adivce on a new saw

[frankyslog]

wich saw ?

lots of choices out there! ill recomend one to you from hundreds of hrs of use on full time fire wood crew, cutting as you, have described with different operators abusing the hell out of it.( red max zenoha komatsu) model 621 avs very light! well built machine!! capable of running larger bar if you should ever need to. lots of magnesium throughout. crank case ect. build tolerances second (to knowbody) if you dont mind the color red that is.lighter than sthils 361.there 2 stroke development division was just aquired by electrolux av (husky) for obvious reasons. the saw rocks!!! the price you can get one of these for ($415.00)otd in my area with 18 bar chain. is a very good deal on a very nice saw. get down to your red max dealer and demo one the power /balance/feather weight. will not disapoint!! my fire wood crew has lots of praise for this model.just one of many optiones though. good luck with whatever the brand you choose.

 

[A. Stanton]

You can go top shelf and get a Stihl 361 for about $525. Or you can go the piker route and get a Stihl Farm Boss with a case for about $330. The decision is yours my friend. I own both and prefer the 361 with its 18" bar. As I don't have to cut down any redwoods 10 feet across, the 18" bar works fine.

 

[NYH1]

It is the perfect allround saw here, large enough for effective felling and bucking, and light enough for limbing.

The 357xp and 2156 are good alternatives, just slightly heavier - and they have an outboard clutch, which bother some people, but not all. :greenchainsaw:

Well said SawTroll! :biggrinbounce2:

 

[bowtechmadman]

I haven't run a 361 so can't comment on that. My opinion for what it's worth would be Husky 346XP. The work you plan on doing I wouldn't spend 600 bucks for a 59cc saw, would it work YES, overkill...well there isn't really such a thing.
346XP can be had for btw 300 - 400bucks / got mine for 300 brand new and love it, easily handle 16 - 18" bar.

 

[SawTroll]

I haven't run a 361 so can't comment on that. My opinion for what it's worth would be Husky 346XP. The work you plan on doing I wouldn't spend 600 bucks for a 59cc saw, would it work YES, overkill...well there isn't really such a thing.
346XP can be had for btw 300 - 400bucks / got mine for 300 brand new and love it, easily handle 16 - 18" bar.

The 346xp is a very nice saw, but definately not what I would want for felling and bucking 18" trees.

It is optimised as a fast limbing saw, and has a quite narrow powerband.

If it is modded by an expert, the picture changes, however.

 

[NYH1]

The 346xp is a very nice saw, but definately not what I would want for felling and bucking 18" trees.

It is optimised as a fast limbing saw, and has a quite narrow powerband.

If it is modded by an expert, the picture changes, however.

I don't know how much it costs to mod a saw. Having said that, if the 346XP cost $400 ($450 in this area) and then you had to spend another $200 in mods, in my opinion you'd be better off buying a 361, 357 or 2156 for the same amount of $$$ and keep the factory warranty! Again, just my opinion!

 

[SawTroll]

I don't know how much it costs to mod a saw. Having said that, if the 346XP cost $400 ($450 in this area) and then you had to spend another $200 in mods, in my opinion you'd be better off buying a 361, 357 or 2156 for the same amount of $$$ and keep the factory warranty! Again, just my opinion!

I agree with you, and 200 USD for a full woods mod is on the low side, I believe......

 

[BlueRidgeMark]

If you only plan on cleaning off 2 acres, and then the saw will go up on a shelf somewhere, you might just want to use your dad's saw for a while.

Hey, what is THAT? The guy comes here looking for an excuse to buy a new expensive tool and you tell him to borrow his dad's saw? How is that helping the guy?


:hmm3grin2orange:

 

[Andyshine77]

If you don't want to spend a boat load of money I think a Husky 359 would be your best bet. Bailey's has them for $429.95

 

[SawTroll]

If you don't want to spend a boat load of money I think a Husky 359 would be your best bet. Bailey's has them for $429.95

+ that you have to get a non-Etech muffler to make it perform as advertised....:jawdrop: :jawdrop:

 

[Just Mow]

thanks I'll look into the dolmar, I actually saw a chainsaw dealer with a dolmar sign as I was driving back from lunch....currently I live by all the fun lombardi ave reconstruction we have going on in Titletown

MS361, probably the most dependable saw out there at this time and an AS favorite.

 

[Andyshine77]

MS361, probably the most dependable saw out there at this time and an AS favorite.

