Chainsaw size

CabinFever · June 12, 2015, 10:00:25 AM

Ok first off I am sure their are a million posts like this but I gotta ask. I have cut for a few years now mainly for firewood and some for the state. I have always used the stihl 029 farmboss, as it is a great starter chainsaw and can do most things. I do however cut down some huge oaks that I would like something a little larger for, any suggestions on the step up from the 029 or something that would be best for this? Thank you for any input

dougand3 · June 12, 2015, 11:02:21 AM

New or Used? Do you repair them yourself? Ball park is you want a 65cc-80cc saw. Many different options - Husky 372XP, Makita 6421 from HD rental sale turned into a 79cc, Stihl MS 441 or 461, etc....

beenthere · June 12, 2015, 11:18:48 AM

Welcome to the Forestry Forum.

My answer for that would be the MS362 with 20" bar. For various reasons, but lastly is what I have decided upon. Unless your trees are larger than 36" dbh, you should be ok.

And what would really help, would be for you to click your name and bring up your profile, then add your location. tks

old guy · June 12, 2015, 11:52:54 AM

Another vote for the 372 husky fer that big oak stuff, Ive had one with a 24" bar for the last two years and I don't know how I ever lived without it.

John

celliott · June 12, 2015, 04:59:52 PM

A 60cc saw is a good size saw to "do it all", great all around, versatile. 16-20", maybe a 24" bar, basically enough for what most people need. Beenthere mentioned the Stihl 362, I've heard that's an excellent saw. For other brands, the Dolmar 6100 is supposed to be good. I have a Jonsered 2260 and I love it. Husky 562xp is similar. I have an older 357xp and I like that as well :D

The other option is to step up to a 70cc saw. Quite a bit more power, ability to run longer bars than the 60cc's if necessary. 20"-32" bars. My vote would go to a 372\2171\2172, tons of aftermarket and used parts, and they are a proven platform.

If you want bigger than that, you should be sure you're gonna run a long bar more often than not. A 70cc with a 20", occasional 32" isn't bad. A 90-95cc saw with a 20" is heavy, and probably doesn't cut any faster than a 70cc 20", but will pull a 36" bar with authority.

One saw plan, get a solid 60cc saw or a 70cc if you keep the 290. Multiple saws, 50cc-70cc-90cc ;D

4x4American · June 12, 2015, 05:47:20 PM

What you need is a Stihl 090 :D

In all seriousness, sounds to me like youre looking to get into a stihl 70cc class saw. 044, 440, 441, 046, 460, 461. My favorite of them all is the 461. I also have a 372 x torq. It rides very smooth but lacks power and is usually a bugger to start. I also have an 066 and a 660 with a muffler mod. They are sweet saws!

clww · June 12, 2015, 08:36:26 PM

Welcome to the Forestry Forum!

I got a new 441 a month ago and really like running it over the 460/461. I also have a 372XP that I picked up several months ago. I recommend both of them.

CabinFever · June 14, 2015, 06:44:08 PM

Wow, you guys were a great help! I appreciate it! it was very helpful!!

Thanks,
Daniel

mad murdock · June 14, 2015, 08:03:05 PM

Welcome CabinFever. Since you have an 029, a 2 saw plan is what you are after. Something in the 70-80cc would be where i would search. Used is good. A lot more to choose from, if you are into fixing your own. If you are looking for new, Echo makes a larger saw that is quite nice and of course Dolmar. Most saw for your money in either one, IMO on a new saw.

luvmexfood · June 14, 2015, 08:42:05 PM

I too have a Stihl 029 and mine is well worn. Bought an Echo 590 last fall. What a difference. Was bucking a larger log last week with the 29. Thought "were's the Echo". Then remembered it was in the truck way up the hill. Hot and near the end of the day so made do with the 29. Bucking is about all I do with it now. Especially in logs that are muddy etc. Try and keep the Echo sharp and ready to fall with. It has a 20" bar but still need something a little longer sometimes.

CTYank · June 15, 2015, 04:38:11 PM

Quote from: celliott on June 12, 2015, 04:59:52 PM
A 60cc saw is a good size saw to "do it all", great all around, versatile. 16-20", maybe a 24" bar, basically enough for what most people need. Beenthere mentioned the Stihl 362, I've heard that's an excellent saw. For other brands, the Dolmar 6100 is supposed to be good. I have a Jonsered 2260 and I love it. Husky 562xp is similar. I have an older 357xp and I like that as well :D

The other option is to step up to a 70cc saw. Quite a bit more power, ability to run longer bars than the 60cc's if necessary. 20"-32" bars. My vote would go to a 372\2171\2172, tons of aftermarket and used parts, and they are a proven platform.

