midsize saw?

[thetreeman]

expert woodsman,
I am looking for a new midsized saw. I will be using it for general ground cut up and hauling it up a tree for chunking down the bigger trunks. I also am planning on buying a BIG saw in the future for heavy stuff. I am in a toss up on the 346XP, 55, and the 357XP. I know a few dollars separate them, but I want to make the right choice. Any opinions or advice are welcome. Thanks,

 

[WOLF_RIVER_MIKE]

I used a 55 for a weekend and went out and bought a 357. The 357 is quite a bit more saw than the 55. Can't say about the 346. Only about 1.5 lbs. difference in the three saws.

 

[Dennis]

thetreeman
You may want to go have a look at some the threads in the last month here, there has been alot of information on all three of those models in the recent couple weeks...

 

[toolmaker]

Are you set on a Husky????? If not, I feel the Stihl 036 Pro is an excellent mid size saw.

 

[DDM]

Yup Stihl 036.

 

[ccicora]

I run an 036 Pro for production when I do Timberstand improvment. I also opened up the muffler a little to help it run better. For a 60 cc saw it runs great. I will admit though the chain is set up to cut fast in red ceder to poplar. I have a 16" bar with a full chisel chain. I open the gullets and file the back side of the rakers. You can ask Ken Dunn about my work. He has a chain of mine with factory teeth but that is it. but the rest of the chain has been done up.

Later,
Chris

 

[woodsjunkie]

thetreeman, all the saw mentioned hear would be a good choice.
But have you ever thought about going with a 45-50 cc saw and letting Walkers or Dennis work their majic. I have found that you can go with the smaller saw have it powertuned and end up with a saw that will cut better than a mid. size saw, plus you don't have the extra weight to lug around,and it wont' cost you any more than a bigger saw. To me it just make scense.

 

[sawracr]

036 not bad but!!!

The 036 is not a bad choice for a mid-sized saw but, the 357xp Husky is about the cubic inch size of an 029 with the power of the 036. If you look at things closely, and compaired all the features of these saws, you could be stuck forever trying to decide. So my suggestion would be to consider the Husqvarna 372XP, if you have had experience with saws in the past, its an excellent buy with all the power needed for fun wood cuting.

 

[tundraotto]

its real hard to beat the 372 - im stihll looking for a greffardized 385xp

 

[rbtree]

I run 2 036's and an 034 super, which is a bit lighter with the same power, I think. The 357 is about 0.5 lb lighter than the 036 with the same power. I've run one briefly and it is sweet, and very smooth, low vib, etc. Plus, Huskys hop up better than Stihl, and are available at a discount. Easy choice, get the 357. I've never seen a Solo 651, which has 4.1 hp at 10.8 lb, easily the best of the next smaller class of saws, as it is close to the 036/357 in power. Poor dealer network and support, it sounds like.

Or, if you want, I'll sell ya an 036 for ~$300, so i can get my own 357.

 

[toolmaker]

rbtree...036 for 300? If he does not take it, e-mail me off line. I might take it.

 

[HomeDelight Man]

Hello, I would go with the 357 XP, low vib smooth saw, but John had a point about going with the 372 XP, little heavier but will run a 32" bar. Good Luck, and be safe!

 

[kdhotsaw]

homedelight man

hello jonathan,
good to see you back. did you recieve the video's of john lambert sawing with your super-easy?
ken

 

[TonyM]

I'm still waiting for someone who's run a John Deere CS-62 or Olympyk 962 to tell me if they're any good. Since you're in the market for a midsize saw, how'd you like to be a guinea pig? Actually, the saw boasts a better power/weight ratio than a stock 357XP (4.7 Hp, under 12.5 lbs). It lacks a little in user convenience (read outboard clutch, no master control), but if you're the kind of person that likes to be just a little different, maybe it would be up your ally. I used to own an 036. It is a good saw, no doubt, although the horsepower dropped from 4.6 to 4.4 in the last couple model years. I now have a 372XP and Solo 651, and both are excellent machines. If I had to have one saw though, I'd like it to be somewhere between the two in weight. I like the idea of a modified 357XP. Any of the saws I listed are great machines, just comes down to how much you want to spend, how much power you need, and how much weight you can lug around.

 

[rbtree]

TonyM,

I'm wondering where you got your 651, and how much.

Solo website shows list at a pricey $599.00.

I've heard it is a very good saw. The pwr to weight ratio is tremendous.

TY

 

[TonyM]

You can buy from Solo USA directly, but be prepared to pay. They have the 651 in stock but want well over $400. I ended up buying the 651 through the Scott Hourigan Company for about $400 including shipping. The saw came shipped direct from Solo USA but at better prices. Scott Hourigan Company has a website.
Just make sure you get the 651 and not the 651SP.www.scotthourigan.com

 

[TonyM]

Oops, trying to delete this and it's not working. Just ignore it.

 

[rbtree]

sorry for dubble post

 

[rbtree]

Thanks, Tony.

forgot i'd been to that website once before.

wow, $400, $200 under list, now that is a deal!!

have you run a 346, 026, or 036 for baseline comparisons? Real world use is always better than statistics. i know you and others have had nothing but good to say....

 

[TonyM]

I did own an 026 and 036. I compared the 651 to the 026, but not the 036. I feel that the 651 definitely outcut the 026, but only by a narrow margin. The larger the log, the greater the difference. The 651 does seem to have more Hp. The 651 and 036 are not really in the same class. I know the 036 will oucut it, but it also weighs 2 pounds more. I definitely like the way the Solo runs compared to the 026. Much smoother and snappier. For $400, the Solo is better than an 026 I feel.