just one saw

[royta]

Hello.

New to the site. I own a Jonsered 525 (49cc) as my only saw. It is a hand me down from my grandfather and has a 20" bar on it. Believe me, the chain has to be razor sharp if you expect to cut anything sizeable with it. It's actually the smallest saw I've ever used.

Anyway, I'd like to replace this saw with a single saw. I'm not a professional, just a wannabe woodcutter. You see, I'm 32, and currently going through woodcutting withdrawls. From the time I was 14 (maybe even younger), I've run saws, as our only source of heat was a wood stove. Well, now I'm married and live in the city, and don't even have a wood stove. I go through this at least twice a year; I have this uncontrollable desire to take a trip to my parent's ranch (Yreka, CA area) and go wood cutting again. I have two boys (5 & 2 1/2), and I try to teach them how to work hard. Mowing the lawn and trimming the hedges just isn't cutting it anymore. It's time to teach them to stack firewood.

I want a saw that can fit the bill as the perfect saw, for me. Something that will pull a 24" bar through soft wood. Something with a broad powerband, that isn't too finicky. I was thinking of a Husky 365, or maybe a Stihl 361. With the frequency that I actually cut wood, I don't think the 372XP is something I need. What do you think?

 

[weimedog]

I voted with my dollars....Husky 365 which pulls a 20inch bar through hard wood with ease. Really need to get a 24inch bar for that saw. If the ego needs a bit more "umph" go for the 372. Won't go wrong with either one. Or with a Stihl for that matter. If bucks are an issue check out the Echo 670. Same class as the 365 but about 50 dollars cheaper (out here in NYS). I can get a Echo 670 from a local dealer for under $450. My husqvarna 365 cost me around $495 delivered from Alamia in Colorado. (I lived out there before moving here) (www.alamia.com)


Of course you go "Hobbie" and get your self an old Homelite or McCulloch big bore monster! (Over 100cc) and then everytime you cut anything its an adventure! (My 797 or anything in that class from McCulloch are really nice machines)

Or even pragmatic "Hobbie" and find an old Homelite 925 in clean condition. Should be around $200 bucks in excellent condition and have a real kick-butt sleeper of a saw.

Or a 288 husky...it goes on and on.

Point is in your situation anything goes as you don't have to make a buck with the choise...

 

[fishhuntcutwood]

Well since you mentioned the 361 I'll back that up. I just bought one with a 24" bar, and for the soft woods we see out here, it works great. My dealer in town sells them with the 24", you have to ask to have a smaller bar put on them. I love that saw, it's good on torque and will scream on the top end as well. I also just bought a full wrap handlebar for it, and love it already though I haven't had a chance to use it. Maybe tomorrow after the race.

Either way, Husky or Stihl, you'll do fine.

Take care all,
Jeff

 

[Lobo]

I would make the same choice MS361 with 4.6 hp & 12.3 lbs is a real nice ratio. Modify the muffler and your picking up another .5 hp so at 5.1 hp total to pull up to a 24 in. b & c is a real nice combo.

 

[geofore]

one saw

Are you buying this saw to do some work or is the must have a 24" bar a phalics symbol thing for you? Dolmar PS7900, Husky 385XP or Sthil MS660 if you need to have a 24" bar and a saw that can pull it with ease, you're accually going to work the saw and the trees are over 4' in diameter. If you're just want the 24" bar for show go with the Stihl 361 or Husky 359 and stick with the 20" bar and chain. Your problem is the Jonsered you have is under powered for the 20" bar and chain, maybe it needs a professonal tuneup or ported? I still don't get with all these new guys and the MUST have a 24" bar and chain, is that a West Coast thing or I Don't want to be seen out and about with a short bar? If you have a need to run a 24" bar get a saw with the HP/displacement to handle it otherwise don't step up to 70-80cc saw. If you do have the need then get the PPE to go with it for you and the youngsters.

 

[fishhuntcutwood]

I'd say it's a West Coast thing, and not a compensatory thing. Most any saw you see in a pawn shop, or at the dealers used, will have a larger bar, and full wrap when available for that model. Like I said, the dealer here in town puts 24" on the 361's they sell, and even on the 310's!

Take car all,
Jeff

 

[Lobo]

I read it as he wants to pull a 24 in. b&c in soft woods on the west coast.

 

[clearance]

$50 bucks difference between a 365 & a 372xp?? I have used both for hundreds of hours and there is no comparison. Just like back in the 80s between a 61 and a 266xp. I have a 371xp and a 372xp with 24 and 28 bars. Difference between them and a 365 is similar to a pickup with a 305 2-barrel and the same truck with a 350 4-barrel. If it doesnt say xp its not a killer saw, in other words a wannabee saw. Realy good point made by geofore-get p.p.e., saw pants or chaps, hardhat with face screen and muffs. Nice to have a pressure bandage and a whistle too.

 

[Lawn Masters]

And a cell phone too. thats a BIG help in getting medical attention when its really bad.

