Help - Chainsaw selection

[Spudland_Dave]

First off, I'd like to say Hi...new guy here and i've found your forum to be quite an interesting read.

I'd like a little input on what saw to choose....used to know what I wanted, but now the more I read the more confused I get....

We just bought a new house, 2 acres...mostly wooded I'd like to thin out the dead & ugly stuff, leaving the nice oaks, maples, etc standing. I originally had my heart set on a Husky but now I dont know. As another bit of info about me, I'm the kind of guy who likes to spend a bit more up front and get one high quality tool which works great and lasts a lifetime...for example I tinker/mechanic around on cars & farm tractors on the side...toolbox is full of Snap-On tools only because when I reach for my 3/8" ratchet, I know what I got works and works great. That being said, my dad has had his Husky for as long as I can remember...not to mention every logger around has 3-4 Husky's in the bed of their truck. On the other hand, I like bang for the buck... I'd like to find a nice middle road, as I know I dont need a 100% top of the line saw to trim out & maintain wood from a measley 2 acres. But I want to be prepared if the need ever arose for more use.

Any reccomendations? I'm open to any....from reading around here I made a short list of possibles...
Stihl - MS260 Pro or the MS361
Husky - 346XP ir the 357XP

Also got to reading and seems like the Makita/Dolmar saws pack alot of bang for the buck...eBay has em pretty reasonably priced. Also open to a Jonserd or one of the new John Deere Pro line saws...my JD Dealer treats me pretty good.

 

[sugarbush]

First off, I'd like to say Hi...new guy here and i've found your forum to be quite an interesting read.

I'd like a little input on what saw to choose....used to know what I wanted, but now the more I read the more confused I get....

We just bought a new house, 2 acres...mostly wooded I'd like to thin out the dead & ugly stuff, leaving the nice oaks, maples, etc standing. I originally had my heart set on a Husky but now I dont know. As another bit of info about me, I'm the kind of guy who likes to spend a bit more up front and get one high quality tool which works great and lasts a lifetime...for example I tinker/mechanic around on cars & farm tractors on the side...toolbox is full of Snap-On tools only because when I reach for my 3/8" ratchet, I know what I got works and works great. That being said, my dad has had his Husky for as long as I can remember...not to mention every logger around has 3-4 Husky's in the bed of their truck. On the other hand, I like bang for the buck... I'd like to find a nice middle road, as I know I dont need a 100% top of the line saw to trim out & maintain wood from a measley 2 acres. But I want to be prepared if the need ever arose for more use.

Any reccomendations? I'm open to any....from reading around here I made a short list of possibles...
Stihl - MS260 Pro or the MS361
Husky - 346XP ir the 357XP

Also got to reading and seems like the Makita/Dolmar saws pack alot of bang for the buck...eBay has em pretty reasonably priced. Also open to a Jonserd or one of the new John Deere Pro line saws...my JD Dealer treats me pretty good.

5100s Dolmar, it'll have those 2 acres cleaned up really quick, and it's perty.

 

[manual]

Welcome to the site,
Your subject opens a can of worms around here.
I'm still licking my wounds over the last post like this.
so staying in the safe zone. I'll say do a search on the saws you are looking at lots of info out there and don't get blinded by some of the propaganda you will encounter. Good luck

 

[THALL10326]

5100s Dolmar, it'll have those 2 acres cleaned up really quick, and it's perty.

Good post Sugar. Your starting to talks likes me. Its spelled "pruty",lol. I'm gonna have to get me a 5100, that saw seems to get the best reviews of all the saws on here. If you say its great then its great because I believe you Sugar.

 

[manual]

Good post Sugar. Your starting to talks likes me. Its spelled "pruty",lol. I'm gonna have to get me a 5100, that saw seems to get the best reviews of all the saws on here. If you say its great then its great because I believe you Sugar.

It is the day of a new beginning.

 

[SinglerM]

Thall. This place is like the mafia.

When you think you've gotten out. They pull right back in.
That was a short lived retirement.

Mitch

 

[computeruser]

First off, I'd like to say Hi...new guy here and i've found your forum to be quite an interesting read.

Welcome!

I'd like a little input on what saw to choose....used to know what I wanted, but now the more I read the more confused I get....

You're not the only one. When I started down the road to saw addiction, I was in the same boat as I am sure most of the rest of us were, too. A few hours reading old posts on here and you'll be up to speed!

We just bought a new house, 2 acres...mostly wooded I'd like to thin out the dead & ugly stuff, leaving the nice oaks, maples, etc standing. I originally had my heart set on a Husky but now I dont know. As another bit of info about me, I'm the kind of guy who likes to spend a bit more up front and get one high quality tool which works great and lasts a lifetime...for example I tinker/mechanic around on cars & farm tractors on the side...toolbox is full of Snap-On tools only because when I reach for my 3/8" ratchet, I know what I got works and works great. That being said, my dad has had his Husky for as long as I can remember...not to mention every logger around has 3-4 Husky's in the bed of their truck. On the other hand, I like bang for the buck... I'd like to find a nice middle road, as I know I dont need a 100% top of the line saw to trim out & maintain wood from a measley 2 acres. But I want to be prepared if the need ever arose for more use.

