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The most helpful favorable review
The most helpful critical review
45 of 47 people found the following review helpful:
Good Saw
This is a good chainsaw. I have only used it about 3 hours, so any reliability or wear issues are moot at this point. The best feature -- trivial, but you can see how much bar oil is remaining through the side of the saw.
My first chain saw was an antique McCullouch with a 24 in. bar that weighed about 20 lbs. I learned a lot from it, especially that light...
Published 18 months ago by Harry G. Arnold
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5 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
Disappointed by lack of Safety Brake
Disappointed by the lack of Safety Brake... and the lack of shipping box. This unit will run on after you let go the trigger and has NO safety brake like other electrics and gas chain saws I have used. Also they just stuck a label on the retail box which is not a suitable UPS carton on it's own.
I sent this back and bought the 18" Pro version with saftey...
Published 14 months ago by Honest Guy
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45 of 47 people found the following review helpful:
Good Saw, January 25, 2009
This review is from: Poulan ES350 16-Inch 3.5 HP Electric Chain Saw (Lawn & Patio)
This is a good chainsaw. I have only used it about 3 hours, so any reliability or wear issues are moot at this point. The best feature -- trivial, but you can see how much bar oil is remaining through the side of the saw.
My first chain saw was an antique McCullouch with a 24 in. bar that weighed about 20 lbs. I learned a lot from it, especially that light weight chainsaws are safer than heavy ones.
My second chain saw was a HomeLite E-Z 16" that was recommended by someone who once rented chain saws. It weighed about 10 lbs and cut fire wood for my stove for 15 years. I literally used this saw up, but it would still crank and cut wood when I got rid of it.
What I learned from these two saws is that the most dangerous thing to do is to try and cut a limb or log above your head. The saw will fall onto your thigh. The lighter the saw, the less likely it is that this will happen in an uncontrolled fashion.
My next saw was a saw that a professional tree cutter took up a 90 foot tree and topped it with the saw supported by his fully extended arm. I won't name the brand because it was a real mess on the ground, leaking bar oil all over the place in spite of repeated attempts to have it repaired.
Now I have this Poulan ES-350. I got it because I am too old to go deeper than an extension cord into the woods, and I am tired of the hazards and frustration associated with cranking the gas models. The electric is light weight, and I have been able to easily saw through 12 in. green maple logs. It isn't as fast at cutting as the above three saws, but it is light enough that one can safely cut at extended arm lengths (if one is careful).
A word about chains. The Poulan comes with a "low kick back" chain. I don't know why they make them, probably some regulatory-liability thing, because no chainsaw is kick-back proof, so Beware!. At any rate, I have read reviews of the replacement chain for this saw saying the the chains don't last. I have been unable to identify a chain that isn't "low kick back" for this saw, so I will use the Poulan replacement chain (after sharpening the original for a year or so). The main reason a chain goes dull is that it hits dirt, sand, rocks or wet wood. You can feel the sharp edge of a cutter blade just as you can feel the sharp edge of a knife. If it feel smooth, instead of "grabbing" your finger, it needs sharpening.
A word about extension cords. The hidden cost of this saw is a 100 ft. 14 gauge extension cord (most of the ones you have at home are probably 16 guage - not big enough). This brings the total cost of the saw to around $125, compared to $250 or even $350 for the gasoline saws I mentioned above. I don't recommend the following, but I have heard that this saw can run with 150 ft of 14 ga. extension cords. I REALLY don't recommend this, but I have heard that the saw can run with a 100 ft. 12 guage cord plugged into the wall, and 150 ft. of 14 guage exetension cords plugged into the 12 guage cord. (The longer the cord, the more likely you are to cut through it.)
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25 of 25 people found the following review helpful:
Impressive Performance, November 13, 2008
This review is from: Poulan ES350 16-Inch 3.5 HP Electric Chain Saw (Lawn & Patio)
I purchased this saw for a 'yard' tool on my acreage, to break tree trunks and limbs down to firewood length. Delivery was prompt, the price was right, and my first impressions of the Poulan 3 1/2 hp are very favorable. The bar and chain are the same size and type as my old Homelite saw, and the weight is similar. I'm using a 25' #14ga. extension cord at present, with no sign of excessive heat in the cord. This is my first a.c. electric saw, and I'm very impressed with the torque, cutting ability, and overall utility of this unit. I'd buy it again, and although I nearly purchased the larger four hp. version, I am very satisfied with this saw. After forty plus years of chain saw usage, I've never owned and seldom needed a bar length of greater than 16". The 'light' saws have always performed and lasted well for me, and this Poulan fits my needs.
