Posted: 11/27/2015 9:24:46 PM EDT
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For general use, in AK. Felling some smaller trees, maybe use an Alaskan chainsaw mill on it but that's not a given, and don't want to heft around a giant saw just in case we decide to use it for that.
I don't want to run out of power, but want something reasonably nimble I can get maybe a 24-36 inch bar on. |
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Stihl. Nothing else comes close.
ETA: I have a backpack blower and trimmer from Stihl and while my echo trimmer occasionally gives me a hard time, both of my Stihl products have no problem starting on the first or second pull after sitting all year. They are worth the money. Just look at what they go for used and you will see they retain their value. |
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I don't ,really. But I want a nice one. Quoted:
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I was going to say Echo but it seems you need better than a top end home owner saw so go Stihl. I don't ,really. But I want a nice one. Well I don't have any experience with Stihl but the brand is highly recommended. I bought an Echo and I like it now. I really didn't care for it before I gutted the muffler. It seemed low on power but after I did that it screams. |
| Still 660/661 or Husky 390/394/395 for milling - it needs to be able to pull the bar AND oil properly. If you decide not to mill, definitely get a smaller saw. If you mill with a smaller saw, you will burn it up. Dealer support is probably most important re: brand selection in AK. |
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Stihl. Nothing else comes close. ETA: I have a backpack blower and trimmer from Stihl and while my echo trimmer occasionally gives me a hard time, both of my Stihl products have no problem starting on the first or second pull after sitting all year. They are worth the money. Just look at what they go for used and you will see they retain their value. No truer statement made |
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Still 660/661 or Husky 390/394/395 for milling - it needs to be able to pull the bar AND oil properly. If you decide not to mill, definitely get a smaller saw. If you mill with a smaller saw, you will burn it up. Dealer support is probably most important re: brand selection in AK. Yep. You need at least 90cc to mill. And you would behoove yourself to get the wrap handle version because it comes with the high output oiler. No way a 90cc saw is considered nimble. Two saw plan. 60cc and 90cc. Three saw plan. 50cc, 70cc, and 90cc. |
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Still 660/661 or Husky 390/394/395 for milling - it needs to be able to pull the bar AND oil properly. If you decide not to mill, definitely get a smaller saw. If you mill with a smaller saw, you will burn it up. Dealer support is probably most important re: brand selection in AK. 660 is a beast, and a 460 is really larger than I want to carry around when I think about it. So let's change the spec and say that sawmill is out; would a 362 be powerful enough for felling and general use? I'll be buying the saw here in CO, there's a Stihl dealer in town. Not sure about AK, but it's north of Wasilla, Palmer area. |
| I'm on my second year of heating my house primarily with wood. I've been using a husqvarna 440 with relatively little trouble other than a broken recoil that was covered under warranty. It has an 18" bar, I think it would be better suited for a 16" bar. I borrowed a friend's Stihl 441 while waiting for parts for the recoil. I think I'll be going to Stihl next winter. |
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My Stihl 029 FarmBoss finally died after 20 yrs of occasional abuse and sometimes, hard use
I was told it needs the carburetor rebuilt because it finally succumbed to the ethanol additives in gas Don't let the mix sit in there for long, you need to empty out all gas/mix after a few weeks I got a new Stihl MS291 that's comparable to the old 029 model and am going to take the old one in to fix just for a spare |
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Still 660/661 or Husky 390/394/395 for milling - it needs to be able to pull the bar AND oil properly. If you decide not to mill, definitely get a smaller saw. If you mill with a smaller saw, you will burn it up. Dealer support is probably most important re: brand selection in AK. If you decide to mill, you're definitely going to need a bigger saw like has been suggested above. Saws above 60cc rapidly become heavy and downright unwieldy unless you're getting paid by the load. I'd suggest two saws if you're seriously planning on milling. A 50cc or 60cc and a 90cc will work for sure. You won't be using the 90cc much and when you do, you won't enjoy it. As far as brands, I'd normally recommend Husqvarna, but I continue to hear rumblings from dealers that parts are hard to come by on warranty and they are starting to refuse to do warranty work. Especially if you didn't buy from them. Having said that, I think Echo makes the best overall saws currently. Even their homeowner models have many of the key features that make a "pro" saw. Check out the reviews for the 490 and 550P saws and pay attention to price as well as features. Then go price an equivalent Stihl. The Echo is a stellar bargain. Meant to add to check out the 590P for 60cc saw too. |
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True. If Stihl makes it, Stihl is the answer. Quoted:
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Stihl This. If it's not a stihl, you bought the wrong saw. True. If Stihl makes it, Stihl is the answer. lol... Stihl: as good as their products are, they have an even better marketing department. |
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lol... Stihl: as good as their products are, they have an even better marketing department. Quoted:
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Stihl This. If it's not a stihl, you bought the wrong saw. True. If Stihl makes it, Stihl is the answer. lol... Stihl: as good as their products are, they have an even better marketing department. There's a reason Stihl (and Toyota, and Dillon Precision, and Honda for ATVs) are so fanatical after owning/using the products. |
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I prefer Husqvarna but to each his own.
