New Saw Purchase

[BHMC]

Hey what are you liking for a good all around saw for the following - 1. Picker Load of wood 8-9 cord for home heating 2. General around the farm chores, clearing etc. 3. Sugar wood etc. I have a looked at the Jonsered 2172 and AKA Husky 372 as well as the J-red 2166 AKA Husky 365XT and they seem like good saws. I have also checked out the Stihl 362 , 440 and 460. If I am missing anything let me know. Also give me your real-world thoughts on the saws listed.

[MapleME]

Im a stihl MS280 guy. Its a big engine, but you can surely use many different size bars like a 12,14 or 16. Remember, longer bar- longer chain, more teeth, father cut. I also like this series for two other reasons. First, there is a blow off valve that you can push to allow pressure from the engine to be released while you are yanking the cord to start it. One would think this is not necessary, but its a nice luxury. The second is tool-less chain adjustments. The two nuts that you usually have to use the bar tool on are made for on-the-fly adjusting. On the side the loosen/tighten nut has been replaced by a giant folding wing nut allowing you to tighten and loosen by hand. And once loose, you can adjust via a dial how loose or tight the chain is without a tool...re-tighten the wing nut and you are good.

I don't cut a crap load of wood, but for me this is a great all around saw that has some balls but is not too over the top. Plus Stihl has the best warranty around.

My $.02

[Russell Lampron]

Hey what are you liking for a good all around saw for the following - 1. Picker Load of wood 8-9 cord for home heating 2. General around the farm chores, clearing etc. 3. Sugar wood etc. I have a looked at the Jonsered 2172 and AKA Husky 372 as well as the J-red 2166 AKA Husky 365XT and they seem like good saws. I have also checked out the Stihl 362 , 440 and 460. If I am missing anything let me know. Also give me your real-world thoughts on the saws listed.

All of these are good saws. If you have a dealer near you you might also like the Dolmar PS-6400 or PS-7900.

[sugaringman85]

I run the stihl 270, 361, and the 460. I would say the 460 is way to much saw for a load of firewood and farm chores. The 460 will tear off your shoulder if you run it for more than a couple hours. I use it mainly to chop with and in bigger wood. The 361 is gonna have all the power you ever wanted and then some. The 361 is an amazing saw for the little stuff. We have a 18" inch bar on it and my dad uses it to limb the wood i chop with the 460. Its lighter and easier to lug around all day. We also have the MS 270 and my dad used to chop and limb with that when his back and forearms were bothering him. If you want a great saw with a better price a 270 is probably what you want. If you want to spend a few more bucks and get the pro-version in that size range go for the 261. That is the most amazing saw for its size, wicked light and the power is all there. Husky 346 is a great saw to, good power and weight. Just not a husky guy though....only had to use husky when i worked for someone else. Just my thoughts for ya

[SSFLLC]

Im a stihl guy also and i'd go with the 310. I've had a 270, 280 and 290 and prefer the 310 for long days of cutting. For clearing it depends on what your clearing. The 460 is probably a better saw for this if its big hard wood. All around the 310 or husky 355 if they still make it. Allof these with a 20" bar for less bending over. Just my 2 cents and here we go again with the saw thing again. Keith

[maple flats]

I'm partial to Huskies, but J red, Stihl and Dolmar are also good saws, IF YOU HAVE A GOOD DEALER NEAR YOU. The size range you are looking at is about right, I think for the little wood you will be cutting, the smaller in that range would be good. Those companies make homeowner and pro models, the medium range pro is the way to go. Homeowner models are priced lower for a reason and you will not get a good long time friend if you drop your money on one even in those brands, but the pro models will not let you down.
I now use a Husky 359 ( good saw but really a transition saw between homeowner and pro) and a Husky 365. On the 359 I have 2 bars, a 18 and a 20", and for the 365 I also have 2, a 20" and a 32". The 32 is only used on rare occasions (it is really slightly over max) generally just to square up a large log on my sawmill if needed or sometimes to drop a large tree.
Getting one of these saws in an 18 or 20" bar is likely your best choice. On Husky auto tunes, some praise it but many have issues with it. If you chose Husky I'd steer you away from the auto tunes for a few years until they really get the bugs out. The smallest Husky I'd suggest for your amount of cutting is the 455, a semi pro, or transition from homeowner to pro saw. It has a good reputation for that size class.

[Dill]

The 365xt is supposed to be a good saw. I have a 372xp and its a decent big saw. However I replaced my Husky 55 rancher with a Dolmar 5105 this winter and I can't say enough good about it. Its not a huge saw but it works well for most of my work plus if I really need a big saw I can always grab the 372.

