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Joined: Apr 2008
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Campfire Tracker
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OP
Campfire Tracker
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 3,168 |
I have been using a Husqvarna 350, 52cc engine with 18" bar for the last 8 years or so. Used primarily to cut trim cedar junipers and live oaks.
I have a few large dying live oaks I need to fell and want to relegate the light rode hard Husky to trim work only.
So now I am looking for a "Farm Boss/Rancher" saw to take over the majority of the work using a 20" bar. The Husqvarna 460 and Stihl MS290 were the front runners until I read about the Echo CS-590 Timber Wolf. Anyone here have any experience with this new saw?
"Knowledge is good" � Emil Faber
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Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 19,260 Likes: 11
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 19,260 Likes: 11 |
I don't have any experience with the timberwolf but I did have an Echo CS5000 and it was junk. I wouldn't trust anything with the Echo name on it again. Stick with Stihl or Husky.
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Joined: Dec 2010
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Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Dec 2010
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no but i do own a ms290. i bought it when i had almost 20 very large white oaks dropped and needed a better saw. it cuts like a SOB all day long. i use the aggressive cut chains and it tears through 24" solid white oak no problem. truly a pleasure to cut with. of course, my last saw was a walmart poulan.
My diploma is a DD214
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Joined: Nov 2005
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Campfire Kahuna
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Campfire Kahuna
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 54,284 |
I have been using a Husqvarna 350, 52cc engine with 18" bar for the last 8 years or so. Used primarily to cut trim cedar junipers and live oaks.
I have a few large dying live oaks I need to fell and want to relegate the light rode hard Husky to trim work only.
So now I am looking for a "Farm Boss/Rancher" saw to take over the majority of the work using a 20" bar. The Husqvarna 460 and Stihl MS290 were the front runners until I read about the Echo CS-590 Timber Wolf. Anyone here have any experience with this new saw?
I just lately did a thread similar to this one. Chainsaws Admittedly, a guy dealing in Dolmars is going to run other brands down, but I talked specifically with him about Echo's since they've seemingly srpung up everywhere around here. He said the quality of the past wasn't there. I have no direct experience with them and am passing the info on FWIW. My new Dolmar along with my Dad's Farm Boss which is pretty much mine now.
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Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 26,568 Likes: 3
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 26,568 Likes: 3 |
Older SuperWoodBoss 028 has never let me down.
FJB & FJT
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Joined: Nov 2005
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Campfire Kahuna
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Campfire Kahuna
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 54,284 |
Homeowner Farm and Ranch Professional Here's why I bought a Dolmar... Dolmars The Stihl line, and IIRC the Husky line too, have so many different grades of saws that it's confusing. To me a brand should either be top-notch or entry level, to put it charitably, not make all these different levels of quality. All Dolmars are professional grade whereas you can get some junk from other brands. I didn't look up Echo because I've no experience with them. I've used both Stihl and Husky extensively, as well as Dolmar's. I can't say Dolmars are any better because they were all older ones and I'd rate all three about the same from back when I bought my last quality saw before the above Dolmar, which was 2001.
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Campfire Kahuna
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Campfire Kahuna
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 54,284 |
Older SuperWoodBoss 028 has never let me down. I don't know what that is but if it's an Echo I'm specifically passing along info pertaining to new Echo's, not the old ones which I've always heard were quality saws. I assume the OP is talking about getting a new saw.
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Joined: Jan 2012
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Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 26,568 Likes: 3 |
Stihl, I guess nowadays Stihl makes a "good and better" line or consumer and professional. When I bought mine they old only made one level.
FJB & FJT
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Campfire Kahuna
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Campfire Kahuna
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 54,284 |
Husqvarna There's just the professional grade Huskys. I counted 32 saws compared to Dolmar's 19 models and Stihl's 37.
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Joined: Apr 2008
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Campfire Tracker
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OP
Campfire Tracker
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 3,168 |
Looks like you are set with the Stihl and Dolmar.
A ranch/wild life maintenance company up the road uses Echo 450's.
Lots of abuse and dull chains, they seem to hold up. I like the little small block Chevy air cleaners they use.
I have read a lot of good things about Dolmars on the arboristsite.com forums. Cracks me up to see the pro's argue down to the gnats ass about chainsaws.
Last edited by rkamp; 09/18/13.
