What brand chainsaw do you guys like, say in the 60cc 20 in bar range ?

I have a 40cc 18 in gas chainsaw now, and I've "broken" and fixed it multiple times after using it over its intended capacity.

I want to start burning firewood again, so I need to figure out a larger chainsaw. Thinking about a midsize saw/bar combo, maybe slightly above a homeowner/ranch grade unit.

What do you guys have success with, either way ?

Husky.

Stihl.

Ford.

Chevy.

Tomato.

Tomahto.

Either of the name brands will serve you well, but I'm partial to Huskies. Other than the McCullogh I had when I was fighting fires forty years ago (God I wish I still had that saw), it's all I've owned and have never been disappointed.

Not from first hand experience, but a co-worker and his son who do plenty of landscaping and tree work swear by Husqvarna.

One of those two, I’m a Stihl guy myself.

Husqvarna or Stihl for moderate work, i.e. the rancher or farm boss models. If you look around on ebay you can find Husqvarna factory refurbs for around half the price of new and I have had great luck with mine. My brother-in-law also bought a refurb and he has been happy with his as well.

I have the Stihl that is one step above the FarmBoss and it will do anything you want if you aren’t a lumberjack. Starts on second pull every time.

And I would add, that if it's your only saw, I'd stay away from the battery powered models. I think they are fine as a throw in the truck for "just in case" situations (tree across the road sort of things), but when you need a saw that you can start up when you need it to, getcherself a real saw.

quote:

Originally posted by ArtieS:
I have the Stihl that is one step above the FarmBoss and it will do anything you want if you aren’t a lumberjack. Starts on second pull every time.

Same. I have the Stihl MS362.

Keep in mind that both Stijl and Husqvarna both have “professional” series saws. You might want to consider spending the small amount extra to upgrade into this group.

quote:

Originally posted by sigarmsp226:
Keep in mind that both Stijl and Husqvarna both have “professional” series saws. You might want to consider spending the small amount extra to upgrade into this group.

This.

I have a Stihl 261C which is one of the Professional-Series saws but not too big. It is fantastic and can run all day long. I have a 20 inch bar and a 16 inch bar for smaller jobs. The 362 (also a Pro-series) mentioned by Chellim1 above is also great, but its heavier. If you are bucking big logs all day long get the 362.

https://www.stihlusa.com/produ...essional-saws/ms261/

https://www.stihlusa.com/produ...7f2a40a8f849c90bd4bb

A Stihl MS 261 would be the best option. It is not too heavy and is powerful and fast enough for cutting logs. Also, there are plenty of Stihl dealers around for parts and service.

I own a tree service and always have an MS 261 and an MS 500i on the truck. My employees always reach for the MS 261 first because it is so capable and lightweight.

Husky 55 Rancher (20" bar) user here. Bought in 2000 and cut an average of 7-8 cords of firewood a year. Not one complaint. Not opposed to Stihl either, just didn't have a dealer in town at that time. I do have a 40v Ryobi 14" that I use for quick small stuff and keep on the ATV.

I have a Stihl 261 and a 362. You can tell the difference in build quality on both vs the cheaper consumer versions. I'd say the 261 is much more versatile and pleasant to use. The 362 is a special use saw for me.

I'll vote for a Stihl MS 261, I have the older model 260 and its my favorite with a good balance between power and ease of use. Depending on your future plans, you should also consider the MS 462, it will give you room to grow and handle longer bars. Consider the light bars, Stihl or aftermarket, they have really helped me avoid fatigue.

quote:

Originally posted by Gustofer:
Other than the McCullogh I had when I was fighting fires forty years ago (God I wish I still had that saw),

I have a 1964 Mac 300 my grandfather bought for storm cleanup. I have no need for it, if you are interested, drop me an email available in my profile.

quote:

Originally posted by Suppressed:
A Stihl MS 261 would be the best option. It is not too heavy and is powerful and fast enough for cutting logs. Also, there are plenty of Stihl dealers around for parts and service.

I own a tree service and always have an MS 261 and an MS 500i on the truck. My employees always reach for the MS 261 first because it is so capable and lightweight.

I couple years ago I consolidated from a smaller MS250 Shihl w/16" and larger Echo 20", to one saw a Still MS 261 with 18" and 20" bars. This is a really nice saw that's barely heavier than the MS250 and almost as powerful the larger, noticeably heavier Echo.

I've got a Husqvarna 450 Rancher with a 20" bar. It has been a great saw with good balance and plenty of power in a light weight package. I've used it to cut up 30" trees into manageable chunks.
If I was going to start burning wood I would have no reservations about keeping this saw but if I was starting without one I might go a little bigger. As mentioned, going with the pro line saw is never a bad idea if you plan on heavier usage.

There are a few reasonable chainsaw brands out there, but Stihl and Husky rise to the top. A primary consideration is local dealer support. In my area there are many Stihl dealers, even choices among their elite-rated dealers. Husky support in my area is quite limited -- one can buy a Husky in many places, but service is limited.

I recommend going with a newer-style computer-controlled carburetor model. These systems make starting so much easier.

Stihl's Farm & Ranch models include:
311 -- about $650, 13.7 pounds for the powerhead, 59cc, 4.2 hp
391 -- about $700, 13.7 pounds for the powerhead, 64cc, 4.4 hp
Between these two, go with the 391. We have both 310 and 390 models, which are earlier versions. These are decent saws, but they're heavy for their power, and they don't have the new electronics.

Stihl's Pro models include:
261 CM, about $680, 10.8 pounds, 50cc, 4.0 hp
362 CM, about $940, 12.4 ounds, 59cc, 4.7 hp
Both are really great saws. The 261 is amazingly light. I think the 261 is better with an 18" bar than a 20". For the 362 go with an 18" or 20" bar. If you're bucking a lot of wood that's 16-20" or larger in diameter, then the 362 is the better saw. For limbing, the 261 is nicer due to its lower weight. Stihl's CM saws have the newer electronics and they start more consistently -- hot, cold, anywhere in between. A pro saw is a noticeable better saw than a Farm & Ranch saw.

quote:

Originally posted by MNSIG:
I have a Stihl 261 and a 362. You can tell the difference in build quality on both vs the cheaper consumer versions. I'd say the 261 is much more versatile and pleasant to use. The 362 is a special use saw for me.

The older I get... the heavier the 362 seems to become. My next saw will be a Stihl 261. My brother has a cheaper 250 but it's good enough for smaller limbs.