Jonsered 2188

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Bruiserx2

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I need to get a big saw. I want an all around saw for felling and bucking that would allow me to do some milling as well. I am leaning strongly towards the JRed 2188 in fact I am due to pick it up on Wednesday. It comes with a 36 inch bar and I would get a 24 inch to go with it.

Any thoughts? I am figuring on using it the majority of the time with the smaller bar. The other thought is to get the 2172. It seems most would go with the slightly lighter 2172 as an all around saw but if I do any milling than I will want the bigger saw
 
Bars and loops are cheaper than power heads, but it is really nice NOT having to swap blades (chains and bar-guides). It's nice to just set the big boy down and pick up the smaller saw for the smaller work and visa versa. And besides that, there are many practical reasons to have multiples saws…
 
When it comes to milling, there is no replacement for displacement. :msp_thumbup: The 2172 is more of a finesse type saw vs brute force. My first go on the mill was with a 272xp and it didn't take long to figure out that I needed more cubes.
 
2172 will be inadequate for milling

2188 is a good decision

The one drawback of a jonsered over a husky in the context of milling is the lack of an option to upgrade to a high top filter assembly.

Have you bought the mill already?
 
2188

Good thinking on displacement & bar lengths! I have done a considerable amount of milling with a Jonsereds920 using a 34in bar. You will definitely need all of the power that 87.9cc can give you. the 920 also wore a 24in bar for felling & most bucking. The balance was ideal with the 24in. It made the saw handle very nicely. Hardwoods I milled included walnut, sugar maple, white oak, & honey locust. The 2172 would be overmatched milling anything over 10-12in. IMO. I think you'll be happy with the 2188!
 
I do not have the mill yet. Thinking a 36 inch Alaskan. I have some 30 plus inch hickory that needs to be cut up this week. My stihl 029 just is not it enough
 
36" Alaskan using 36" bar will allow you to cut about 30" wide. I pulled the bark dogs from my 066 so as to be able to get as much width as possible. I've since purchased a 42" for my 3120 so I can use the full width of my 36" Alaskan. 30"+ slabs 2"+ thick get heavy fast as you add length.
 
Ok just a heads up you lose like 6" of bar length effectively when attaching the mill. So a 36" bar suited up to a mill can only mill about a 30-32" capacity.

If you actually want the ability to mill 36" swath you need a 42" bar, however this is the upper limit of your oiling capabilities.

Either way the 2188 is a perfect saw for on and off the mill versatility
 
36" Alaskan using 36" bar will allow you to cut about 30" wide. I pulled the bark dogs from my 066 so as to be able to get as much width as possible. I've since purchased a 42" for my 3120 so I can use the full width of my 36" Alaskan. 30"+ slabs 2"+ thick get heavy fast as you add length.

beat me to it...cosign
 
2188

Ok just a heads up you lose like 6" of bar length effectively when attaching the mill. So a 36" bar suited up to a mill can only mill about a 30-32" capacity.

If you actually want the ability to mill 36" swath you need a 42" bar, however this is the upper limit of your oiling capabilities.

Either way the 2188 is a perfect saw for on and off the mill versatility

Amen!!
 
A 36" bar is a long one on a 2188, and I don't think skip chain is a good idea for milling?

I am no expert on this though.....
 
The JRed website says it takes up to a 32 inch bar. I asked the dealer and he says the saw comes directly from JRed with the 36 inch bar standard. He went further to say they would not over state the ability of the saw and if it could not handle it the saw would not come that way

Has anyone heard about a new model coming out. Something in the same size range that would be replacing the 2188. Hate to buy last yrs model and two months later find out there is something better on the market
 
Milling requires more power than bucking. Just because the manufacturer says it will pull a 32" and the dealer says it will come with a 36" doesn't mean its up to the job for milling.

Guys running the Husky 395xp think they are great for milling, and some guys say they have more grunt than the Stihl 066/660. I'm running an 066 with BB kit (99cc) and 30" wood on the mill makes it work pretty hard. I've just purchased a 42" bar and 7 pin rim to put on my 3120xp to take advantage of its displacement.
 
...

Has anyone heard about a new model coming out. Something in the same size range that would be replacing the 2188. Hate to buy last yrs model and two months later find out there is something better on the market

I highly doubt Husky is in any hurry to replace the 390xp/2188, and have heard or seen no rumors of new models that size. The 372xpAT/2172 and 576xp is a totally different story...
 
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I appreciate you mentioning the 395xp and the fact that if I really get serious about milling there is a very good chance I will want to upgrade. The situation I am in right now is I need a saw for felling and bucking that is not to heavy an can be used all day. The ideal truthfully would most likely be the 2172. But I want to be able to do some milling so I am trying to kill two birds with one stone.
 
The JRed website says it takes up to a 32 inch bar. I asked the dealer and he says the saw comes directly from JRed with the 36 inch bar standard. He went further to say they would not over state the ability of the saw and if it could not handle it the saw would not come that way

Has anyone heard about a new model coming out. Something in the same size range that would be replacing the 2188. Hate to buy last yrs model and two months later find out there is something better on the market

The 36" bar standard might be BS...not sure those saws even come prepacked with a bar. It should do ok, especially w skip chain.

Regarding a replacement...

the "2188" is actually fairly recent...the 2186 was around for a while though, which is essentially the same saw (390xp and 385xp, 385 got discontinued and so did the jonsered variant...so the 2188 has slightly more displacement than the 2186 did). There have not been any reports of a replacement for this.

With all of these things though, how far do you want to look into the future? Two years? Five years? Ten years? My guess is two years no replacement, 5 years maybe, and 10 years probably.
 
I just wanted to see if I should be aware of any changes that are already in the works.

I was thinking the same thing about the 36 inch bar coming standard being BS. I was originally thinking he puts the 36 on for the showroom more than what would be recomended. When I asked thats what he told me. Like I said all the research I have done the longest bar JRed recomends in 32.
 
For bucking and felling the lighter saws will be more nimble. Keep in mind that you could buy a used large displacement saw for milling whether it be running or something that needs a rebuild. I would not suggest that someone use their primary "earning income" saw on the mill.
 
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