Lets talk Chainsaws

[Outlaw99]

Ms261 and be done. No argument on this one

 

[BradArnett]

My most used saw is a ne 346xp, I use a 16 and 18" bar on it. Have some cheap chains for super dirty work and stihl rs chains for cleaner work. Also use a 562xp for bigger wood. Have 1 oe and 1 ne 346xp on the bench here that need to be rebuilt when I find the time. I have a few cheaper saws too that don't hardly ever get used except to hand to someone who wants to borrow a saw.

 

[ColeyG]

Six tanks of gas through the 500i milling 8’ 6x6 boards today. Love that thing.

 

[IDVortex]

I just supported China and bought a Stihl Clone... aka, its going to be a perfect saw to leave in my truck during spring bear and not worry of someone breaks in and steals it. Be curious to see if the reviews of the saw live up to par.

 

[JoeK]

Ok So I Suck at shooting and I don't know jack about hunting either but I know a good bit about chainsaws and cutting wood....I'll try to organize a few thoughts and probably get longwinded anyway. Oh well.

7yrs running my own company as an Arborist and do 99% of my own repairs and maintenance on too many chainsaws. Brand loyalty is a thing in anything (I like Chevy more than Ford, and Tikkas) but when it comes to chainsaws I get asked often about what brand I like best and my answer is the sharper one. Definitely the #1 tip for chainsawing is keeping it sharp. #2 is minding your gas. I can only get ethanol pump gas so if it's a saw that might sit for more than a few weeks it gets "fancy gas" from a steel can (Stihl for consistency sake).
I've had good results with Stihl, Husky and especially impressed with the value and ease of maintenance of echo saws. I've had issues with all of them too. No saw will run well more than one good tank of gas without cooling off time if it's 110* and gas in the lines starts boiling. never leave'em laying in the sun around here. We'll wet a towel from the water cooler and cover'em up in the shade if I really need that saw to run again within an hr. Batteries suck in that kind of heat too, especially for big cuts but they are easier to cool off with a wet rag vs a gas saw.

I LOVE my Milwaukee tophandle(14") on climbing work. I do more trim work than removals and climbing around with an idling saw on my hip, or pull starting 100+ times a day for a few cuts at a time gets so old. Once I went battery It actually changed my quality of life. the newer Forge batteries are in fact significantly better. Need to run the 8ah. 12ah are too freaking heavy in the tree but good for the 16" rear handle saw on the ground. It's a lot heavier than the CS-2511T and It doesn't quite keep up with my 201T (16") but it's not too far behind. I only use the 201T for bigger removals where I can use more bar and it's been sitting in the garage for a while. The Milwaukee has power and torque and cuts to satisfy professional use. The convenience of the instant on battery is unmatched, and it doesn't have any filters to maintain either. I have been enjoying the uberlight echo CS-2511(12") again lately for small jobs and it is a pleasure going back to such a light saw on a climb once in a while.

Around here at least 80% of my work is on Mesquites, and if I get into a 60-70ft Aleppo Pine or Eucalyptus up 30"+ in diameter it's a notably Big tree. Diameter and job specifics (Felling, Bucking, Trimming, Dead tree, Live tree etc) makes a huge difference in what the best saw for the job is. Species matters a LOT too. Try cutting up dead Eucalyptus with aggressive depth rakers and you'll regret it. I set'em at .025 which is the max that works for me in dead hardwood all day without dulling too fast or binding. Then green trees or pine feels still feels like butter anyways. If you're in conifers or cut mostly live trees then file'em on down and let it eat if you've got the power to pull it through.

I don't have anywhere near the experience with larger saws that the logging or forestry guys do who live in timber country.

Stihl M-tronics saws have been 100% awesome for me. I bought a 201T, 362C, and 661C about 5 yrs ago and have had zero issues with them at all. They are some of my best cutting saws. My local Tech/Dealer says they are particular about having clean air filter. I keep filters clean(compressed air) as I do all my saws but I replace the filters on these a little sooner than regular carb saws. I also run Stihl premixed gas in these as i don't use them every week. regular workhorse saws (MS391, Husq51, CS-400) just get pump premium and it doesn't sit in them long enough to cause problems. Any saw that might be sitting for a few weeks or more gets the fancy gas and that makes a huge difference in avoiding carb woes.

