in the trunk of a car. My only gripe is that I go thru many blades as they dull rather quickly, but this is inherent (I would assume) in all brands, since the chains are short. It's also easy to touch the ground when trimming trees low to the ground and this reduces chain life. If you use one as much as I do (mainly trimming trees or limbs overhanging roads) you should learn to sharpen the chains yourself or be prepared to buy multiple chains. Sthil products are top notch.

 

[Skyco]

I've been pretty happy with my $100 electric one. Don't use it much but it gets the job done, no starting problems If I need it remote from power I simply take a small generator. All my overhead limb trimming has been along a driveway so the FEL with the generator sitting in it works nicely. I've even run it off the 2kW invertor installed in my truck. Can't recall the name but I see the same one sold under several names.

 

[nolefan]

I have had the Echo PPT 260 for about 2 years now and I can offer a few observations about it.
Pros:
* Very well made and sturdy.
* Extension to over 12'? eliminates the ladder in many cases.
* Even though it may sit for months at a time it usually starts right up.
* Quite powerful. Not only is it useful for cutting down good size limbs it is also very handy at limbing once the branch is on the ground.

Cons:
*It will give you quite a workout because of the leverage involved in holding the pole to where it needs to be to make the cut without getting the bar pinched. Overall its not that heavy but when your holding it overhead for any period of time it is straining.
*Will tend to leak bar oil out of the tank when stored flat on the ground. I have dealt with this by just putting a piece of cardboard underneath it.
*I'm not sure that this is really a negative but it did retail for close to $600 if I remember correctly. I say this because it is a quality built machine that should last a lifetime if maintained properly.

As others have mentioned you get what you pay for. Good luck on your decision.

 

[rvaitor]

Wondering if anyone here has any experience with the different brands of pruning chains saws. Big difference in the price of the Poulan at Lowes vs the Echo, Stihl & Husqvarna brands. The higher priced units are obviously more heavy duty. Are they worth the higher price? I would expect I'll use one a few hours a year. Thanks

I have a Stihl and it is awesome, I use it pretty much for everything.

 

[JMynes]

I've been pretty happy with my $100 electric one. Don't use it much but it gets the job done, no starting problems If I need it remote from power I simply take a small generator. All my overhead limb trimming has been along a driveway so the FEL with the generator sitting in it works nicely. I've even run it off the 2kW invertor installed in my truck. Can't recall the name but I see the same one sold under several names.

I second the electric vote. I bought a Remington brand at Lowe's for about a hundred bucks. The power head detaches from the pole and you can use it as a hand held saw if needed. Granted they were 12 gauge wire, but two extension cords totaling 75' didn't present any problem. Further than that and I will roll out the generator. It's very handy, starts every time, and for the limited amount of use it will see, it works great. Why spend big bucks on the highest quality so it can sit in the shed all the time?

 

[Flatheadyoungin]

my FIL said he was going to buy a new poulan at lowes.......i told him i'd pay the difference if he let me find a nice used stihl or echo......i like quality stuff but really couldn't justify the price difference by myself......

well, i started looking and there really wasn't any "good" deals to be had on them......for some reason, they really hold their resale value.....

before i could find one, he showed up at my house with a new poulan in the box.......i never said anything to him.......heck, he can't use it himself and for me it was basically free (beggars can't be choosers).....

it's heavy
it's under powered
i know the engine will give problems, it's just a matter of time
the two pc. connection- i don't think it'll hold up, i'm always afraid i'll break it


up side
it works and does the job
a lot less money- for me free
i do prefer it over type with a rope in most situations but i've only use the rope type for the loper part, never the agressive saw so it may do better

i know, tough call.......if it were to die, i'd try to find a nice used one again, in a stihl or echo.......i don't mind paying for good tools....

 

[two_bit_score]

I've been pretty happy with my $100 electric one. Don't use it much but it gets the job done, no starting problems If I need it remote from power I simply take a small generator. All my overhead limb trimming has been along a driveway so the FEL with the generator sitting in it works nicely. I've even run it off the 2kW invertor installed in my truck. Can't recall the name but I see the same one sold under several names.

My wife bought the $100 one and I thought it was junk until I used it and liked it so much I bought a $500 Stihl for the farm.

 

[RavensRoost]

I have had the Echo PPT 260 for about 2 years now and I can offer a few observations about it.
Pros:
* Very well made and sturdy.
* Extension to over 12'? eliminates the ladder in many cases.
* Even though it may sit for months at a time it usually starts right up.
* Quite powerful. Not only is it useful for cutting down good size limbs it is also very handy at limbing once the branch is on the ground.

Cons:
*It will give you quite a workout because of the leverage involved in holding the pole to where it needs to be to make the cut without getting the bar pinched. Overall its not that heavy but when your holding it overhead for any period of time it is straining.
*Will tend to leak bar oil out of the tank when stored flat on the ground. I have dealt with this by just putting a piece of cardboard underneath it.
*I'm not sure that this is really a negative but it did retail for close to $600 if I remember correctly. I say this because it is a quality built machine that should last a lifetime if maintained properly.

As others have mentioned you get what you pay for. Good luck on your decision.

I have the Echo PPT 265 which seems to be a slightly newer version of, or perhaps the replacement for, what nolefan has. I agree with what he said, I got mine online for about $500 + shipping. It will definitely give your back and arms a workout, but a heck of a lot safer way to trim limbs than chainsaw + ladder.

RavensRoost

 

[20 20]

big box store brands are,.,.,.,..,.,.,, well to put it simply, JUNK. I'd personally walk away from pullin and pullin and pulling and pullin.

 

[QRTRHRS]

Thought I would add another two cents here. The "stick" saw definately is the way to go over a ladder and chain saw or a hand saw on a stick.

My other thought was that I always use a hard hat and protect what hearing I have left with foam earplugs while pruning. Never know what might hit you in the noggin.

 

[BudinTenn]

I am leaning toward the Echo. Have had good luck with one of their stick edgers and a weed eater. A brother in law has one of the Stihls and likes it other than it "gets pretty heavy". I too am thru with the ladder and chain saw technique. Thanks for the opinions.

 

[MikeD74T]

I bought a JOHN DEERE PS2683L on EBAY 4 years ago. Was disappointed when I opened the box, seemed small & frail, but not after using it. It lives in my truck, always starts, & and cuts very well. I paid about $250 -they're still just under $300. Have used it extensively clearing property/fence lines reaching under brush & limbs cutting 6'-12' evergreens, alders, etc, a nasty job with a chainsaw or swingsaw. The only complaint is that it tends to wrap twigs up in the chainguard but they easily pull clear. MikeD74T