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Chainsaws: Ratings of Sources
Total of 17 Sources
7 New Chain Saws Reviewed: Comparison Test
by Thomas Klenck
Our Assessment

To test seven gas chainsaws with engine sizes from 35 cc to 38 cc, a Popular Mechanics team "spent three days pruning an ancient orchard, felling trees and crosscutting them into logs." Each of the seven chainsaws is given a rating of up to five stars (none has less than three). The top three in these ratings are the Husqvarna 240 e-series, Stihl MS 210 C-BE and Echo CS-370. A short write-up lists the pros and cons of each model tested, and the review is followed by comments posted by chainsaw owners. There is also a chart comparing the noise levels of the chainsaws in the test, though ratings do not take noise level into account. The Echo CS-370 and the Solo 636, which placed fourth in the ratings, are the quietest. However, because even the Echo is rated at 99 decibels, the editors recommend that users wear noise-reducing earmuffs.

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2. ConsumerReports.org
Oct. 2006
Chain Saws
by Editors of ConsumerReports.org
Our Assessment

ConsumerReports.org tests a larger number of chainsaws, but because this report is three years old, the newer Popular Mechanics review above is more relevant. A total of 25 gas and electric chainsaws from 10 major brands are rated and ranked based on objective tests of cutting speed, safety, ease of use and ease of maintenance. The ratings chart also specifies whether or not the chainsaw has any of 11 desirable features. Though the editors encourage the use of electric chainsaws, only two of the six "best buy" models are electric. Editors don't rate chainsaws for sound level or even specify it in decibels. Because of this article's age, several models have been discontinued.

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3. Tools of the Trade
March 1, 2007
Electric Chainsaws
by Michael Springer
Our Assessment

This is the most informative review we found; It explains how each feature of an electric chainsaw affects its safety, maintenance, performance and ease of use. The reviewer put nine of the most powerful electric chainsaws through objective tests that include cutting two sizes of square timbers. Chain brakes are tested to see whether they activate easily by inertia; each chainsaw is also tested for balance and grip torque. Michael Springer says the Stihl MSE 180 C-BQ "just seemed to get everything right" and names it his overall winner. Next on his list are the Stihl MSE 220 and Husqvarna 316 chainsaws, and Springer gives the Craftsman 34118 "the special designation of Value Choice among its competition."

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4. Amazon.com
As of Sept. 2009
Chain Saws
by Contributors to Amazon.com
Our Assessment Amazon.com publishes owner-written reviews and ratings of the chainsaws sold here, listing the average rating and the number of reviews right on the list of models. Several gas and electric models have enough ratings and reviews to provide a good first-person perspective on them, based on their use over time.
5. Sears.com
As of Sept. 2009
Chain Saws
by Contributors to Sears.com
Our Assessment Owners can post ratings and comments at Sears.com, and because Craftsman chainsaws are only sold at Sears, this is one of the few spots to read user reviews for that brand. Of the chainsaw models that have a significant number of owner reviews, the Craftsman 34118 electric and the Husqvarna 455 Rancher gas chainsaws get the highest ratings; each earns 4.5 out of five stars.
6. Lowes.com
As of Sept. 2009
Chain Saws
by Contributors to Lowes.com
Our Assessment

Lowe's publishes owners' ratings and reviews of the gas and electric chainsaws sold here. No electric model has enough ratings for them to be meaningful. Husqvarna gas chainsaws get significantly higher ratings than Poulan models; among the Poulan chainsaws, the P4018 gets the best rating -- 3.3 out of five stars. Lowe's uses its own model numbers for the Husqvarna saws but doesn't give the corresponding Husqvarna model numbers. It appears, though, that the two Husqvarna models that are top-rated here have been discontinued; the current models to which they most closely correspond are the 445 and the 435, respectively.

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7. HomeDepot.com
As of Sept. 2009
Chain Saws
by Contributors to HomeDepot.com
Our Assessment HomeDepot.com publishes owner-written reviews and ratings of the chainsaws sold here - mostly Echo and Homelite models. No gas chainsaw has accumulated enough ratings or reviews for them to be meaningful. Among electric chainsaws, the inexpensive Homelite UT43100 gets the best ratings -- an average of 4.5 out of five stars.
Is a Quiet Chainsaw an Oxymoron?
by Editors of Noise Pollution Clearinghouse
Our Assessment

This useful review provides a good overview of which electric chainsaws are best-suited to different uses and budget requirements. In addition, electric chainsaws are rated and ranked based on the results of tests conducted by a team that included a professional logger and an acoustical expert. In the end, the review recommends the Husqvarna 316E and Makita UC 4000 as "exceptional cut quality saws" that are also quiet. However, because of this article's age, we rate it lower than the articles from Popular Mechanics and ConsumerReports.org.