I love my 50cc Husqvarna. 50-60cc is IMO the most versatile size for a do all saw. unless you actually NEED bigger or faster production environment. I started my company with a 55Rancher and a 20"bar. I wore it out, put on a $50 asian top end kit and ran it another year or two. Luckily I came across a barely used 51 in great condition and it's been even better, but I take better care of it too. (don't push dull chains through a stump to git'er done just stop and swap on a fresh chain or just grab a different saw that's sharp and not already hot from cutting the rest of the tree)

Sure if your a professional cutter you'll appreciate more bar and more power, but as a couple other guys noted fatigue is real too. I usually have at least 5-6 saws of different sizes in the truck on the daily and select the one that's just big (heavy) enough for most of the work at hand until I get into bigger cuts and reach for more horsepower. If your bucking up logs for firewood you may want 24-28"bar and 70cc+ but if your cutting small trees, limbing, or even cutting up 10-12" stuff I'll take a 20" 50cc saw.

The echo cs-400 with an 18" bar can do work, a lot of work, and has excellent durability and little maintenance. They just work when you pull the starter and they won't wear you out to carry it around cutting all day. If 18" is enough bar and 40cc power class that's the jam for me. lighter than the options I've had from Stihl or Husqvarna and it just runs without problems for years of heavy use. finally had to rebuild and eventually replaced a couple carbs but compared to how often I've replaced diaphrams on my Stihl saws the echo earns praise. My 2.5yrs employee has himself a CS590 and speaks well of it too.

That's probably enough outa me. I'll go back to my hole.

 

[JoeK]

If anyone wants a deal on a new 362c I've never even put gas in this one because my 5yr old one still just rips and I usually only use it maybe once or twice a month...

 

[Wilderlife]

I'm a Stihl fan but I'd happily use a Husky if I had one. I've had an 023 for a few years but I got it off my dad who got it brand new, and it's good for the smaller stuff or the heads of trees when I don't feel like lugging around a bigger saw.

I had a 391 for a few years and it did me well and then I decided to upgrade and got a 462 - more power and less weight. Winning!

I have multiple chains and run either a 20in or 25in bar, depending on the wood. The stuff I cut down here is I believe a heck of a lot harder than most of what is getting cut in the northern hemisphere, so we tend to err on the side of a shorter bar to make sure oil is getting everywhere it needs to.

Stringybark is the main one I cut for loads to sell, but we also cut a lot of yellow box, ironbark, and red gum. I'm just a marketplace firewood supplier and do it for pocket money, but I cut more than my fair share most of the time and enjoy having a saw that makes life easy.

462 is likely too big for whatever is being asked of in this thread but the 023 is a fantastic little saw.

 

[RME]

If anyone wants a deal on a new 362c I've never even put gas in this one because my 5yr old one still just rips and I usually only use it maybe once or twice a month...

Nice pic of riding the ball up! Makes you never want to climb to the top again

 

[longrangelead]

I just supported China and bought a Stihl Clone... aka, its going to be a perfect saw to leave in my truck during spring bear and not worry of someone breaks in and steals it. Be curious to see if the reviews of the saw live up to par.

what model?
I messed with a bunch of Chinese UM clones.
they're ok as far as quality. definitely worth what you pay, but...
do yourself a favor and replace the case, jug and exhaust bolts with Stihl bolts. They WILL break.
if it sucks air, you might burn it up when you really need it.

they actually have a pretty good cylinder. the plating is tough enough and doesn't usually chip or flake when it's cut.
Pistons are pretty good too. I never had and piston issues with all the performance stuff I was trying.
porting them really wakes them up.
the cool thing is all the OEM performance stuff bolts right on.

 

[IDVortex]

what model?
I messed with a bunch of Chinese UM clones.
they're ok as far as quality. definitely worth what you pay, but...
do yourself a favor and replace the case, jug and exhaust bolts with Stihl bolts. They WILL break.
if it sucks air, you might burn it up when you really need it.

they actually have a pretty good cylinder. the plating is tough enough and doesn't usually chip or flake when it's cut.
Pistons are pretty good too. I never had and piston issues with all the performance stuff I was trying.
porting them really wakes them up.
the cool thing is all the OEM performance stuff bolts right on.

