top 5 must have saws

[Mastermind]

Randy, Husky does make a 576 AutoTune, 73cc if I recall correct?

You are correct......and they are good runners.

[video=youtube;Dv50x3XXrUs]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dv50x3XXrUs[/video]

I was just thinking of a design more like the 550, 562.......

 

[zogger]

I am going to catch hell, but here it goes..

1. Stihl MS 200T Mastermind is doing his thing to it as we speak.

2. Echo CS500 P Mastermind did a great job waking this saw up.

3. Echo CS600 P Ported by Snelling, this saw flat kicks butt.

4. Stihl MS460 Bought brand new and ported by Brad, all I can say is WOW !!

5. Echo CST 610 EVL Everyone needs a twin.

These are saws I actually own. Next month I am going to send Randy my mint Husqvarna 266XP for a little wake up call.
My most "must have" saw is a mint condition Stihl 038 Mag. Still looking for one.

---performance wise, what would you compare that ported cs600p to stock?

As to the list, I haven't run enough different saws to really come up with something other than one saw, the poulan s25cva. They have just gobs of power for a small saw, and are sort of a tweener, not really a true tophandle, not really a full conventional with a long rear handle, but..you can use one either way comfortably, two hands or one hand it, and they perform just great! And you can still find them cheap, as opposed to the old monsters of much larger size.

 

[Mastermind]

---performance wise, what would you compare that ported cs600p to stock?

As to the list, I haven't run enough different saws to really come up with something other than one saw, the poulan s25cva. They have just gobs of power for a small saw, and are sort of a tweener, not really a true tophandle, not really a full conventional with a long rear handle, but..you can use one either way comfortably, two hands or one hand it, and they perform just great! And you can still find them cheap, as opposed to the old monsters of much larger size.

You decide how stout the CS600P is.....

[video=youtube;iJLEqBK1pIQ]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iJLEqBK1pIQ[/video]

This piece of pine is rotten in the center at one end but it's sound where I'm cutting.

 

[Trx250r180]

favorite 5 that i use are 026 pro ,ported 440 with 460 top ,ported 460,ported 75cc xpw ,and 660

 

[zogger]

You decide how stout the CS600P is.....



This piece of pine is rotten in the center at one end but it's sound where I'm cutting.

Ya, man, nice! Just wondering is all, does it compare after porting to say a stock 70 or so , like a 372xp or 441?

 

[Mastermind]

Ya, man, nice! Just wondering is all, does it compare after porting to say a stock 70 or so , like a 372xp or 441?

I've not had the chance to run them side by side....but the 600P is amazing when done right.

 

[Roll Tide]

Blah Blah Blah... Everyone is quick to shout their favorite saws. Read the question and realize he's looking for a 3 saw plan. :msp_sneaky:

What kind of cutting do you do? To match a 3 saw plan with the cutter we need to know what kind of wood you cut and how big it is. Sorry but any top handle is probably not going to make the cut for a 3 saw plan... And the average wood cutter DOES NOT NEED a 90+cc chainsaw. I said NEED, doesn't mean you won't want one... In all reality having a 90+cc saws are for 45in+ diameter wood. The average wood cutter would have a 90cc saw sit on the shelf and not be used due to weight and not cutting wood big enough. There is a big difference between a good 3 saw plan and what everyone wants to own.

I'm with a shorter version of Neal's list... Strike red ones off the list...



50cc - 60cc - 80cc

50cc-16in bar
026/ms260/261 (if you want interchangable bars with the 361)
346xp if you want the best 50cc saw...

60cc -20in bar
You already have a great one 361

80cc - 24in and 32in-36in bar
7900 Dolmar (or get a 6401/6421 and put a 79cc top end and HD air filter on it) (also maybe get it ported)

You will use the snot out of all three of these saws day in and out and none of them will sit un-used on a 3 saw plan.

Bud I believe if you read the name of this thread its" top 5 must have saws" so I guess its our fav saws.:hmm3grin2orange:

 

[JustinM]

Im not sure about "must have" but when I look at my saws, the ones I wouldnt ever get rid of are:

Dolmar 5100
Dolmar 7900

Stihl 440
Stihl 660

Not sure about #5 though. It would be another 50cc but not sure if it would be a 346xp or a 026/261 etc (which I dont own).

