Recommend me a used Stihl saw
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bassJAM
Feeling the Heat
I picked up a 550xp a year ago with an 18" bar, it's a fantastic saw
But after getting a Makita 6421, I find the Husky has been demoted to limbing. While it's a crazy fast saw and handles in the wood like a scalpel, the 64cc saw starts to take over once the logs approach 12" and really shines once the logs reach about 14" and larger. The Husky will still handle those larger logs, but that extra 14cc makes a huge difference when I've got the bar buried in wood.After reading through all this....I'm starting to feel sorry for the OP! It's obvious our CAD has taken over this thread!!
Ashful
Minister of Fire
We're not going to let you come fishing with us, if you yell and scare off the fish every time we're about to set the hook.
Before you all start pointing fingers at me for having CAD , I will have you know I parted with 3 of them this year , But I still have to count them up to tell you how many are left in the garage . Its a good thing these stihl's dont break to often as it seems every time I go to the stihl dealer I end up with a part and another saw .............LOL
No need to feel bad. This is a great discussion and very helpful.
I agree that a lot of the nicer used saws on CL seem to be ridiculously priced. I will just have to keep checking and hope for a good deal on an 036 or similar. I'd consider a Farm Boss but not for $300 which is what I seem to see them going for. And if I see a good deal on an 026 or MS260 then I can always sell off my MS250....uh oh, what are the warning signs for CAD
Ashful
Minister of Fire
Most of your last post. Now say, "my name is AK13, and I have CAD."...uh oh, what are the warning signs for CAD
bassJAM
Feeling the Heat
No need to feel bad. This is a great discussion and very helpful.
I agree that a lot of the nicer used saws on CL seem to be ridiculously priced. I will just have to keep checking and hope for a good deal on an 036 or similar. I'd consider a Farm Boss but not for $300 which is what I seem to see them going for. And if I see a good deal on an 026 or MS260 then I can always sell off my MS250....uh oh, what are the warning signs for CAD
I think there's a lot of "chainsaw uneducated" people out there who think that a 290 is the cream of the crop and will hold its value as well as any saw. They don't realize that even Stihl has different levels of quality within their product range. Sometimes this works in your favor (like the 026 I scored for $100), but often it doesn't.
D8Chumley
Minister of Fire
Joful where are you finding wood that big? I'm pretty comfortable cutting up to 24", not too hard to muscle that around. I have one or 2 ash about that big growing on my property and if they ever fall I guess I'll find out. Might have to get an X27 to make them manageable I suppose
Ashful
Minister of Fire
Chum,
Last year I took down one 44" ash from a friend's back hedgerow in Tylersport, and a 60" oak from a church picnic grove in Woxal. Then Sandy hit, and my buddy lost another 48" or 50" ash in the woods behind his farm, along with about a dozen other oak and ash in the 30" range.
As you know, there's a lot of BIG hardwood in our area, mostly old or 2nd growth in the hedgerows of all of these 18th century farms. In fact, there's a 50'ish inch ash growing in my own back yard.
Last year I took down one 44" ash from a friend's back hedgerow in Tylersport, and a 60" oak from a church picnic grove in Woxal. Then Sandy hit, and my buddy lost another 48" or 50" ash in the woods behind his farm, along with about a dozen other oak and ash in the 30" range.
As you know, there's a lot of BIG hardwood in our area, mostly old or 2nd growth in the hedgerows of all of these 18th century farms. In fact, there's a 50'ish inch ash growing in my own back yard.
Beer Belly
Minister of Fire
Last summer I harvested a approximately 190 yo Black Ash from a neighbors lot that was down. It was hollow at the base and the rings were so close it was hard to count them. It was only 22" at the trunk. I've cut other Black Ash up here that had 80 rings and just 6" at the base. They burned real good!
Firewood Bandit
Minister of Fire
I picked up a 550xp a year ago with an 18" bar, it's a fantastic saw
After reading through all this....I'm starting to feel sorry for the OP! It's obvious our CAD has taken over this thread!!
Howdy bassJam,
I had a Makita 6401, bought it for under $500 from Bailey's the month before the catalytic converter mufflers were mandated on the 6421. Very well made and running saw and pulled a 30" bar in hardwood with skip chain. It'd be a heck of a saw with the 79cc jug on it. Comparing the power to the 550 isn't fair as it's the next class up.
I like my 550XPG a lot too, although it's pretty hard to beat the 346XP, mine is off getting ported right now.
Firewood Bandit
Minister of Fire
Beer Belly
Minister of Fire
Guess instead of all that book learnin', I should of spent more time in the woods so I could be more Chainsaw educated....the dumb city boy that I am went and bought a 290
tuco1963
Member
Ashful
Minister of Fire
Nothing at all wrong with a 290. It's a good saw for an occasional user, which is what most firewood cutters are. No, it's not a pro saw, but it has a place in this world.
The pro saws hold their value because of the large number of amateurs out there lusting after used pro saws.
Firewood Bandit
Minister of Fire
D8Chumley
Minister of Fire
Thistle
Minister of Fire
28" - 36" White & Red Oak dumped in backyard by my small local tree service contact Dec. 2013
Nice to have 88 to 123cc saws....
Nice to have 88 to 123cc saws....
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Firewood Bandit
Minister of Fire
Well it looks like this thread has gone off the rails.
The OP was after a good, strike that, Stihl saw in the 50 cc range. 
The OP was after a good,
strike that, Stihl saw in the 50 cc range.
Thistle
Minister of Fire
If I was in the market for a new 50cc saw,I'd lean very heavily toward the 550XP or the equivalent Jonsered..Since the 346XP is discontinued.
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