Chainsaws: Owner Review

The Husqvarna 350 Chainsaw.

We live on a couple heavily wooded acres along private roads that are not maintained by the Council. I use a chainsaw for routine thinning, what little firewood we use, track clearing, and dispatching the occasional tree across the road.

I started with a cheap saw that wasn't up to the job. After it died I went a few years swithout a saws at all until a large tree dropped onto our power line. When Southern Electric had been and gone the time had come to get a real saw. I didn't do my homework first.

The salesman talked me into a Stihl 290. Great saw for the money, but after some use I could barely lift a coffee mug with my left hand. This is NOT a saw for people who don't use them every day. Determined to not make a mistake again, I did some research. A lot of research. Surfing the web. Studying specs. Searching arborist forum archives. I even corresponded with professionals who cut trees down for a living. For what i needed it for; ie. infrequent use but the need for a capable saw, here are the specs: -- No more than 14 pounds fully fueled, oiled, and w/ bar & chain. -- Vibration isolation system using springs, not just rubber pads. -- About 3 horsepower. -- 16" bar. -- Professional quality motor and components. Those specs cut out an awful lot of saws. The only ones left standing were the Husqvarna 350 and the Jonsered 2149 which didn't seem to be available in the UK. I got the Husqvarna 350 because we have a dealer/service place where I live.

This is a great chainsaw. I can cut for extended periods and still drink coffee afterward. It cuts quite quickly, very smoothly, and is easy to carry around between tasks. For the price i think you're getting a professional saw thats suotable for the homeowner. That's no surprise since it is from Husqvarna's professional series (saw models starting with a "3"). In addition to the standard features, and the specs listed above, you get a compression release valve for very easy starting, idiotproof choke/run/stop controls, adjustable oil flow, and magnesium chain cover.

The 350 also has the lowest vibration of any chainsaw in Husky's line, and I mean ANY saw - including the electrics. If you're new to chain saw use, don't forget to pick up the accessories that make chain saw use easy and safe. Here are a few important extras: hardhat, safety glasses, earmuffs, good work gloves, chain saw pants (more comfortable and protective than chaps), good shoes or boots (preferably steel toed), spare chain (Oregon 95VP in my case), Pferd or Husky sharpening tool that does the tips and depth gauges at the same time, and sprocket bar tip grease gun.