Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire throw away chainsaws

I don't consider it a "throwaway" but I bought a Stihl MS170 a few months ago for $159.99 for use around the yard. It starts fast, cuts well (within the limits of the bar length and power) and sips gas. I don't heat with wood so I couldn't see buying a $500 chainsaw for the half-dozen times a year I might need one.

A few years back, I told my wife I wanted a chainsaw for my birthday. The local Stihl dealer is a friend and neighbor of her family. I just assumed she'd go there, and he'd pick out what I needed.

Instead, she went to TSC, and bought the biggest Poulan "Wild Thing" saw they had.

I learned a lesson there. I'll pick out my own tools from now on.

It does crank, run, and cut wood. I guess that's about all a man really needs in a saw. I wouldn't want it for serious use, however.

I tossed my Stihl about a year ago, after 35 years. Bought another Stihl. I think that's cheaper than a throw away, especially when you consider reliability and not having issues when you need to get work done.

I’ve been a loyal fan of the cheap Poulans - right around the 32/34 cc size with 16” bars. I’ll bet I’ve owned, beaten, drowned, or worn out 6-8 of them over the past 30 years. Getting them “used” off from Amazon for $80-90, shipped, has made watching one bounce behind the sled a lot less painful.



And throwing away the one I three-sided the logs for this cabin with was no cause for grief either; certainly cheaper to replace than rebuild.

(I’m always amazed at the apparent number of people who can’t seem to figure out how to operate two-stroke powered equipment.)

I picked up this little echo off of flea by for $40 (shipping almost doubled that)



I wanted a little cheap saw to carry on my snowmachine to deal with downed trees on trails that was cheap enough that I didn't care if I lost it.

I've spent about double the initial cost in extra chains, a new bar, replacement vibration mounts and a carb rebuild, but the thing just won't die. I'm sure it was used hard prior to my getting it, but it's perfect for limbing and dealing with our never ending alders. Since most of our lot was alders, it got most of the use and accounted for at least three cords of firewood. Something to be said for a small light saw for dealing with small wood.

I will be getting a husky 562xp when I deplete our supply of firewood and need to cut some real wood, but the little echo will be coming along for limbing duty.