Talk me into an ms362

[user 122190]

Big saw for dropping large trees and bucking same. When you have to limb trees chest high and higher the small saw is golden.

 

[ArthurB]

Big saw for dropping large trees and bucking same. When you have to limb trees chest high and higher the small saw is golden.

If you're a professional arborist, then sure, you'll need a line-up of efficient tools

But if you're just cutting for firewood, or to maintain a farm / rural property, then a middle-weight professional saw like the 372XP or 576XP will be fine for all tasks

I've got an older (smaller) Dolmar that I gave to my brother, on the grounds that it was not fired up for several years

Every saw costs money to buy, and requires its own maintenance - I don't think the occasional benefit of something a bit lighter comes close to offsetting these considerations

I'm very happy to do everything with a 372XP, and would be equally happy with a 576XP - I don't know that Stihl has a saw that equals either of these in respect of its power:weight and general usability, high-end performance and robustness - perhaps it does

 

[Ryan'smilling]

If you're a professional arborist, then sure, you'll need a line-up of efficient tools

But if you're just cutting for firewood, or to maintain a farm / rural property, then a middle-weight professional saw like the 372XP or 576XP will be fine for all tasks

I've got an older (smaller) Dolmar that I gave to my brother, on the grounds that it was not fired up for several years

Every saw costs money to buy, and requires its own maintenance - I don't think the occasional benefit of something a bit lighter comes close to offsetting these considerations

I'm very happy to do everything with a 372XP, and would be equally happy with a 576XP - I don't know that Stihl has a saw that equals either of these in respect of its power:weight and general usability, high-end performance and robustness - perhaps it does

I disagree with this. I am a big guy, but for me, the saw for the job is the lightest one that's still fun to use. There's no point carrying around a 372xp for a bunch of thinning, or for limbing trees after they've been felled. I am not a professional arborist, I simply cut firewood for my own use. Having more than one saw is the only way to roll. When one gets pinched or is acting up, there's always a backup. I've got 4 saws that I use regularly. In total I've spent $890 for an ms460, 036(gift), Shindaiwa 488, and a brand new Dolmar 421. Each saw cost money and does require a little maintenance, but it's spreads out the total use over more saws, so each should last longer overall.

There's lots of good reasons for two saws. What are the good reasons to only have one again?

 

[Workin'Rabbit]

The only specialist scenarios where I can see a need for two saws are: (a) if you're doing climbing work, and need something very light and aggressive; or (b) doing milling, and need something with a whole lot of grunt

Outside those scenarios, something in the low-mid 70cc class should do everything you need it to do

I wouldn't be concerned about not having a Husky dealer right on your doorstep - I visit mine once every 18 months or so - only say this as the Husky 372XP and 576XP would both be perfect - both are well balanced and easy to use all day - smaller than the MS460, and fine for smaller wood - but also fine for bucking large hardwood trunks, which is what my 372XP has been pointed at for most of the last few years

With either of these, no need for a second saw

Unless you just want to buy one ...

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I don't NEED two saws, but the more I've studied on it the more I WANT two saws for what I do. I'm pushing 40, not by any means old but I'm certainly not going to get any younger, and quite honestly, my 460 kicks my butt clearing out fence rows. It's rough staying that far bent over with a saw that size for periods of time. But I do, on a not so rare occasion have call for a saw that will pull at least a 24/5" chain through hardwood, mostly red oak with some ash, hickory, and locust intermingled. Pertaining to have a dealer close by, it probably is more important to me than to you and most of the other members here. I'm familiar, but not a chainsaw expert by any means. If I have a problem pop up that I can't fix it's awfully nice to have a good dealer close by. And the one near me is a fantastic. I've never had a problem with their work or the what they charge to do it, and they're more than happy to give free, helpful advice. While I do want to try a Husqvarna, I'm just much more comfortable with Stihl as that's what I've been using the past couple of years and having a great dealer close by just pretty much seals the deal. And please, I'm by no means trying to knock anyone's comments on here because I know everyone is just stating their opinion and trying to give me something new to consider and it really is very much appreciated. I was really just trying to talk myself into a 362 as opposed to my 460 as my only saw. But like I said, the more I've thought on it, the more my back will appreciate having two different saws

