New chainsaw

[Graham99]

Hello Everybody,

My name is Graham, and I am writing to you from Sydney, Australia.

I have been using this forum for research, and to narrow down a potential choice of chainsaw. My uses for a chainsaw is a bit different from most, as I am an avid 4wd driver, and like to get away from it all at least once a month. In Australia a chainsaw is an essential piece of recovery equipment, and it also helps to keep the trails open for the rural fire service if they need to access a bushfire. Furthermore it is easier to access a good supply of firewood for the outdoor fireplace at home as well as in the bush.

Currently I am using a McCulloch 4620. This saw is OK but let me down a few weeks ago when the plastic starter mechanism fell apart. The tensioner and retaining bolts are also rubbish, and I am regretting the purchase. I know one day this saw will end up in the bin.

So I want to buy the right saw for the task. There is a mix of timbers that can be encountered here, and we have some of the hardest timbers in the world down here. One tree here is called Ironbark, and it has that name for a reason.

I have attached an example of the trees we can come across. I wasnt on this trip.View attachment 236125View attachment 236126

I have been shortlisting, but before I jump in and buy something I would like to run it by you all on here. BTW I am not a Husky fan.

Chainsaws I have considered.
Stihl MS311, MS381, MS391 in the mid range saws, or if I went professional I would go with the MS362.

Makita 6401 and Makita 7301.

I've used a Husky 372XP but it must have needed some TLC as it was rubbish IMHO.

I look forward to your insight.

Regards
Graham

 

[deye223]

welcome to AS , mate big wood big saw of those the 7301 would be my pick, i know there will be others that disagree with me on this but if you have to rely on a saw get a pro saw as you have allredy found out. if you come across wood like in the pics a lot you will need a 24" bar and at least 6 HP JMHO

stihl 441 460 660....makita 7301 7901 9010

 

[Aussie Dave]

Hey Mate,yeah the Makitas are a good saw and have a price advantage.As you said the 372 must have had some issues as they are a highly regarded model.

Cheers Dave

 

[gmax]

A 7901 with a HD air filter would be my choice.

 

[deye223]

i'm a stihl head too (look at me sig) but don't judge all huskys on one experience i got a 390xp a couple of months ago and it aint going any where it's a bloody good saw. cheers

 

[BrocLuno]

Mostly, it's all about the chain ...

A motor is a motor. Yeah, some handle better, some are lighter, some are more comfortable; but in the end it's about the chain. Stihl chain is hard - good steel. It holds an edge well. Chisel, square, round - they all cut differently with tight grain hard wood vs softwood, etc.

I like Stihl chains on any saw including your little Mac. Yeah, that's a so-so saw, but set up right with a short bar it will limb and trim well enough.

Any of the top name saws will do the job of delivering power. Some tune a bit easier. Some keep the air cleaner a bit cleaner. But any saw running a dull chain making saw dust instead of a steady flow of chips is not going to do the job

Buy the power head that you feel comfortable with and that you can get parts for locally. Go talk to the arborists in your area about what chain works best for the wood you are interested in. Get that chain and some good files including a diamond file to final dress (they're cheap enough on the 'Bay) and have at it.

The off road vehicle needs the saw and the field kit to keep it sharp and correctly tensioned. Don't kill the tensioner, just enough is enough

 

[Hulsty]

Hey mate, I was in the same position about a year ago. I bought a Makita DCS6401, cant go wrong ,2 year warranty and $750 delivered for a pro saw. I chucked a good Carlton semi chisel chain on it and it cuts great. I have found that I needed to upgrade to a HD filter kit ($100 extra) for the dry hardwood. I use it semi regularly when I go camping and stuff and it cuts well, with the biggest stuff I have done being solid gum about 1m round which it done well. Saw has given me no issues, its built well and parts are easy to get online and cheap.


Here are some links to the advice I got and my saw.

http://www.arboristsite.com/stickies/175005-21.htm#post3033967

http://www.arboristsite.com/chainsaw/176945.htm

 

[importjunk]

A 7901 with a HD air filter would be my choice.

What gmax said.

I'm an old man. I grew up in a logging camp and have used all sorts of saws over my lifetime.

My 7900 is as good as any and better than most.

No machine is perfect, but someone made a really good try on mine. A better dealer network would be really great.

 

[mad murdock]

Welcome aboard mate. Have you considered tearing into the 372 and fixing 'er up? Mebbe a big bore kit? If you already own it, would be less$$ than buying another saw, plus when you are done, you will know the saw in and out.

 

[Graham99]

Hi Mate,

I dont own the 372XP. All I have at the moment is a McCulloch 4620, which is going to fall apart on me as time goes on. It's almost like Land Rover ownership. :msp_biggrin:

Graham

 

[splitpost]

G'day and welcome mate,my choice would be 70cc and up,441,460 and maybe the 660 if that size wood is what you come across the most

 

[SawTroll]

Hello Everybody,

My name is Graham, and I am writing to you from Sydney, Australia.