That may be so but not everyone needs or wants a $600 saw, and the 359 is a good saw for the money, as is the 357xp.

 

[OLD SKOOL]

For what you are doing and will be doing, go get a Redmax 621AVS with a 20" bar. I own one and it is a great saw for far less money than a 361. The Zenoah engine is snappy and not to heavy. I can honestly run mine for hours felling and limbing without getting worn out. Not many on here mention them a lot, but Redmax has some really good saws and trimmers that won't break the bank. There's a reason that Elux bought them, the engine technology.

 

[phendyr]

heh, I love asking questions that there's never a truely 'right' answer for, and light up the favorites debate.

Thanks everybody for the feedback. It does help in making the decision to hear real-world reviews. I plan on heading up to the property this weekend, and taking a more detailed inventory of what's on there and how big before I purchase anything.

when I make that jump, I'll definitely let ya'll know, so you can either praise me or flame me

thanks again

 

[bowtechmadman]

Darn guess I'm gonna have to get a new saw too...despite keeping my OWB filled w/ wood the past two years (using my non modded 346's), I just didn't realize I couldn't cut and buck anything over 12-16" with it. Go figure. Was looking for a reason to get a 372....thanks everyone for showing me the error in my ways.
Now how to explain to the little woman why my saw won't do this year what it has the past two. Suggestions???

 

[SawTroll]

Darn guess I'm gonna have to get a new saw too...despite keeping my OWB filled w/ wood the past two years (using my non modded 346's), I just didn't realize I couldn't cut and buck anything over 12-16" with it. Go figure. Was looking for a reason to get a 372....thanks everyone for showing me the error in my ways.
Now how to explain to the little woman why my saw won't do this year what it has the past two. Suggestions???

1) The trees have been growing.

2) The trees that are left are the oldest and largest ones.

3) You are afraid of over-taxing that little saw, in the long run.

Use it for what it was consieved as, a limbing and light felling saw, preferably with a 13" bar.......

:greenchainsaw:

 

[MrGriz]

You accidently backed over it with the truck (8 times)...

Size does matter...

The trees just outgrew the old saw...

Or find a really good hiding spot in the shed.

 

[joatmon]

:greenchainsaw: :greenchainsaw:

Darn guess I'm gonna have to get a new saw too...despite keeping my OWB filled w/ wood the past two years (using my non modded 346's), I just didn't realize I couldn't cut and buck anything over 12-16" with it. Go figure. Was looking for a reason to get a 372....thanks everyone for showing me the error in my ways.
Now how to explain to the little woman why my saw won't do this year what it has the past two. Suggestions???

Oh honey , look at what happened to my saw. :greenchainsaw: Guess I got the 2 cycle and 4 cycle cans mixed up.

 

[NYH1]

Darn guess I'm gonna have to get a new saw too...despite keeping my OWB filled w/ wood the past two years (using my non modded 346's), I just didn't realize I couldn't cut and buck anything over 12-16" with it. Go figure. Was looking for a reason to get a 372....thanks everyone for showing me the error in my ways.
Now how to explain to the little woman why my saw won't do this year what it has the past two. Suggestions???

No one said a 346XP couldn't cut and buck anything over 12-16", heck I've done it many times with my little 021. There are just saws out there that will cut that size wood better.

 

[Lou]

lots of choices out there! I'll recommend one to you from hundreds of hrs of use on full time fire wood crew, cutting as you, have described with different operators abusing the hell out of it. (Red Max zenoha komatsu) model 621 avs very light! well built machine!! capable of running larger bar if you should ever need to. Lots of magnesium throughout. crank case etc. Build tolerances second (to nobody) if you don't mind the color red that is. Lighter than sthils 361. Their 2 stroke development division was just acquired by electrolux av (husky) for obvious reasons. The saw rocks!!! The price you can get one of these for ($415.00) otd in my area with 18 bar chain. is a very good deal on a very nice saw. Get down to your red max dealer and demo one the power /balance/feather weight. Will not disappoint!! My fire wood crew has lots of praise for this model. Just one of many options though. good luck with whatever the brand you choose.

Amicks (one of our sponsors) is selling this saw with 20" bar for $389.95.

I purchased my Husqvarna 359 for $420. Had to spend extra $50 for non cat muffler. If you can can get non E-tech from Bailey's (another sponsor) it would also get a vote from me.