OK, let's see. You don't want to buy junk. You have your heart set on Husqvarna, partially because your father has had good experiences with his and your local loggers use Husqvarna (which, I presume, means that Husqvarna is well supported by dealers in the area). Well, you answered your own question - buy a Husqvarna: it is what you want (the subjective "I'm happy with my purchase" factor is very important) and it is well supported in your area.

Any reccomendations? I'm open to any....from reading around here I made a short list of possibles...
Stihl - MS260 Pro or the MS361
Husky - 346XP ir the 357XP

Ah, a popular discussion topic with LOTS of old posts. Also, you may wish to consider the 353 over the 346 if the saw is going to be an all-around saw, it has a wider powerband than the 346. And it'll save you a few bucks over the 346.

If you're only going to buy one saw, go with the larger of the two. If you're going to buy more than one saw, then you might want to consider the three-saw plan. Over the couple years that I've been into saws, I've come to the conclusion that most frequent saw users will eventually want three saws - a light 30-35cc trim saw (or top-handle climber), a 10-11lb 50cc saw for smaller wood and limbing, and a big saw of 70+cc for those bigger trees, ripping stuff you don't want to split, flush cutting stumps, etc. Theoretically, if you don't have much wood that requires more than a 24" bar, you could substitute a single 60cc pro-grade saw for the 50cc and 70cc+ saws of the three-saw plan. Just my two cents; others will surely have other opinions.

Also got to reading and seems like the Makita/Dolmar saws pack alot of bang for the buck...eBay has em pretty reasonably priced. Also open to a Jonserd or one of the new John Deere Pro line saws...my JD Dealer treats me pretty good.

Any of those saws would be great. If you're OK without having dealers nearby, Dolmars are superb saws. The JD Efco/Emak/CubCadet/whatever saws are also good and their 62cc saw seems like it has a very nice power-to-weight ratio. But as with the Dolmars, there is nowhere near the same dealer support as with Stihl or Husqvarna.

 

[THALL10326]

It is the day of a new beginning.

Manual your something else. I told you I don't bash brands and there is a simple reason, ya never know when you may buy one, wink..

 

[THALL10326]

When you think you've gotten out. They pull right back in.
That was a short lived retirement.

Mitch

After that 1000 post thread I needed a breather. Done caught my breath now. As Al Bundy would say, Lets Rock,

 

[fishhuntcutwood]

Dave, there's nothing wrong with any of those saws you mention. If you live in a Husky area, get a husky. You've likely got good dealer support and other around you with like saws. I'm a Stihl guy, so that's that. But I just met Sugarbush last week, and he put my hands on some Dolmars, and I was impressed to say the least.

They say you get what you pay for. And if you've got a toolbox full of Snap-On, well any of those saws would sit well right next to it.

Welcome to AS.

Jeff

 

[sawinredneck]

Welcome to AS Dave!! Be afraid, you are about to get sucked in:hmm3grin2orange: :hmm3grin2orange:
I am partial to Huskies in that size, just me, and have heard nothing but good things about the Dolmar 5100s, it's got me thinking:biggrinbounce2:
Did I mention you were about to get sucked in:hmm3grin2orange:
Andy

 

[Spudland_Dave]

Well thanks for the good input guys.....i'm back to thinkin Orange......

NOW....what would you reccomend in the orange line...guess it would be between the 353, 346XP and the 357XP

Is the 353 considered to be a high end consumer or a low end pro type saw...I take it both the XP's I listed are in the Pro category. I know no saw will make me a pro, but just want to make sure I'm gettin good hardware.

 

[computeruser]

Is the 353 considered to be a high end consumer or a low end pro type saw...I take it both the XP's I listed are in the Pro category. I know no saw will make me a pro, but just want to make sure I'm gettin good hardware.

It has the same bottom end as the 346 and the same magnesium case, but a bit more displacement and a wider powerband. If memory serves, the piston and cylinder can be swapped between the two. I would argue that it is a pro saw, just without an XP designation. Numerous threads on the topic of 353: Pro or Not? can be found in the archives.

I think that the most obvious distinction between pro and consumer is found in the case material - magnesium cases go with "pro" saws and plastic or aluminum with consumer saws (Dolmar 5100s with a magnesium case versus Dolmar 510 with an aluminum one, for example). I'm sure that exceptions exist, but this is a pretty fair indicator.

Any of the three saws that you're considering would count as gettin' good hardware!! If you can justify the extra coin, the 357 might be nice. But the 353 is a fine saw for $350 and it weighs a bit less!

 

[BostonBull]

I would say go with the 353 or 357 from Husky or the 361 fom Stihl. The decision maker on this one should be which dealer around you will give you better support when things need to be repaired, tuned up, or you need supplies and parts.

Good luck and let us know what you decided on.