If you want bigger than that, you should be sure you're gonna run a long bar more often than not. A 70cc with a 20", occasional 32" isn't bad. A 90-95cc saw with a 20" is heavy, and probably doesn't cut any faster than a 70cc 20", but will pull a 36" bar with authority.

One saw plan, get a solid 60cc saw or a 70cc if you keep the 290. Multiple saws, 50cc-70cc-90cc ;D

Makes sense, because it is. Been running one here for a bit over a year, and love it. It's a smooth & powerful beast (and a huge value wrt 362 Stihl, at ~$550). With std 20" bar, chain best be sharp, to keep the engine loaded without using the dogs. Handles 24" nicely in bigger hardwood, e.g. noodling sugar maple. And you can't clog the clutch cover.
Also, that Dolmar gives you much better access for inspection/service than Stihl likes to give you.
And, being a strato (Dolmar's first strato) it does a lot of work on a 27 oz tank. Having a very familiar K095 small-Husqy-mount bar, gives you great variety/prices on replacements.
My bet: if you try it, you'll buy it.

celliott · June 15, 2015, 05:27:17 PM

CTYank,
I said supposed to be good because I've heard\read that. Heard that about the Stihl as well. The 2260\562 is the only one I have firsthand experience with, actually having run\own one. I would like to run a 6100 to compare.
I agree though, that's a heck of a price and value on a pro saw!

skipster · July 11, 2015, 05:05:33 AM

i recently bought a Stihl ms362 and really like it,great 60cc saw.
Handles the horrible aussie box ironbarks around here fine,and the new filtration system is excellent

Spike60 · July 11, 2015, 07:26:39 AM

I always think along the lines that a second saw should compliment what you already have. Getting something too close to what you already own generally leaves the buyer feeling like he just wasted several hundred dollars without gaining anything.

An 029 is what, about 56cc's? So getting a 60cc really doesn't make much sense IMO. Particularly as the OP mentions needing something larger for some huge oak trees.

CabinFever, I think a 70cc class saw would be your best choice here, in whatever brand you prefer. Several rungs up the power ladder from what you have without a big increase in weight. After that, something small and light for limbing.

4x4American · July 11, 2015, 09:45:08 PM

I agree with Spike(Bob)60!

70cc saw or bust!

deerslayer · July 12, 2015, 08:05:44 AM

You didn't really define what a huge oak tree was. Size is in the eye of the beholder and somewhat regional. In the south, if someone starts talking about a huge oak tree, I envision a tree that's 5' DBH or more as those are fairly common. If you are talking wood that's 4' to 6' in diameter, then that's MS660 turf. If they're large but not that large, then a 70cc will probably do ya. I wouldn't go with anything smaller than that though as it's not going to be a significant enough step up from where you're at. The MS460/MS461 would probably be a great addition to what you have.

Lorenzo · July 12, 2015, 11:32:41 AM

We could hash out and yak back and forth all week about what saw is best and your going to get more and more opinions the longer this thread goes on. It's like the tractor fourm I read and laugh when someone ask's whats the best oil, whats the best tire, whats the best fuel additive.

These days one thing that has become an important factor in making choices like this is, What or where is the nearest dealer and how good are they. In the good old days it seams like things were built with better quality and lasted longer.

Dealers were much more personable and specific .

now you can get a saw practically anywhere and most places don't have the knowledge or ability to even change a spark plug.

My 2 cents worth, start with finding a dealer then choose the saw.

Dixon700 · July 12, 2015, 01:24:48 PM

Quote from: Lorenzo on July 12, 2015, 11:32:41 AM
We could hash out and yak back and forth all week about what saw is best and your going to get more and more opinions the longer this thread goes on. It's like the tractor fourm I read and laugh when someone ask's whats the best oil, whats the best tire, whats the best fuel additive.

These days one thing that has become an important factor in making choices like this is, What or where is the nearest dealer and how good are they. In the good old days it seams like things were built with better quality and lasted longer.

Dealers were much more personable and specific .

now you can get a saw practically anywhere and most places don't have the knowledge or ability to even change a spark plug.

