Best small saw for the light work.

[Spectre468]

The $665 for the 362 c-m is a really good price- here that saw goes for..$740..!!

J2F

It's probably NOT M-tronic. There's a place in town that has a regular carb 362 nos $689...

 

[cgraham1]

My dealer had an 362 M-Tronic, 3/4 wrap w/ a 25" bar for $789.

 

[inventtis]

It's probably NOT M-tronic. There's a place in town that has a regular carb 362 nos $689...

It was a M-tronic 362, I've just spent a few thousand dollars there and have bs'd with the guy several times so I'm getting a better price.

 

[Spectre468]

And you are here online instead of doing the paperwork on the saw why?

 

[Ironworker]

If you want the saw then stop dicking around and get it.

 

[inventtis]

What I want and what I should do aren't always the same thing. I recently shut down my business and claimed the ranks of the unemployed, so dropping some cash on a saw when I don't know what is going to happen in the job search makes me hesitant.

 

[inventtis]

For the money an echo cs-590 timberwolf is looking attractive, once you swap out the spur sprocket for the 600p rim sprocket. Yes the bar sucks on it, but that seems the norm on most stock saws. MM video on YouTube seems to cut nice.

 

[weedkilla]

This has all gotten a bit weird, so I'll add my opinion.

I've got saws from 50-85cc, and choosing the right one for the job is important to work out which one is the right choice for the job. Decision comes down to this normally -
How long am I working with it? The longer the day, the easier it is on my body with a small saw.
What size wood? Gotta have enough saw for the job, but on real small stuff a 50cc with 325 chain is less grabby and easier to use than a saw running 3/8 chain. Say little branches under 3".
How fast can I get it done, how much walking have I got to do? If it's all in one spot, and if I can get it done and go home then I run the 60cc and 85cc, if I'm doing more walking than cutting - 50 or 60cc.
In almost every situation a 60cc saw is faster than a 50cc saw, but I do enough little stuff, and enough steep country and walking between trees that I don't think I'd ever be without a 50cc saw. If I was just collecting firewood I could happily live without one.

 

[inventtis]

What do you mean a bit weird?

 

[weedkilla]

A bit weird as in its all gotten a bit over complicated.
The minute difference between a husky or a stihl, the couple of pounds between all these saws, it either matters to you, or it doesn't. Don't take it too seriously, and if you really aren't sure at the end - just buy a second hand saw so you can get out of it for not much money if you decide differently when you've tried it. Just don't make it too complicated - there is some good advice in here, but don't believe that what works for someone else is the only thing that will work for you.

 

[jus2fat]

What I want and what I should do aren't always the same thing. I recently shut down my business and claimed the ranks of the unemployed, so dropping some cash on a saw when I don't know what is going to happen in the job search makes me hesitant.

Then why bother to post sooo many times - when you actually have no intent to buy anything now..??

You are being seen as a "troll" - you are screwing yourself..!! - you're losing folks that tried to help..and likely won't help you again..!!

I'll take the blame for my replies...should have seen you are just a member of one day..

 

[inventtis]

Ha, I will buy a saw, the question is when, possibly Monday, but I was curious what you guys would say as I've read many threads, I just never created one.

 

[inventtis]

The weedkiila guy makes sense.

 

[weedkilla]

http://www.arboristsite.com/community/threads/stihl-ms361.256821/

Job done as far as I would be concerned. Buy an 18" bar and chain. Be happy - or not and sell it.

 

[MS460WOODCHUCK]

In light of things, how about an echo cs-620p or cs-500p since I do have a dealer around?

The Stihl dealer quoted me $665 for a 362 with an 18" bar today. I picked both Stihl saws up today and the weight difference wasn't much in feel.

Let em laugh but I have owned 346's, 550's, 026-260's, 261 and the m-tronic 261. Guess what...I would not trade my echo cs-530 for ant of them. Light, powerful, plenty of output on the bar oil, plenty of power and VERY easy to start with dependability. I like stihl and others but I like the 50cc echo.

 

[Knobby57]

I have a 261 and 361. Are you saying that the two saws can run the same chain? I realize they are not a 260 and 362, but are they that different? Just curious. Can I upgrade to a 3/8 on my 261?

I run 18" 3/8 not the low pro on my 261 and it works great . I'll throw on skip for oak and ash


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[046]

sawtroll is correct .. running 3/8 chain on 026/260 is a bit clunky .. but it's worth putting up with a bit of clunkiness to eliminate running .325 chain.
when buying chain in bulk .. the more saws you can run on that same 100ft roll of chain the better.

one can easily reduce down to running 3/8 pico for 200T and polesaws and 3/8 .050 on everything else.
although it is nice to have .404 for that four foot bar when running Stihl 084.

back on topic ... to me an 026 is not really a small saw .. MS200T is a small saw. everyone is after the MS200 rear handle .. they sure are pricey.

a solid alternative is the lowly MS170 .. they are rugged as all get out. ranked by use they could be considered a pro saw .. asplundh uses MS170 as their production climbing saw. dirt cheap at $180 brand new.

 

[woodchipper95]

18?!?! Hell when i was 18 that 066 would be my small saw.


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I see no need to carry that big of a saw. Totally pointless ran a ported 346xp today and that saw was fast!!!

 

[Mike from Maine]

Look for a 026 and then a 044... With a little patience and looking around you could have both saws for half the cost of a new 362.

And then you would have the ultimate stihl lineup IMHO a 026, 044 and 066.

 

[inventtis]

I've grown tired of trying to get and old saw to run right, which is why I want a new one.