ideas for new saw: 20" type for lots of work

msukegrat · Mar 22, 2011

I've had 70 big trees taken out of my 15 acres last fall and have all the tops. Looks like about 100 yr worth of wood: Oak, Maples, Cherry and hickory in that order. My Husq 350 is about done. It did OK but I need to spend about $100 on it and I'm ready to upgrade. Like to keep it under $500. I like the 450 or 460 Rancher. Am looking at a 2 yr or 357 XP for same price. I don't need to stay with Husq but that's all I know and the dealer is great. I'm open to other brands but want a saw that is VERY aggressive and can do lots of different stuff. Everything is down /horizontal so I've got little stuff to big. And a lot of it. Any opinions are very well accepted!!

Will_C · Mar 23, 2011

You can certainly justify any saw with that amount of wood to cut! i'm more of a Stihl user myself-for the same reasons you are a Husky guy. In the Stihl line, I would be looking at a 391, if you want to keep that $500 price point firm. It's easy to spend other people's money, but I think I would consider a Stihl 362 (comparable to a Husky 357)- about $650, or even a 441 or 460-but now you're pushing into the $800 range.

I am sure there are comparable Husky's, but I am sure pricing is the same.

Will

DAY · Mar 23, 2011

20" seems a bit long for tree tops. Oak, maple, and cherry- you will be cutting a lot of wood under 4" diameter, and a big saw can get mighty heavy in a hurry. It is also unwieldy as well, standing in the middle of all those branches.

Echo makes a good saw; my 14" bar can drop a two foot tree- about the biggest we have, here in eastern PA.

LD1 · Mar 23, 2011

IMO the best saw that you will find for that price is a Dolmar 6400 which is the same as a Makita DCS6401.

They are the ones that Home Depot rents out. So you could always rent one to try it out and go from there.

But you basically need to ask yourself how important dealer service is to you. If a good dealer is a MUST for you, let us know what dealers you have in your area.

If you like doing your own maintenance, then about anything is an option. The dolmar 6400's can be had from the dealers for $550 and up, depends on how good your dealer is and how good at haggleing you are. And the Makita version used to sell online for $499 if you can still find them, but that model was replaced with the 6421 which is a newer EPA version with the cat muffler and that adds $100 to the cost

And I am not sure, but the dealers prices may have gone up on the dolmars too.

As I said, IMO, If you can still find one for $500, nothing can touch it for that price. And even @ $600, it is well worth the extra $100 vs anything you can find for $500 IMO. Fortunatally, I had an excellent dealer that sold me a dolmar 6400 for the $499 online price of a makita 6401:thumbsup: But that was last year and Pre 6421 EPA versions came out. And if you arent afraid of buying used, the makitas come up all of the time on ebay in the $300 range.

Marveltone · Mar 23, 2011

I've been very happy with my Jonsered 2159 w/20" bar. Very similar to the Husky, but without the cheap, plastic chain adjuster. I cut between 10 and 15 cords a year and use it for absolutely everything.

That being said, it's hard to go wrong with any of the higher end machines.

Joe

Egon · Mar 23, 2011

The type of chain matched to the proper length bar will make the aggresive part doable.

Several different bar lengths might fit into your needs.

As for make pick one of the popular brands that feel good in your hands and does not vibrate too much.:thumbsup:

magicheater · Mar 23, 2011

I do everything with a 266 Husky that is almost 25 years old. Every once in a while I have to spend $100 on her but in the end is peanuts for what I get. I run an 18" bar and have cut numerous semi loads of logs, some veneer, some saw logs and some pulp. I also used to sell firewood and still burn wood myself. A 20" bar will mean you bend less when cutting your tops, easier on the back. my:2cents:

newbury · Mar 29, 2011

Coincidentally $500 was about the price point of my rebuilt Stihl 660 ($515) powerhead last year.

I added a bar and chain.
Then a chainsaw mill.
Then another bar and chain.
Then another 660 and a few more bars and chains.

You can probably find a good rebuilt 360 or 460 for about $500 or so.

xyz123 · Mar 29, 2011

There is a guy selling a like new 365 special with 20" b +c for $345 shipped over on Chainsaw Repair . createaforum website. 2004 with hardly any use.

I want the 365 SP but with 6 runners and 3 projects of the same, I cant justify it.

I dont know if I am allowed to link you to the Chainsaw Repair site so PM me if you want a link or if someone knows if I can just post a link in thread for him.