New Stihl MS361, now what?

[wood4heat]

Okay that does it your banned from the PNW gettogether.:hmm3grin2orange:
They again to be on here for a year and only have one saw is very impressive. Now we know where that money the government is giving out in may is going.

If I pick up a $35.00 crapsman or the like off craigslist can I be re invited? All my guberment money will be going toward my daughters preschool.

 

[kevin j]

like the bumper sticker:
government aid, hell, it's OUR money i the first place......

 

[Hugenpoet]

At the risk of getting banned I've only got one saw, it hasn't been modded and I've been here almost a year!

(still has the original green chain on it too)

I would suggest that the Powers That Be should make you the Chaplin of this Site, the rest of us definately could benefit from some of your moderation and good example.

Hugenpoet

 

[HUSKYMAN]

Welcome aboard! Stihl MS 361 Rocks!

You will love this saw. The 18" bar will make it almost a "hot saw." I'm pulling a 20" chain with no sweat. This saw cuts like a gorilla!

The 361 is a marvel of modern technology:

OK its getting way too deep in here. Does the 361 cure global warming too?

 

[kruege84]

"...I can't imagine needing more power than this will provide...."

Riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiight.


[Here's the next one: "I only need one saw, and this is it."]

I've only got an MS 310, and since I don't do much cutting, It's probably more saw than I need. Then I found this place and can't wait to go bigger. Maybe the Dolmar 7900 in a few months??

Use RSC chain for clean wood, and RMC for dirty wood

I didn't feel like spending the extra $$ on an RMC for dirty wood, so I just switch back to the POS safety chain that came with it.

It all sounds like good advice. Treat it well, and it will treat you well.

AND CONGRATS ON AN AWESOME SAW!!

 

[Bowtie]

"...I can't imagine needing more power than this will provide...."

Riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiight.


[Here's the next one: "I only need one saw, and this is it."]

Yeah, i said that about my 026 Pro when I started cutting firewood, now look. Got an 064 en route, lol.

 

[SawTroll]

...

I didn't feel like spending the extra $$ on an RMC for dirty wood, so I just switch back to the POS safety chain that came with it. ....

Bad attitude, just do it, if you have some dirty wood!!!!!!

...chains aren't that much money even here, although they generally cost 3 times what they do in the US......

 

[2dogs]

The roll O Matic E should be lighter than the Roll O Matic ES

Since the ES is a solid machined piece, and the E is Laminated.

Gary

I like Stihl bars but I have never figured how they name the things. I have a 32" Rollomatic E, solid non-laminated, replaceable tip, yellow coded bar that appears the be a narrower profile than ES bars. Andy explained that a mm or two can mean the difference between yellow and green bars but I need to see a formula. I don't know if this is a special purpose bar or what but there are no special markings.

 

[bookerdog]

If I pick up a $35.00 crapsman or the like off craigslist can I be re invited? All my guberment money will be going toward my daughters preschool.

Now were talken re invited.

 

[wood4heat]

QUOTE=bookerdog;912596]Now were talken re invited.[/QUOTE]


http://portland.craigslist.org/clc/tls/575361500.html

More than I was hoping to spend but it does come with an "extra heavy duty chain"

 

[Erick]

I'm newly registered to the site and wanted to say hello. Also, I couldn'tt help buying a MS361 this morning. After reading all of the posts and how glad everyone is that owns one.....................Are there any other recommended upgrades or options you would suggest?

I never thought I would say this, but I am going to go out and cut trees all day this weekend, just because I can =)

Thanks for all the info I found on this site.

Crash

Great choice on the saw it's always nice for us to know somebody is paying attention.

Saw paraphernalia;

Always have a spare chain.

If your a one saw outfit a spare bar is always nice, if you pinch a saw you can take the bar off and put the other one on and cut the pinched bar out. and having the other bar in a different size is nice for those times when you need more bar. A 24" would be nice in your case.

Get a bar cover and use it.

A spare spark plug is a good idea.

I found out the hard way carry a spare flipper cap (gas/oil cap) in the truck.

Keep that torx wrench that came with your saw in the truck as well, never know when you might need it and it will take the whole saw apart if necessary.

As was said spare bar nuts.

Spare rim and e-clip.

A spare clutch bearing is a good idea as well.

Wedges - at least two felling wedges and a small 4-5 inch bucking wedge.

Your gonna need a single bit ax (yes even with a chainsaw), mostly for pounding wedges, but useful for a lot of things in general.

PPE - Chaps (or saw pants), forestry helmet, gloves, and steel toe boots. Here’s a link if your thinking you don't need it http://www.arboristsite.com/showpost.php?p=852617&postcount=33

Files for sharpening your chain, my advise is get a "chain maintenance kit". (Stihl has a nice one)

A cant hook is real nice, not necessary but it sure makes life a whole lot easier.

Of course your gonna need a fuel can, mix oil, and bar oil. The whole fuel/oil thing has been beat to death around here and I won't kick it again (do a search if your interested) I'll just say IMO use a good high octane fuel and the best mix and bar oil you can find.

Check out some of the online safety manuals, and read the manual that came with your saw.

http://www.tiltonequipment.com/ChainSawOperatorsSafetyManual.pdf


A few links to get you started.

Check out this video on how to sharpen a chain. Just scroll to the bottom of the page when it opens on Ammiks web site.

http://www.amickssuperstore.com/Vallorbe_5_32_Chain_Sharpening_Kit_p/vallorbe%20532%20sharpening%20kit.htm

A real good video, Kinda long but worth the wait

Dial-up
http://www.tilton.usa.jonsered.com/Files/Jonsered/cs/downloads/videos/Working_with_chainsaws_176x132.wmv

High speed
http://www.tilton.usa.jonsered.com/Files/Jonsered/cs/downloads/videos/Working_with_chainsaws_320x240.wmv


Use the search function here and ask as many questions as you need, a lot of great folks around here who are more than willing to help.