I have been using this forum for research, and to narrow down a potential choice of chainsaw. My uses for a chainsaw is a bit different from most, as I am an avid 4wd driver, and like to get away from it all at least once a month. In Australia a chainsaw is an essential piece of recovery equipment, and it also helps to keep the trails open for the rural fire service if they need to access a bushfire. Furthermore it is easier to access a good supply of firewood for the outdoor fireplace at home as well as in the bush.

Currently I am using a McCulloch 4620. This saw is OK but let me down a few weeks ago when the plastic starter mechanism fell apart. The tensioner and retaining bolts are also rubbish, and I am regretting the purchase. I know one day this saw will end up in the bin.

So I want to buy the right saw for the task. There is a mix of timbers that can be encountered here, and we have some of the hardest timbers in the world down here. One tree here is called Ironbark, and it has that name for a reason.

I have attached an example of the trees we can come across. I wasnt on this trip.View attachment 236125View attachment 236126

I have been shortlisting, but before I jump in and buy something I would like to run it by you all on here. BTW I am not a Husky fan.

Chainsaws I have considered.
Stihl MS311, MS381, MS391 in the mid range saws, or if I went professional I would go with the MS362.

Makita 6401 and Makita 7301.

I've used a Husky 372XP but it must have needed some TLC as it was rubbish IMHO.

I look forward to your insight.

Regards
Graham

Forget the plastic cased "homeowner grade" ones, ie the 311 and 391 - they lack power as well. The 362 seems well on the small side as well, and the 381 is a very old design, and suffers from it. The 6401 may also be on the weak side, if that kind of wood is typical....

 

[gmax]

Value for money don't but Stihl unless it's from the US, we get ripped off bad down under

 

[SawTroll]

Hey mate, I was in the same position about a year ago. I bought a Makita DCS6401, cant go wrong ,2 year warranty and $750 delivered for a pro saw. I chucked a good Carlton semi chisel chain on it and it cuts great. I have found that I needed to upgrade to a HD filter kit ($100 extra) for the dry hardwood. I use it semi regularly when I go camping and stuff and it cuts well, with the biggest stuff I have done being solid gum about 1m round which it done well. Saw has given me no issues, its built well and parts are easy to get online and cheap.


Here are some links to the advice I got and my saw.

http://www.arboristsite.com/stickies/175005-21.htm#post3033967

http://www.arboristsite.com/chainsaw/176945.htm

It may be a pro saw, but really is too weak for its bulk and weight.

 

[Bigdgb]

I would go for the MS 311 with a 20" bar, good for 4x4 and doing a bit of firewood, if you want something a bit bigger the 441 or 460 but its a lot of saw to cart around in the back when out 4x4 driving, I take my 034 with 18" out when 4x4 driving, i find space hard to come by when out camping even with a trailer on.

 

[deye223]

I would go for the MS 311 with a 20" bar, good for 4x4 and doing a bit of firewood, if you want something a bit bigger the 441 or 460 but its a lot of saw to cart around in the back when out 4x4 driving, I take my 034 with 18" out when 4x4 driving, i find space hard to come by when out camping even with a trailer on.

just incase you didn't look at the pics

311 is 16" bar territory with wood the size of this 70cc is a minimum could be done with a 20" bar but a 24" or a 28"
would be far more practical JMHO . cheers

 

[Bigdgb]

just incase you didn't look at the pics

311 is 16" bar territory with wood the size of this 70cc is a minimum could be done with a 20" bar but a 24" or a 28"
would be far more practical JMHO . cheers

I agree for a tree this size, but how many times would he be coming across a log this big? if this is what he is coming across evey second trip then maybe, but if so then he needs to go 4x4 with a D9:msp_biggrin:

 

[blsnelling]

The MS381 you mentioned is an professional, old school saw. It's a 70cc class saw. They're are very highly regarded, but not as high revving as current models. Looks like you might need a MS660 though!

 

[Graham99]

Did some pricing up today, the 7301 is only a couple of hundred dearer than the 6401 and has more oomph. So I think the 7301 will be the way to go.

As far as bars are concerned, the easiest way is to carry a spare bar and chain. A shorter bar for general work, and a bigger bar for the big stuff. It also gives you some options if the bar gets stuck in the tree, which is a real risk with some of the bigger stuff. I know of people who have had to leave the bar behind and bring home the powerhead only.

Graham

 

[tdi-rick]

It may be a pro saw, but really is too weak for its bulk and weight.

But the absolute best value for money when compared to the opposition in this country, particularly for an occasional use only saw.
By shopping around you can pick one up for nearly half the price of an equivalent Stihl or Husky.

With a 20" bar it'll also pull through hard as nails Box.
It won't do it anywhere near as fast or as confident as a 7901, but it'll do it.

A 73 or 7901 with a 24 or 28" bar would be the ideal compromise IMO and a 7901 is $700 cheaper than an MS460.