Blue Max 18-Inch 45cc 2-Cycle Gas Powered Chain Saw (Non-CARB Compliant) #03265

I bought the chain saw to cut up some fire wood I recently cut down in the mountains with a friend of mine. I had a 14" Homelite and though it did not do a bad job it was under powered to cut the larger trees down. We brought back about 3 cords in 10 foot lengths. Using just this saw we cut about 1/2 of the wood into 16" lengths, in just over 1 1/2 hours . I found the saw easy to start and with minimal adjustments I had it running just right. It smokes a little heavy and I am going to cut down the gas to oil mix to about 32:1. My friend wanted to know what I paid for it $200.00 - $250.00 when I told him $99.00 he couldn't believe it. I only gave it 4 stars because it does have a lot of cheap plastic on it and I hope that holds up. So far so good.

For the money the saw works very well. It doesn't bog down. It starts easily, except there is some pull back on the initial pull. The casing is kind of cheap but what do you expect for $100.

The saw has good power and cuts real well bar and chain are like some Husqvarna and are somewhat hard to find in my area. Engine case appears to be metal wich should offer improved life over some of the plastic/nylon case units as the bar bolts to the case and balance seems to be good. having said this I can only give this saw 3stars because of a heavy 25:1 fuel mix ratio and only fair fuel comsumption rate.Also I have had a little trouble keeping the chain tight as the tension adjuster seems to be of lower quality than it should be. Also chain break seems to be a little too activate whean wearing gloves.
Overall I would recomned this saw to someone on a tight budget or a fixed income like me because its hard to find any saw with its power and features for under $200 and this was only $99.

Good product at a good price! Does exactly was it says on the box. This chain saw has plenty of power and is tough enough for the bigger trees. I would recommend it to anyone. I got it for the aftermath of hurricain Ike and it did not disappoint.

I received the saw yesterday. I was not too impressed with the overall cosmetics of the machine. The outer case is made of the typical Chinese plastic used in Homier and Harbor Freight tools. I am sure it will do the job but it does not provide the look of quality. The cheap informational stickers plastered on the case also does not help the appearance. That said, I did not buy the saw as a house decoration. I bought it to cut wood, and cut wood it does. It uses the same 72 link .325 pitch, .058 gauge chain with 18-inch bar that is used on a Husqvarna. As you probably know, these are a little more heavy duty than those used on the Craftsman, Poulan and Homelite saws. A previous reviewer mentioned that they thought that the saw was a little heavier than expected. This is probably because of the heavier bar and chain.

As another reviewer stated, this saw does not have a primer bulb. Despite the lack of that feature, the saw started without any problems as long as you followed the starting procedure specified in the user manual. In addition to the pull choke lever, this saw also has a throttle position button that absolutely must be set in order to easily start the saw. Ignore that button and try to start it like you would your Craftsman or Poulan saw, and you can pull all day and the saw will not start. I started the Blue Max several times both hot and cold without difficulty. Also remember that the amount of choke needed to start a saw is dependent upon ambient temperature. On a warm day little to no choke may be required.

After doing the starting tests, it was time to put the saw through its paces. I had a 14 inch birch in the woods in mind for this test. Well the saw ripped through that with out any problems. I did not experience the unwanted chain brake activation mentioned by a previous reviewer. The chain ripped through the wood like butter and the heavy duty bar provided good directional control with no unwanted flexing and no kickback.

Next came the disassembly and cleanup. The saw has an adjustable bar-oiler controlled by a screw on the bottom of the machine. It appeared that the saw may have been putting out excessive oil so I readjusted the control so reduce oil flow. During reassembly, it was noted that the chain brake assembly did not connect to the saw body smoothly. Some flexing of the plastic was needed to make the proper alignment to have it seat properly. This was an annoying yet minor inconvenience. Chain adjustment is done by a screw controlled mechanism positioned in the chain brake assembly. You must make sure that this mechanism is aligned properly with the hole in the bar during reassembly which is another little inconvenience.

Soooo, based upon my hands-on experience would I buy this saw again? Sure. It may not have the cosmetics of a more expensive saw, but it does the job at a very attractive price.
Most homeowners do not need a Stihl, Husqvana, or Efco saw. A Craftsman, Poulan or Homelite will suffice for those half dozen or so times per year a chainsaw is needed around the house. This saw costs less than any of the others and the cutting end of it is Chinese copy of a Husqvarna. Is its power plant equal to the Husqvarna? Certainly not, but I suspect it is probably no worse than what you get with the Craftsman, Poulan or Homelite. It will take some time to establish that for sure.

If you want a pretty saw, pay the extra 50-bucks and get a Craftsman, Poulan or Homelite. If you want to really impress your friends and neighbors, get a Stihl, Husqvarna or Efco. If you are practical and thrifty as I tend to be and don't care about cosmetics and don't want a refurbished machine, give this saw a try. Just remember to follow the startup procedure specified in the manual.

That's my 2-cents, Good Luck!