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by Thomas Klenck
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.
by Editors of ConsumerReports.org
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.
by Michael Springer
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."
by Contributors to Amazon.com
by Contributors to Sears.com
by Contributors to Lowes.com
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.
by Contributors to HomeDepot.com
by Editors of Noise Pollution Clearinghouse
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.
by Gwendolyn Bounds
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.
by Neil Soderstrom
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.
by Mike McClintock
by Harry Sawyers
by Diana Forbes
by Editors of ConsumerGuide.com
by Contributors to ReviewCentre.com
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.
by Wayne Murray
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.
by Contributors to GardenWeb.com
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Poulan Pro PP3516AVX 16-Inch 35cc 2-Cycle Gas Powered Anti-Vibration Chain Saw
 from Amazon.com New: $139.99 In Stock.
Average Customer Review:   |
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Husqvarna 240E 16-Inch 38.2cc 2-Stroke Gas Powered Chain Saw
from Amazon.com New: $249.99 In Stock.
Average Customer Review: |
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Black & Decker CCS818 18-Volt Cordless Electric Chain Saw
from Amazon.com New: $99.00 In Stock.
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