Gas Chainsaws

Gas-powered chainsaws deliver maximum cutting power

Among gas chainsaws, reviews rank Stihl and Husqvarna models at the top, while Echo and Solo chainsaws also get good marks. But a new Poulan Pro model is the lowest-cost gas chainsaw that gets good reviews and ratings, primarily from owners. The Poulan Poulan Pro PP3516AVX (*Est. $140) has a 35 cc engine and a 16-inch cutting bar. It features an anti-vibration system to improve comfort and safety, and has tool-free chain tensioning and auto chain oiling. Safety features include an inertia-activated chain brake (which stops the chain if it senses kickback), a low-kickback chain, a reduced-kickback cutting bar, a front hand guard and in-line handle design. This Poulan chainsaw comes with a two-year consumer warranty.

Popular Mechanics includes the Poulan Pro PP3516AVX in their test of seven gas chainsaws. Editors say it "offers a lot of cutting speed and power for such an inexpensive saw," and rate it three out of five stars. They say the chainsaw they tested stalled intermittently, but "given how well the saw ran otherwise, we suspect it's a small defect that could be taken care of under warranty." Almost 30 users at Amazon.com give the Poulan PP3516AVX four out of five stars; they comment on its light weight (11.8 pounds), good balance, and smooth operation. We find more than 30 user reviews for this Poulan chainsaw at NorthernTool.com and Ben Franklin Hardware's website, with the average rating the same as at Amazon.com (four of five stars) and with most owners expressing satisfaction with this budget gas chainsaw.

The Husqvarna 455 Rancher (*Est. $420) gas chainsaw consistently gets top ratings from experts, but it is a professional model that provides more power than the average homeowner probably needs. A less expensive, fairly new Husqvarna model, the Husqvarna 240 e-series (*Est. $250), is more suitable for moderate use. It is included in Popular Mechanics' test of gas chainsaws and tied for the top rating with the more expensive Stihl MS-211 C-BE (*Est. $320). The Husqvarna 240 e-series chainsaw has a 38.2 cc engine, and Husqvarna recommends a 13- to 16-inch cutting bar (the tested model had a 16-inch bar). The 240 e-series includes Smart Start features for easy starting and tool-free chain tensioning, and engine technology that reduces fuel consumption and emissions. Popular Mechanics says the Husqvarna chainsaw is a "great saw," easy to start and with smooth operation; editors cite its vibration dampening system as well. Overall, they give this chainsaw a perfect rating. Husqvarna chainsaws come with a two-year warranty.

Popular Mechanics also includes the 36.3 cc Echo CS-370 (*Est. $270) in its review of gas chainsaws. This Echo chainsaw has an anti-kickback guard on the bar tip and an inertia-activated chain brake, plus a five-year warranty -- a lot longer than most. The Echo CS-370 doesn't provide tool-free chain tensioning but positions the chain-adjustment screws on the side, where reviewers say it's most convenient. Auto-oiling is adjustable, and air-filter maintenance is minimized by tool-free access plus an air pre-cleaner; Echo's i-30 starting technology makes the CS-370 easy to start, according to reviews. It's available with 14-, 16-, or 18-inch cutting bars; Popular Mechanics tested the 18-inch version.

Editors at Popular Mechanics rate the Echo CS-370 4.5 out of a possible five. They say the only criticism they can levy against it is its rather small starter handle; otherwise, the CS-370 is "almost perfect." Owner reviews and ratings also give the CS-370 high marks, although there aren't many reviews for the chainsaw on any one site. At Amazon.com, for example, five owners rate the CS-370 chainsaw four out of five stars, and four people at each of two sites, HomeDepot.com and BackyardBoss.com give it five out of five stars.

For a relatively fast cutting speed plus some convenience features, reviews recommend the Stihl MS 180 C-BE chainsaw (*Est. $230). It has a 32 cc engine and a 14-inch cutting bar. The bar

lacks a tip guard, but it tapers at the end to help prevent kickback. (This chainsaw can also be equipped with bars 12- or 16-inches long, but it offers the best balance best with the 14-inch.) Chain adjustment is tool-free, and bucking spikes on the front of the saw hold a log in place during a cut -- this is especially convenient for cutting firewood. Though gas chainsaws size the chain-oil tank to leave a reserve when the gasoline runs out, reviewers say it's still convenient to be able to check the oil level easily with a translucent tank like the one on this Stihl chainsaw. The MS 180 C-BE features Stihl's Easy2Start system, which reviewers say works very well, and a quickstop chain brake that stops the chain in a fraction of a second and is activated manually or by inertia.

The Wall Street Journal's Gwendolyn Bounds tested several chainsaws for a 2006 review, and found the Stihl MS 180 C-BE easier to start than the Husqvarna, Craftsman and Echo gas chainsaws included in the test. She writes that it was her favorite chainsaw to use overall. The 180 C-BE is one of the gas chainsaws tested by ConsumerReports.org for their 2006 test.

Another consumer-grade Stihl gas chainsaw that gets good reviews is the 35.2 cc Stihl MS 211 C-BE (*Est. $320), which testers say is most balanced when fitted with a 16-inch bar. (The MS 211 (*Est. $290) is almost identical, except that it lacks the MS211 C-BE's Easy2Start system and tool-free chain adjustment.) The Stihl MS 211 C-BE has the same safety features the MS 180 C-BE offers, plus a slightly larger engine for more power. The MS 211 C-BE (then marketed as the 210 C-BE) is the top choice in Popular Mechanics' 2008 comparison, in which editors like the Easy2Start System and say that although this model is rated for homeowner use, it "cuts like a pro product." Stihl chainsaws carry a one-year warranty and are made in the United States.