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9. The Wall Street Journal
Feb. 4, 2006
Joining the Chainsaw Gang
by Gwendolyn Bounds
Our Assessment

This comparison review is interesting because it's written from the point of view of a novice chainsaw user. Gwendolyn Bounds tests three gas chainsaws and one electric model with the help of two professional landscapers familiar with 15 brands. Comparing the gas chainsaws, she finds the Stihl MS 180 C-BE MiniBoss by far the easiest to start and names it "my favorite saw overall," and the Husqvarna 142-E proves fastest. Bounds also tries out an electric saw, the Husqvarna 316E, and likes its performance and ease of use. She concludes that "if you don't have much property and can tolerate an extension cord, an electric might be the chainsaw to cut your teeth on.

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10. Mother Earth News
Oct.-Nov. 2005
Electric Chain Saws
by Neil Soderstrom
Our Assessment

Neil Soderstrom, the author of a book on chainsaw use and maintenance, tests three electric chainsaws at different price points but doesn't compare them with directly competing models. Based on the reviewer's personal experience, the Stihl 180C is judged as powerful as a midsize gas chainsaw. The Remington is light and inexpensive but hardest to maintain, and the midrange Husqvarna 316E offers good safety features. A reader adds a detailed review of the 18-volt cordless Ryobi chainsaw.

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11. The Washington Post
Jan. 20, 2005
Chainsaws on the Cutting Edge
by Mike McClintock
Our Assessment In this older review, Mike McClintock, a columnist for The Washington Post, recommends four chainsaws ranging in cutting power from entry-level to pro. The descriptions are detailed, making this review a good buyer's guide, and we'd rank it higher if it were newer and made it clear that competing models were tested.
12. This Old House
March 2006
Good Fellers
by Harry Sawyers
Our Assessment Tool expert Harry Sawyers recommends four gas chainsaws, one corded electric chainsaw and one cordless model, but descriptions are very brief and no testing is documented.
Black & Decker 18-Volt Cordless Chainsaw
by Diana Forbes
Our Assessment This single-product review rates the 18-volt Black & Decker cordless chainsaw based on testing, recommending it for pruning branches no larger than 7 inches in diameter. Reviewer Diana Forbes gives this chainsaw high marks for ease of use and value. Although it requires manual oiling, its 6.2-pound weight makes it easy to maneuver.
14. ConsumerGuide.com
Not Dated
Chain Saw Stuff Guide
by Editors of ConsumerGuide.com
Our Assessment ConsumerGuide.com provides single-product reviews and ratings of nine chainsaws, with four recommended as best buys. The reviews are out of date, however; of the models named best buys, only the Husqvarna 455 Rancher has not been discontinued since the review was written. Though ratings seem to be based on actual testing, the testing methods aren't documented.
15. ReviewCentre.com
As of Sept. 2009
Chainsaw
by Contributors to ReviewCentre.com
Our Assessment

This British site invites consumers to rate and review different products. The site itself doesn't sell any products, and the only reviews are those posted by consumers, and it's a credible source of information. Unfortunately, most chainsaws haven't gotten many reviews, and the two that have gotten the most reviews and the highest ratings are both expensive professional models: the Husqvarna 455 Rancher and the Stihl MS 361, which sells for more than $600.

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16. Wayne of the Woods
Not Dated
Chainsaw Reviews
by Wayne Murray
Our Assessment

This site consists primarily of a comparison chart detailing the price, power and weight, and special features of 15 gas chainsaws. At the beginning, the reviewer (Wayne Murray, presumably) recommends two Husqvarna models, one of which has been discontinued, for homeowner use. However, there's not much information here on the reviewer himself, and the information appears to be out of date, judging from how many of the models in the chart have been discontinued. One useful feature is the links in the chart to other sites where reviews, user comments or other information can be found.

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17. GardenWeb.com
As of Sept. 2009
Best Chain Saw for the Money
by Contributors to GardenWeb.com
Our Assessment Contributors to this forum discussion share firsthand experiences with consumer and pro models. Stihl, Echo and Husqvarna chainsaws seem to get the most recommendations. This is a good forum for asking detailed questions, not only about the best chainsaw for your needs, but about problems and repair issues. It's also searchable, and you can look for discussions about a particular model.

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