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N920A using Tapatalk

 

[ArthurB]

I disagree with this. I am a big guy, but for me, the saw for the job is the lightest one that's still fun to use. There's no point carrying around a 372xp for a bunch of thinning, or for limbing trees after they've been felled. I am not a professional arborist, I simply cut firewood for my own use. Having more than one saw is the only way to roll. When one gets pinched or is acting up, there's always a backup. I've got 4 saws that I use regularly. In total I've spent $890 for an ms460, 036(gift), Shindaiwa 488, and a brand new Dolmar 421. Each saw cost money and does require a little maintenance, but it's spreads out the total use over more saws, so each should last longer overall.

There's lots of good reasons for two saws. What are the good reasons to only have one again?

I quite like chainsaws (I quite like most machinery) but I certainly don't cut wood because it's 'fun' ... have horses, bikes and other things for that ...

Have never had a saw stolen, and as the 372XP (or its predecessor) have not to date 'acted up' in any significant way, I can't see the rationale for owning more than one saw - as long as that saw is as versatile as something like a 372XP or 576XP

Limbing fallen trees is trivial with these mid-weight saws - the additional power just gets the job done quicker

There's probably a cultural resistance over here to buying for the sake of owning more things - tend to really think things through before doing that - we've got two farms, with a lot of fallen timber to manage, and supply firewood for three households - one saw is all you need - if you want to accumulate chainsaws for the sake of it, then that's fine - but IMO there's absolutely no need

 

[ArthurB]

I don't NEED two saws, but the more I've studied on it the more I WANT two saws for what I do. I'm pushing 40, not by any means old but I'm certainly not going to get any younger, and quite honestly, my 460 kicks my butt clearing out fence rows. It's rough staying that far bent over with a saw that size for periods of time. But I do, on a not so rare occasion have call for a saw that will pull at least a 24/5" chain through hardwood, mostly red oak with some ash, hickory, and locust intermingled. Pertaining to have a dealer close by, it probably is more important to me than to you and most of the other members here. I'm familiar, but not a chainsaw expert by any means. If I have a problem pop up that I can't fix it's awfully nice to have a good dealer close by. And the one near me is a fantastic. I've never had a problem with their work or the what they charge to do it, and they're more than happy to give free, helpful advice. While I do want to try a Husqvarna, I'm just much more comfortable with Stihl as that's what I've been using the past couple of years and having a great dealer close by just pretty much seals the deal. And please, I'm by no means trying to knock anyone's comments on here because I know everyone is just stating their opinion and trying to give me something new to consider and it really is very much appreciated. I was really just trying to talk myself into a 362 as opposed to my 460 as my only saw. But like I said, the more I've thought on it, the more my back will appreciate having two different saws

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N920A using Tapatalk

Sorry - I think we posted at the same time ...

FWIW I'm 50 and not getting any younger - and I don't have time to mess around fixing machinery, or any interest in that side of things - if the the saw broke, I'd take it in for repairs - but professional grade saws don't break under non-commercial use unless you're very unfortunate (or ignore maintenance)

There's also a big difference in the ease of use of an MS460 (I borrowed a neighbour's while cutting wood on his place) and the Husky 372XP/576XP - I don't mean that as a Stihl vs Husky statement - talking specifically about these saws - those two Huskies feel far lighter and better balanced than the 460, and much easier to use on smaller cuts

Anyway, just another opinion ...

 

[009L]

The only specialist scenarios where I can see a need for two saws are: (a) if you're doing climbing work, and need something very light and aggressive; or (b) doing milling, and need something with a whole lot of grunt

Outside those scenarios, something in the low-mid 70cc class should do everything you need it to do

I wouldn't be concerned about not having a Husky dealer right on your doorstep - I visit mine once every 18 months or so - only say this as the Husky 372XP and 576XP would both be perfect - both are well balanced and easy to use all day - smaller than the MS460, and fine for smaller wood - but also fine for bucking large hardwood trunks, which is what my 372XP has been pointed at for most of the last few years

With either of these, no need for a second saw

Unless you just want to buy one ...

