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Poulan Chainsaw Models:Our Top Three Recommendations

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Poulan Pro is a name that is well known with both professionals and home chainsaw operators.

Often mentioned with top names like Husqvarna and Stihl, Poulan Pro is one of the brands that you should consider if you’re looking for a high quality chainsaw for use at home on a small to mid-sized property, or even a larger ranch or forested property.

If you’re been curious about this brand but haven’t had a chance to check out some of the models that are available, then this overview of three popular Poulan chainsaw models will help you to get an idea of what this brand has to offer.

Poulan Chainsaw Model PP3816A Overview

The PP4218A Poulan chainsaw is an excellent model for a homeowner who wants something that is easy to manage, but without going right to the entry-level of the market.

With a 38cc motor and a 16 inch bar, this chainsaw strikes an excellent balance between portability and cutting power.

If you’re looking to perform brush clearing, if you want to cut some medium sized trees, or even if you want to perform some pruning work, then this chainsaw would be a great starting point.

It will also perform woodcutting duties fire firewood without breaking a sweat, and it would be perfect for breaking up any logs or fallen trees that you want to remove from your property.

A 16 inch bar is right in the middle of compact chainsaws and large homeowner chainsaws, and it offers some versatility over 14 inch chainsaws, without sacrificing too much in maneuverability.

The chainsaw is easy to handle thanks to a light weight design, and it comes in at around 12 pounds with the bar and chain attached.

If you do go for the PP3816A package, you’ll be happy to know that it comes with a sturdy carrying case, which is something that even some more expensive chainsaws don’t offer.

It features all of the safety features that you would expect, such as a low kickback chain, a chain brake for emergencies, and it is easy to keep tensioned and maintained.

Being a gas powered chainsaw, it is as portable as they come, and you’ll only need to carry around fuel and oil to get through a day of work.

Even if you’re the owner of a relatively large property, the Poulan chainsaw model PP4218A will perform well, and it has received praise from many of its current owners, with an average customer review score of 4.1/5.

Poulan Pro PP4218A 42cc Chainsaw

Here’s a highly capable chainsaw with a mid-sized 18 inch bar, and a familiar design that will fit right at home with anyone who has used a gas powered chainsaw in the past.

The  has a 42cc engine that is capable of providing good cutting power for homeowner jobs. Because of the slightly longer than average 18 inch bar, it is also capable of cutting through some fairly large logs, and can be used for cutting trees of around 34 – 36” in diameter.

Because it’s gas powered, it is more portable than a comparable electric chainsaw, and the extra power provided by the gas motor will mean that it also performs better than a corded or battery powered chainsaw.

Verified customer feedback has revealed that owners are highly satisfied with the cutting ability of this chainsaw, particularly when considering its relatively low price point.

Standard features that you would expect on a quality chainsaw are all here. You’ll find that this chainsaw has an automatic oiling system to keep the bar and chain lubricated while in use, and it has a handle design that aims to reduce vibrations without muting the feedback that you get while cutting.

The light weight design means that this chainsaw only weighs 11.8 pounds, which makes it easy to manage. The light weight also improves safety by increasing maneuverability and decreasing operator fatigue.

The chainsaw is safe to use with a low kickback chain design and an integrated chain brake, and it’s also relatively easy to maintain with a side mounted tensioner, and easy access to the oil and gas reservoirs.

Even if you’re someone who likes to perform some maintenance on parts like the air and fuel filter, you’ll find that disassembly is not complex, and spare parts are widely available for this Poulan chainsaw, and for other models in the range.

This is a definite step up from the absolute entry-level of gas chain chainsaws, and provides some significant power and portability advantages over electric types, making it a great buy if you’re looking in the $150 – $200 range.

This model also comes with a case and some basic accessories to get started with, making for a great package for the first time owner.

Check the link below for the latest price and offers.

Poulan Pro PP4218AVX 42cc Chainsaw

If you’re looking at Poulan chainsaws, then you will notice that there are some A and AVX model variants.

For the most part, these models are identical, but you may notice that there are some differences in the pricing and how they are packaged. It is also important to note that not every model is CARB compliant, such as the PP4218AVX, which is not for use or sale in the state of California.

Specs wise, the AVX closely mirrors the PP4218A model, with a 42cc engine, an 18 inch bar and chain, and other strong features like the vibration dampening handle, chain brake and low kickback design, and automatic oiling mechanism.

This Poulan chainsaw also offers a tool-less chain tensioning system which means that you can adjust the tension right on the side of the chainsaw body.

This can save you a lot of time if you’re on your property performing extensive clearing or other cutting work.

Poulan markets this chainsaw as having a powerful engine that has been designed for harder jobs. Keep in mind that this is a 42cc engine so it’s not going to perform as well as a larger chainsaw with a bigger bar, however, there is some truth into their claim that the DuraLife engine can surprise when it comes to performance.

Many owners have spoken highly of the cutting capability, and the ease of working on longer jobs, such as cutting up extensive loads of firewood. You should also have no trouble using this chainsaw for clearing or for cutting down medium sized trees on your property.

This is marketed as a homeowner’s chainsaw, which is exactly where it excels, and both the AVX and standard A model would be perfect if you’re looking for an 18” chainsaw in this price range.

Check Out Our In-Depth Poulan Chainsaw Review

If you like the sound of these Poulan chainsaw models, then you’ll definitely want to take a look at our full Poulan Pro PP5020AV review.

Although this is a large chainsaw that goes beyond the models you’ve looked at here, it still provides some good information regarding the overall quality of the Poulan Pro line.

Don’t forget to check out all of our detailed chainsaw reviews and comparisons if you’re looking for more info on chainsaws from other leading brands like Husqvarna, Stihl, Oregon, Makita, and others.

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