So I've been thinking I like my 480cd its cool and a brute and all but 20lbs is not so cool :'( so in the next year or two I was thinking about setting aside some money for a saw I'm thinking a husqvarna but maybe a stihl what do you guys like for the professional saws? The budget would probably be 800 tops ??? Thanks 254sawguy
365XT Husky/2166 Jonsered 71cc is best bang for buck. Love mine!
Shep
I ve had my eyes on that it looks nice is it like. A 372xp I've run one of them and they sure seem snappy
372XP, for $750 you can get one with a 24" bar. The one I have is a monster, I plan to get another one before too long and will get it woods ported - can never have too much power!!
I love my new 372Xp.
10mm 044 ;)
Quote from: NCFarmboy on March 29, 2015, 09:17:18 PM
365XT Husky/2166 Jonsered 71cc is best bang for buck. Love mine!
Shep
X2 a little grinding and you have yourself a 372/2172 for a couple hundred less. I also like my 562s there a nice lite and powerful saw
Do you have safety gear? You could get chaps , helmet, boots , and spend what is left on a saw
362 Stihl
Sounds like you want something a bit smaller and lighter. 60cc saws are quite versatile, ms-362, 555/562 or the Dolmar 6100 are all fine saw. To be completely honest, I own saws from 32cc to 120cc, the most used saw I have are 50cc. You can do a lot more with a good 50cc saw than you'd ever think.
Quote from: Holmes on March 29, 2015, 10:51:00 PM
Do you have safety gear? You could get chaps , helmet, boots , and spend what is left on a saw
Yes i have chaps a helmet boots and gloves
The 372 seems pretty maneuverable too
Yes I'm looking for a smaller saw weight wise but I'd take a look at a 50cc saw but I'd probably look for a 60cc to 75cc first
No one has asked what you are cutting?
I'm often cutting 3 -4 ft cypress, so my go to saw is a Dolmar 7900, which is still light enough to use for a decent time.
But that's total over kill if you only have 12" trees. Then a nice light 50cc saw will cut just as much, and it's cheaper and easier to carry.
But it's hard to go wrong the top of the line 60-70cc saws like the Stihl 36x or the husky XP equivalent as an everyday weapon for you average 12-24" trees
Best all round saw? A very broad stated question.
My theory is a lightweight powerhead with enough displacement and hp but is still well balanced enough to take a 16"-36" b/c. is my idea of a best all round saw.
Like Ian's Dolmar 7900 powerhead which is as lightweight as a 60cc-70cc class saw but enough displacement to handle up to a 36" b/c effectively[which some may dispute as the 36" for full time use]........is my 1986 Stihl 064 with a factory supplied pre heater winter kit. At 85cc and 14.1 lbs as its owner manual specifies, I found this was my best all round professional saw as I ran a 18"-28" b/c on it , with a 36" bar on hand if needed[again 36" is pushing the limit for the oiler capacity for full time use.] . For my use I used the 18" b/c the most ;)
But today since owning and running Husqvarna 338XPT, 346XP NE, 550XP,562XP,272XP,1st generation 372XP,576XP AutoTune and 395XP.
I have to say my best running and favorite 16"-32" Husqvarna saw is the 576XP Auto Tune :laugh: Very nice running and smooth cutting saw for anything that I can throw at it.
And now that I think of it, the 576XP AT is now the top on the list of models offered by Husqvarna Canada, as the 390XP and larger saws are no longer offered for sale within the country.
Sorry for an unclear description oops I would be cutting hemlock pine oak ash hickory and maples in my region ranging from 1ft-2 1/2 ft probably witha massive tree every now and then
I have a 362 stihl and a 372 husky. I use the 362 way more, I love that saw. The 372xpw rides smoother, but its a dog. (71cc xtorq). I have a 28" bar on the Husky and I think that's the main problem, just too big. Whereas my 461 Stihl (fav saw) pulls a 28" bar without hesitation. The 372 is stock, I want to send it for porting/polishing. Maybe turn her into a Wicked Work Saw or Mastermind her. Not decided yet.
As lan says above, in order to give any useful advice we need to know the parameters of what you intend to mostly cut. An ms170 can be a good all round saw if your tending around your house, a 395xp can be a good all round saw if you mainly cutting 25"+ timber. A bit more info is needed to really give a good answer. On the others hand you could do what l have done and have 20+ saws to ensure all bases are covered....but that can end you on he couch!
Quote from: Andyshine77 on March 29, 2015, 11:57:16 PM
... the most used saw I have are 50cc. You can do a lot more with a good 50cc saw than you'd ever think.
