After doing a little research and seeing some great reviews, I decided to purchase the ECHO CS-590 20" chainsaw for $399 from Home Depot. I am not affiliated with either co., just want to pass on my experience.

This thing is awesome! I have only used it for a couple of hours so far but it cut through a 20+ inch White Oak like buhdda! I am thinking about getting a 2nd one as a back-up.

What chainsaws do y'all use?

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Echo-20-in-59-8-cc-Gas-Chainsaw-CS-590-20/204088613

A husky 181 that's been ported and seems like cheating, and a lil echo 3000 that makes short work of small stuff and I've been using a pizz out of clearing our lot.



People like to bash echo's as junk, but considering how used my echo was when I got it, and how much use I've gotten out of it, I have to admit they make some useable and abuseable saws.

Echos are good saws..

I have a blue Dolmar, aka Makita, 6400.

Ran like a raped ape until my monkey azz over tightend the spark plug and pulled the threads three days ago.

I know one guy that uses the Echos for arbor work and loves them. I've no experience with them.

I'm only an occasional user now, but when the occasion arises... Stihl 020T and MS361.

For a number of years, I have been using an Echo CS 400. I carry it with me when 4X4 trail riding in the National Forest, and for general around the house use.
It runs with the best of 'em.

I love my Echo weedeater.

Somebody stole the Homelite 18" saw from my truck 4-5 years ago. I was 50-50 split between a 20" Husky or Stihl for a replacement. Ended up with the Stihl only because it could be repaired locally and not the Husky. If I ever find who stole my Homelite I'll shake his hand and buy him a beer.

At the time I really needed the 20" saw and would do the same again, but a year later bought a 14" Echo. I've used both a LOT over the last 4-5 years and am quite pleased with both.

I paid about $400 or $450 for my Stihl at the time. I think the same saw is over $500 now and would give serious thought to buying a 20" Echo for that price. If it is as good as my 14" saw, it is a good one.

Ask Greg Norman what saw he uses.................

Me? I use a Stihl 026

I bought the Echo-CS590 20 in saw about a month ago. I've cut down and cut up four very large trees and two dead trees and a bunch of fallen limbs and small dug up trees. I bought a field sharpening kit and have sharpened it twice. It has bunches of power.

If I was Greg Norman, you'd have to ask my Mexicans.

I have the 14" (forgot the model #) had it for years, good little saw!

maybe NOW he'll be using the Mexicans.............

http://ftw.usatoday.com/2014/09/greg-norman-chainsaw-accident

Stihl. I keep these two going with parts from the internet and bone yards in the area.

A Husqvarna 61 that is 30 years old and a Husqvarna 346XP that I got cheap from a pawn shop. The 346 does the major duty, but the 20 inch bar on the 61 is called for large tree felling.

For some strange reason I really like chainsaws and enjoy using them. I cut about 15-20 cords a year, full cords not face cords. I have saws made by Echo, Efco, Dolmar, Husqvarna and Stihl. One of the Echo's is a CS 600P, which is an earlier version of the 590. It is an excellent saw which is pretty much the equal of the 360 Pro Stihl.

If you really want to improve the performance of that saw, give it a muff mod, pull the limiters on the carb and tune it. Throw some full chisel on it, then look in the mirror to see the big smile that will be on your face.

I'm still running the Echo 550 EVL I bought new in '85. Been making a living for almost 40yrs with saws of all different brands and sizes. Other than replacing bars,chains,and a few sprockets nothing has needed repaired or replaced on my Echo.

A friend gave me a Husky with a 20 in.bar.don't know what number it is but it gas a compression release on it.

It works a lot harder than i want to these days.

I have a 25 year old Husky 45 that runs like a top and a brand new Echo 303T for trimming around the house and farm. kwg
http://www.echo-usa.com/Products/Chain-Saws/CS-303T

McCulloch Super Pro 70 and 60, Husky 346xp and 371xp and Rancher 55, Stihl 026 and 032.

There's a big diff between the pro models vs landowner vs homeowner saws these days.

The Echo's ain't bad saws, but nothing like the pro Stihls and Huskys (Weight, power, acceleration, reliability).

Echo dealers tend to cater to the lawn and tree maintenance guys and offer good service. But I'm a bit skeptical of the models of saws offered at places like HD or Lowes regardless of brand......

Casey

We would flog the chit outta multiple brands of saws clearing and cutting firewood, and everyone that had an echo or two loved 'em.

