Major dilema...please help!

[bytor2112]

Okay, so I currently own a Stihl Chainsaw MS170..light duty home use with a 16 inch bar and a good little saw for the price. I have been considering another saw as I have needed or could have used a more powerful saw a few times recently.

Here's the thing..I also own an Echo weed eater with a straight shaft...awesome and an Echo Hedge trimmer..awesome as well. Echo does make some very good equipment...

A new Stihl.."farm and ranch saw" with a 20 inch bar (Model MS 271) is around $450.00. An Echo CS-450 with a 20 inch bar is $389.00. Echo has a five year warranty and really makes awesome stuff. That said, Stihl is the best...and a titch more powerful.

Any thoughts from the more experienced chain saw brethren out there...and sisters too? Not really into Husquvarna...but chime in if you like or other brands also.

Thanks- Bytor

[Gretchen]

DISCLAIMER: I do not know or claim to know anything about power tools of any sort. Grain-of-salt is advised.

Did you read the reviews of them? I'm sure there are sites (tool equivalent of phonescoop.com) where you can see what real people (and not their corporations) have to say about them.

[Iggy]

Worked at True Value Hardware store. Sold a lot of Poulan, Homelite, & Black & Decker to the week-end Do It Yourselfers. We had just started to carry Echo when I quit.

When I asked the loggers here in town what brand to buy - it was unanimous for Husqvarna. So I bought a 36" Husqvarna. When I separated from the ex, unfortunately he took it. I liked the little electric Poulan - it was easy for me to use to trim the whippy branches off of the downed trees. Whippy = just the right size for a whipping stick.

[bytor2112]

Haha...two sisters replied. Thanks ladies....I will likely buy the Stihl.