"Knowledge is good" � Emil Faber
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Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 54,284
Campfire Kahuna
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Campfire Kahuna
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 54,284 |
Stihl, I guess nowadays Stihl makes a "good and better" line or consumer and professional. When I bought mine they old only made one level. I'm not an expert and who knows how mine will turn out but I just looked the stuff up several times before I made a move. Stihl makes three frickin' grades, Homeowner, Farm and Ranch and Professional. Husqvarna makes two. Dolmar just makes one grade. Some of the models may have better features or whatever, but they don't got like three different monikers. If a person is getting a Stihl because they're better than anything else, why would a man get a "Homeowner's" or whatever? I want professional grade.
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Joined: Dec 2013
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New Member
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New Member
Joined: Dec 2013
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i have now purchesed 2 echo 590 they ARE THE BEST SAW YOu CAN BUY FOR 400 BUCKS, they have tons of power, no vibrations, very smooth, i have many saws, in that class a stihl 029 super, older husky 61, new 455 extra torq 460 husky, the 590 blows them away, sorry to stih and husky, but a 5 year warrenty 59cc, 20inch bar that is made extremly superior,it is a delight to run, no complaints, and i have 35 years of running chainsaws,
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Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 24,619 |
ECHO-5 YEAR warranty. Ask another brand about that. Stihl, Husky and others all make great saws. Just get the Pro Series. No need to worry about that with Echo...All of their motors are Pro Series.
P.S. My Echo is the 450, but the Timberwolf looks great.
Have Dog
Will Travel
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Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 39,301
Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 39,301 |
Homeowner Farm and Ranch Professional Here's why I bought a Dolmar... Dolmars The Stihl line, and IIRC the Husky line too, have so many different grades of saws that it's confusing. To me a brand should either be top-notch or entry level, to put it charitably, not make all these different levels of quality. All Dolmars are professional grade whereas you can get some junk from other brands. I didn't look up Echo because I've no experience with them. I've used both Stihl and Husky extensively, as well as Dolmar's. I can't say Dolmars are any better because they were all older ones and I'd rate all three about the same from back when I bought my last quality saw before the above Dolmar, which was 2001. This X 1000 Two Farm Boss saws and one Dolmar. When we cut everyone fights to get the Dolmar.
The first time I shot myself in the head...
Meniere's Sucks Big Time!!!
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Joined: Dec 2004
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Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 20,379 |
Every Echo I've run across has been a good saw.
I replace valve cover gaskets every 50K, if they don't need them sooner...
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Joined: May 2005
Posts: 6,550
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 6,550 |
The decision usually comes down to buying a pro grade saw that has local support. Here Stihl and Husqvarna are the best bets, with Stihl being the best seller. Lately Johnsered, Dolmar, and Echo have entered the area, but old timers are resistant to change, and I can't blame them.
I have a Stihl 028 Wood Boss that is 33 years old and needs a discontinued part to be A1, a Husqvarna 61 that is very powerful, and a Husqvarna 346 that is light and cuts way more powerfully than its size suggests. The 346 is my favorite.
Last edited by LeonHitchcox; 04/04/14. Reason: Autocorrect isn't
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Campfire Member
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Campfire Member
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 104 |
I have an Echo push mower that might have been the single best purchase I have ever made.
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 1,096
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 1,096 |
John, welcome to the fire.
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Joined: May 2004
Posts: 2,819
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 2,819 |
I just bought the CS-590 with a 20" bar last week. For $400, I couldn't not try it. I looked at stihl and to get as much power in a stihl, I was going to spend almost twice as much. I am not a stihl hater, I have a MS250 and a 009L that work well for me.
We will see as I have a bunch of wood to cut.
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Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 732 |
This topic, and I guess my reply, can sound like Ground Hog Day. Fresh gas with a precise mix, clean continuously air filter, and always run a sharp chain, and even the cheapo s will cover most every chainsaw and non professional loggers needs. That said, if you go buy a pro grade saw and ignore any of those details above you are pissing away good money. My saw is a Stihl 044, yes I logged for a few years. This saw is a beast, great for a pro, but too much for the average guy to plink down the money on(new model is now 046) I do own an Echo trimmer, its older, I run the circle blade on it, it is extremely reliable. The info above to make sure you have local, quality support is VERY good advice too.
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