My 2 cents worth, start with finding a dealer then choose the saw.

best advice I've seen so far.^^^^

Around by me it's mostly stihl country. Even ace hardware sells them lol. I Can only think of 1 place to get husky saws and that's another hardware store. True value because as far as I know the actual saw shop that sold huskys closed. Jonsered I've only seen at tractor supply, dolmars I never heard of until this forum. Now stihls I can think of 3 decent shops not too far from the house.

HolmenTree · July 12, 2015, 11:39:55 PM

Stihl always had a great reputation for dealer support as they have their own niche selling and servicing hand help power equipment.
As superior as that reputation goes it's only as good as how many units that dealer is able to sell making money for Mr and Mrs Stihl ;)

Spike60 · July 13, 2015, 07:37:26 AM

The way it really works:

Both Husky and Stihl have tech departments that offer every conceivable resource that a dealer could possibly need to support the product. Everything from tools to schools. It's all there. It's up to the dealer to take advantage of this. Many dealers never even buy the special tools. Half the dealers in the country still can't figure out auto tune or Mtronic. Few dealers make the commitment to stock parts. And fewer still have a tech who's been at it long enough to know the ins and outs of older as well as the newer saws. Not that many dealers will even attempt to do real bottom end work. (my rep told me we are one of only 4 dealers in his territory that that can/will build saws from the cases up. He has 82 dealers).

Corporately, it's a completely different focus. Sales are king and the constant drive for more "numbers" every year means that very little attention is given to how well dealers are doing on the service side. If you're moving units, they could care less. All you have to do to be "certified" is to send a guy to the annual update school and even if he doses off or texts his friends all day, the shop is certified. And the bigger the shop, the worse the service often becomes. Stihl chasing all the Deere stores, Husky signing up lot's of rec dealers. Just going to make it harder for customers to get good service. Those type of stores are focused on ag equipment and snowmobiles, not chainsaws. Husky signed up a local Artic Cat dealer, and he flat out tells people they'll sell the saws but they don't stock saw parts. Nice, huh?

This trend will continue as the drive for more and more sales forces middle sales management to do things that make little sense. The landscape has changed over the years as Husky and Stihl are obviously the 2 big dogs in the hunt. So nearly every dealer has one or the other of them, and in most markets there are simply too many of each. I've got my own identity in the saw biz, with guys coming from all miles around. But that's a little harder to do in wheeled goods. Soooo....

I'm sitting at these sales meetings and hearing lectures about how I need to differentiate myself from my competition. Last year I'm sitting there tapping my pencil on the desk and I finally had enough. I said, "Well, I'm sitting next to my competition. I know all the guys in my market. They're good guys and all that, but should we really all be sitting here in the same meeting? But I agree that I need to differentiate myself in some way, so that's why I'm taking on Gravely." Blew everyone's mind. :D

joe_indi · July 13, 2015, 12:24:16 PM

If you are so used to the 029 and want to upgrade just for some bigger wood, why buy another saw? Just upgrade your 029 by replacing the cylinder and piston with those of a 039/390. It is a straight fit which gives you a 65cc power head, more than adequate for your requirement. With its added displacement it would be far better than a 361 or 362. And if you want,you can change from the spur type drum to a rim sprocket setup. This way you can keep your cake and eat it too

weimedog · July 13, 2015, 01:20:03 PM

Spike 60, You just articulated what differentiates you from the other guys....its no secret. BUT even though the service and general knowledge thing is out there, the real question is which one of the dealers are willing to work in that direction in order to actually differentiate themselves. I know a few here in my area of the world who simply won't or don't have the cpu cycles upstairs to do so.

BUT to the man's question. As Spike60 has pointed out why replicate what you already have? Go upscale.... Husqvarna 372 or Stihl 046 depending on your dealer and dollar situation.

skipster · July 22, 2015, 05:08:01 AM

i just spent a day cutting,alternating between my new MS362(60cc) and my beat up 044(70cc)
The 362 was lighter,smoother ,less vibration,started easier etc
but when the 044 got into the wood,there was no comparison,it blew the 362 away.
I hate to say it,having spent so much money on a new saw,but I reckon , 70cc rules.

beenthere · July 22, 2015, 09:56:25 AM

Good to hear you have the 044 up and running.

Take a moment, click on your user name. It will take you to where you can update your profile with your location. Will let readers know where you speak from, tks ;)