What saw…. Another boring thread

[Actuallyjustafarmer]

Hello

Long time reader, first time poster. Treat this forum very much like the gif as brilliant to read expert opinion. 

I was wondering if I could have some advice. I’m after a new saw…..

 

I don’t do tree work professionally but we do have 40 acres or so of deciduous woodland that are managed carefully, including quite allot of hazel coppice and anything cut is processed into firewood. Mainly ash, hazel, bastard hawthorn, oak and beech. The odd Scot’s pine but not much softwood. 
 

I am after a 60cc ish saw to use alongside my ms462c and 291 (replaced a husky rancher but much of a muchness beater saw) and a couple of battery chainsaws and a ms190 for some extensive garden work we

do.
 

462 is brilliant but for us is the big felling saw and with a larger bar is a bit big for my bread and butter stuff of limbing, coppicing, firewood, when fencing etc etc. 

 

I have recently bought an out the auction ‘bargain’ £100 2011 560xpg that had scored and rebuilt the pot and piston. When it works it’s perfect- with a 15” bar does everything I need before I go up to 462 better than any chainsaw I have used. That power to weight ratio and speed is exactly what I’m after to be productive on my own. I appreciate that the red flag that it’s a dud is probably in it was exploded when I got it but it isn’t reliable even after rebuild- has vapour locked, gets stupidly hot and sometimes isn’t great with hot starting. Reading up I’m not alone. stihls have barely missed a beat. 
 

Not brand loyal but ability to use bigger Stihl bars would be helpful although appreciate smaller chain may help with speed of cut. 
 

very long winded way of saying if it wasn’t so awfully unreliable and run so hot the old 560xpg with a 15-18” bar is perfect BUT it isn’t!
 

Are the 560’s available in 2022 or 562 xp more reliable? If not are there Stihl or Echo etc (or even makita or that weird blue Chinese Holtzsomething!) That would have the same snap and speed? Winter is spent running a saw a couple of days a week in some capacity on a hill farm so reliability matters but cool kit is fun!

 

long question but help much appreciated 

[Stubby]

48 minutes ago, Actuallyjustafarmer said:

Hello

Long time reader, first time poster. Treat this forum very much like the gif as brilliant to read expert opinion. 

I was wondering if I could have some advice. I’m after a new saw…..

 

I don’t do tree work professionally but we do have 40 acres or so of deciduous woodland that are managed carefully, including quite allot of hazel coppice and anything cut is processed into firewood. Mainly ash, hazel, bastard hawthorn, oak and beech. The odd Scot’s pine but not much softwood. 
 

I am after a 60cc ish saw to use alongside my ms462c and 291 (replaced a husky rancher but much of a muchness beater saw) and a couple of battery chainsaws and a ms190 for some extensive garden work we

do.
 

462 is brilliant but for us is the big felling saw and with a larger bar is a bit big for my bread and butter stuff of limbing, coppicing, firewood, when fencing etc etc. 

 

I have recently bought an out the auction ‘bargain’ £100 2011 560xpg that had scored and rebuilt the pot and piston. When it works it’s perfect- with a 15” bar does everything I need before I go up to 462 better than any chainsaw I have used. That power to weight ratio and speed is exactly what I’m after to be productive on my own. I appreciate that the red flag that it’s a dud is probably in it was exploded when I got it but it isn’t reliable even after rebuild- has vapour locked, gets stupidly hot and sometimes isn’t great with hot starting. Reading up I’m not alone. stihls have barely missed a beat. 
 

Not brand loyal but ability to use bigger Stihl bars would be helpful although appreciate smaller chain may help with speed of cut. 
 

very long winded way of saying if it wasn’t so awfully unreliable and run so hot the old 560xpg with a 15-18” bar is perfect BUT it isn’t!
 

Are the 560’s available in 2022 or 562 xp more reliable? If not are there Stihl or Echo etc (or even makita or that weird blue Chinese Holtzsomething!) That would have the same snap and speed? Winter is spent running a saw a couple of days a week in some capacity on a hill farm so reliability matters but cool kit is fun!

 

long question but help much appreciated 

Not got one but have heard The Stihl MS 400 is a good saw .

[Dan Maynard]

Yup MS400. Had about a dozen tanks through mine so still loosening up but it's a nice saw, especially for the weight - bit heavier than a 261 but a whole class up in power. Doesn't seem a big saw like the 462 when you pick it up.

 

Got it as a climbing saw so have 20" on but it would be a hungry felling saw on 18".

 

I went to dealer for something else and thought I'd try to handle it, didn't want to give it back when I felt how light it is.

[Kimosabi]

Yep i would agree, I've had 560 and 562 huskies and the ms400 has a bigger engine with more power but feels lighter and more nimble, for a long time i ran mostly husqvarna saws but all those newer stihls are hard to better 

[spuddog0507]

Hi and welcome, most lads i work with in a forestry enviroment run a 261 along side either a 462 or a 500i, i run a 261 with a 461, the 261 is a very well balanced saw and very manoverable when snedding out, its lively and has plenty of power, mine wont get as much hammer as some do and its been faultless,,,

[Dan Maynard]

Actually that's a good point you said 60ish cc so that would be the 400 which compares to your 562, but you said to run alongside your 291 and 462.

 

I've used a 291 at work, similar body size but the 261 is smoother, quicker and has more power. I'd consider moving the 291 on, get a 261.

 

Which saw? All of them!

[Bolt]

2 hours ago, Actuallyjustafarmer said:

… bastard hawthorn…

I assumed that that generally grew under powerlines,  along with bastard blackthorn and bastard brambles.

[Jwoodgardenmaintenance]

That’s my 2 go to saws my 261 on a 15” & my 362 on a 20” both fun saws 362 pulls a 18” and really takes off but 20” just chops away 

 

Jack 

[Rich Rule]

The 400 is a great saw.  I would recommend it.  Very similar weight to a 361 but bags more power. 
 

Never really found a place in my workday for a 261.  Of course I have used them but find them a bit gutless.  Much prefer a bit more grunt.

[Jamie Jones]

The 560and 562xp are both available. They are infuse the same chainsaw. The only difference is that are set up to take a different bar and chain if I am correct. The 560 runs .325 chain and the 562xp runs 3/8" chain.

I have the 562 and it is a good chainsaw imho