Help with purchase of firewood/ground saw

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I may be the dissenting vote hear, but if you are looking for a saw that is gonna cut 6-8 cords for the next 20 years with the potential of needing dealer support...Stay away from the hot rod (Makita). Just one dudes opinion.
 
I may be the dissenting vote hear, but if you are looking for a saw that is gonna cut 6-8 cords for the next 20 years with the potential of needing dealer support...Stay away from the hot rod (Makita). Just one dudes opinion.

Oh snap cookie dough! Wonder why you can sell a used 361 all day long on ebay north of 500.00 ;)
 
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Oh snap cookie dough! Wonder why you can sell a used 361 all day long on ebay north of 500.00 ;)

For the same reason I bought one. Pure awesomeness for a firewood saw.;lol
 
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For the same reason I bought one. Pure awesomeness for a firewood saw.;lol

The dolmar mikita crowd I have no issues with, but at the end of the day with all "discount apply"(insert excuse's here) the 361 just worth more money!
 
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The ms361's have been selling for 250-450 on ebay lately, with most around 350. If I could only have one saw the 361 would be it. But I use my 026 and 660 a lot more.
 
The ms361's have been selling for 250-450 on ebay lately, with most around 350. If I could only have one saw the 361 would be it. But I use my 026 and 660 a lot more.
I am not seeing any clean ones selling right now. 450.00 for this one and I would not want it. Show me a Nice Clean saw and it will be well over 500.00.


http://www.ebay.com/itm/Chainsaw-St...879520243?pt=US_Chainsaws&hash=item4d09f4cdf3

Here is one of the better ones but no means clean: http://www.ebay.com/itm/STIHL-Used-...098069381?pt=US_Chainsaws&hash=item4ac2efb585
 
Here are two decent looking ones that sold for under 400. I searched the sold listings and didn't see any that sold for over 500 in a month.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/STIHL-MS-361-Chainsaw-with-20-Bar-and-Chain-USED-LOW-HOURS-RUNS-GREAT-/130881208096?pt=US_Chainsaws&hash=item1e7920bf20&nma=true&si=%2B881kXYW0FT8509rX6u3Cw96CM8%3D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Stihl-MS361-Chainsaw-W-20-Inch-Bar-Chain-/230943655050?pt=US_Chainsaws&hash=item35c550848a&nma=true&si=%2B881kXYW0FT8509rX6u3Cw96CM8%3D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557[/quote]

I would say that is 2 nice examples. Great deal to. Money must be getting tighter I got 600.00+ 50 bucks on shipping on mine. Now if I was a guy needing a saw and 361 fits the bill I bet at that price they could use it for a year and turn a profit. Get paid to run a pro saw.
 
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It's a well known secret around here -- sell everything you own for big money when people are getting their tax refunds. And buy it all back when they need money three months later.

At least that's what the pawn shops do.
 
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It's a well known secret around here -- sell everything you own for big money when people are getting their tax refunds. And buy it all back when they need money three months later.

At least that's what the pawn shops do.

I kind of know with in a couple weeks if I am going to keep a saw. If not I keep it very close to new. Never lost a dime on a stihl pro saw yet. My dad is moving me into some cabinet saws very quickly and not as much time for the 2 cycle right now.
 
Never lost a dime on a stihl pro saw yet.
Thanks to some good buys over the winter that I recently sold I've got about $500 total invested in my 5 saws. And that's with me paying 840 for the 660 which was a 'new' saw used briefly as a demo.

I recently asked pretty much the same question as the op, which saw to cut up the wood my tree service was dropping off? About half the people said a 361 the other half said something bigger. That's when I bought the 660. Then CAD struck and I went from 2 saws to over 15... But I knew I could my money and then some back.

Looking back I think if I had gone with the 361 as my big saw I would have been disappointed and been wondering if I should have gone with a ms441/372xp. I had a couple 372xp's that I used briefly and in my mind would be perfect for bucking 18"-36" tree service logs. But I sold them as part of my quest to get every stihl pro saw for no money out of pocket. :p
 
Thanks to some good buys over the winter that I recently sold I've got about $500 total invested in my 5 saws. And that's with me paying 840 for the 660 which was a 'new' saw used briefly as a demo.