Holzffoman g466. Yup, I plan to upgrade a couple of things. I had thought about just spending the money on a stihl or husky, but my use case and not trusting folks to not touch things in my truck is why I bought it. If I get a house with property ill upgrade at that point to a nicer saw.

 

[fsr731]

I live up at 11,000' in the middle of the forest. I have 1 Stihl battery saw, the biggest one, I can't remember the model. And I have a Stihl 361 (360?), 461, and 500i.

My favorites are the 461 and the battery saw. That battery saw kicks butt. And combustion engines at my elevation lose 40% power. I thought the 500i would fix that. Nope. I see almost no difference between the 500i and 461. Sorry I bought the 500i frankly. The battery saw is my go to for anything less than cutting firewood or felling trees over 12". The long bar on big saws are nice for limbing downed trees though, thats for sure.

 

[Hnthrdr]

Have some decent experience with stihl, my farm bosses have worked well! Lately pretty impressed with some of the electric offerings. Depending on where you are and what kind of wood you are cutting those would work fine too I’m guessing

 

[tony]

Follow a guy on YT, a logger.
He answered a question about why he does pretty much all his, felling, cutting and limbing with no less than a 20” bar.
So he doesn’t have to bend over as much and can have some distance when cutting.
Seems to make sense.
Of course I’m no saw guy. I can stsrt one and use it. That’s bout it!
I was thinking of getting a 20 “ bar?

 

[ColeyG]

I live up at 11,000' in the middle of the forest. I have 1 Stihl battery saw, the biggest one, I can't remember the model. And I have a Stihl 361 (360?), 461, and 500i.

My favorites are the 461 and the battery saw. That battery saw kicks butt. And combustion engines at my elevation lose 40% power. I thought the 500i would fix that. Nope. I see almost no difference between the 500i and 461. Sorry I bought the 500i frankly. The battery saw is my go to for anything less than cutting firewood or felling trees over 12". The long bar on big saws are nice for limbing downed trees though, thats for sure.

Have you considered putting a ported muffler on the 500i? Should make quite a difference at your elevation

 

[Sccritterkiller]

I have a 450rancher, ms 212, and a echo 590 timber wolf. Most days I use the echo...its got as much ass as the rancher but weighs less.
On my second dewalt battery saw...let the magic smoke out the 1st one...they don't like green white oak.

 

[Alpine4x4]

I'm just a home owner on 40ac and am learning the basics of felling and such still. I've run a Dewalt 20v electric for years and also have a Stihl MS311 thats getting more work lately. I love the Dewalt for the small stuff as its way lighter.

 

[wowzers]

Holzffoman g466. Yup, I plan to upgrade a couple of things. I had thought about just spending the money on a stihl or husky, but my use case and not trusting folks to not touch things in my truck is why I bought it. If I get a house with property ill upgrade at that point to a nicer saw.

the1chainsawguy

Welcome, let's talk chainsaw type stuff. I like to build them. I bet you would too, and I would like to give you the opportunity to see and share in the experience and see if you might like it as well. I find it an interesting journey and a lot of fun at the end. An interesting aspect is the kits

sites.google.com

This guy has a lot of tips for those saws. Oilers are pretty common to go out.

 

[Joshk358]

I've got the Husqvarna 450 Rancher. It's been a beast. Works great with little care on my part. I am no pro, but we had 5 or 6 huge trees come down in the yard from a tornado a few years ago and had to upgrade to the 450 Rancher. If the blade is sharp, it'll but like absolute butter through some big ole trees.

 

[Akexis972]

I work in landscaping and I run a Stihl MS 261, as well as a small top-handle saw for lighter work.
Both work great, especially as long as you’re not cutting big wood.
In my experience, battery-powered saws are also very convenient, but the downside is the extra weight from the battery, which can make the saw feel heavier.
Just my opinion.

 

[Flat Range]

Husqvarna 440. Light. Durable. No issues in the 5 years or so I've had it. Works for me.