I personally wouldn’t buy a 311, Heavy 59cc saw. Same thing with the echo 590 (I did own one of those). The 261 isn’t much more than a 311, similar in power yet 3 pounds lighter.
Wanting advice on new saw
- Thread starter MrFirewood
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Get a 261C.
Mr.FIREWOOD, the stihl will last longer , the husqvarna will cut faster and go longer before gas and oil refill. This I have read just passing on echo , is the Dodge, of Ford and Chevrolet . I like them but use stihl and husqvarna. I would buy the stihl 261 and send it to randy evans or buy the saw from him direct . He has Husqvarna and Stihl saws race ready in either brand and cc's for also husqvarna saws. Mr . Firewood , you will have you great saw either brand and cutting so good that you will find things to cut and helping neighbors get their winters wood and get you a couple of extra loops of rapid super saw chain, and mix up 5 gallons of premium or high-test gas , and enjoy working. I am getting enthusiastic
just talking about this. Good luck on your decision Mr. Firewood
Buck , in n.c.
I like my 500I also. 25" bar will fell 100' ash no problem. Some say it drinks fuel, maybe it does. I thought it, why not, it's fun and fast. Plus whom knows how much longer the "greenies" will let us use them?
YMMV
Stihl and Husqvarna are both dependable brands, and Echo is pretty good. My saws ran best on 40:1. The best choice for buying a saw is who is going to service the saw -well- in your area. No point buying Stihl if there is no one to service it.
MrFirewood
ArboristSite Lurker
Well Buck here it is picked it this morning and wow this is an Absolute Beast
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Nice saw. You should get many years of service out of it
Mr . Firewood , I can't tell is the saw a 261 or 500 i . I look for stihl to introduce another like the 500i , be it larger or smaller or improved.
Stihl and husqvarna never set on their laurels . They are both working dang good saws , I use them both. I am just a firewood getter. I think that's more ruff than a timber saw. We are making hundreds of cuts for firewood .
Timber guy cuts the tree down , cuts the limbs off and cuts it off at 6 inches and the log skidder , hauls it off to the landing. I guess they are both ruff and tuff. Just imagine being a chain saw , that a demanding job or and thankless
job. I try to take care of mine saws
I have some saws I bring inside, to warm up and start the next day , be with or with compression release. They start better when they are warm. Mr . Firewood enjoy be safe , they probably cut meat better than wood , so beeee careful . Buck , in n.c.
Highly recommend 60ish cc or more depending on how big wood, and species you cut and how much weight you feel comfortable with.
Keeping the chain like new sharp will go farther then most anything else considered so I recommend a beater saw with a short bar and chain , easy to sharpen fast, to go w with your main saw. Use the main saw through clean cuts, it will keep cutting like new. Use the beater for risky conditions and you have less down time sharpening , and it will cost less to replace the chains taking abuse.
Keeping the chain like new sharp will go farther then most anything else considered so I recommend a beater saw with a short bar and chain , easy to sharpen fast, to go w with your main saw. Use the main saw through clean cuts, it will keep cutting like new. Use the beater for risky conditions and you have less down time sharpening , and it will cost less to replace the chains taking abuse.
Pretty sure you won't be disappointed. Running 18" on mine and is my go to saw most of the time.
EDIT. @chipper1 Will be proud of the saw on the kitchen counter.
Johnwell
ArboristSite Lurker
This is just offensive to echo; I would consider them to more be the Toyota of the chainsaw world. Inexpensive, not the highest performance, but will always do what you ask of them, even if they aren’t the absolute lightest or fastest.
OP; I think you’ll like that 261. My 50cc pro saw gets the most use out of anything I own.
I agree plus we all know husky is the mopar of the chainsaw world. Both are junk yet somehow still have a fan base!
You forgot ChevyI agree plus we all know husky is the mopar of the chainsaw world. Both are junk yet somehow still have a fan base!
MrFirewood
ArboristSite Lurker
It's a261
MrFirewood
ArboristSite Lurker
That's what I bought
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Congratulations!
I was hoping you would.
A good friend of mine bought one on my advice two years ago and he's very happy with his. He heats with wood.
He doesn't know much about chain saws and came home with a 261. Before he could use it I went with him back to the Stihl dealer and for another $30 I believe it was, they exchanged it for a 261C. He's not into adjusting carbs of any type is what I told the guy behind the counter while making steady eye contact. This of course embarrassed my friend a little bit, an added bonus
, and the exchange went smoothly. The swapped the 20 inch .325 bar and chain over to his 261C and we were out of there.Now if I can just talk my buddy into learning how to touch up a chain with a file I ease off a bit with by bad influence.
He's got six chains and when they are all sharp they get him through a whole heating season.
He told me just a few days ago the shop he goes to to get his chains sharpened went from $7 to $10 per chain(not where he bought his 261C).
I'm going to teach him how to at least 'tickle' a chain if it kills him!
Am I too pushy?
Hermio
Addicted to ArboristSite
Those who say it uses excess fuel are wrong. It uses more fuel per unit time, as it is a powerful saw. But in my experience, it actually uses less fuel per unit of firewood cut, due to its high productivity. I used to have an MS441C, and it could run 45 minutes on a tankful. My 500I only runs 35 minutes per tank, but it cuts more wood in that time than my 441C did in 45 minutes.
Can't argue this logic.
2 younger friends of mine started a tree removal business in 2020.
First big saw purchase was the 500i and they claim the return is much greater than the investment.
In their words " we don't have time to d**k around ".
MrFirewood
ArboristSite Lurker
Congratulations!
I was hoping you would.
A good friend of mine bought one on my advice two years ago and he's very happy with his. He heats with wood.
He doesn't know much about chain saws and came home with a 261. Before he could use it I went with him back to the Stihl dealer and for another $30 I believe it was, they exchanged it for a 261C. He's not into adjusting carbs of any type is what I told the guy behind the counter while making steady eye contact. This of course embarrassed my friend a little bit, an added bonus
Now if I can just talk my buddy into learning how to touch up a chain with a file I ease off a bit with by bad influence.
He's got six chains and when they are all sharp they get him through a whole heating season.
He told me just a few days ago the shop he goes to to get his chains sharpened went from $7 to $10 per chain(not where he bought his 261C).
I'm going to teach him how to at least 'tickle' a chain if it kills him!
Am I too pushy?
