357xp vs 359 for these oaks (Pics).

[rtavernetti]

I live in northern CA on 400 acres with about half that being dense live oak. Many trees are over 500 years old and well in excess of 10 feet trunk in diameter. A few fall over every year. I use them for firewood but never have to split anything because there's hundreds of cords of handy sized wood in the branches alone so I only section limbs. I have walk in fireplaces so some times I cut some big rounds for all week heating. I cut about 3 chords firewood a year plus major clearing. Every once in a while a massive tree goes down across a road or building and I have no choice but to widdle away at that 10ft thick trunk to get pieces that a tractor can move but I'm not turning it into fire wood. I have been using a 16"  husqvarna 345. I keep the chain very sharp and it has worked well but it bogs down a lot when I bury it. What I like most about it was that it was so light and handy. The tree's are so big and convoluted. Since it takes days to take them apart a light maneuverable saw is very important to me. Plus I often walk a few miles with it for clearing purposes in places ATV's cant go. My dad borrowed my 345 when his saw went down and when I asked for it back he handed me $250 instead. So now I'm looking for more saw this go around. Despite the cost I think the  XP series will give me more power with less weight. Is the 357XP worth the extra 2 pounds and cash given my application? Any other Husky's I should consider? I'm partial to them because the last one treated me really well and I have a full service husky saw shop in town. Thanks. RT

[sawguy21]

The smaller XP saws are screamers designed for fast cutting such as in thinning operations. They do not have a broad power band which you could use.Have a look at the 353 or even the 359, the latter will easily handle 3/8 chain. The 356XP looks interesting, we have not yet seen them, but it will be pricey.

[rtavernetti]

The 357xp and 359 are about the same price weight/ specs. Any reason to take one over the other? What about the 455?

[Ianab]

The XP range are the 'professional' saws. Generally they are a little lighter, a little more powerfull, more durable... but more expensive. If you are working with your saw every day, get an XP model. Part time firewood cutting etc, the standard models are fine.

Dealing with the bigger (and tougher) trees like you are, I would go for the bigger saw. Sure it may be a little heavier, but you dont have to hang on to it for as long because it cuts faster. The small saws are fine for limbing or chunking up small stuff, but they are going to slow you down when you get past 8" thick. We often have to break up big heavily branched cypress trees, similar in size to your oaks, and our small saws are ~60cc. Once we get into the heavier stuff the 79cc Dolmars get used.

Cheers

Ian

[WAGZ]

I have a 359, and also a 357xp, and a large 395xp all of them are great saws !!!! and the 359 gets considerably more use than the other two, its just so handy for any chore lots of power and not nearly as fuel hungry......mind u I don' t mind the extra chance to take a break for fuel up in the heat these days........

[Big Daddy]

Hello RT
The 455 is a home owener saw for the once in a while limb trim or maybe storm clean up. I have the 55 Rancher that the 455 replaced. I bought it before I got an outdoor boiler,  I buy and burn oak and the 55 strugles in the larger 10 to 15 inch stuff. I have replaced it with a 372xpw for this year. I sure would like to see a picture of them 500year old oaks. Anyway I think I would take the 357xp or that 356xp you spoke off, if you trust your dealer he should be able to help you the most...

[barbender]

If I was cutting the trees you describe I would want any of the smaller xp saws for the limbs, I like my 346xp. But those big trunks are calling for a big saw, I think. Like a 385 or something.

[ComputerUser]

Geez, it sounds like you'd be advised to find TWO saws - one for limbs, one for trunks.

If you want to do it all with one saw, I'd take a look at the 357xp.  The 359 is nice, but as soon as you buy it you have to turn right around and spend another $40 for a non-cat muffler, so you might as well just buy the 357xp.  Run it with a 16" bar for the limbs and a 24" with skip chain for the bigger stuff.

And then go buy yourself a 395 or 3120 for those trunks!

[rtavernetti]

I tried to post a pic but the size limit is 44kb! Whats the deal with that? Photoshop cant even make a postage stamp that small a file. PM me your email if you want a pic.

