Three Saws?

[Oldschooljeep48]

So being new to this, so far all I have really needed is my trusty Stihl MS250 because everything has been pretty small or I just made it work. Now that I am gearing up for larger projects I want/need more equipment. I was thinking of a 200t for climbing, keeping my MS250 till it dies, and getting an MS650 with a 36" bar for the larger stuff.

* How big of a bar should the MS650 really take? 36" is its max from Stihl but is that too big?
* What size bar would you recomend?
* Is the $150 jump to the MS 660 worth it?
* How often do you guys even use the "big" saws?

BTW, this is just a side biz for me and I (currently) only take down a 6-12 trees a year. This year I seem to be running into situations of larger trees of 40"+

 

[Brushwacker]

* How big of a bar should the MS650 really take? 36" is its max from Stihl but is that too big? Around here 28" to 32" bars are about the biggest we have much use for. Thats usually the biggest the tree businesses I see and work with have, 1 or the other or both. 36'' I am sure will work the saw harder putting it in its upper limits , so unless your getting quite a few trees above 40" or have to have it for a giant tree I'd go for 32" for big stuff.[/
* What size bar would you recomend? My 660 wears a 25" 80 to 90 % of the time and I have a 32" for when I get something near 30 " in diameter or bigger. More recently I aquired some 28" bars so I made a 28" outfit for it also and I'll put on it what I think is best for the size and conditions of the wood I plan on cutting and most often I have a bigger bar with behind the seat of the truck just in case. If it was a 650 I'd do the same.[/
* Is the $150 jump to the MS 660 worth it? I would say if your turning a lot of dollars back from your saw it could be if you spend a lot of time cutting big wood. If you usually don't need that big a saw you might better invest the $150 in your next midsize saw. Remember saws sometimes have accidents or get stolen to. I'd rather lose a cheaper saw, I did lose my first 066 mag.[/
* How often do you guys even use the "big" saws? 60 to 70cc saws do about 70% of my work most comfortably and effeciantly. I really haven't had anything inbetween the 044 and 660 but if I did it might see quite a bit of time. The big saws do really make the big jobs much faster and easiar to get done and since my first 066 mag, I hate being without that caliber saw.[/

BTW, this is just a side biz for me and I (currently) only take down a 6-12 trees a year. This year I seem to be running into situations of larger trees of 40"+

460 with a 28 " bar might do ya and double up with a shorter bar for mid range work. The 025 is nice and gets a lot of work done but for times sake I seldom use less then an 034 unless I am tired or its difficult limbing or cutting small stuff off close to the ground.[/

 

[Bermie]

My three saw plan:

200t for climbing
260 pro 16" for small trees and everyday stuff on the ground
361, 20" for the larger stuff up to about 45"

Borrow a bigger saw if it's needed and send it home sharp, clean and with a six pack of Heineken.

But then, I'm a small chick and big saws make me fall over...

 

[Oldschooljeep48]

My three saw plan:

200t for climbing
260 pro 16" for small trees and everyday stuff on the ground
361, 20" for the larger stuff up to about 45"

Borrow a bigger saw if it's needed and send it home sharp, clean and with a six pack of Heineken.

But then, I'm a small chick and big saws make me fall over...

Bermie, I really like your setup. Even though I'm 6' and 210lb, I am not an Arborist, and only use this occationally. I really like my little 250 and with that 18" bar I have been able to do alot. If I change that to a 16" to give it more grunt and then get a larger saw for the bigger stuff, I'm good. I am good with a saw, and safe, so I think the either the 362 or 460 would be a good choice for me. I like the idea of a 25-32" bar for the big stuff, even if it is a little big for the saw. Now I just need to check prices.

 

[Bermie]

I'd say if you are going to go over 20" get the larger saw...the 361/2 is just about right at 20"...

 

[tree md]

I think the 250 is a great little saw. I haven't owned one since they were 025's but I really liked them when I used them. I even climbed with mine. I was running an 18" bar on mine as well.

I am running a 192 and a 200 with 14" bars, a 260 with a 16" bar, a 361 with a 20" bar and an 044 which I have 20", 25" and 36" bars I can run on it. It pretty much wears the 25" bar all the time. I had a 441 but it kind of got worked out in a trade. I prefer the 044 anyway. I like the 044 because it has almost the same ass as the 460 but is a pound or two lighter. That is nice for when I have to use this saw in the tree (which is often). This array of saws handles 99% of the work that I do. If I need something larger I, like Bermie, borrow it. I need a larger saw so little that I just haven't found the need to purchase one. I did price a 660 last week tho. I plan to buy one soon. It just seems that every tree I have done in the past 3 months has been approaching the three foot diameter mark. 3' is about the largest I encounter in my area. Of course there are exceptions but 3' is about the size of your average mature hardwood around here.

If I were to have to choose 3 I would choose the 200T, the 260 and the 044 for my 3 saw plan.

 

[Blakesmaster]

A lot of people seem to like the 026/5's etc., but it's just not my bag. The 361/2 w/ 20" is a GREAT all around ground saw, lot's of grunt for it's weight. The MS 200T is decidedly the only saw to climb with, but by the time I'm done with it aloft I'm ready for some real power and the 260 won't cut it. I've actually got tired of pulling up the 361 at this point cause I know I'll want my 385 w/24" in a minute or two. I'd say the best 3 saw plan ( assuming you only want Stihl's ) would be the 200T, the 362 for the ground and a 460 for bigger stuff.

 

[tree md]

The 361 is an awesome saw, no doubt. I love mine. The reason I suggested the class saws that I did is that what I am looking for if I am on the econo plan for doing tree work is a climbing saw, a limbing saw and a bucking saw that I can stump with. 200 rocks in the tree. There is no better limbing saw than a 260 IMO and a 440/460 class saw is great for bucking and can be used for stumping as well. I feel like the 361 and 440/460 overlaps somewhat on what duties it will cover and would rather go for more utility than convenience.

 

[Oldschooljeep48]

A lot of people seem to like the 026/5's etc., but it's just not my bag. The 361/2 w/ 20" is a GREAT all around ground saw, lot's of grunt for it's weight. The MS 200T is decidedly the only saw to climb with, but by the time I'm done with it aloft I'm ready for some real power and the 260 won't cut it. I've actually got tired of pulling up the 361 at this point cause I know I'll want my 385 w/24" in a minute or two. I'd say the best 3 saw plan ( assuming you only want Stihl's ) would be the 200T, the 362 for the ground and a 460 for bigger stuff.

Good thoughts, but how much of a diffrence is there between the 362 and the 460? Or the difference between a 20" and 24"? I would think (ne exp here) that when you get to larger bars, the diff is not as great as going from a 20" to a 28" or something.

I have done alot with the 250 and I am comfortabe with. Its really nice with smaller trees and when working from the ground. We have alot of pine trees here too, so its a good size to limb up a pine after we drop it. Not to mention I already have a 250. Now once that needs replacing...

 

[Oldschooljeep48]

The 361 is an awesome saw, no doubt. I love mine. The reason I suggested the class saws that I did is that what I am looking for if I am on the econo plan for doing tree work is a climbing saw, a limbing saw and a bucking saw that I can stump with. 200 rocks in the tree. There is no better limbing saw than a 260 IMO and a 440/460 class saw is great for bucking and can be used for stumping as well. I feel like the 361 and 440/460 overlaps somewhat on what duties it will cover and would rather go for more utility than convenience.

You replied b4 I did. Exactly what I was thinking...