Can't decide on new saw

[itsgottobegreen]

Well the time has come to replace all of my crappy homeowner chain saws. I decided if I am going to spend $$ the money. I am going to spend $$$$$ the money. So I am going with stihl's professional saws only.

Shorty I will be starting to help a friend who is trying to get his business going. Since I have a 1999 F-350 dump truck to used as the chip truck until he can buy his own. He is in the middle of trying to find a 9" or 12" brush bandit to buy. (if you got one for sale PM me)

So I need a climbing saw, a limbing saw and a big ????? for take downs.

I can't decided between the MS191T, MS192T or the MS200T. For my climbing saw. I want a 12" bar unless someone will talk me out of it. My current top handle homeowner junk saw is 12".

I was thinking about the MS200 or a MS260 or MS260pro for my general use/limbing saw.

But I am completely lost on the big ????? saw. I want a 20" or 24" bar on it.
A lot of power but low weight.

So let me know what you all think. I have done a lot of reading on here and you guys know you stuff. The dealer will tell you what ever you want to hear or make them the most money. Thanks in advance.

 

[Lawn Masters]

For a climbing saw, I'd recommend the MS200T, limbing/general use saw, MS260 pro, big saw, MS440 or 460. this is the best I can recommend in the saw sized you need. an MS200T should do pretty well with a 14" bar on it, just open the muffler on all 3 saws, and you'll be set.

 

[Dadatwins]

MS200 the best climbing saw in my opinion, the new 192t seems to hold up pretty well and is 1/2 the cost, but a bit less power than the 200. The 191t have not heard such great things about but some like the handle design for climbing. Shortest bar I would put on any climbing saw is 14". Mid range saw I prefer a 034/036 with 18" bar. This has been replaced with a 341/361 series. This will handle any ground work and firewood chores with power to spare. Large saw I go with 044/440 with 20" bar. 440 can pull a 24" bar but if you intend on cutting that much big stuff go with 046/460.
Of course I just rattled off about 2K worth of saws if you have the $$$ to spend you will be set. You can probably pick up similiar mid range and large Echo or Dolmar products for less. Echo also makes a climbing saw that is 1/2 the cost of the ms200 but is heavy and awkward in my opinion. All are long lasting and seem to perform well. I will sit back and wait for the Husky folks to start ripping now. Good Luck.

 

[BostonBull]

For climbing get a 200T best around IMO. For a ground saw a MS361 would be great but if too rich get the MS260. If you are wanting to pull a 24" or larger bar get the MS460. If you have the cash get the MS660 for your big saw that will pull a 40" bar! The Husky 372's are good saws also for pulling 24" or smaller bars.

 

[fishhuntcutwood]

If you're going to go with the 260, get the 260 Pro. That said, I think the 361 would be a good choice for a mid range saw. I was going to get a 260, but my 361 is so light and nimble that I really didn't need a smaller saw to fill that niche. The 361 will also work as an upper-mid range saw as well. As far as a big saw, "big" is relative. How big do you need? How large diameter of wood will you be in? If you're wanting to pull a 20" or 24," the 440 will work fine.

Jeff

 

[Patrick62]

I just got me a 460, and I love it. Opened up the muffler a bit, and it works well. Little heavy for limbing and small work. The 24" bar it comes with is about right for the stuff I am likely to find.
I agree on the 360 or so for mid size...
I use a "cheap" Echo top handle for the little stuff, it has worked out well, but a bit under powered. Since I do not do much climbing with a saw, I am not a expert on the matter. But that little echo can be handled with one hand (somewhat safely).

 

[TonyM]

Definitely check out the Dolmar PS7900 for a big saw. More power and lighter than the MS460. No better 80cc class saw out there right now. The price is right too.

 

[DanManofStihl]

I would say a ms 200t for a climber saw and a ms 260 for medium and a ms 660 for a large saw I have a 066 and that saw can't be beat. I love the power it has some weight but you get used to it that is the only large saw I would buy. I would have the 12 in bar on the 200t and a 16 or 18 in on the 260 and a 24 and a 36 in on the 066 or 660. That would be all you would need in a business for saws.

 

[PWB]

I may get jumped by a lot of people, but I say get a good used 064 instead of the 066 for your big saw. I use an 066 at work, and prefer the 064 I have at home. Almost the same power and a lot fewer pounds to cart around. Hard to slow it down with a 24"bar, and pulls more when the job demands it.

Real happy with my 034 super too, good all round saw.

 

[Lawn Masters]

The problem with the 064, is that parts are becoming scarce, unlike the 066, which is still a production model. the same is true of the 034, though its not as hard to get parts for that model.

 

[R Schra]

My usual gear is a MS200T, a MS460 066 and 088. We do have the full stihl range but MS260-MS360 is to slow for me for limbing. I use the MS460 with a 40cm (15 inch ?) bar for limbing. When doing felling i use the 066 with 50cm (20 inch?) bar and the groundie takes the MS460. Going big or difficult i use the 088 with 60 or 90 cm bar (24 or 35 inch) bar. I believe the 460 is the most used professional saw in logging here.

 

[itsgottobegreen]

Wow you guys are great. Thanks alot.

