New Saws

[Stihlboy088]

Hey guy's
I have a Husky 372XP which i use as my main large timber saw i bought it used 2 years ago for $350.00 from the local husky dealer and have been very happy with it's performance but am thinking i would kind of like to upgrade to a little larger saw. I'm currently looking at 385's and 390's (the prices for Stihl saws are unbelievably unjustified around these parts. mainly because no one carries the bigger Stihls) Can anyone testify experience/performance with these saws? I'm working in small stand of aspen right now and have no need for a big saw right now, but will be working later in the season around the end of November select cutting white and red oak, white ash, and white pine and some residule stuff, dbh ranging from around 12'' to 35''.

Dave
____________________________
Stihl 360 pro, Stihl 260 pro, Husky 372XP, Jonsered 2165 turbo
74' International 200 4x4, 80' Scout II 4x4, International 3444

 

[2dogs]

I can only comment on the 394XP but I'll say that saw rips! It will pull a 36" bar in softwood like you would not believe. I also have a 42" bar that is run once a year and it pulls that well too. Having said all this I have actually just pulled the dogs off this saw and am going to mate it to a Lewis winch. It may have seen its last tree.

 

[Brushwacker]

Hey guy's
I have a Husky 372XP which i use as my main large timber saw i bought it used 2 years ago for $350.00 from the local husky dealer and have been very happy with it's performance but am thinking i would kind of like to upgrade to a little larger saw. I'm currently looking at 385's and 390's (the prices for Stihl saws are unbelievably unjustified around these parts. mainly because no one carries the bigger Stihls) Can anyone testify experience/performance with these saws? I'm working in small stand of aspen right now and have no need for a big saw right now, but will be working later in the season around the end of November select cutting white and red oak, white ash, and white pine and some residule stuff, dbh ranging from around 12'' to 35''.

Dave
____________________________
Stihl 360 pro, Stihl 260 pro, Husky 372XP, Jonsered 2165 turbo
74' International 200 4x4, 80' Scout II 4x4, International 3444

With my own saws I do mostly firewood,once in a while I do a dump truck load of logs,some times up to 30 inch diameter or so white oak which is notably harder then black and pin oak that I cut.
I work part time for a small tree service usually several days a month. He has both the 372 and 385. I like the 385 better for its significant power advantage in the bigger stuff over the 372. Its smoother then my ms660 , and a very nice saw ,but I like the power of the bigger stihl in the big wood and expect better reliability with most stihl models. I would say if you get into a lot of big hardwoods , get as big a saw as you can handle comfortably.
The 385 will get it done with no problem, can't speak from experiance on the 390 but when the cutting gets big and tough remember there is no replacement for displacement.

 

[Stihlboy088]

2dogs: well pulling's no problem 3444 tractor can handle it and i can contract out on the bigger stuff, have you used it much in hardwood? iv'e looked at lewis winches in bailey's but never used one how well does it actuall work? the tractors fairly good sized and alot of the smaller tree's which i'll be cutting ain't as close to any decent trails i already have brushed out (don't have a fourwheeler anymore), perhaps a lewis winch could be used there?

Brushwacker: i feel very comfortable with the 372 i usually run a 28" bar on it with no problem it's around 17 pounds with bar+chain, i'm pretty sure the local dealer carries all the way up to 3120 so i'll have to check it out next time i'm in there drooling, although i've used a 066, and agree with you on the dependability. I've also been looking at small Stihls = girlfriend really wants one not quite sure why, but it could be another toy i could play with to so no complaints there. if youve used anything in that line help me out too please? thanxumpkin2:

 

[Buzz 880]

The 385 is a good saw there isn't much out there you can't cut with it.I have a couple and they work well.But if you are in the market for one i have a brand new 385xpg woods ported buy gypo logger nice fast saw i might be willing ton part with it.

 

[Brushwacker]

2dogs: well pulling's no problem 3444 tractor can handle it and i can contract out on the bigger stuff, have you used it much in hardwood? iv'e looked at lewis winches in bailey's but never used one how well does it actuall work? the tractors fairly good sized and alot of the smaller tree's which i'll be cutting ain't as close to any decent trails i already have brushed out (don't have a fourwheeler anymore), perhaps a lewis winch could be used there?