 

[geofore]

Two kids with whistles, you're going to be asking for earplugs. Though Wally Mart has whistles for cheap in the outdoor section and the kids would love em. Yes I know the 372XP would do the 24" b&c, it's being replaced by a new model with the California EPA specs. So, he goes with the Husky 372XP, Stihl MS440 or the Makita 7901 with the 24" b&c and stays in the soft wood. But get the PPE no matter what saw you get cause it's not to early to teach 'em safety first. Do you think the kids will give up the whistles when the cuttings done? NOT!

 

[sedanman]

OSA, There are hundreds of thousands of square miles in the U.S.A. where a cell phone has no service. Read the contract you sign when getting a phone, they tell you not to rely on the phone as a lifesaving device. Some situations they can be very helpful but not all.

 

[Lawn Masters]

You're right about that. I guess I forgot that cellphones dont always work in every part of the world.

 

[Locoweed]

Yep, but it is a mixed blessing. We don't have to listen to phones ringing everywhere we go. On the other hand we can't call for help.

When we go to the city shopping we are amazed at how many people are talking on the things. What do they find to talk about that much?

Maybe America's new hidden talent is talking on the cell phone.

 

[Lobo]

Yep, but it is a mixed blessing. We don't have to listen to phones ringing everywhere we go.

Thank God !

 

[clearance]

I think you guys are just joking about whistles but out in the real world (bush) hearing a whistle means get over there r.f.n. cause something real bad has happened to your buddy. Blow one for fun and get smacked! Tie it on a string around your neck and put the pressure bandage in your hardhat. Point your truck nose out so you dont have to back up in case of emergency, first aid kit on the seat. Those abdominable pads (think thats right) work good on top of a pressure bandage, have a few of them too. Have the best fun but prepare for the worst.

 

[royta]

Thanks for the advice everybody. It sounds like the 365 should do me just fine. I obviously have an ego problem, hence the replacement of the Jonsered 525. But it's not so big that I need to spend an extra $100 for the 372.

I've never used PPE when running a saw. Well, other than safety glasses and hearing protection. When I first started running saw, I didn't even use ear and eye protection. I guess it's never to late to start though.

Thanks again for the advice.

edit - Most of the wood would be lodgepole pine, in the mountains near Butte Creek. A good friend of my dad's has lots of property there. Yes, the wood is pretty soft stuff, however, it can get to be pretty big around, which is why I want the longer bar. Yes, I could cut it from both sides with a smaller bar, but if I don't have to, I'd rather not. There's also lot of dead juniper on my parent's ranch, so I'll cut a bunch of that stuff too. It's certainly harder than lodgepole pine, and is very tough on chains. The wind blows like crazy where I grew up, which deposits sand in the bark of the tree. It's not uncommon to see sparks coming off the chain.

 

[geofore]

Whistle

I think you guys are just joking about whistles but out in the real world (bush) hearing a whistle means get over there r.f.n. cause something real bad has happened to your buddy. Blow one for fun and get smacked! Tie it on a string around your neck and put the pressure bandage in your hardhat. Point your truck nose out so you dont have to back up in case of emergency, first aid kit on the seat. Those abdominable pads (think thats right) work good on top of a pressure bandage, have a few of them too. Have the best fun but prepare for the worst.

I know what the whistle is for but we're talking about giving them to the kids for the first time. Have you ever handed a kid a whistle and told them not to blow it? They'll forget about gathering wood and walk off tooting the whistle if there like my youngsters were. It took a bit of training to get them to stop and only use it when they are supposed to.

 

[royta]

It appears, according to the Stihl (here) site, that the 361 has the same bar mount style as the 044/440. OK, it looks like I can buy a 24" bar for the 361. However, according to the Sthile (here), the 361 is only offered with a 16" or 20" bar. Will the 361 effectively pull a 24" bar through the softer stuff? I do like the idea of a lighter saw, but I think I can get the 365 for less money, and it might have a broader powerband.

Thanks again.

 

[njforestfire]

I have a 24" on my 365 w/full comp chain and it pulls it with no problem. A 20" sits on my 036 pro and that (IMO) is just the right size for that saw too. 036 being about 61cc and the 365 at 65cc, you can't go wrong with either one of them. My personal preferrence is the Husky. Better anti-vibe. Go for the 365 for less money - you won't be disappointed!!

 

[SawTroll]

It appears, according to the Stihl (here) site, that the 361 has the same bar mount style as the 044/440. OK, it looks like I can buy a 24" bar for the 361. However, according to the Sthile (here), the 361 is only offered with a 16" or 20" bar. Will the 361 effectively pull a 24" bar through the softer stuff? I do like the idea of a lighter saw, but I think I can get the 365 for less money, and it might have a broader powerband.

Thanks again.

I think that this was discussed some time ago on this forum. As I recall, it was concluded that 24" should be OK on the 361.

Personally, I don't think that it is a good idea though, exept for a few cuts now and then - as performance will suffer. If you really need 24", get a bigger saw.