 

[RedneckChainsawRepair]

Only 5 saw plan worth having :msp_tongue:

3 cube

4 cube

5 cube

6 cube

Hotsaw

:msp_thumbup:

 

[RAMROD48]

Im not sure about "must have" but when I look at my saws, the ones I wouldnt ever get rid of are:

Dolmar 5100
Dolmar 7900

Stihl 440
Stihl 660

Not sure about #5 though. It would be another 50cc but not sure if it would be a 346xp or a 026/261 etc (which I dont own).

Thats easy....

MS261....

 

[sunfish]

346xp first, the rest don't really matter much...

 

[Mastermind]

Well dang Wiggs......you left the M-tronic and autotune saws out. You must not have got the memo.......they are the next generation. :msp_sneaky:

My top five has changed a lot over the last few years......as I see it today.

50cc - This spot has to go to the 346XP. I wanted to throw the 550XP in there but it's not proven itself just yet. I think the 346 will be unseated by the 550 though.

60cc - If Stihl is your favorite grab a MS361. The quad port design makes this the strongest 60cc saw I've built....proven design, very reliable.....smooth spring av too.

The Husky 562XP is a damn fine saw too. The autotune technology makes this saw a very strong runner right outta the box.

If I had to pick between the two........the 562XP is my choice.

70cc - The MS441CRM is hands sown the winner here for me.....period. I would love to see Husky do a auto tune in 70cc though.

80cc - Not really needed........but I'm with Wiggs here. The 064 is a strong runner. I've seen stock 064s lay a smackdown on many a MS660. Plus they only weigh a few ounces more than a MS460

90cc - Husqvarna 395XP without a doubt the strongest and smoothest saw in it's class.

100cc - Again......forget about it. Unless you a felling HUGE trees or milling what do you need with a saw that big? Really????

There are other brands out there that are fine saws too. I'm no saws snob that just likes that big two. These are what I see the most of and therefore can speak about with some level of experience.

If you want to be surprised go grab a Echo CS600 that's been tweaked a little.....that's the best value out there right now IMHO.

OK I must revise my 50cc pick.

[video=youtube;5rgHs-XNVNc]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5rgHs-XNVNc&feature=plcp[/video]

This 550 is a freak.

 

[Officer's Match]

OK I must revise my 50cc pick.

[video=youtube;5rgHs-XNVNc]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5rgHs-XNVNc&feature=plcp[/video]

This 550 is a freak.

...and when the red version comes along it'll be a HAWT freak. :blob4:

 

[KenJax Tree]

MS 201t
346xp
372xpw
390xp

I only really need 4

 

[MS460WOODCHUCK]

These are the saws that I that I would say need to be in a collection not so much saws to run all the time for regular cutting
1-PP655!!! RPM and TORQUE!!!
2-POULAN 5400/8500, 85cc of the best american saw brand ever made and will run with any current 80-90cc saw made today.
3-Stihl046/460 most dependable 70cc saw made with more snot than the 044/440. This is the only saw a guy would ever really need unless he was a climber.
4-POULAN 245A 74cc and only 13lbs...a bench mark to this day as far as I'm concerned.
5-Stihl 064, maybe the best power to weight ratio of all time.

I'm ready for my beating...:hmm3grin2orange:

 

[almondgt]

346xp first, the rest don't really matter much...

Is that the OE or NE model of 346xp. Never ran the NE model but the OE 346xp has my vote.................make that 2 votes!!

 

[terryknight]

Five saws

50cc

60cc

70cc

90cc

100+cc

opcorn:

i like the way you think. though maybe a climbing saw would be useful in stead of a 90 or 100+

climber
small
medium
large
extra large or milling

 

[sunfish]

Is that the OE or NE model of 346xp. Never ran the NE model but the OE 346xp has my vote.................make that 2 votes!!

Either one.

I have both and can't say one is any better than the other.

 

[procarbine2k1]

Stihl 064, 372XPW are a couple. My other 3 may cause riots on AS, possibly in the streets haha.

 

[procarbine2k1]

2-POULAN 5400/8500, 85cc of the best american saw brand ever made and will run with any current 80-90cc saw made today.

The TRUTH!!!