rumatt
ArboristSite Operative
I'm new to chainsawing but I'm hooked. I have a 50cc Stihl 261cm w/ 18" bar, and a 42cc Stihl 241cm w/ 14" bar. The 241 is fantastic for limbing and stuff < 10" in diaeter. I love the saw.
The 261 is OK but it always feels like it's the wrong size. Too heavy for limbing and not enough power for bucking big stuff. Today I was cutting some maple that was around 22" in diameter. The saw got through it OK but I kept saying... MORE FASTER PLEASE! I can't imagine wanting a 20" bar on this saw. I feel like it needs a 16 max for hard wood. The chain was a semi-chisel 325 and it was throwing decent sized chips.
A lot of people seem to like the 461. But I'm partial to M-tronic. I could wait for the 462. Or go big and jump straight to the 661c? Use the 261 with a 16" bar and when it's struggling, jump to big bertha with a 25" bar? Would I regret it?
I don't cut huge amounts. I do this just for fun and to help neighbors. But I've got an 30" oak down on my property, and the neighbor has one that's well over 3' at the base. No way I'm attacking them with the 50cc saw.
The 261 is OK but it always feels like it's the wrong size. Too heavy for limbing and not enough power for bucking big stuff. Today I was cutting some maple that was around 22" in diameter. The saw got through it OK but I kept saying... MORE FASTER PLEASE! I can't imagine wanting a 20" bar on this saw. I feel like it needs a 16 max for hard wood. The chain was a semi-chisel 325 and it was throwing decent sized chips.
A lot of people seem to like the 461. But I'm partial to M-tronic. I could wait for the 462. Or go big and jump straight to the 661c? Use the 261 with a 16" bar and when it's struggling, jump to big bertha with a 25" bar? Would I regret it?
I don't cut huge amounts. I do this just for fun and to help neighbors. But I've got an 30" oak down on my property, and the neighbor has one that's well over 3' at the base. No way I'm attacking them with the 50cc saw.