Anyway I think I'm going to be looking at either a 356xp or 359. I will likely get a 16 inch bar and a 24 so I can do small branches one day and bigger limbs the next.

My question is this. The 356xp gets rave reviews but I hear it has a narrow power band and works best in soft woods where it can maintain high RPMs. Will a 359 do better in the oak? It has less HP but I hear a broader powerband.

[beenthere]

rtavernetti
Have you looked at the great pics that are posted all the time?  They are less than 44kb. You can do it too.    and they will look great...go to the Help button above, and follow the directions.. 

[jokers]

My question is this. The 356xp gets rave reviews but I hear it has a narrow power band and works best in soft woods where it can maintain high RPMs. Will a 359 do better in the oak? It has less HP but I hear a broader powerband.

Gotta be the 357xp that you are referring to? Sibling to the Jonsered 2156? If so then "narrow" is a relative term. The 357 makes good power and it`s not too hard to keep it at peak if you keep your chain sharp and don`t force the saw.

[rtavernetti]

These are two oaks that just died. They will likely fall this winter. The bases are 6 and 8 feet respectivly. The trunk of the bottom pic is on the other side of the hill. These are in an area where they will have to be chopped up and removed so thats why I'm thinking about a bigger saw. No real guess on age.

[Left Coast Chris]

rt,   here is a pic of a huge valley oak butt log I cut a year ago.  I used my 372xp with 32" bar.  Had to come at it from both sides.  Would not have been able to get thru the log with a 16" or even 24" at the butt without very time consuming riping or carving.  Its about 50" diameter (accross) on the big end.  I run a seperate saw (16" homelite) for limbing.  When you are getting into such big trees going to a big saw helps in several ways:  faster, longer bar, weight actually helps for big cuts, less sharpening due to more teeth.   Suggest trying a big sharp saw, you will be amazed.

  [img]

[ehp]

Man with the size of those trees I would be buying bigger than either a 359 or 357. Bailey's 372/375 or a 7900  or 460 Stihl would be the smallest for me ,

[rebocardo]

> Many trees are over 500 years old and well in excess of 10 feet trunk in diameter.

I would think those trunks would be worth a lot of money to someone that does slabbing. If they were my trees I would be selling the trunks.

I couldn't tell by the pictures how much trunk length on each tree.

I know a few people I have recommended a Husky 350 to, have been happy with them. For cutting big branches (to me it looks in the 12-18" range) I would have a Husky 372, especially if you are doing large rounds for a walk in fire place.

[rtavernetti]

I know i'm going to get a giant saw eventualy.  However right now I'm trying to decide on a general purpose saw that I can use every day for clearing/ cutting that is powerfull enough for my oak forrests but light enough to hike a few miles with and handy enough for all day cutting. The 345 was light and handy, I think the 357 or 359 is about as big as I should go. That way when I buy a large saw I have a light powerfull limbing and blocking saw too. I looked over the 346xp because of the "narrow power band comment." Is the 357 worth the extra $100 over the 359 for oak cutting?

I would love to sell the trunks as I have no use for them and I have lots of them. We loose about 4 really big trees a year. I was always told that there was a special type of oak that is farmed for wood crafting because it grows straight.

[ehp]

the 359 is a good saw , I run 2 more new ones today but if you cannot do it get someone to muffler mod it , besides giving it more power it lets a ton of heat out of the motor and clip the ears off the jets on the carb and set it up right, they are way to lean from the factory to have any power . The 359 will have a wider powerband than the 357

[SawTroll]

I'd skip the 357xp vs 359 dilemma, and just get a MS361, for good power and a pretty wide powerband - a bit less weight also, if you care....

...but that's just me....

[jokers]

wide powerband - a bit less weight also, if you care....

OY!!     

[ispansco]

Hello to all.

Definitively sawtroll will obtain that I buy  a stihl 361 . But according to everything  I have read it seems that its motor is a little better than 357xp and still more here in Europe  .

Greetings and Congratulations by the Web site.

Sorry by my bad English