Tips: The electric motor develops full torque and horsepower the moment the switch is triggered, unlike gas-powered saw which 'ramp-up' via a centrifugal clutch, so be prepared to cut when you hit the switch, i.e. have a secure grip; I've not had problems with the cord, but I'd guess that many will trip on, cut through, or otherwise abuse the power source. Be aware of your footing at all times; The saw is much quieter than my old 'gas-guzzler', but still loud enough that hearing protection seems a wise idea; The unit doesn't seem to use much bar oil, but the chain and bar remain reasonably cool after repeated cuts through green hickory, so I'm satisfied that the automatic oiler is working well.
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17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:
Works quite well, excellent price!, July 21, 2008
This review is from: Poulan ES350 16-Inch 3.5 HP Electric Chain Saw (Lawn & Patio)
Moved into a house with overgrown trees in back. Had to do a lot of cutting. Was using a reciprocating saw which worked well but time consuming. Cutting a 10 inch branch took a lot of effort and most often than not bent the saw blade. Was constantly changing blades and the cost was rapidly adding up!
So I decided to see what I could get for around $125.00 and was surprised to see that I could get a pretty powerful saw for around $100 bucks! I had a cheapie electric chain saw a long time ago that someone left at the old house we lived in. Having a pretty good experience using it, I decided to go for this saw.
Suffice to say, I AM NOT DISSAPOINTED. This works very well and I can cut things down in record time! My only contention is that it uses a lot of oil, but if it saves the saw blade .. so be it! The other is that it's a bit heavy to lug up a tree for a person under 145 lbs. It's hard to handle one handed (sawing a large branch while trying to hold on with the other hand) and that could be an adventure. But it works and works well!
I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this to others. Great saw for the price!
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12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
Great saw for occasional use!, September 20, 2008
This review is from: Poulan ES350 16-Inch 3.5 HP Electric Chain Saw (Lawn & Patio)
Got this saw a while back cause I knew I'd need it eventually. Hurricane Ike knocked the top off of a 17" diameter tree. Used this saw to finish falling the tree and for getting it into manageable pieces. If you don't use a saw very often gas models tend to get gummed up and/or hard to start. This beauty of an electric sat and waited until it was needed and then preformed admirably. It chops up 10-12" logs like butter. Larger diameters are possible but slower. The product description claims up to 32" logs can be cut. Do not buy this saw if you have lumber that big to cut! I'm sure it is possible but this is not the saw for jobs that big.
I've owned a few saws including an old 6" or 8" Sears electric (nice but it had a manual oiler and it was just too small), an electric Remington (Cheap Junk, noisy), a gas powered Homelite (hard to start, noisy, smoky, vibrates ), and this Poulan 16 inch electric (best saw I've ever owned, fairly quiet, powerful, large enough for some serious work, automatic oiler, etc.).
BTW order direct from Amazon for a good price and free "super saver" shipping. Sometimes other retailers come up that may not offer as good of a deal. Shop around.
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11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
A Great Saw For The Price, April 29, 2008
This review is from: Poulan ES350 16-Inch 3.5 HP Electric Chain Saw (Lawn & Patio)
I recently had a VERY large oak tree blow over in my front yard. I tried to get my $250 STIHL gas powered saw to start and as usual it refused to cooperate. I have bad arthritis in my shoulders and can't pull the starter cord very hard. I used this Poulan to cut that whole tree into carry-away size pieces with absolutely no problems. Even with a 100ft. extension cord it has plenty of power to cut through 14-16" limbs. If you know how to use and care for a chainsaw, you cannot find a better deal than this one. Ed in Lousiana
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11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
great chainsaw !, August 13, 2007
This review is from: Poulan ES350 16-Inch 3.5 HP Electric Chain Saw (Lawn & Patio)
I hesitated with the 4 hp 18 inch blade, which is highly rated, but i went with that one. I can tell you I love my poulan, it is very powerful! It cuts like a charm... I was able to cut trees up to 12 inches in diameter, and I was able to cut a piece of trunk that was about 28 inches in diameter and I didn't have any problem at all. As with other chainsaws, you do have a little bit of oil leaking, but it doesn't bother me.
