pbuehning
ArboristSite Operative
Wifey is giving me a chainsaw for Christmas!!!! I've been cutting for 3 1/2 years now (on weekends), doing forestry management for my sports club. We've got 47 acres that have to be thinned, cleaned and maintained. Most of what I cut is 20" dbh or less. I drop, limb and buck the trees, another couple of guys move and split it; sell for firewood. A couple times a year I have to deal with larger stuff, but I can get it done with the 20", but its slow and I know the 290 is working real hard. Anything real big we hire a pro to put it on the ground and then I buck it.
My go to saw is a 290 with a 16" bar and a 20" for larger stuff. I have 2 old Super XLAO's and some small old poulans(for limbing). The 290 runs great, but I want MORE!!! I am committed to Stihl, 2 good local dealers and the Husky dealer is too far away (and pricey).
Here's the question or what my plan is. I'll ask wifey to get me a MS361 and outfit it with a 16", 20" and a 25" bar and the appropriate chains (skip for the large bar) and ebay the 290 and most of the other saws. This should get me the $ to get a 260 for a small saw (maybe a 250-cause its that much cheaper). I really don't like working with a top handle so the 200T is out, but have considered the 200 rear handle as my small saw.
As much as I'd like a 440 or 460 I really wouldn't use (need) it that often and thats allot of money to have sitting around, and yes at 14-15 lbs it does get heavy for a weekend user.
Does this plan make sense? 361 for most of my cutting (muffler mod in the near future) and a 260 or 200 (rear handle) for the lighter stuff. Please be honest, I've been around here long enough to realize that you guys are gonna have fun, but I've learned allot and found your opinions to be the ones I can rely on.:deadhorse:
My go to saw is a 290 with a 16" bar and a 20" for larger stuff. I have 2 old Super XLAO's and some small old poulans(for limbing). The 290 runs great, but I want MORE!!! I am committed to Stihl, 2 good local dealers and the Husky dealer is too far away (and pricey).
Here's the question or what my plan is. I'll ask wifey to get me a MS361 and outfit it with a 16", 20" and a 25" bar and the appropriate chains (skip for the large bar) and ebay the 290 and most of the other saws. This should get me the $ to get a 260 for a small saw (maybe a 250-cause its that much cheaper). I really don't like working with a top handle so the 200T is out, but have considered the 200 rear handle as my small saw.
As much as I'd like a 440 or 460 I really wouldn't use (need) it that often and thats allot of money to have sitting around, and yes at 14-15 lbs it does get heavy for a weekend user.
Does this plan make sense? 361 for most of my cutting (muffler mod in the near future) and a 260 or 200 (rear handle) for the lighter stuff. Please be honest, I've been around here long enough to realize that you guys are gonna have fun, but I've learned allot and found your opinions to be the ones I can rely on.:deadhorse:
361 Awesome saw, Think I would keep the 290 for sure and leave the 16" bar on it for it for limbing & diggin the 361 out As Sedanman said....
Buy her some PPE so she can help you haul away the branches while you cut!
