Recommend me a professional grade chainsaw

[ive]

Hi everyone.

Wife's decided to move to the country. The new place will have fire places and wood stoves and I'll be getting my own hardwood to burn.

I had a Stihl 440 for years until I lent it out and it was run on straight gas.

I'd like a USA/European made saw thats built to scream through hardwood. I'm a big guy so weight doesn't matter.

I know about Stihl/Husq/Dolmar.

Does anyone have any experience or recommendations?

Thanks so much.

 

[aknawful]

Go to a good dealer near your new place. Buy whatever he's selling.

 

[wil]

I agree. If you're not into self repair, then the local dealer is the best bet. Else
look at these sites to start: "opeforum.com", "arboristsite.com", aftermarket parts
for your 440: "hutzl.net"

 

[dr_clyde]

I am a fan of Stihl chainsaws. Pro grade, though. Their homeowner grade stuff is ****.


I'd get an MS 462 or similar. I'd get the non-electronic carb.

Can you not have the engine fixed on your 440?

 

[Davefr]

Hi everyone.

Wife's decided to move to the country. The new place will have fire places and wood stoves and I'll be getting my own hardwood to burn.

I had a Stihl 440 for years until I lent it out and it was run on straight gas.

I'd like a USA/European made saw thats built to scream through hardwood. I'm a big guy so weight doesn't matter.

I know about Stihl/Husq/Dolmar.

Does anyone have any experience or recommendations?

Thanks so much.

Why "throw out the baby with the bathwater"??

A top end on a MS440 can be rebuilt in the field, on a tailgate of a truck, with about 2-3 tools. There's a plethora of top end rebuild kits available.

If you're going to toss the MS440 can I have it

 

[Tennessee Cattleman]

+1 on the Pro grade Stihl saws. You kinda get what you pay for between Stihl Pro grade vs Stihl Homeowner grade saws.

 

[chilly460]

I bought a Husqvarna 562XP in January, and recently sold it. I don't know about these "autotune" saws, it was weak sauce, no lowend balls at all. It was finicky on hot starts too, had to hold the throttle partially open.

I love my Stihl 460, handled about as well, tons more torque, really not too many drawbacks other than it's a gas hog. Yeah I know it's a much bigger CC saw but doesn't really handle worse.

My Husqvarna 346xp, on the other hand, is a little beast. It is down on torque but keep light pressure and it will cut side by side with a much bigger saw up to 14" wood or so, and is ridiculously light.

 

[4Kings]

Are you gonna be dropping, limbing and bucking. If that's the case you might consider two saws. One in 70cc range (MS441) and a 50cc (MS261). If a single saw is all you are wanting a 60cc saw (MS362) would be a nice compromise. I've got an older MS361 that you'd have to pry my dead fingers from it to have it.

 

[Vintage Veloce]

Really enjoyed this guys comments on chainsaws...

 

[seagravedriver]

Stihl, pro grade. Used them for years in wildland firefighting and the fire dept. We have a couple of Husky/Jonesred. They are just fine as well. Stihl parts are easy to come by, and lots of people can work on them. Around here that is. Get some extra chains and a pair of chaps. You don't want a chainsaw injury.

I have used them on for falling small to medium trees, trimming "ladder fuels", cutting up trees after a fire to overhaul them and put out. Also at my home and friends land for firewood, and on roofs, cutting through the three tab and roof, and or decking, almost 30 years of it.

 

[Streetbu]

Stihl or Husqvarna commercial saws, whichever dealer is closer and better, go with that one...

 

[mike in tucson]

Rather than ask the amateur users, when I was shopping, I went to the Stihl and Husky dealers and told them "I will be cutting wood for heating. I want a saw that will cut lots of 24" logs without bogging. What do you have that will do the job?" Both recommended good saws and let me try them on a real log.

 

[finn]

You're just going to get biased opinions here, mostly from people that use a saw a couple of weekends per year.

Search for a couple of local dealers for each of the big two, and listen to their advice on what works well for local landowners in a situation similar to yours. Work with the dealer you're most comfortable with.

What works in western Canada may not be the same as Florida, Arizona, or even Maine or the U.P.

That said, I have a ms460, as well as several smaller Stihl and Husqvarna, but I'd recommend a smaller Stihl or Husky for firewood.

 

[countryroad82]

Pro grade Stihl. Can't beat them.

 

[Finky198]

Are you gonna be dropping, limbing and bucking. If that's the case you might consider two saws. One in 70cc range (MS441) and a 50cc (MS261). If a single saw is all you are wanting a 60cc saw (MS362) would be a nice compromise. I've got an older MS361 that you'd have to pry my dead fingers from it to have it.

This is solid advice I work in the tree care field and I use 192t, 200t, 362, 660 but I've used a lot of the stihl pro saws 241 261 440 441 460 on a few occasions working with other crews... you can't go wrong with a pro level stihl but I would only buy if I had local support or was good with small engines. In your case.

