Best limbing saws

[Four Paws]

Here's my vote. 360 with a 377 crank and some other modifications. Lots of compression and pretty light. Gets it at 16,000 rpm.

 

[SawTroll]

What size saw is suitable depends a lot on the situation and wood - there isn't any universal solution.

Personally, I wouldn't want to go much under 50cc, unless the wood is very small. My favorite is the NE346xp, with a 16" .325 setup - some times 8-pin.

 

[Chainsaw Jim]

Here's my limbing saw. I'm having it fitted with a top handle to help with balance while I'm up in a tree.

 

[Stihl 041S]

Limbing?
Stihl 200.
Then apply ported 044/046.

 

[redfin]

I'm feeling lazy today Josh. How much stroke did you gain with that crank?

 

[Four Paws]

John, +2mm

Ends up at 38cc.

I am sure it isn't the fastest, but the build quality is unparalleled on a saw of this size, and it handles awesome!

 

[CapitaineHaddoc]

Ported 346 NE. Hard to beat!

 

[catbuster]

I only use one saw for everything... So I'm going with a Stihl MS461. Or a Husqvarna 372XP if I'm working out of the Louisville shop.

 

[sunfish]

346xp is what I use, but I guess it's a bit overkill.

 

[ArcticOverland]

242XPG or 543XPG small
254XPG or 560XPG not so small

If I have to pick just 1 saw it's the 242XPG for limbing with the 543XPG a close second place.

 

[computeruser]

I wish we could get the 543xpg here. But I've been wishing that for years and still, no dice.

Most of my cutting is limbing - flopping over skinny trees that are under 5" diameter, and breaking them into pieces that can be dragged and stacked. For that work, 238se, 242xp, 346xp/xpg, and, when the mood strikes, one of those Shinny 360/377 hybrids, are the preferred tools, all with 13" .325" setups. I have other saws, notably 020AVP and 339xp, that in theory should also work well for this work, but they just don't - the balance is wrong, the handling is wrong, not enough power to be productive. Ditto the tail handle Echos and Tanakas, which are definitely lighter but are dog slow in real world use.

Good and productive:


Not so much so:

 

[Termite]

I have two of these little Redmax 3800. This is the one that never has been gassed. I use it a lot for cutting eastern red cedar. With base gasket delete it has 185psi.

 

[sweetjetskier]

I like my 200T or my Dolmar 5105H.

All depends on the situation at hand in regards to which one is up and cutting.

 

[CoreyB]

I really like my 192 rear handle version.
It is so light and smooth I can run it without my hands going numb and I don't feel beat to death. I know many think it is to small but man I like this saw. I cut two pick up loads today with it.

 

[moondoggie]

I use my 562 95% of the time with 20"

 

[SawTroll]

Limbing often is the most time consuming part of the cutting, but choosing a too small and/or too cheap saw for that part of the cutting is a common mistake.

It isn't "just a limbing saw", it is an important part of the equipment.

 

[KenJax Tree]

550xp usually

 

[Deets066]

Limbing?
Stihl 200.
Then apply ported 044/046.

X2, except you forgot to write hybrid after 046.

 

[redfin]

John, +2mm

Ends up at 38cc.

I am sure it isn't the fastest, but the build quality is unparalleled on a saw of this size, and it handles awesome!

That would be what roughly .075" out of the head? What did you do?

 

[Adirondackstihl]

Shinny 360 is one of my favorites.
Still waiting for one to fall into my lap