X 2, especially here in the Northeast. I'm sure I'd feel differently if I were in the Pacific Northwest...
Another thing to think about is type of trees you're mostly getting into in my opinion. Hardwoods or softwoods? Being a firewood guy, I don't go after the softerwoods like pine/poplar unless it's for a removal type deal. After running 50cc-60cc saws a long time I jumped to stihl 461. Works great for me, but the 50-60cc did fine before. Budget comes into play also I think.
Decisions can basically only be judged if the saw is used for either 2 uses: "earning a living saw" or "all the time in the world homeowner saw."
Whether it's a 50cc saw or 85cc saw I see alot of bad decisions in using a too long of a bar/chain for any specified size of saw, in all different demographic areas regardless of wood size.
Myself where my saws make a living for me I need to have a lineup of various saws to keep things productive, but I always try to keep the "shortest as needed" bar on each model for the best ergonomics and efficiency .
As I mentioned of the Husky 576XP AutoTune being my most favorite "Best all round saw" that can handle a 16"-32" b/c.
My most used "go to saw" in my tree service company is from the 60cc class......the Husky 562XP- 18" and it doesn't even have felling/bucking dogs on it. :)
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/21589/20140326_165144.jpg)
60 cc class for all around. I find my MS361 to be very capable and yet still light enough for almost anything. With a 25" bar you could buck "an occasional monster tree" up to nearly 4 ft diameter with two passes. Last year, I bucked up a 26-28" white oak with my 361 and 20" bar. Since then I have picked up a ported MS461 and yes, it's awesome for felling and bucking big trees, but it gets heavy really quickly compared to the MS361. FWIW, strongly prefer my CS2139 or MS261c for limbing. MS361 is a great "all around saw." Not the best for anything, but, very capable of everything, and all at a very comfortable weight.
I agree with Blackgreyhounds. I have only ran three tanks through my ms362 and I can tell I am going to love it.
I would go with 60cc with a twenty inch bar. I have a 562xp and have run a stihl 362 quite a bit. both great saws. I have saws that range from an 017 stihl up to a 660. I grab that 562 every chance i get. Cutting hardwood 20-40 inch on the stump mostly. I used to think i needed all that 660 power but i think i get the same work done with the smaller saw. Plus after limming and lopping tops all day my arms don't feel like they are going to fall off.
Looked up the specs on your existing saw (http://www.acresinternet.com/cscc.nsf/ed1d619968136da688256af40002b8f7/039061441c4faf3888256b5200197cb5?OpenDocument).
Are you looking for a saw to replace your 480cd, or complement it? I had assumed you were looking for one to complement your existing saw (which was why I had agreed with the 50cc suggestion). If you are looking to replace it, then a modern 60cc saw would probably be a good match. The Husky 562XP and Stihl 362 both have slightly more HP, and weigh about 6# less. A Dolmar PS 6100 or 6400 are also somethign you might consider (power to weight ratio not quite as good as the Husky and Stihl models, but it's well made and power per $ tends to be better).
"all around saw" can mean different things to different people. For each individual, I think it would be the saw which best covers the range of cutting tasks that he encounters. Some people just don't want to mess with big wood, regardless of whether or not they have a saw that can handle it. So, bigger CC's and bigger bars may be of no importance to some guys. If you tend to stay in under 20" wood, then a decent 60cc saw like the 562/2260 will have the power to handle it and still; be plenty light enough for limbing and smaller wood.
But the practical reality is that the best "all around saw" is having more than one. It's just so nice to have a couple different size saws and be able to grab the ideal saw for whatever you are doing. Nobody goes to the golf course with just one club. :)
It would probably be mostly firewood cutting with my father hardwood mainly. How does a stihl 362 pro saw stack up they caught my eye
This is my first "pro" series saw, so time will tell, but I like it so far. She cuts faster than my old 028 super for sure. I looked hard at the MS391 "farm and ranch" saw, but all the loggers around here told me that I wouldn't regret getting the pro saw.
If you aren't using it day in/out a 391 is a fine saw. But, you will never regret a pro saw if you can afford it. I have nothing bad to say about the 362, it is the closest I think you'll get to an all around saw. You can slap a 25" bar on her and go to work. Personally, I run a 20" and think that is the best. I bought it with a 25" bar, but really a 70cc+ saw needs to be pulling a 24" + bar IMO.
Quote from: 254sawguy on April 01, 2015, 08:10:44 PM
It would probably be mostly firewood cutting with my father hardwood mainly. How does a stihl 362 pro saw stack up they caught my eye
Don't think you would ever be sorry if you get a Stihl 362. I've had the older brother MS361 since 2004 and it has been a great saw..