 

[Tennessee Cattleman]

It could be very helpful to ask the dealer/salesman what saw they would recommend for your use, but I would not buy a saw or anything else that is going to cost over $200 based only on a dealer/salesman's recommendation.

 

[BADSIX]

Most all the loggers around here use Husqvarnas.
Jay D.

 

[CJM8515]

Id suggest 2 saws. A 16" and a 20". Stihl, husky or echo pro grade. One with about 40-50cc and one with 60cc or more. Im partial to the husky 455 rancher for most duties, reliable and good low end grunt. A real chain from a shop is whats needed, throw away the chain that comes with them as they are usually garbage safety chains.

 

[johninct]

I am looking for a saw too but I don't know if there is a saw like I am looking for. I need a professional saw but the smallest one made. I need small , light but powerfull. I am going to be cutting lots of brush and maybe a few 6" trees and already have a big Husky.

 

[Keith_MN]

The size of the wood you are planning on cutting will make a big difference. I have a Stihl 441 only because I had a 4 ft diameter tree to take out. Works great and is very smooth. However, I still use a little Craftsman for limbing because it is so light and easy to handle. Therefore, I would plan on having two saws.

Before I purchased my 441 I did a lot of research. Seems the opinions are equally split between Husky and Stihl. In my area there are more Stihl dealers and they seemed to be higher quality than the Husky dealers. Hence the 441.

 

[CJM8515]

I am looking for a saw too but I don't know if there is a saw like I am looking for. I need a professional saw but the smallest one made. I need small , light but powerfull. I am going to be cutting lots of brush and maybe a few 6" trees and already have a big Husky.

011av or 014av stihl or similar, these are mostly top handle limbing saws. Id venture to guess that by now they likely have different model names like ms something or other, but its still the same type of saw.

 

[4Kings]

I am looking for a saw too but I don't know if there is a saw like I am looking for. I need a professional saw but the smallest one made. I need small , light but powerfull. I am going to be cutting lots of brush and maybe a few 6" trees and already have a big Husky.

Stihl MS241

Sent from my XT1097 using Tapatalk

 

[FTG-05]

Stihl MS-362CM is what I have, I mean other than my MS-440 Magnum or the MS-180.

Very powerful, especially after the muffle mod I did on it.

Use only non-ethanol gas and syn fuel oil, it should last forever.

Good luck!

 

[AngryBeaver]

I used to work tree service and have cut firewood all my life.

I've owned my 372 since 1998. I actually have two of them. it was my only saw for a number of years selling 80-100 cord of wood a year.

I have the following huskies: T540xp (climber), 346xp, 550xp, 562xp, 2-372xp's and a 385xp with a 390 topend that is going to be sold.

The stihls I have left are the 440, 046 magnum and a ms660.

GET THAT 440 fixed. its one of the best saws ever made. run a 20" bar for short stuff and a 25" for the big stuff.

if that isn't an option, go to your local dealer. the one that is going to take care of you no matter what the internet opinions say.

I prefer husky's since Ive used them professionally since the 90's with one failure. (oil pump gear wore out). I've had more problems with Stihls.... they both make great saws, the dealer is what is going to save your *** in a pinch.

I tried Dolmar for a few years... saws have great power in the 50cc and 80cc class, but they were heavy. and dealer support sucked.

a 440 with a 20" bar or a 372xp with a 20" will do 90% of the hardwoods here.

I go to the woods with 2 saws nowadays... a 550xp or 346xp with a 16" bar and a 372 (440 sized) with a 25". If I have a big tree or stump to fell, that's the only time the 660 comes out.

I like two saws. But I'm not expecting you to buy two. A 562xp or 361/362 will do plenty for most people. It's about the same weight of that 440....

 

[AngryBeaver]

I am looking for a saw too but I don't know if there is a saw like I am looking for. I need a professional saw but the smallest one made. I need small , light but powerfull. I am going to be cutting lots of brush and maybe a few 6" trees and already have a big Husky.

What's your big husky?

The 550xp or 545 are impressive small saws with a lot more power than other 50cc saws. The 543xp is a tad smaller but still tons of power.

 

[Jon_E]

I cut up to 12 cords of firewood annually for the past 30 years. Used to run old Homelites in the late 80's and early 90's, then went to Stihl. My most recent Stihl was an MS-361 and that was an excellent saw. I have transitioned from Stihl to Dolmar, only because dealer support locally has been sketchy for Stihl but the Dolmar dealer is awesome. I currently run a PS-421 with 16" bar and PS-6400C with 24" bar and can cut anything easily up to about 40" in diameter.

If you're looking to buy one saw for frequent firewood use, I'd recommend a Stihl MS-362 or a Dolmar PS-6100. The Echo CS-600 and CS-620 also have a good reputation but I have no personal experience.

 

[pepi]

I would think the Stihl brand, for the guy that you let use yours. Needs two things a swift kick in the *** and should if he is a man put some money into the new one.

Every tree service, successful ones I've seen have the Stihl hanging off a rope. As they climb and trim, with the many restarts it takes to move around a tree.

