Stihl Chainsaw MS 260 Pro vs MS 361
tackman
17 years ago
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maineman
17 years agoHerringboneD28
17 years agoRelated Discussions
Stihl MS180 C-B vs Echo CS-306 chainsaw
Comments (4)I don't use the saws but don't like the tooless deals. They just seem flimsey and I don't thing you get them as secure. Feel hinky about a chain and bar that aren't good and tight. My opinion on smaller saws from the two is Echo build a superior quality unit. The Stihl may be a tad quicker but a good sharp chain on 2 inch limbs is going to be done in a second or 2 on either one of them. I'd go with the Echo. Its hard to beat Stihl in the larger saws, particularly with commercial versions but small consumer saws Echo is the way to go....See MoreStihl MS 261 or MS 362
Comments (4)Both Pro Grade I have a MS 260 a few yrs old and a MS 361 just over a yrs old . The 361 or 362 are much better on larger hardwood felling and bucking applications . The 260 and current 261 are very capable also for a 50 cc class saw , I would venture to say probably world class . If you are only cutting 12" to 20 " Maple / Birch then the 261 is more than enough . If you are routinely cutting larger then the 60 cc saw is a must . You can't go wrong with either Model they are excellent choices . If I were to make a final note of advice it would be for a 261 over the 260 and just opposite for the 361 over the newer 362 Model , based on better performance . I have ran all the saws to determine this comparitive performance trend . Good Luck Bro !...See MoreChainsaw recommendation (Stihl, Husqvarna)
Comments (5)On my 12 acres, I have managed quite well cutting firewood, and removing dead trees with 16" chain saws, and that's for the last 30 years. I wore out a Poulan, but it took 10 years. Right now I have another Poulan and a Husqvarna, and both are 16" saws. I don't think the Poulan saws are as good now as they once were. But your sitiuaition is not like mine: you are going to have to get out of the contractors way. This means it's not going to be I can cut it when I feel like it job (at least not at first). And you are going to have the hardest part to do first, the limbing & triming. I would almost advise you to get two saws: a 16'" and a "20. Use the 20" to cut up the big trees, and then sell it. Use the 16" saw for the smaller trees and for the triming off of limbs, and keep it. A 20" saw is a good tool if you need a 20" saw. The weight works for you when you are sawing through a big log, but against you when you are cutting off limbs and on smaller trees. Stihl & Husqvarna both make really good saws. I think my next saw will be a 18" Husqvarna. That might be a good compromise for you too....See MoreStihl MS 361 CQ
Comments (10)Newjerseybt, "I noticed that the MS 361 saw sells at a zero discount so the best place to buy is where the best service is." I agree wholeheartedly. All Stihl dealers are supposed to be full service, but there are good ones and then there are better ones. The Stihl dealer where I bought my MS361 had orange chainsaw pants that looked kind of poorly made, so I went to a different Stihl dealer (who sold several makes of chainsaws) and liked the look of the Husqvarna chainsaw pants, so I got them. They were also orange. I kind of wanted chainsaw pants in an overalls style, so they they could hang from my shoulders and not from my waist, but none of the dealers that I checked had that style. I still put on my chainsaw pants every time I use the saw, although I have never had an incident. My wife insists I wear the orange pants. They go on sort of like chaps, so they are relatively easy to put on and take off. Presumably they are filled with a fibrous material that will gum up and stop the chain before it can get through to do damage. I keep my bar-release tool in the pocket of my orange pants, in case a tree "captures" my chainsaw bar, so that I can quickly move the expensive part of the saw to safety. Another thing that you will want is a good chainsaw helmet. It combines a face mask, a hard hat, and ear protectors. (When I am felling a tree I keep the ear protectors up, because I want to hear any creaking noises the tree is making.) In the Stihl catalog I saw a chainsaw helmet with a full length face protector made of clear unbreakable polycarbonate plastic, but my dealer said that one wasn't available in the USA, so I got one with a black screenwire face mask instead. After using it for a bit I came to like the black screenwire mask because you can see through it just fine and it won't fog up like nearly everything else I have. My regular eyeglasses have polycarbonate lenses, so they provide some additional protection but sometimes they fog up almost as bad as my safety goggles. I have taken to using my chainsaw helmet when I am using my MacKissic shredder-chipper, as a much superior alternative to the safety goggles and separate ear protectors that came with it. The goggles always fogged up in a couple of minutes. I do most of my chainsaw work and shredder-chipping work during the fall and winter, when the air is cooler and fogging up is a problem. My spring and summer are more devoted to gardening and landscape related activities. Since I do a significant amount of chainsawing in cold weather, I have some of the Stihl brand winter grade bar & chain oil (it comes in a blue plastic jug). It's significantly less heavy than the summer oil. I also have some of the Stihl brand summer grade bar&chain oil, in the orange jug. Some people have been known to use old motor oil in their chain saws. Don't do that, that's just crazy. Your chain saw deserves the best bar & chain oil that you can get. I'm not sure that the pros would agree that the Stihl oils are the best. My dealer "threw in" a jug of Otasca bar & chain oil with my MS361, and that stuff was good. Talk about thick and stringy--that stuff was what they call "long". I think it was considerably heavier and stringier than the Stihl summer oil. I bet the pros prefer that stuff, because they run their bars and chains smokin' hot anyway, and don't need no wimpy winter oil. When it comes to chainsaws, I am more of a "weekend warrior" and the Stihl summer & winter oils are fine for me. Just remember, when your chainsaw is really cold, don't stick your tongue on it. Especially not on the sharp part. And especially not if it is running. (grin) MM...See Morefjuzswik
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