I recently asked pretty much the same question as the op, which saw to cut up the wood my tree service was dropping off? About half the people said a 361 the other half said something bigger. That's when I bought the 660. Then CAD struck and I went from 2 saws to over 15... But I knew I could my money and then some back.

Looking back I think if I had gone with the 361 as my big saw I would have been disappointed and been wondering if I should have gone with a ms441/372xp. I had a couple 372xp's that I used briefly and in my mind would be perfect for bucking 18"-36" tree service logs. But I sold them as part of my quest to get every stihl pro saw for no money out of pocket. :p

Yea you really need to decide if your going to stop at one saw. In that case the 361 gives you a lot of room from small to large. I have had every sthil saw there is but 660(Ran plenty of them). Once I down size I stuck with the 460/192t Gets me from 0-55 inch with ease. The one in my avatar is a red oak at 63inch after that tree I decided 55 enough.
 
Well I came home with a nice clean MS361 for a little more than what I wanted to pay but got a few extras that made it worth it to me. Paid $400 but got a 20” and 25” bar, 4 chains for the 20” bar and 2 for the 25” bar, a plastic sleeve for the bar and a hard plastic Stihl case. He also gave me a sharpening kit, chain oil and about 10 small containers of the 2 cycle gas mix.

I made about six or seven cuts and could not stop smiling. The difference between this saw and my Echo (even with a sharp blade) is just night and day. I usually have to lean on my Echo and teeter totter the saw to get it cut. I just throttled the 361 and guided it with no downward effort. It just cut and cut fast.
After handing the young gentleman the cash and packed up the saw got back in the truck and my wife said the expression on the young man’s face was like a kid giving his puppy away.

Great saw and cannot be happier. Thank you for all the feedback!
361.jpg
361 2.jpg
 
Nice.
 
Now you need to sell that wee-little Echo, and start shopping for a big saw. ;-)

If he's smart he should stop reading this forum and deactivate his account. Might still be time to avoid full onset CAD.

--OR--

He could sell that echo and start looking for another deal on a white handle stihl.
 
But the Echo is so light and with a sharp chain does the light work... plus its my first. Same reason I cant get rid of my first deer rifle.

Well mostly, I have to save my pennies for a new/used splitter. Still debating a 22 ton Husky or a 28 ton Speeco with the B&S engine. Decisions decisions.
 
Just be sure to drain all fluids from the Echo, so it doesn't get fouled up sitting. If you want something lighter than your 362, check out the top handle saws, such as the Husq. T435. Actually, speaking of Echo, they make some of the nicest top handle saws on the market.

I use my top handle T435 for ALL limbing, and also for marking the big stuff on 20" lengths, before sawing thru with a bigger saw.
 
Well I came home with a nice clean MS361 for a little more than what I wanted to pay but got a few extras that made it worth it to me. Paid $400 but got a 20” and 25” bar, 4 chains for the 20” bar and 2 for the 25” bar, a plastic sleeve for the bar and a hard plastic Stihl case. He also gave me a sharpening kit, chain oil and about 10 small containers of the 2 cycle gas mix.

I made about six or seven cuts and could not stop smiling. The difference between this saw and my Echo (even with a sharp blade) is just night and day. I usually have to lean on my Echo and teeter totter the saw to get it cut. I just throttled the 361 and guided it with no downward effort. It just cut and cut fast.
After handing the young gentleman the cash and packed up the saw got back in the truck and my wife said the expression on the young man’s face was like a kid giving his puppy away.

Great saw and cannot be happier. Thank you for all the feedback!
View attachment 98733
View attachment 98735

I must be out of touch with used saw prices. Year ago 400.00 for that and you would think it was stolen. With the looks of the e bar its pretty close to new.
 
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