 

[314epw]

my 2 cents

After reading all the posts,I figured I'd chime in.I would go 357xp or 359.No body said noting about the 359!Then you could modify the muffler and get more HP!/B]3.9 HP stock.
Ed

 

[TopJimmy]

I have to agree with computeruser. If you are buying more than one saw, the 346 is a great saw, but if only buying one, then I would think a little bigger. How much bigger is a question you will have to decide based on the size of trees yuou anticipate cutting and the extra weight you want to carry. My 346 is my primary saw (I am going to get a 5100s, just haven't talked myself into it yet), and I love it. It is light and easy to work with, very fast rpms for fast cutting. However when I have a larger tree or stump, I have a couple of other saws ready to go to work.

The makita/Dolmar 6400/7300/7900 series would be a great all purpose saw as well, if you have Dolmar support in your area.

Jim

 

[Four Paws]

Welcome - your name says Spudland, Idaho is Spud land...you from here? Or, do they grow spuds up in Maine?

I am very pleased with my Dolmar 5100S. I would buy another in a heartbeat...actually trying to get my dad sold on one! It is one SMOOTH saw - fast reving, wide powerband, very reasonablly priced ($370-420 depending where you go), and well built with lots of nice features. Had the best power-to-weight in its class.

I run Shindaiwa saws (mostly), and my 1 Dolmar. I like Shindaiwas for they are what I know, my dealer is fair and parts availability is GREAT - Shindaiwa doesn't discontinue much - i can still get parts for saws that are over 20 years old! They start on the 2nd pull ALL the time - even after sitting for a few weeks. Most would say they are 'outdated' in design, and I would agree, but they make moster torgue for their size - lug right along through the cut, even with the bar buried.

If you want a single saw, for the money, I would have to say 5100S hands down. Best quality and bang-for-your buck out there! If you want a husky, get one, but get the 372XP - more than you need, but most anyone will tell you it was one of their best saws ever made.

 

[Uwharrie]

Buying a new Chainsaw can be fun. The main things I look for are Dealer Support (someone who can supply parts and service if you need it) and Quality Products. I believe that the Dolmar PS-5100S is the best all around mid size saw.( 4 horsepower for 11.2 lbs ) Everybody has a favorite but this new saw just keeps getting great reviews from every sale. Why carry a chainsaw that weighs pounds more with less horsepower? There's a lot of good saws on the market today but few have come with a powerful saw right out of the box that's ready for work like the PS-5100S. Of course this is only my opinion. Have fun, Tony

 

[Woodie]

And I'm gonna have to chime in with the Jonsered 2159!!

Much the same saw as the Husky 359, but a tiny bit more hp and revs. It also has a straight-across front handle...I happen to like that, but some don't. Many dealers are badly backordered on the 359 right now, so it may be easier to find the Jonsered model.

The big thing is whether or not you have a competent Jonsered rep near you. Right now they are running a Bag-it Drag-it sale, and if you bring in a "complete" saw for trade-in, they'll give you $125 off the MSRP. The saw can be any ol' carcass you can dig up, doesn't need to run at all.

Mine was $469 with a solid (not laminated) 20" bar.

The Dolmars can be hard to come by...we have one dealer here in Detroit and he's too dumb to carry the 5100. (Also they suck at customer service.) (Also they just suck period.) That eliminated it for me. Perhaps you'll have better luck where you live finding a competent Dolmar dealer.

The beauty of the Jonsered is that it will pull a 24" bar, and it's definitely a pro saw. Magnesium case, and a VERY good air induction system (like the Husky) which keeps you from having to clean the air filter much. It's light enough to limb with, and it's stout enough to go through big hardwood. I put safety chain (anti-kickback, round ground) on mine until I'm acclimated to the saw, and it went through 18" ash last weekend like poop through a goose. (And did I mention it's not even broken in yet?)

For the time being, the 2159 is about $100 cheaper than the MS361, which I also considered.

 

[Spudland_Dave]

Welcome - your name says Spudland, Idaho is Spud land...you from here? Or, do they grow spuds up in Maine?

LOL...I beg to differ that Idaho is Spudland....Up until the late 60's, early 70's, Maine was #1 in Potato production. But yes times have changed and you guys do produce more then us now....
Back to trees....

My how a day can change things....Swung by the local Stihl dealer (got a friend of a friend who's a salesman there), looked at and priced out saws... He steered me towards the 290 "Farm Boss"....I hadnt done any homework on the 290 so I figured I'd look into it....after talking saws and such he offered me a side job (I'm a computer techie by trade and they have some work to be done)...so now its at the point where I can get pretty much any Stihl I want for a VERY good price (ie no cash out of my pocket...but like anything else, it would cost me cause the more expensive I go, the less cash I get on the other end)

Now to the question part of this....what Stihl is comparable (in quality & operation) to the 353 Husky? Up till about an hour ago I was set on a 353...now I'm strongly considering Stihl....its not that hard to justify to the boss (a.k.a girlfriend) an "expensive item" when I dont need to lay out any cash for it.