Brushwacker: i feel very comfortable with the 372 i usually run a 28" bar on it with no problem it's around 17 pounds with bar+chain, i'm pretty sure the local dealer carries all the way up to 3120 so i'll have to check it out next time i'm in there drooling, although i've used a 066, and agree with you on the dependability. I've also been looking at small Stihls = girlfriend really wants one not quite sure why, but it could be another toy i could play with to so no complaints there. if youve used anything in that line help me out too please? thanxumpkin2:

My 87 year old dad bought an ms180 with the easystart or whatever they call it. He couldnt pull the small husky starter rope fast enough to cold start.
He has no problems starting this saw and really likes it. He did say it didnt cut long on a tank of fuel. It has I believe an 18 inch 325 pitch bar which is a little big for it but it does ok considering. I run it about 1/2 hour and liked the way it handled. I know of a local full time tree service seems to like using an 018 in the bucket quite a bit and they have a reputation of being rough on saws. I have used and know of a couple 025,s that have been used hard and held up well. 1 that same tree company had I ended up with for a while and resold it, and the other was state owned used by careless emloyees and prison inmates often. I think they are still both going. The 025 has good power with the .325 pitch 7 tooth but the chain speed seems slow in comparison to an 026. I like how it handles but for me its more of a saw for taking a break in some limbs when the bigger saws are wearing me down. You probably know the newest version is the ms 250.

 

[Andyshine77]

You could always just get your 372 ported, that will bring it's power up to, or past a stock 385. If not grab a 395.

I'm not a big fan of the 385, the Dolmar 7900 does more with less weight.

 

[Stihlboy088]

Andyshine77: I've never had any of my saws modded before, but I looked over walkers and northwest chainsaw sites and am seriously thinking about thinking about it; I plan on keeping the 372 anyway, but I'll still probably end up getting another saw. "I'm quite sure a guy can never have too many chainsaws."

Brushwacker: I have a buddy with an 025 and a 170, I think I'll shoot over there tommorrow after school and work, and mess around with em'. My 260 is to much saw for her (she ain't that big only 5' tall and 106 lbs compared to my 6' 190lbs). I will most likely end up buying her a bow saw for her birthday which I Know I will get my @$$ kicked for but her brothers and dad will get a kick out of it.

Dave
____________________
Stihl 360 Pro, Stihl 260 Pro, Husky 372XP, Jonsered 2165 turbo
74' International 200 4x4 80' Scout II 4x4, International 3444

 

[Brushwacker]

Brushwacker: I have a buddy with an 025 and a 170, I think I'll shoot over there tommorrow after school and work, and mess around with em'. My 260 is to much saw for her (she ain't that big only 5' tall and 106 lbs compared to my 6' 190lbs). I will most likely end up buying her a bow saw for her birthday which I Know I will get my @$$ kicked for but her brothers and dad will get a kick out of it.

Dave
Don't forget chaps, hardhat, and steel toed loggers boots for safe sawing.
____________________
Stihl 360 Pro, Stihl 260 Pro, Husky 372XP, Jonsered 2165 turbo
74' International 200 4x4 80' Scout II 4x4, International 3444[/QUOTE]

 

[Stihlboy088]

Yup

Brushwacker: Just got up, damn it's startin' to get chilly round here goin to dig up some white pine saplings i sold last week (not sure if i'm gettin' a fair price 15 tree's x $30 a tree = $450). Yeah i always wear safety gear, whenever i run a saw. a guy i used to work with at the local lumber co. was shortening some cants up the first day i started workin there and after i heard "son of a, ....." from around the side of the kiln i knew exactly what happened 37 stiches to his lower leg later i found out well, he didnt wear his PPE so his @$$ got canned. I figured it might be a good idea to wear them from that point on always.

The 025's not bad, the speed i think she could handle quite well and it sure handles nice, havent really made up my mind on the 170 though it seems well balanced handles ok but just too slow. This means i gotta get her PPE too.

 

[Brushwacker]

How big are the white pines ? Balled and burlaped or ?
I mess around with a few shade trees for sale, but I think I am about finished for the most part. I don't do enough to invest in equipment and to old to burlap and everything by hand. I let some stuff get 5 + years old, mostly silver maple and river birch.
I feel about the same with the 025. The 180 may have a little more guts then the 170, but like you say its slow getting the job finnished if you are undersawed. They may be good for teaching smaller people the basics and do have applications in other situations other then logging or serious firewood production.

 

[rbtree]

You could always just get your 372 ported, that will bring it's power up to, or past a stock 385. If not grab a 395.

I'm not a big fan of the 385, the Dolmar 7900 does more with less weight.

