Best and worst chainsaw?

[northcreek2624]

Ageed....I bought one of the first 562xp (20") saws and it has never let me down, took down over 40 ash trees after the Ash Borer thing and that saw performed flawlessly. My smaller Echos helped in the process. I have avoided Stihl saws only because of their proprietary stance, meaning all parts come from them.
For the price it's hard to beat the Echo saws and parts are everywhere.

 

[Paul_M]

Shindaiwa.

 

[gsganzer]

Ageed....I bought one of the first 562xp (20") saws and it has never let me down, took down over 40 ash trees after the Ash Borer thing and that saw performed flawlessly. My smaller Echos helped in the process. I have avoided Stihl saws only because of their proprietary stance, meaning all parts come from them.
For the price it's hard to beat the Echo saws and parts are everywhere.

Those 562XP are a real sweet spot. I wonder what they changed/improved with the newer Markii?

 

[kenmbz]

Ageed....I bought one of the first 562xp (20") saws and it has never let me down, took down over 40 ash trees after the Ash Borer thing and that saw performed flawlessly. My smaller Echos helped in the process. I have avoided Stihl saws only because of their proprietary stance, meaning all parts come from them.
For the price it's hard to beat the Echo saws and parts are everywhere.

The reason I bought my 620p was all the dead Ash. Ours is 50-70 years old and the old 490 was really struggling. Took a long time to cut and I kept having to let it cool.
I found the 18" or 20" bar was too short so had to make multiple cuts to buck the trees out.
Having a 24" bar reduced that to only the butts of most of the trees.

I was thinking of going bigger saw/bar, but the weight kind of drove me back to the 60cc size.

I buy my gas saws from a local place, they help retune them for me as I don't do that often enough.

I like hand sharpening the chain, good way to wind down at the end of a long day cutting.
Clean and sharpen for the next use.

 

[mmsb27]

Another happy Echo CS 590 Timberwolf owner/user. I love this saw.

 

[JeepHead]

I've had many saws over the years. I'm by no means an expert, but I've cut wood for heat and trees for milling most of my life (I'm 65). The best saws I've had were Stihl, Husqvarna, Echo.

I currently have Stihl 038AV (had a 036 but someone ran over it with a tractor lol); Husky 562XP (which I LOVE since I had it "Magnum'ed" a cpl years ago); Echo cs271 for one handed trimming (don't try this at home). I also have a Tanaka for small trimming jobs - to use when the 271 is cooling off. It was free so I use it. It's not that bad for once in a while use.

I really like all of them, but my favorite is the 562xp for all around use. It's the sweet spot for me regarding power and speed vs weight. And since I had it "souped up" it is super reliable, powerful and fast.

I don't think there is a better 60cc saw than the 562XP.

 

[LouNY]

Oh I don't know. I have many pictures of dad and grampa cutting old oaks with a wip saw. In 1959 they got a Mall 12a. $325. That was a lot of money at the time, but apperently thought well worth it, and a huge labor saver. For me the worst was that old Mall, heavy oily thing, next a Husky 55 (gave it away), then ms261 and ms462. That and a loader I don't need to work up a sweat to bring in the old oaks they were working on. I like the pro saws. But anyone with any power saw, we've all got it made. As long as it starts and has a sharp chain.

I don't know what year my father got his first chainsaw it was an old blue McCulloch that was used for falling and bucking into log length pieces which were then cut to firewood size with the tractor mounted belt driven buzz saw. The he got a Homelite which was anything but light. By that time I was limbing and cleaning the large limbs and topping with an axe, 4" and under I could do faster with an axe then a saw could even think about doing. Even 6-8" were a toss up.

 

[Snobdds]

I don't think there is a better 60cc saw than the 562XP.

Nah...that is a stratified motor. Purely for EPA standards.

The best saws are pre EPA, non-stratified, non-microprocessor, non-limited saws.

We're almost 20 years now since those have been made. Most people now don't even remember the glory days of what a chainsaw should feel like. The days of the pure muscle saw are gone.

 

[hslogger]

I have run pro saws all my life. My stable at 75 consists of two Stihl 170's with fourteen inch bars and full floating sprocket. This is a low entry homeowner saw that comes with a little longer bar from the dealer. I like the shorter bar for more power and general poop around the place use. I hang them off my chipper. This little saw is great for throwing in the tool box if you want. I have a couple bigger Huskies. The 372 is a tried and true saw that they just can't discontinue. You can run any size bar on it. 32 is the real limit. It is a bombproof saw for cutting all the firewood for the rest of your life.. Different strokes for different folks.... play safe

 

[JeepHead]

Nah...that is a stratified motor. Purely for EPA standards.

The best saws are pre EPA, non-stratified, non-microprocessor, non-limited saws.

We're almost 20 years now since those have been made. Most people now don't even remember the glory days of what a chainsaw should feel like. The days of the pure muscle saw are gone.

I will completely disagree with you. I like the 5 series saws much better than the old ones. I will stand by my opinion that the 562 is the best saw out there and would take it any day over the old skool saws.