I highly recommend it.
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10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
an excellent buy, February 16, 2008
This review is from: Poulan ES350 16-Inch 3.5 HP Electric Chain Saw (Lawn & Patio)
Although electric and fairly small, this is a serious chainsaw, and exactly what I needed to cut up limbs after a recent ice storm. It goes easily through branches up to 12 inches in diameter. Can cut bigger ones, but they take longer. It is fairly light, so a medium sized person can use it. Only maintenance is to wipe off wood chips when done. Blade adjustment seems sturdy, although it is a little early to know for sure.
Came all set up and ready to use. Has auto oiler, which is the only way to go. Many at this price level don't, so I needed to read the ads carefully.
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9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
WOW!!!, January 2, 2009
This review is from: Poulan ES350 16-Inch 3.5 HP Electric Chain Saw (Lawn & Patio)
I have used several different brands of gas powered chainsaws over the years and find this electric to be ABSOLUTELY as good as any of them. The fact of having to fight an extension cord is balanced by the fact of NOT having to fight the gas/oil mixing and the all-too-often hard starting. The ONLY disadvantage is when the electricity is out or not available like in the deep woods. For those times, I have my Stihl. I have used this Poulan electric after two disasters - Hurricane Gustav and the great snow of 2008. Both events brought medium-sized trees and really big limbs down and this thing went through everything like they were warm butter. The auto-oiler works perfectly and does NOT over-oil. The chain life has surprised me with how loooong it lasted. I would highly recommend this $67 (Amazon)chainsaw to anyone. It's not designed for the really big stuff or the long days of hard use like the big heavy duty Stihl but it is waaaaay adequate for use around our home. 5 stars!!!
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9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
Great Value, April 6, 2008
This review is from: Poulan ES350 16-Inch 3.5 HP Electric Chain Saw (Lawn & Patio)
This is the first chain saw I've owned, although I've used 3 or 4 over the years. I first used it to fell a 25 foot tree. The Poulan made short work of limbs up to 10 inches in diameter, cutting them through in less than 15 seconds. The motor maintained speed even when I was base cutting the trunk at ground level and the entire length of the blade was buried in the work. The chain tension adjustment is dead simple, and takes less than 1 minute using the all-in-one adjustment tool provided.
This saw is well balanced and easy to work with from a ladder or the ground. I've had no oil problems, nor does the unit does not leak when in storage. All in all, a great tool and a very low price.
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8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
3.5 Peak Horsepower is not 3.5 Horsepower, August 24, 2009
This review is from: Poulan ES350 16-Inch 3.5 HP Electric Chain Saw (Lawn & Patio)
This Poulan ES350 is an excellent electric chain saw and it has plenty of horsepower, but it not 3.5 horsepower. I did some research and learned where this 3.5 HP rating came from and it's not 3.5 HP. It is, as printed on the saw, 3.5 Peak HP. That rating is obtained by putting the motor on a test bench and monitoring the current while a brake is applied to the motor. As the current increases due to the brake force the current is recorded. When the motor finally stalls the current is shown to be approximately 32 Amps.
Electrically....1 HP = 746 Watts
And, Watts = Volts x Amps
Most electric motors are also derated as a result of efficiency and other factors.
Do the math:
115 Volt x 32 Amp x .72 (eff factor) / 746 watts = 3.5 Peak HP
I. E., it's a sales gimmick that doesn't tell you much except that each bench test toasts a motor.
I'm running 225 feet of extension cord. That's 200 feet of 12AWG and 25 feet of 14AWG. I also installed a fuse box in series with the cords. I started with a 5 Amp slo-blo fuse. It held for approximately a minute then opened. Then I installed a 7 Amp slo-blo fuse and have been cutting since then. I'm cutting out stumps so believe me this little Poulan ES350 is standing up to my test bench.
With my 225 feet of cord I'll guess that I'm getting:
110 Volt x 6 Amp x .72 (eff) / 746 Watts = 0.6 HP
Even that 0.6 sounds like a lot for these little dinky motors. But who am I to argue with the numbers?
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