Part of the reason I bought the Stihl, plenty of power, easy to fire off.

greg

 

[spudley]

Spent last night at a friends garage fixing a Husky a reputable dealer said was shot. My buddy works for the county forestry department cutting nearly every day. He repairs saws at night and has a half dozen Husky's waiting for repair. He prefers Stihls.

 

[ManCave]

I highly, highly recommend a Dolmar 6100. It's a great all-around saw.

I had a couple of Stihls (MS361 and one other) and they were okay but I hated those dang flippy caps. Also, the 361 I had had the tool-less chain adjuster and it stunk. It would throw chains. I did a lot of research and heard good things about the Huskys. So I bought one of the very first 562XP's. Great saw when it worked. But something was constantly breaking on it. Very unreliable. I mean seriously unreliable as in things breaking all the time and the saw never left my yard.

Dolmar has been bought by Makita. The 6100 is an awesome saw. It doesn't rev quite as high as the 562XP but its very close. Only slightly (barely noticeable) heavier. I could care less about dealer support. I can fix anything that might need fixing some day.

The design of the saw is pretty awesome. It has an inboard clutch so everything stays clean. Its designed to cleanly eject wood chips. Plain old gas and oil caps...you know...the kind that are simple and just plain work and never fail. It has great power. Its German engineering and should be extremely reliable. I have no complaints on it.

 

[rburke65]

My wife sent my F L law to buy me a saw in '91 and he came back with a Husky ...?...37?XP. That puppy will pull you fight into that log that you are cutting. 28" bar. Trouble free. Not inexpensive but....ya get what ya pay for. 26 years and I have cut a lot of fire wood. Just finished 11 cord last Spring. I'm tired!

 

[ticklechicken]

+1 on the Pro grade Stihl saws. You kinda get what you pay for between Stihl Pro grade vs Stihl Homeowner grade saws.

I'm looking at Craigslist, but I don't know how to tell the difference between Pro and Homeowner. How do I tell the difference?

Currently on my local CL:
Stihl 009L - $150
MS290 Farm Boss - $240
STIHL 311Y - $100
ms192 - $250

I'm not in a hurry, so I can watch for a few months if there's a particular saw I should be looking for. I don't do any heavy work, but I have a lot of tress on my property that require maintenance.

 

[ddurrett896]

Honestly I've had great luck with Echo equipment as a homeowner plus they have a 5 year warranty.

Just picked up a CS490 with 20" bar for $350 Home Depot and bucked four 60' pine trees that ranged 20-24' in diameter no problem.

 

[johninct]

What's your big husky?

The 550xp or 545 are impressive small saws with a lot more power than other 50cc saws. The 543xp is a tad smaller but still tons of power.

Husky 266SE. I am not going to cut much wood, only small brush. I have been using loppers and a buck saw so far and want to make it easier but I have maybe a mile of fence to clean up. I need the lightest saw I can get.

 

[johninct]

011av or 014av stihl or similar, these are mostly top handle limbing saws. Id venture to guess that by now they likely have different model names like ms something or other, but its still the same type of saw.

I have seen the top handle saws before and was wondering if there is an advantage for me cutting brush. I could see the top handle being good for bucket truck guys.

 

[CJM8515]

Top handle is just easier to use one handed really

 

[Finky198]

I have 2 top handles I'd say their more dangerous in brush cause their very easy to get caught up or kick back. In my experience people have a tendency to underestimate their Power/Size. It small and dangerous with out solid time on a reg saw, I would never recommend or hand someone a top handle for cutting. I do it regularly but Ive used them weekly...for years now climbing and otherwise.

A stihl ms241 or the husky size equivalent is like the perfect brush saw in my OP. Perfect for limbing, brush, trail cleanup, and light bucking... It's approximately the same size as a top handle but with more user friendly rear handle set up...and a little more bar capacity....

 

[KMdef9]

Been using Stihl since ~02. Love my 261, m-tronic is perfectly fine.

My second choice would be Husky, several friends have them and the keep up no problem with my Stihls. I'd choose by power/weight/feel.

 

[6768rogues]

I have a fairly new Stihl that cuts great when it is in the mood to start. I bought it and used it a few times. Then I added stabilizer to the gas, cleaned and sharpened it, ran it, and put it away. A couple of months later I tried unsuccessfully to start it and had to take it to the dealer.
Meanwhile, my old Husqvarna, that was run over by the bobcat, fell off the truck more times than I can remember, was abused, put away without stabilizer and had not been touched in two years, started on the second pull and cut all day while the Stihl was at the shop.
If I had it to do over, I would buy another Husqvarna.

 

[Tennessee Cattleman]

My Stihl MS 241 has been a very good small saw, had it for a couple years now. The saw has a 14" bar, I use it for most of my cutting under 20".

 

[930dreamer]

X2 on rebuilding your Stihl, I can recommend a builder but there's a waiting list.

http://mastermindsaws.com/