You've got that right. The box stores saws are made to a price point and lack the bigger cc engines that make a saw more powerful and easier to use.

What's a face cord ??

Echo makes some fine pro saws..

I can't speak to their chain saws, but I have a string/blade trimmer I bought 15 years ago that is a fine piece of equipment.

One row of 4'x8'x16" split... never understood it.

A face cord is 4' x8' x whatever length the wood was cut. A true cord is 4'x8'x8'. Around here a face cord is called a rick.

This

You are certainly correct in that there is a big difference between pro and farm/homeowner saws. The 590 Echo is a "sleeper" in that it is pretty much a pro saw build that is based on the 600P model, but comes with a homeowner type bar and chain, believe it also has a spur type sprocket instead of a rim. I do not think there is a better saw value anywhere by anyone right now.

For a couple of bucks more money, Stihl offers the 291 and Husky offers the 455. Both are homeowner/farm type saws and neither is even close to the 590 Echo in performance or build quality.

I would not argue that a Stihl 362 or the Husky 562 is a better choice for the professional, but remeber that comes at a price, at least $300 more than the Echo 590. For the casual, even enthusiast user it is very hard to beat the Echo for the money.

I have a few, Stihl MS260 Pro, Stihl 029 Farm Boss and Stihl MS170 Mini Boss and like them all.

Im not real happy with my echo leaf blower right now. I bought one two years ago with a five year warranty that recently stopped working. Turns out there are a lot of exceptions to the warranty. For example, the unit is approved for use with ethanol gas, but somehow if it screws up the carb its not covered under warranty.

My old el cheapo poulan lasted ten years at about half the price.

Husqvarna 562 XP with a 20". This thing kicks butt..

I own two Husky 450 Ranchers, one in Idaho and one in Texas, and they do all that I need. They keep the dead trees in a bundle for the wood stoves on both properties and start within a few pulls after many months of non-use. For my use I do not see a need for anything more.

I purchased an Echo years ago at Home Depot. Only use it for trimming limbs & small trees at my lake house & occasionally at my city home. Don't cut fire wood so the Echo does everything I need.

Don't take this wrong.....but,
A warranty does not cover stupidity.
Ethanol and carbs are not compatible.
Use non-ethanol gas (if you can) and your troubles should be few.
Most people buy a gallon or five of that wonderful ethanol your government is shoving down your throat, mix it 50:1 (maybe) and it sits in the garage for the summer or even better, all winter.
Then in spring they pull their 2 stroke whatever brand, out of the garage,
fill it with the gas they have in their can and expect to trim away like when she was new.
99% of the people with trouble didn't winterize or care for their fuel or carb in anyway.

According to your machine's Manuel, you should throw out any ethanol gas that has sat for 30 days or more.

No doubt ethanol is bad news for carbed equipment. I use non ethanol in all my 2 cycle engines, I have to get it from another state or I would use it in all my small engines.

So far ethanol gas has ruined gaskets in my Honda powered splitter, Robin-Subaru powered pressure washer, 2 Brigs powered lawn mowers and worst of all my BMW motorcycle which is fuel injected but it ate the lines!!!!!

Startron or Stabil Marine helps but bottom line is ethanol gas SUCKS!!!

I am inclined to agree that the fuel was the problem, not the equipment. Even though the alcohol is only supposed to be 10%, many that test it report higher percentages.

I was talking to a mechanic at the Polaris shop.
He said ethanol gas is great for selling shop time.........
Eats any and all rubber it finds......
Fuel injected stuff can get away with it.
Carbs.......not so much.

This is pretty much what I discovered in my research and the reason why I purchased the CS-590. Also, the parts are interchangeable so can easily be upgraded. Not sure if it's true, but a lot of people claim that ECHO does not have a homeowner line and they are all professional grade.

Just to say it, a cord of wood is 128 cubic feet of wood, with the wood cut at 24 inches each. A Rick is cut at 18 inches.

I have a Stihl Farm Boss and a Ms180c. Both are great.

The other day my Home Depot had a refurbished Echo 590 for $299. This thread is making me wish I had given it a closer look.

I've always been a fan of Echo but the newer orange saws look cheaper made to me than the old gray saws. We have an old 440/4400 that is my favorite saw out of the three we have. With a sharp chain it will run through anything but its usually reserved for cedar and brush clearing. An Echo with similar power to a Husky 55 would be a force to be reckoned with.