Silviculturist
New Member
I have had a few saws: Stihl 090, 064, 026 & two E220s, plus a stray Husky 2000w electric.
Some kind soul had relieved me in the night of the 2 big Stihls, leaving me with only the 026 petrol saw & the electrics.
I need a single larger replacement saw. I normally run 16" 3/8" bars on the 026 & Stihl electrics, and 20" 3/8" on the 064. I have plenty of these bars and chains still in the shed for both 16" & 20". I also have a 24" 3/8" bar and about 6 or so chains also, although they're seldom used. There's also some 13" .325" bars & chains also, which I don't use anymore.
I harvest dry timber only, about 20-30t per annum for my wood stove & 4 heaters in my home & shack. I mostly cut dry standing hardwood (Eucalypt) bush poles of approx 8" to 20" max. diameter. My method of harvesting is to cut the smaller poles into 6' lengths for transport home: larger diameters, being heavier, are docked in the bush into more easily handled lengths. This is then cut up into useable lengths in multiples on a purpose built frame with the electrics. I harvest, transport and process about 1 ton at a time. I mostly use the 026 16" 3/8" combination as the lightest & most convenient alternative for firewood harvesting. I also use a Stihl hedge trimmer attachment on the 026. I prefer dry bush poles as they're "stove ready" and easily & quickly handled in six foot lengths.
I'd like some suggestions for a saw larger than the 026 to run all sizes of bar: 16", 20" & (rarely if ever) the 24" bar. Mostly it would be the 20" bar, as it doesn't really make sense to have 2 different sized saws with the same bar size!
I'm leaning towards Stihl's MS362 as an ideal 20" 3/8" saw, but I'm a bit concerned it may be too gutless for the rare occasions that I would require the 24" bar. This would be used for falling larger dry Eucalyptus hardwood trees, and for docking said trees into shorter fuelwood lengths.
Stihl's own guide shows that the MS362 uses recommended bar lengths of 16" - 20", so I'm taking a punt on it's suitability for the 20% longer bar! Would the MS441 be a more appropriate saw for using mostly 20" and occasionally 24" bars?
I'm not really interested in Sachs Dolmar, Jonsered, or Husky alternatives, as my local dealer is Stihl only, and it's all that I've ever used anyway in the 40 odd years I've owned saws.
I'm not as young as I once was, so the smaller & lighter the 20" combination is the better.
Some kind soul had relieved me in the night of the 2 big Stihls, leaving me with only the 026 petrol saw & the electrics.
I need a single larger replacement saw. I normally run 16" 3/8" bars on the 026 & Stihl electrics, and 20" 3/8" on the 064. I have plenty of these bars and chains still in the shed for both 16" & 20". I also have a 24" 3/8" bar and about 6 or so chains also, although they're seldom used. There's also some 13" .325" bars & chains also, which I don't use anymore.
I harvest dry timber only, about 20-30t per annum for my wood stove & 4 heaters in my home & shack. I mostly cut dry standing hardwood (Eucalypt) bush poles of approx 8" to 20" max. diameter. My method of harvesting is to cut the smaller poles into 6' lengths for transport home: larger diameters, being heavier, are docked in the bush into more easily handled lengths. This is then cut up into useable lengths in multiples on a purpose built frame with the electrics. I harvest, transport and process about 1 ton at a time. I mostly use the 026 16" 3/8" combination as the lightest & most convenient alternative for firewood harvesting. I also use a Stihl hedge trimmer attachment on the 026. I prefer dry bush poles as they're "stove ready" and easily & quickly handled in six foot lengths.
I'd like some suggestions for a saw larger than the 026 to run all sizes of bar: 16", 20" & (rarely if ever) the 24" bar. Mostly it would be the 20" bar, as it doesn't really make sense to have 2 different sized saws with the same bar size!
I'm leaning towards Stihl's MS362 as an ideal 20" 3/8" saw, but I'm a bit concerned it may be too gutless for the rare occasions that I would require the 24" bar. This would be used for falling larger dry Eucalyptus hardwood trees, and for docking said trees into shorter fuelwood lengths.
Stihl's own guide shows that the MS362 uses recommended bar lengths of 16" - 20", so I'm taking a punt on it's suitability for the 20% longer bar! Would the MS441 be a more appropriate saw for using mostly 20" and occasionally 24" bars?
I'm not really interested in Sachs Dolmar, Jonsered, or Husky alternatives, as my local dealer is Stihl only, and it's all that I've ever used anyway in the 40 odd years I've owned saws.
I'm not as young as I once was, so the smaller & lighter the 20" combination is the better.