Best chain saw

IslandTractor · Jan 29, 2012

LD1 said:
Yes, they were one of the first. And yes their stuff is top notch.

I could be mistaken, but I think I remember a thread about you shopping when you got that 420? I think I reccomended it to you?? Am I remembering correctly? or just nuts?

Anyway, glad you like the saw. The anti-vibes on the PS350/420 are just amazing. Ya dont even know the saw is in your hands

Yep. That was me. Very happy with the saw and your advice.:thumbsup:

LD1 · Jan 30, 2012

IslandTractor said:
Yep. That was me. Very happy with the saw and your advice.:thumbsup:

I am glad you like it:thumbsup: and you got a kick @$$ deal on that thing too

check 6 · Jan 30, 2012

I have still not made a buying decision and am doing more reading on four saws

ECHO CS 600P I like my ECHO CS 400 just need a bigger saw as I am over working it. Like the easy start of the ECHO's and the warranty

Stihl MS 290 or MS 260 pro orMS 362
I know they are harder to start when cold but all my other yard portable power equipment is Stihl except my blower and I am very satisfied with the quality.
The MS 290 is Stihl's best selling saw, the MS 260 and 362 are in their pro line. The MS 260 is lightweight and the 362 is a powerhouse. these are probably all overkill for most of my uses. Disregard that logic.

The Stihl saws I listed appear to use a heavier chain then the ECHO which uses the same narrow chain the the MS 400 uses.

Whichever saw I get I will go with either an 18 or 20 inch bar and my local dealer carries both and we have a great relationship

I will say that after 40 plus years of using a cahin saw with the new saw I do plan to get some chaps and a face guard I have been lucky so far without them but I don't want ot keep pressing that luck.

LD1 · Jan 30, 2012

check 6 said:
I have still not made a buying decision and am doing more reading on four saws

ECHO CS 600P I like my ECHO CS 400 just need a bigger saw as I am over working it. Like the easy start of the ECHO's and the warranty

Stihl MS 290 or MS 260 pro orMS 362
I know they are harder to start when cold but all my other yard portable power equipment is Stihl except my blower and I am very satisfied with the quality.
The MS 290 is Stihl's best selling saw, the MS 260 and 362 are in their pro line. The MS 260 is lightweight and the 362 is a powerhouse. these are probably all overkill for most of my uses. Disregard that logic.

The Stihl saws I listed appear to use a heavier chain then the ECHO which uses the same narrow chain the the MS 400 uses.

Whichever saw I get I will go with either an 18 or 20 inch bar and my local dealer carries both and we have a great relationship

I will say that after 40 plus years of using a cahin saw with the new saw I do plan to get some chaps and a face guard I have been lucky so far without them but I don't want ot keep pressing that luck.

I'd stay away from the 290. I know it is their best-selling saw, and that alone is probabally why it continues to be. Because there is nothing about the saw that is impressive to me. It is heavy and slow. It is a good step up from a box-store saw, I'll give it that. But for the money (especially since you dont appear to be brand loyal) there are far better saws to be had IMO.

Echo's are good too. You wont go wrong with either the cs600 or the MS361. But to have a good two saw plan, you need a pair of saws that are a good bit different is size and power (cut speed). And if you get the 261 or 290, I dont think that is enough of a step up over you cs400, and I see you always leaving one of them sit. But that is just my opinion. With already having the small light limbing saw, I thing you need a saw with a good 4-4.5HP and 60ish cc's. Ms361, Echo cs600 or CS680, husqvarna 357xp, 359, or dolmar 6400 would all be at the top of my reccomendation list:thumbsup:

check 6 · Jan 30, 2012

LD1 said:
I'd stay away from the 290. I know it is their best-selling saw, and that alone is probabally why it continues to be. Because there is nothing about the saw that is impressive to me. It is heavy and slow. It is a good step up from a box-store saw, I'll give it that. But for the money (especially since you dont appear to be brand loyal) there are far better saws to be had IMO.

Echo's are good too. You wont go wrong with either the cs600 or the MS361. But to have a good two saw plan, you need a pair of saws that are a good bit different is size and power (cut speed). And if you get the 261 or 290, I dont think that is enough of a step up over you cs400, and I see you always leaving one of them sit. But that is just my opinion. With already having the small light limbing saw, I thing you need a saw with a good 4-4.5HP and 60ish cc's. Ms361, Echo cs600 or CS680, husqvarna 357xp, 359, or dolmar 6400 would all be at the top of my reccomendation list:thumbsup:

Very good points. So now I am down to two saws the ECHO CS 600 or the Stihl MS362. The ECHO CS 400 I have is a good trimming saw for light to mid size limbs and my Stihl HT 100 is great for those high limbs meaning no ladder to fall off of with a live saw.

s219 · Jan 30, 2012

The 600P shouldn't have a narrow picco/safety chain (or low profile bar) like the CS-400. At least in my area, all Echos from the 450P on up come with wider chain and a standard bar. I think the 600P will have a bar/chain setup comparable to the Stihl 362 (though I do believe Stihl has better quality bars and chains for sure).

Based on what you're saying, I'd lean towards the 362 myself. It's a great saw.

By the way, they don't make the 260 Pro anymore. That was the saw replaced by the 261. The 261 is about 0.75 pound heavier, but it's significantly more capable than the 260, so it's a fair trade.

As for chaps, I think they are a good idea and always put them on for any heavy work. Not only do they give a nice margin of safety, but they work great to protect my legs from brush when I am doing clearing or forestry work, or when I have to kneel down to low-cut a stump. The only time I don't wear them is in summer when it's super hot.

I use a helmet/mask/ear-muff combo for ground work, and like it a lot. But if I am doing mostly felling or getting on/off the tractor a lot, I use a full-brim aluminum helmet, safety glasses, and earplugs-on-a-string. That gives a little more freedom to move around and a lot more visibility to look up while making tricky or hazardous cuts. The only downside is that I often forget to put the earplugs in. I'll probably go deaf someday from all the racket.

check 6 · Jan 31, 2012

one more question. Anyone have thoughts on the ECHO CS 530. Not quite a powerful as the CS 600 but also lighter. I looked at one at my dealers yesterday wit ha 20 in bar. Also are the oregan chains that much better then the ECHO ones? Thanks

LD1 · Jan 31, 2012

I havent heard much on the 530. And echo doesnt list HP specs so it kinda makes it hard to compair. ~50cc saws can range anywhere from about 3HP up to almost 4 HP. And trust me, there is a pretty good difference between a 3.0HP saw and a 3.9HP saw

As to the chain, oregon chain that has the blue cutters is good. I dont know how it compairs to echo chain, because echo probabally doesnt make chain, rather they have chain made for them. Most likely by either oregon, windsor or carlton.

s219 · Jan 31, 2012

I am pretty sure Echo runs Oregon bars and chains on their stock setups.

The 530P is a smaller saw, and has been replaced by the 500P. I'd pick a Stihl 261 over either model.