Good luck and cut safe.

 

[Bowtie]

Bad attitude, just do it, if you have some dirty wood!!!!!!

...chains aren't that much money even here, although they generally cost 3 times what they do in the US......

I agree with troll on that. Dirty wood dulls a full chisel much much faster than a semi. I keep one for dirty work in 3/8 and .325

 

[volks-man]

holy crap!!!

Great choice on the saw it's always nice for us to know somebody is paying attention.

Saw paraphernalia;

Always have a spare chain.

If your a one saw outfit a spare bar is always nice, if you pinch a saw you can take the bar off and put the other one on and cut the pinched bar out. and having the other bar in a different size is nice for those times when you need more bar. A 24" would be nice in your case.

Get a bar cover and use it.

A spare spark plug is a good idea.

I found out the hard way carry a spare flipper cap (gas/oil cap) in the truck.

Keep that torx wrench that came with your saw in the truck as well, never know when you might need it and it will take the whole saw apart if necessary.

As was said spare bar nuts.

Spare rim and e-clip.

A spare clutch bearing is a good idea as well.

Wedges - at least two felling wedges and a small 4-5 inch bucking wedge.

Your gonna need a single bit ax (yes even with a chainsaw), mostly for pounding wedges, but useful for a lot of things in general.

PPE - Chaps (or saw pants), forestry helmet, gloves, and steel toe boots. Here’s a link if your thinking you don't need it http://www.arboristsite.com/showpost.php?p=852617&postcount=33

Files for sharpening your chain, my advise is get a "chain maintenance kit". (Stihl has a nice one)

A cant hook is real nice, not necessary but it sure makes life a whole lot easier.

Of course your gonna need a fuel can, mix oil, and bar oil. The whole fuel/oil thing has been beat to death around here and I won't kick it again (do a search if your interested) I'll just say IMO use a good high octane fuel and the best mix and bar oil you can find.

Check out some of the online safety manuals, and read the manual that came with your saw.

http://www.tiltonequipment.com/ChainSawOperatorsSafetyManual.pdf


A few links to get you started.

Check out this video on how to sharpen a chain. Just scroll to the bottom of the page when it opens on Ammiks web site.

http://www.amickssuperstore.com/Vallorbe_5_32_Chain_Sharpening_Kit_p/vallorbe%20532%20sharpening%20kit.htm

A real good video, Kinda long but worth the wait

Dial-up
http://www.tilton.usa.jonsered.com/Files/Jonsered/cs/downloads/videos/Working_with_chainsaws_176x132.wmv

High speed
http://www.tilton.usa.jonsered.com/Files/Jonsered/cs/downloads/videos/Working_with_chainsaws_320x240.wmv


Use the search function here and ask as many questions as you need, a lot of great folks around here who are more than willing to help.

Good luck and cut safe.

i need info.

most ppe has not been in the woods with me yet. that link with vids changed my mind!
i looked at a forestry helmet at lowes by husky with face mesh. swear i looked at it with in an hour ago and said 'i'll keep my 45 dollars'. i got back to the house and good god why did i look at those links?!?
is this thing any good? how about the chaps they have there?


cannot convey the feeling i got looking at those safety related links.

 

[SawTroll]

The best protective pants from Stihl, Husky and Jred are all about 400$ here (same thing really, between the brands), and well worth the price - the pants (or chaps) are the most important PPE - then the boots - then whatever suits what you do.....

As an exemple, I don't care about a hard hat, as I allmost exclusively cut healthy hardwood.

 

[volks-man]

thanks troll. i started a new thread. didn't want to hijack after i got shocked into needing safety gear.

 

[Erick]

i need info.

most ppe has not been in the woods with me yet. that link with vids changed my mind!
i looked at a forestry helmet at lowes by husky with face mesh. swear i looked at it with in an hour ago and said 'i'll keep my 45 dollars'. i got back to the house and good god why did i look at those links?!?
is this thing any good? how about the chaps they have there?


cannot convey the feeling i got looking at those safety related links.

volks man, here’s a link to that whole thread a lot of good info came out there.

http://www.arboristsite.com/showthread.php?p=852617#post852617

The short answer is yes the Husqvarna helmet and chaps are good choices although I would recommend not buying your PPE on an impulse, do the research and get what best suits your needs.

 

[volks-man]

thanks. impulse may keep me alive and in one piece though!

i will research it more.
thanks again

 

[kruege84]

Bad attitude, just do it, if you have some dirty wood!!!!!!

...chains aren't that much money even here, although they generally cost 3 times what they do in the US......

I wasn't saying "don't buy one." For myself, I figured I would save some $$ and use the garbage safety chain instead. Since I've already got it, I'll use it. Otherwise it would just sit and collect dust. In case you guys couldn't tell, I REALLY HATE THOSE :censored: SAFETY CHAINS!!

 

[Erick]

The best protective pants from Stihl, Husky and Jred are all about 400$ here (same thing really, between the brands), and well worth the price - the pants (or chaps) are the most important PPE - then the boots - then whatever suits what you do.....

As an exemple, I don't care about a hard hat, as I allmost exclusively cut healthy hardwood.

WOW $400.00 sorry ST

The chaps and pants in the states are between $50.00 and $100.00 with $75.00 being the average for good quality gear.

 

[SawTroll]

WOW $400.00 sorry ST

The chaps and pants in the states are between $50.00 and $100.00 with $75.00 being the average for good quality gear.

The ones I referred to aren't just "good quality" - they are state of the art....