So I am guessing I am going to get:
The MS200 w/14" bar.
The MS260 w/16" bar
The MS460 w/24" bar

Hopefully we will get going in the next month or so. Soon as we do I will be off to buy them. (don't want to lay out the money for tools I don't need yet.)

 

[RAMRod]

One last piece of advice

Now... 1) this is free unsolicited advice, and 2) I'm a newbie here, so take alllll that into account.

All disclaimers aside... find a GOOD dealer. Some people will say bigger is better... depends on if you can get to the owner or someone who has a vested interest in the business. If the dealer is a larger store and the employees maybe aren't the most motivated in the world, it would be good to look elsewhere. Some of my best experiences with dealers/agents (chainsaw, snowmobile, insurance, etc.) have been with smaller outfits where you can work directly with the ownership team.

Good luck getting the business up and running!

RAMRod

 

[belgian]

My usual gear is a MS200T, a MS460 066 and 088. We do have the full stihl range but MS260-MS360 is to slow for me for limbing. I use the MS460 with a 40cm (15 inch ?) bar for limbing. When doing felling i use the 066 with 50cm (20 inch?) bar and the groundie takes the MS460. Going big or difficult i use the 088 with 60 or 90 cm bar (24 or 35 inch) bar. I believe the 460 is the most used professional saw in logging here ]


I think that's probably the best recommendation for a pro user. I like the fact you use relatively short bars for your saws. I have chosen a 18 " bar (45cm) on my 361 to be able to do some felling, and speed is not that critical to me.

 

[TonyM]

I'll just have to say it again. Anyone that I've lent my PS7900 Dolmar to or who has bought a PS7900 from me that also owns or has owned an 046 or MS460 likes the Dolmar better. It has more power, more torque, and is considerably lighter. Add on to that the fact that it is nearly $100 less, and I don't know why one would even consider an MS460. If dealer service is your concern, I can ship almost any spare part for the PS7900 the same or following day after an order. I dont' care if you buy from me, but do yourself a favor and search this forum on the PS7900.

 

[bvaught]

Easy decision, 200t, 440, 660.

 

[Stumper]

Greenie, it sounds like you are set on your choiices and they aren't bad. Essentially, the average tree care operation is well served by three saw classes.

1.A tophandle "climbing" saw-from 30-45cc-brand and ergonomics of the climber's choice

2.A 50-60cc class saw for limbing and general ground work (and the mid-sized saw can be back up for both climbing (where it is s little big and heavy but will get you out of a jam) and bucking a large trunk up (where it is little light and underpowered but will get
you through)

3.A 70cc class or larger saw for the big cuts. The saws over 80ccs get heavy quickly and most of us seldom cut big enough trees for them to work appreciably faster than the 80cc saws. The saw you "NEED" the least is the midsized one-but it will likely be the saw you use the most.

My three?One truck has a Stihl 191T 16"bar , Poulan Pro 330 20"bar and a Dolmar 7900-28 inch bar. Another has an old Poulan tophandle 16" (which I swap out for the 191T if I actually plan on much climbing) a Jonsered 590 (50cc)with 20" bar and a Husky 268xp with a 24". The stumper truck has an Old 011AVT(16"), A Dolmar115 -18" and A Husky 181 with a 34" bar.

 

[itsgottobegreen]

Now... 1) this is free unsolicited advice, and 2) I'm a newbie here, so take alllll that into account.

All disclaimers aside... find a GOOD dealer. Some people will say bigger is better... depends on if you can get to the owner or someone who has a vested interest in the business. If the dealer is a larger store and the employees maybe aren't the most motivated in the world, it would be good to look elsewhere. Some of my best experiences with dealers/agents (chainsaw, snowmobile, insurance, etc.) have been with smaller outfits where you can work directly with the ownership team.

Good luck getting the business up and running!

RAMRod

My local dealer is a joke. I drive 30 minutes one way to get to Fredrick Kubota. They go way out of their way to make sure you are happy. You can ask them a million questions. And they can answer any one. The got a ton of parts in stock. If not they can get it for you next day.

Thanks again guys.

"The saw you "NEED" the least is the midsized one-but it will likely be the saw you use the most.

Stumper your are right I plan on using the MS260pro the most. I always liked little saws. Easier to run all day. Plus most of the jobs I do I get paid by the hour. So the longer it takes the more $$$$. Were we are. We don't get into many big trees. I might buy a second 18" bar for the MS460 as a back up to the MS260pro.


One other thing. Is the artic package work the money?

 

[R Schra]

I think that's probably the best recommendation for a pro user. I like the fact you use relatively short bars for your saws. I have chosen a 18 " bar (45cm) on my 361 to be able to do some felling, and speed is not that critical to me.

Using those short blades is for a reason in fact. I am 1.97 meters tall. When working with a long blade i find me working in the wrong ergonimical position hurting my lower back. You have to carry the saw and not to let the blade tip into the ground. When limbing with the 046 with that 15" bar its good balanced and working ergonimical, straight back and bend knees, with the saw(weight) leaning on the trunk. The same for the 066 with that 20" bar or 088 24" bar. Only when making difficult (also precize felling)cuts because there are obstacles around the tree base i use longer blades to get trough. I simply cant understand why carrying al that extra weight on blade and chain if a short one does the job. With a 20"bar you can easily cut 40" trees or even bigger. Also i experience less kickbacks with a shorter blade as i use better techniques for limbing.