Craftsman Chainsaws

The S205 is the best-kept secret of the value gas tier: a 46cc full-crank engine with a 20-inch bar that Walmart routinely sells in the $130-170 range, built by MTD on proven bones and reviewed surprisingly kindly by the tool press. Pro Tool Reviews' take matches the owner consensus — for storm prep, cleanup, and occasional firewood, it balances power and price better than anything near it. The Easy Start system genuinely reduces pull effort, and the full-crank design runs smoother than the half-crank engines common at this price. The honest ceiling: it's an occasional-use machine with a low-kickback safety chain that cuts slowly until swapped, the anti-vibe is rudimentary next to anything premium, and Craftsman's service network is a returns desk rather than a dealer bench. Buy it on sale, put a real chain on it, keep the fuel fresh, and it embarrasses its price bracket.