Way past....my modded 372's will cut close to a dual port muffler stock 660...in small wood anyhow..... in large wood, not far behind.

Yep, , stock, a 7900 Dolmar beats a stock 385 Husky, and costs way less. Modded, it performance gains will be less than with Huskys.

 

[Stihlboy088]

saplings

Brushwacker: Balled and burlaped, they are in the area i'll be working in later this year (family owned land) I dug them up wrapped them soaked them down with water and stacked them into the bed of my ford 1/2 ton I had to put my topper on this morning to keep em' from getting wind whipped. the saplings were anywhere from 3'-5' tall diameter 3/4" to 1 1/2" at 2' up the trunk. nice looking tree's i may as ell keep doing it there is a ton of them and the guy i sold them to want's more plus he told his buddies at work. only $50 in fuel, $25 in the burlap and $3.97 for a bottle of ibproufen for my sore back (used to sawin, not diggin).

 

[Brushwacker]

Brushwacker: Balled and burlaped, they are in the area i'll be working in later this year (family owned land) I dug them up wrapped them : sore back (used to sawin, not diggin).

I fully understand that part. Last couple years been some aching knees also, thats why I am trying to quit.
Your price sounds right in the ball park.
Have these trees had any root pruning in the past ?

 

[Stihlboy088]

Brushwacker: they havent had any at all other than what i nipped off, they were all taken directly from their natural habitat, ive had good luck transplanting them in my back yard as well as a couple of hardwoods i took off the property a few years ago. they were either going to get cleared away for trails, have trees dropped on them or get ran over by the tractor. so instead of wasting them i may as well make a few bucks on em' while the weather is still conducive. How much do you usually get for maples and birches? My cousin is selling his tree spade and my pa wants me to buy that, (on the family easy credit payment plan of course) but i don't really want to get to involved in that business. From operating thet beast before i know i feel a hell of alot more comfortable behind a saw.

Dave

 

[Brushwacker]

Up to around $ 50 for balled and burlaped by hand. I get most of my seed off my side walk from trees in my yard. Like you instead of wasting it , I decided putting it to use. I sell some from my house, a few at farm swap meets, and sometimes I take them to consignment auctions. I had maples 12 to 15 feet 2 to 3in. diameter I sold for 1$ a foot bare root thankfully. I would have never got all of them out if I had to burlap them and probably would have took the chainsaw to them to save my garden.

 

[Stihlboy088]

more on saplings

Brushwacker: Well, we have three large silver maples at the homestead right now (used to be four before i started climbing part time) anyway we are usually picking the seedlings out of the eaves on the house, maybe it wouldn't be bad time to start that crop going in a portion of the green house just to get them bigger quick then plant em' later. instead of just throwin them in the compost. if you have any info on growing black walnut could you please send that my way too. We have 2 of them in the back portion on the lot, used to be more but thats how my schoolings getting paid for.

Dave,

 

[Brushwacker]

I haven't directly been involved in planting the bl wlnt other then burying a few about 2 inches in the garden and having decent results. At the state tree nursery I used to work part time at ,after they hulled them they would give them an acid bath , but I don't know the procedure. I am sure there is a book on it and other germination procedures or you probably have information availuble through your dnr. If you have a state nursery , giving them a call might be informative. Or post the ? in the nursey section.

 

[Stihlboy088]

Brushwacker: Well i'll give the dnr and nursury contacts a scream. but i think i'll try looking some of the stuff up at the library, i'm currently in 2 botany classes so i think i might just start askin random questions to stump the professors and just annoy them in general they are good teachers but don't like questions for some reason. i'd kinda like to start planting them within a few years. If they are still in demand maybe i can make enough off them to purchase more toys er, I mean "Professional Equipment" later in life. just a hobby and an extra way to make some cash i guess.

Later Dave,

 

[ciscoguy01]

7900

Why would you not consider the PS-7900??? It's as much hp as the 385XP/almost as much as the 390XP, 3lbs lighter, and prolly over $100 less expensive... I hear Dolmar has great dealers out in WI also. Just a thought for ya bro. When I was buying a new saw about a yr or so ago i was all Stihl and Husky. Now, after trying the Dolmars, my last 2 have been with them. They have a great line-up and I encourage you to try one sometime and see what you think. Think of your 372 with another full 1hp, bout the same weight, and still turns 13,500. It's one of the best combos on the market for sure. I wouldn't trade mine for the 460, or ANY Husky i've ever tried... They seem to be the best combination of Stihl and Husky.

Cheers eh?
Dude