Help a n00b choose a saw?

[jokers]

Well DanG, thanks for the kind words. The primary reason that I am not backing your opinion of the Echoes is that I know virtually nothing about the current bigger saws that Echo makes. I know that although the Echoes of the late seventies to the late eighties were on the heavy side and not the fastest saws in any class, they were generally as reliable as a stone, it can`t get much better than that for alot of guys. I also know that rahtreelimbs has got some 3 cube Echo that is really strong but I don`t know if it`s just a fluke or something? Never seen another one!

As you may have noticed I posted in the pole saw thread today that not only do I recommend the Echo, it`s also what I own.

[jokers]

MS 361

MS 361 C-B (quick chain adjuster) is this just a bell/whistle?

MS 361 (with a secondary chain braking system. This saw also features the ElastoStart™ shock-absorbing starter handle.) more bells?

357 XP

PS 5100S - redheaded stepchild or better for my needs?

leaning towards an 18 inch bar...

I`d forget about the 361 with th secondary brake, you`d probably want to dismantle it after a half hour. The Quick Chain Adjust is kind of neat but not a big deal because it`s always handy to have a scrench on your body somewhere for a variety of poking, prying, and scraping tasks. The Elasto Start works well but I don`t think the 361 needs it in conjunction with the decompressor.

You probably ought to buy a 5100 just because(and in addition to.....), most other guys seem to have them these days. 

[GW]

I knew DanG wasn't totally off base! 

Okay, I thinks it's going to be the 361 with an 18 inch bar, but I'm open to other opinions until I buy it.

[DanG]

Jokers, I'm in the same boat about the Stihls and Huskys...never owned one.  I've been in the woods with my cs670 and had other guys try it out, and they all seemed really impressed with it.  I regularly use it with a 32" bar and it pulls it well for a 67cc saw.  I'm also really high on my little cs300 climbing saw.  It always starts on one pull, usually the 3rd or 4th one , and is the strongest little saw I ever used.  I don't climb, but use it for limbing and other light work.  The only down-sides of it are that it takes a minute or so of warm-up when it is cold, and it really, really likes a clean air filter.  Let the filter get dirty, and it will just quit on you.  The 670 is much more forgiving in both of these areas.

[ladylake]

I'll back Dan
up. I own Stihl, Husky, Echo, Dolmar, Solo, Cub Cadet (Efco) and use them all some but the ones that come with me the most are my Echo CS510 cuts real good light and handles like a dream and my CS6700 67cc which is just a touch slower than my 044 Stihl and wieghs 2#'s less and handles better.    Steve

[GW]

I thought I had both a Husky and a Stihl dealer in the nearest town but it turned out to be 2 Stihl dealers. The one has a Husky sign in front which is why I was confused. I walked in there and all I saw were Stihls. The person behind the counter told me they can't move Husky now that the big stores carry them.

The other Stihl dealer has been doing business in the town for more than 20 years. The women I spoke with is the wife/owner, I think, and she was very serious about helping me choose the right saw. She actually tried to down-sell me from a 361 to a 390! She went as far as showing me the similar specs in her catalog. This isn't a very affluent area and she told me they have never stocked or sold a 361. They do sell a lot of 440's though. They just put in an order for Stihl saws so I would have to wait many weeks or pay shipping to get a 361. At that point she told me that the next town over had a Stihl dealer that might have a 361 in stock which is why I now know who is getting my chainsaw money. It turns out that shipping would only be $14 so if I do get a Stihl it will be from them.

I need to choose a solid bar or sprocket tip. The price would be about $600 with an 18" bar.

[jokers]

You definitely want the sprocket tip and see if you can negotiate an ES bar in lieu of the standard laminated E bar, this is the least that she can do for you after trying to sell you a 390!  I think that you will be very happy with this saw.

[GW]

Thanks Jokers, I'll ask about the upgrades. They might be very willing since they see this as an expensive saw.

[sawguy21]

That woman's attitude leaves me at a loss for words.

[beenthere]

When the MS361 first came out, I inquired about them from a large Stihl dealer, and was told they were not yet available, and wouldn't be for sometime. I was sure I'd seen them at my small Stihl dealer, so stopped there and picked up two of them ($500 each in 2004, one for me and one purchased by my son).  I think the larger dealer just wanted to reduce old inventory first, before selling the newer model. Can't blame them for trying, I guess.

[SawTroll]

Maybe 16 iinch is a good compromise...

I will also be cutting a fair amount of small and medium limbs on the ground.

I'd start with a 16" bar for wood that mostly is 18" or smaller, and add a longer one when and if you find that you really need it.
The 16 will be useful for a lot of the cutting anyway, and the saw handles better, specially for limbing.

I do most of both my felling and limbing with a MS361 with 15" and 18" bars, and use the 15" one much more than the 18". Most of my trees is 18" or smaller at the stump......

[SawTroll]

I`ll throw in my two cents for the 361 or the 357xp, the 359 or Jonsered 2159 are a distant second compared to the first two saws when they are all unmodified.

If however only a few of your trees are 18" or larger and the majority of stuff is much smaller, say 14" or under, I`d look at a Husky 353 or Dolmar 5100s.

I totally agree, just forget the 359, unless you plan to have the saw modded (by EHP )....

[GW]

It's possible that the lady at the Stihl shop was trying to get me to buy from their inventory but she did she suggest the other dealer. My impression from talking to her was that she just isn't used to people spending that kind of money on a saw that size. Money is in short supply for most people around here. In my county the 2000 census lists an average household income of $28,600. I doubt that it's gone up.

Latest consensus: 361 w/ 16" ES bar (with a longer bar in the future as needed)

[DanG]

My opinion on bar length is to go with the one the saw is normally sold with.  You'll find that the saw will be balanced better with that length.  My CS670 is perfectly balanced with the original 24", but noticably nose-heavy with the 32".  A balanced saw is much less fatigueing to use.

[GW]

My opinion on bar length is ta go with da one da saw is normally sold with.  ya'll find dat da saw will be balanced better with dat length.  My CS670 is perfectly balanced with da original 24", but noticably nose-heavy with da 32".  A balanced saw is much less fatigueing ta use.

Hey DanG. Stihl recommends a 20 inch bar.

(You talk funny)

[DanG]

Then the 20" is probably what you should get.  Just pick the saw up with one hand, and if it hang's level, it will be less tiring to use. 

Yep, I'm talking funny.  Some sly dog has yooperized us.

[Furby]

Gee GW, for some reason I thought you lived out in the boonies, but I see you live in rich folk country!
I'm gonna have to find a place like yours to move to some day.

[WDH]

If slow is funny, then DanG talks funny .

[GW]

Furby, if you get too destitute maybe I could let you camp in the woods here. No fires though...

 

[Furby]

Yeah, I'll just eat my food raw.