Quote from: hackberry jake on April 01, 2015, 08:32:41 PM
This is my first "pro" series saw, so time will tell, but I like it so far. She cuts faster than my old 028 super for sure. I looked hard at the MS391 "farm and ranch" saw, but all the loggers around here told me that I wouldn't regret getting the pro saw.
"Farm & ranch" just means that it is a large "homeowner" saw in this case (MS391) - don't let the marketing fool you!
Sort of, but the average homeowner probably doesn't need a 64cc saw either. They will stand up to that kind of work for a long while though, even if not a split crank case.
Quote from: Spike60 on April 01, 2015, 11:05:32 AM
"all around saw" can mean different things to different people. For each individual, I think it would be the saw which best covers the range of cutting tasks that he encounters. Some people just don't want to mess with big wood, regardless of whether or not they have a saw that can handle it. So, bigger CC's and bigger bars may be of no importance to some guys. If you tend to stay in under 20" wood, then a decent 60cc saw like the 562/2260 will have the power to handle it and still; be plenty light enough for limbing and smaller wood.
But the practical reality is that the best "all around saw" is having more than one. It's just so nice to have a couple different size saws and be able to grab the ideal saw for whatever you are doing. Nobody goes to the golf course with just one club. :)
Note what Spike60 says. The two (or more) saw plan is the way, in a nutshell. Any saw that's close to optimum for felling/bucking a given size of tree will be dangerous, before long, for limbing.
Depending on the size tree I'm working on, I'll go for a 40cc/60cc plan (RedMax GZ4000/ Dolmar PS_6100) or 50cc/75cc plan (PP5020/Husqy 576XP). It's smart, and safe, to use the smallest saw possible for your current cutting.
For cutting up tops of deciduous trees, for both safety & productivity, I finally got a little Tanake 25cc polesaw. Highly recommended that you add a polesaw to the plan for big deciduous trees, especially open-grown trees. Can save a lot of headaches, literally.
heck, if we keep this up long enough, Instead of recommending one general purpose saw, we'll have the OP building an addition to his garage to house his chainsaw collection.
I took this today, 362, 361, and 360 here in the lineup. Have a lot of clearing to do at work. Mainly using these saws. 461 and 372 for the bigger stuff. 660/066 for the real big stuff. 045 and 056 mag II for fun.
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/34510/photo_283029.JPG)
If you notice, the handle of my 362 there has more black than the other saws. That is because I put skateboard grip tape on the handle for grip. I have had it there for a few years. I like it alot, skateboard grip-tape is very durable and cheap.
Quote from: John Mc on April 02, 2015, 08:46:31 PM
heck, if we keep this up long enough, Instead of recommending one general purpose saw, we'll have the OP building an addition to his garage to house his chainsaw collection.
Nothing wrong with that either 8)
First he'll have to get a sawmill to saw the lumber to build it though
Wait... how is he going to get the logs to his sawmill? He's going to need a forwarder as well.
Well......he could just jump straight to a timber framed barn, hewn out by hand tools or an Alaskan MkIII on a 80-90 cc saw ;D thus forgoing the need to move heavy logs........ But I digress. If the OP wants to complement his first saw, a good 50cc saw would do nicely, if going for new, I would suggest an Echo or Dolmar. If he wants a classic tried and true and still good saw, IMO, go for a McCulloch 10-10A.
I'm working on our stand of relatively small Sitka (mostly 8 to 10", with 14" max). I got away with a 16" 40cc Active 41/41 for the first two years but then the Feb. 2014 storms brought down a lot of larger trees and the Active was struggling. Rather than kill the little saw, it was time for something bigger. I held out for the 362 and haven't been disappointed. It's a brute for what I'm doing and it's a little lighter than comparable saws which is an advantage as I quite often have to carry in both saws. The Active is a great little machine. The local saw shop recommended it and has been flawless. It's an Italian brand but the one I have says it's made by Husqvarna Japan. I always go back to it for limbing due to its lightness.
I think the best all around saw is the saw you carry, and the saw that you say, "This saw really feels good in my hands". It's the saw you love and it is the saw that is suitable to handle what you ask of it in a given situation.
Personally I like the 70cc to 90cc class saws. I like their weight due to you know you have something in your hand. I just bought a 661...my hair is blown back....I have production cut with 044, 046, 066, 461, 660. The 661 for me is gonna be really hard to beat. Ungodly smooth and strong power dawgged in mid cut...wicked tune on that saw!
I haven't heard a bad thing about the new 661's. I am going to have to get one one day....if it's available as RVW, I'd just lose it...