[bowtie]

i have a stihl ms 290 and it is a piece of sh&^, i have 2 friends that also have this saw and it is a gutless pile. the stihl dealer told me this was a great saw for firewood and comparable to a 034, not even close. i just bought a used 028 super and it will cut circles around the 290. the 290 is about 56cc and about 3.8 hp but it bogs in any wood. i would not purchase any ms non professional saw from stihl, i would go with the 362 in stihl. i cut about 20 cord for home heating and will be cutting wood for syrup production. i talked to a couple of local husky and stihl dealers and they all said the new 555 AT husky is a great saw, it runs about $600, if i can not find a good used 034 super i will probably buy the husky.

[RileySugarbush]

I bought a 028 super when I moved to this 5 acres over 20 years ago and it still is a great saw. I think I would rather rebuild this one rather than risk some of the newer models.

[northwoods_forestry]

I know all you big saw folks are gonna laugh, but I've been running the same Stihl MS260 Pro with a 16" and 20" bar for 6 years now. With it I fell and buck 10 cords of firewood for my use, 10-20 cords of log length firewood for sale, 10 or more tons of pulp, and 5 - 10 MBF of sawlogs every year. I use the 16" and 20" bar for felling and the 16" bar for everything else. I'd say a 16" bar is probably the best all around bar for the type of use you are describing, anything longer just means more time sharpening and lots more worry about where the tip of your bar is at.

[Jec]

The option that stihls have to quickly tension the chain is a great feature. They also have an easy pull option.

[Redmaple]

I picked up a stihl 290 farmboss and I like it. Made in the USA. $362 Perfect for cordwood.

[mike z]

Ha, I was just going to say the opposite. I like a longer bar so I don't have to reach as far. I do prefer a smaller saw. Just easier to handle. But if you're just plowing through a pile of hardwood logs (no felling trees and stumbling around trimming small branches) I think you want a little power. I really like my Husky 346Xp (small saw) but think you should get bigger. If Husky, get Xp. We have others at work and haven't held up as good as the Xp. I have not used a pro Stihl to be able to compare. Everyone has there own favorite saw. Now get yours.

[maple island farms]

Jonsered 2166 is a great saw. I also have a2159 and2245. They are also good saws. I was a life long stihl man but those flip fill caps are not that reliable. the leaks and wet leg were not fun.Good dealer would be my my #1 concern.

[xulgiy]

I have had experience with Dolmar, Husky, and Stihl. I have to say they are all good saws in their own right. Buy a pro saw, not a home owner model. Pro saws are much better built. As they have all said - pick a GOOD dealer who will treat you well. Always run marine grade Stabil or other good ethanol treatment, and it'll last you a lifetime.

[farmerfletch]

stihl 290 farmboss... just the right saw for general uses

[Housewright]

Everything that Bowtie said about the MS 290 is spot on. I retired a much used and much loved 028 with a 290 several years ago. It has been in several saw shops and had all the mods and it is still a gutless pile. I found another 028 super on craigslist.
For a new saw get a pro model whether it be Stihl Husky or Jred.

[wiam]

About 6 years ago I replaced sthil 029 with a husky 372xp. Same dry weight. 2 more hp. No way would I go back.

[MJFlores]

I've been running a Stihl 460 for the past 5 years or so and really like it. All the power you could ever want. I heat my home with wood I cut so the 460 does everything from fell, limb, buck to 4', and then cut to 18" when logs are back at the house. I have a 20" bar and only use Stihl micro chains. Just a nice saw and for the class machine it is it really doesn't weight much. Without looking I'm thinking it's 17lbs? Antivibe and balance is great...I hold it close to my body when cutting so it takes little effort to run for a while.

[tuckermtn]

sugarman85 is right on. Stihl ms 361 or I think it is a ms362 now. all the saw you will ever need. its a "pro" saw, so components are rugged.

[WESTVIRGINIAMAPLER]

I have had a Stihl 310 for about 10 years and have probably cut 250 truckloads of wood or more with it and it is a great saw. Good power, fuel efficient and easy to handle and doesn't wear you out. My brother has a 046 magnum professional saw which is now the 460 and for cutting wood fast, it is amazing. It goes thru wood so fast it will blow your mind but it does wear you out fast.

[christopherh]

I've had Stihls for years and they have never dissapointed me. MS361, MS660 and I think an 028. Plenty of power!

[Farmboy]

Im a stihl guy but Dolmar and Husky make a good saw. You dont need a MS 460. Its way more power and weight than you need. I would recomend a 60cc saw. Big enough to run a 24" bar if you need to but light enough to run all day. They re the perfect firewood saw with a 18" or 20" bar. I would recomend the MS362 or the Husky 562xp. Get a pro saw. Home owner saws are just throw away saws. A good pro saw will last you a lifetime.