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Am I the only one who see's a giant crocodile with a wildebeest in its mouth? Or, did I put to much LSD in my beer again?

 

[bwalker]

If this were a hunting forum you guys would be recommending a .300WinMag for everything from squirrels to bobcats and .500NitroExpress for everything else...

300 win mag is never a bad choice!

 

[svk]

300 win mag is never a bad choice!

Heck yeah. You can load 110 grain for varmints or 250 grain for moose or anything in between!

 

[Ryan'smilling]

I quite like chainsaws (I quite like most machinery) but I certainly don't cut wood because it's 'fun' ... have horses, bikes and other things for that ...

Have never had a saw stolen, and as the 372XP (or its predecessor) have not to date 'acted up' in any significant way, I can't see the rationale for owning more than one saw - as long as that saw is as versatile as something like a 372XP or 576XP

Limbing fallen trees is trivial with these mid-weight saws - the additional power just gets the job done quicker

There's probably a cultural resistance over here to buying for the sake of owning more things - tend to really think things through before doing that - we've got two farms, with a lot of fallen timber to manage, and supply firewood for three households - one saw is all you need - if you want to accumulate chainsaws for the sake of it, then that's fine - but IMO there's absolutely no need

I'm sorry that cutting wood isn't fun for you. Maybe you should try a lighter saw Anyway, one saw is not "all I need". Sometimes, if I have a friend over, we even run two at the same time! Can't do that with only one saw. I'm glad that your saws have never misbehaved. That's great. I have lost a bar nut in the woods before and didn't have a spare hand. Second saw saved the day. I've run out of saw gas before and having a second saw in the truck with half a tank saved the day. My neighbor broke his saw this spring and couldn't get it repaired for two weeks. if I owned one saw, i would not lend it out. I lent him my 488 because I can live without it for a couple weeks at a time. I am NOT buying more saws for the sake of accumulating them, and I'm not buying stuff for "the sake of owning more things".

I'm just saying that for the price of one 576xp, which you keep recommending, a guy could buy a new Dolmar 421 or 5105 AND a nice used 70-80cc saw. It'd be a better overall setup for many reasons, some of which I've outlined. And, no your 372xp will not limb faster than 421 in wood under 6". I will be faster because saw is lighter and much more maneuverable. Also, it i was felling and limbing and bucking with a 70cc saw I'd want two bars, a 16" and 20 or 24" depending on the wood. No way I'm felling 28" oak with a 16" and no way limbing with a 24". So I'm gonna have to stop and swap bars, again wasting time versus just dropping the tree and grabbing the small saw. Again, what are the reasons for only having one? Cultural resistance? Don't NEED more? Those just aren't great reasons.

 

[d1hamby]

I've had the 362 for a few years and it is my go to saw for most jobs and the easiest to change bars and chains. Mostly use a 16" carbide bar and chain because it can cut for 10 times as long without having to touch up the chain. I have a 20" and 25" 63 gauge regular Stihl chains for the larger stuff but I only make the one cut with those and switch back to the carbide chain for most felling, bucking and pruning. Since I am a smaller person it makes cutting so much less of a chore than the larger saws. Easy to start and just keeps going all day long no matter the abuse that it gets. Then you can baby it when you get back home. I go through a regular Stihl chain in a month with the amount of cutting I do and it takes about 4 months to go through a carbide chain. I also get way more cutting done with the carbide chain because I don't have to touch them up and change them out nearly as often. If I do hit something with the saw the carbide chain keeps on going and gets the cut done, the steel chains stop cutting and I have to change out immediately.

 

[traktorz]

Here is a good comparison from a Husqvarna and Stihl dealer 562XP vs MS362

Good comparison with relevant remarks.