You say you don't want too big of a saw but to mill with you're gonna need one. Any saw that will run an Alaskan mill is gonna be way to big and heavy for regular use. It takes a hell of a saw to pull a 36" bar. My regular felling saw is a Husqvarna 372xp but I wouldn't run a mill with it but for limbing it gets heavy fast so I own 2 saws for regular farm and firewood use. Buddy had a 3120xp with a 6' bar he used to cut big table slabs with in redwood and it was a slow go. I say 40-50cc for everyday use. 70+ if 24" or bigger bar. Bigger still for use on a mill. |
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I went Husqvarna simply because it has a primer bulb. I own 5 Stihl chain saws, a Stihl leaf blower, a Stihl pruning chain saw and a Stihi straight shaft weed trimmer. One Husky chainsaw (346XP which is a commercial grade and costs more $) and a Husky leaf blower. The priming bulb and choke system on all the Husky's blow the Stihls away. I hate the choke system on all Stihls. My Husky saw is a commercial grade. My Stihls (Farm Boss, Mini Farm Boss, etc are not) but the all run equally great with an edge to the 346XP but again it's a commercial grade. I'd take the recommendation that said to buy whatever brand has a local reputable/quality service dealer. Can't go wrong with either. Stihl will run away with a poll ...marketing/brand name. This is like a Chevy/Ford debate so do what I did in spirit of GD .... get both! |
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I'm getting ready to buy a smaller saw. I'm going Sthil for the fact I have 2 big dealers within 12 miles.
I just got the prices MS170 180 MS171 200 MS180C 250 WITH 16 IN BAR MS 211C 310 MS 250 300 WITH 18 IN BAR MS 251 340 MS 251C 380 MS 271 410 MS 291 500 MS 311 550 MS 362C 750 MS391 600 20 IN BAR MS 391 610 25 IN BAR Anyone want to decode these for me and if they are good prices ? I will get 2 or maybe even 3 saw. 1 really small light weight to limb a tree and cut bushes and small branches off our willows 2 a good size general purpose 3 a big saw. I cut 36 in plus trees sometimes |
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For general use, in AK. Felling some smaller trees, maybe use an Alaskan chainsaw mill on it but that's not a given, and don't want to heft around a giant saw just in case we decide to use it for that. I don't want to run out of power, but want something reasonably nimble I can get maybe a 24-36 inch bar on. That's not how it works OP. That's not how any of this works OP. You literally just described 4 - 5 different saws. Do you even chainsaw Bruh? |
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If you're serious about using the Alaskan chainsaw mill, then a pro series saw would work best, either Stihl, or Husky. I've used the mill with a Stihl MS 280 and my current Stihl MS 362, the larger saw (362) zips through wood using the mill where the smaller 280 was laboring after about five or six planks. Just my .02 |
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Quoted: There's a reason Stihl (and Toyota, and Dillon Precision, and Honda for ATVs) are so fanatical after owning/using the products. Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: Stihl This. If it's not a stihl, you bought the wrong saw. True. If Stihl makes it, Stihl is the answer. lol... Stihl: as good as their products are, they have an even better marketing department. There's a reason Stihl (and Toyota, and Dillon Precision, and Honda for ATVs) are so fanatical after owning/using the products. |
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660 is a beast, and a 460 is really larger than I want to carry around when I think about it. So let's change the spec and say that sawmill is out; would a 362 be powerful enough for felling and general use? I'll be buying the saw here in CO, there's a Stihl dealer in town. Not sure about AK, but it's north of Wasilla, Palmer area. Quoted:
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Still 660/661 or Husky 390/394/395 for milling - it needs to be able to pull the bar AND oil properly. If you decide not to mill, definitely get a smaller saw. If you mill with a smaller saw, you will burn it up. Dealer support is probably most important re: brand selection in AK. 660 is a beast, and a 460 is really larger than I want to carry around when I think about it. So let's change the spec and say that sawmill is out; would a 362 be powerful enough for felling and general use? I'll be buying the saw here in CO, there's a Stihl dealer in town. Not sure about AK, but it's north of Wasilla, Palmer area. I bought a 362 about 3 years back and put a 25 inch bar on it. Run nothing but skip tooth chains on it and that thing is a cutting dynamo. Lay it on the wood and stay out of the way..! I have a water stove and cut between 22-25 truckloads a year. The 362 replaced a 25 yr old Husky 51 with a 20 inch bar. You would be well served with the 362, it is still a pretty heavy saw for general use, but it will get the job done. I keep a small 170 for limbing and cutting up small stuff. I upgraded the bar and chain on the 170 to the next larger gauge chain. The one that comes standard on it is just too small for my use. |
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lol... Stihl: as good as their products are, they have an even better marketing department. Quoted:
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Stihl This. If it's not a stihl, you bought the wrong saw. True. If Stihl makes it, Stihl is the answer. lol... Stihl: as good as their products are, they have an even better marketing department. No TV. Never seen an ad for any brand. So if by "marketing department" you mean the guys in engineering that design the products, I agree. I've had chain saws from about a dozen different manufacturers. Now all I have is Stihl, for a reason. Same with weedeaters and blowers. There may be something out there as good, but I haven't tried anything else since my first Stihl. |