New Big Saw

[StihlKicking]

It's about time to pull the trigger on a new saw. Before i do I wanted to get everyone's opinion one more time. I'm considering either the MS 461 or the MS 661. Please let me hear your thoughts, opinions and experiences. Thanks


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[Jon1270]

What size bar do you want to use regularly? What's the longest bar you'd hope to be able to use once in a while?

 

[StihlKicking]

@Jon1270 32"-36" very few trees over 3 feet here.


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[Jon1270]

In hardwoods that's probably 661 territory. I think a 461 would be happy running 24-28".

 

[Jon1270]

(I'm assuming those lengths you gave were for regular use, not exceptional situations)

 

[D8Chumley]

I'm from the school that having more power than you need is always better than not having enough. That said, I've only used my 460 with 25" bar a handful of times, I usually have a 20" on it and even then it doesn't see much use. Everything I cut anymore can usually be handled by the Echo 590 or the MS261 both having 18" bars, but I'm not willing to part with the 460/25". Anything bigger my buddy has an 066 with 36" I could borrow

 

[Ashful]

461 is not a "big" saw. I'd not even think of putting any bar in the 30's on a saw that small, unless all you cut is western soft woods.

I've found a 28" bar is just about right on my 85cc 064, buried to the nose in oak. I'd be running 25" on a 461. If you want to run over 30" in hardwood, think 660 or larger.

My cutting partner just bought a 46x saw, and he's also running 25" on it, FWIW.


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[Lakeside]

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Thanks for today's laugh !!

 

[johneh]

Love it

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[StihlKicking]

I went with the 661 this morning and am very happy so far. I got a 36" roller tip and a 20"hard nose to play around with. I put two tanks through it this morning. The 36" bar chugged right through the big piece of poplar you see it setting on sunk to the tip. The 20" is ridiculously fast sunk to the tip. The saw shop i use had a brand new 660 still on the shelf that I considered but for the same money I went with the newer saw. Thanks for all the replies and discussion.


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[blades]

For my large saw I run an 084 with a 42" bar, only comes out of hibernation a few times a year everything else is taken care of by the 79xx& 64xx series Dolitas with 18-32" bars

 

[Ashful]

For my large saw I run an 084 with a 42" bar...

That, my friends, is a "big" saw. I borrowed an 084 from my local saw shop, while contemplating whether or not I'd buy it. Not a fast saw, but power like no other I've run. Makes a 660 look like a kids toy.

 

[mass_burner]

Every time I bring out my 390 with 24" bar, the neighbors ooh and aw. Not very saw sophisticated round here.

 

[BrotherBart]

Every time I bring out my 390 with 24" bar, the neighbors ooh and aw. Not very saw sophisticated round here.

A few years ago after a big storm I heard a lot of buzzing saws down by the road. I finally put Old Yaller, my pre-consumer 72cc five horse Poulan 455, in the back of the truck to go down and take a look. There was a pretty damn big oak laying over my neighbor's driveway. I stood for awhile watching the boys with their little toys trying to wear their way through the thing and finally walked back to the truck. I pulled out Old Yaller and as I walked back I drop started it. When it fired off one of the neighbor's kids yelled "Yes! A real chainsaw."

Made short work of the tree bucking it and went home while they stood back and watched. Sure glad I had that new chain.

 

[mass_burner]

Whoa! I wouldn't try drop starting while walking, a sure embarrasment there. [emoji15]

 

[7acres]

A few years ago after a big storm I heard a lot of buzzing saws down by the road. I finally put Old Yaller, my pre-consumer 72cc five horse Poulan 455, in the back of the truck to go down and take a look. There was a pretty damn big oak laying over my neighbor's driveway. I stood for awhile watching the boys with their little toys trying to wear their way through the thing and finally walked back to the truck. I pulled out Old Yaller and as I walked back I drop started it. When it fired off one of the neighbor's kids yelled "Yes! A real chainsaw."

Made short work of the tree bucking it and went home while they stood back and watched. Sure glad I had that new chain.

Awesome story!

 

[woodhog73]

Haven't been here in awhile. The 661 is an awesome saw the mtronic simply works as advertised. My biggest problem is I rarely encounter wood big enough for this saw it's a beast

 

[StihlKicking]

Yep it's pretty hefty in hand and on the pocket book. I will probably use it a dozen times a year to stump something with a 3' plus bar. Having this saw though has gotten me to try my hand at chainsaw milling and it's fun to put a 20" bar on it every now and again and tear through a few 18" logs while bucking. Honestly I could have probably been well served with a 461, 441, ect but at this point I'm glad I splurged for the 661. Also I'm digging the M-tronic after being leary of it all this time.


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[Diabel]

Haven't been here in awhile. The 661 is an awesome saw the mtronic simply works as advertised. My biggest problem is I rarely encounter wood big enough for this saw it's a beast

Recently I came across an ad for a 660 for $600
I was tempted!
But as you said, how often will I use that beast?
My 360 seems very comfortable in all the wood it encounters. Granted, it will not break any speed records....
But I have time....

 

[Ashful]

Recently I came across an ad for a 660 for $600
I was tempted!
But as you said, how often will I use that beast?
My 360 seems very comfortable in all the wood it encounters. Granted, it will not break any speed records....
But I have time....

Buy it and use it every day. I use my 064 more than my other two saws combined, and it ain't much lighter than a 660.

 

[blades]

Ashful - my primary saws are 64xx and 79xx Dolmars- when stuff gets over 30" dia. wise I hall out the Stilh 084 ( 122cc), 42" bar .404 chain ( not for the faint of heart) which makes quick work of those - further size reduction is then accomplished with the smaller saws.

 

[sportbikerider78]

Maybe I'll drop big money on a big saw after my home projects are done...or in 5 yrs when my wife goes back to work. lol

 

[7acres]

Maybe I'll drop big money on a big saw after my home projects are done...or in 5 yrs when my wife goes back to work. lol

Haha, exactly! In the meantime we will have to live vicariously through StihlKicking! Running the 661 with a 20" bar sounds like just pure showing off! And I could see myself justifying the purchase by getting into milling too. When I'm bucking beautiful oak trunks I really have to block out all thoughts of what beautiful wood I'm wrecking. Like when I skin a deer. I'm usually queasy around blood, etc. Hate doing it. Knuckle down and get the job done. Then forget about it.

I've almost convinced myself! Buying a 661 and a Granberg milling rig might just be the only way to atone for my firewood scrounging sins!

 

[Ashful]

I use my 064 for bucking anything over 20" diameter, which is basically 99% of what I bring home. Further size reduction happens on my splitter, or by noodling with same 064. I have an 036 Pro that I can use on smaller stuff, but the owner of the property where I cut keeps most of the small stuff for himself.

I've used an 084. It's a beast, but definitely slower than the 064, until you get into monster stuff over 40" diameter, due to the reduced chain speed. The 084 would be real fun if you swap the stock sprocket for something larger/faster, but then that would somewhat reduce its ability to keep churning steady with 42 inches of .404 buried in the log.


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[StihlKicking]

I'm sure most of you have handled a 064, 066, 660, 661 at some point. The thing that surprises me with the 661 is how comfortable it is to use. I'm a small guy at 5'10" 165#. Don't get me wrong it's not as comfortable as a 261 but it's no where near the bulk class of an 880. I hear a lot of people's opinion that the 661 is a giant of a saw in the hands compared to a 461. I can't tell very much difference except the 661 feels smoother and more powerful than the 461.

Also my 661 feels slightly, very slightly less bulky in my hands than the 660 i often use at work. Is this just in my head or is the 661 a little better balanced? Opinions?


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