What model Husky or Stihl would be appropriate for my needs?

[Beer Belly]

My budget is $400 before tax, and thats pushing it.....hard to convince the bookeeper (Wife) to replace something that runs fine as it is, let alone stretch it another 100-200.....and used is out of the question....been screwed too many times.....thats why I was looking at the Stihl 290....unless there is something out there that is NEW, and would be better....she's firm on the $400. I know of two people who have Husqvana....not sure of the model, but my little Craftsman ran circles around them, as a matter of fact, had to borrow mine to finish off what thiers couldn't....not downing all the Husqvanas, but watching them steered me to the Stihl

 

[Ashful]

I know of two people who have Husqvana....not sure of the model, but my little Craftsman ran circles around them, as a matter of fact, had to borrow mine to finish off what thiers couldn't....not downing all the Husqvanas, but watching them steered me to the Stihl

This is in no way a fair comparison, as I'm comparing an older 85cc Stihl to a new 35cc Husqvarna, but... I bought a Husqvarna and a Stihl just a few weeks apart early this summer. Using the Stihl made me a big fan of Stihl. Using the Husqvarna made me a bigger fan of Stihl. Both are pro saws, but the Husqvarna is cheaper and more flimsy in every possible way.

 

[Backroads]

As for running circles around others...as much as I would like to say it's the saw, many times it has a lot to do with the person running the saw and the chain. Me and my lil overweight and under-powered 310 out cut my two buddies; one with his 260pro and the other with his Husky 460 Rancher. You can have all the saw in the world but if your not comfortable running it, it will slow you down.

 

[DexterDay]

This is in no way a fair comparison, as I'm comparing an older 85cc Stihl to a new 35cc Husqvarna, but... I bought a Husqvarna and a Stihl just a few weeks apart early this summer. Using the Stihl made me a big fan of Stihl. Using the Husqvarna made me a bigger fan of Stihl. Both are pro saws, but the Husqvarna is cheaper and more flimsy in every possible way.

The 435-T is a nice saw (had one), but is not there Pro top handle model. The 339 XPT or 338 XPT euns circles around it. IMO

435-T is a homeowners model

(But I will agree with the comment made. I have slowly gotten rid of all my Husqvarnas except one and the 455 is on its way out. Love my Stihl's )

 

[Highbeam]

Put the 20 inch bar and the FULL SKIPPER ON! And your ready for some red oak!

I am a west coaster, we cut big wood, soft wood and we use stihl saws. My entry into the stihl market was with the 290 a few years ago. They come equipped with 20" bars and 3/8 chain from the dealer when you live here. I have found that skip chain doesn't really speed up the cut but it sure is easier to sharpen so I'm a big fan.

With a sharp chain, the 290 has no problems with a 20" bar full of doug fir. It'll suck some fuel but it will do it. I regularly cut doug fir much larger, so have to do the two sided thing. With a peavey, cutting big wood is almost a pleasure. Just this week I was cutting 20-24" rounds of doug fir and had my shortest tank of fuel ever. On my sixth drop I had finished a full tank. Wide open throttle the whole time and pockets full of chips.

No it's not oak or hickory. No I'm not a professional. Yes, I would love a 440 just for the fun of it but I've never had to walk out of the woods without being able to complete the cut.

 

[smokinj]

I am a west coaster, we cut big wood, soft wood and we use stihl saws. My entry into the stihl market was with the 290 a few years ago. They come equipped with 20" bars and 3/8 chain from the dealer when you live here. I have found that skip chain doesn't really speed up the cut but it sure is easier to sharpen so I'm a big fan.

With a sharp chain, the 290 has no problems with a 20" bar full of doug fir. It'll suck some fuel but it will do it. I regularly cut doug fir much larger, so have to do the two sided thing. With a peavey, cutting big wood is almost a pleasure. Just this week I was cutting 20-24" rounds of doug fir and had my shortest tank of fuel ever. On my sixth drop I had finished a full tank. Wide open throttle the whole time and pockets full of chips.

No it's not oak or hickory. No I'm not a professional. Yes, I would love a 440 just for the fun of it but I've never had to walk out of the woods without being able to complete the cut.

The reply was meant for big red(East cost west coast is a big diffrance though) .....I have nothing against a 029 and it was my second saw in life. I wore it out in 5 years or so and gave it to my high school shop class. They re-build it every year in class. Shop teacher uses it for his wood stove. Bet that sucker from the early 80's not bad for 30 year saw. Here another side of wood out here there is some guys who fell just like lee with the "plunge cut" Thats a pro level but they use 880 with a 21inch bar. If you look at the recommend bar lenght for an 880 its 21 inch.

 

[Ashful]

The 435-T is a nice saw (had one), but is not there Pro top handle model. The 339 XPT or 338 XPT euns circles around it. IMO

435-T is a homeowners model

Now I must be missing something. Go to husqvarna.com, click on "Pro Forestry", then on the Pro Forestry page click on "Top Handle Saws". The only saw listed on their Pro Forestry page is the T-435. Did I somehow miss a better saw? I bought that little thing because it out-spec'd the closest Stihl on power to weight by a good margin, but I did not (and still do not) see any other top handle saws listed on Husq's Pro Forestry page.

Furthermore, their literature stated something to the effect of, "For professional use only. This saw is designed for arborists and tree care professionals, and should not be used for other purposes." I wish I could find that exact quote now.

edit: Going back to my notes from when I bought the saw, I did look at the 338 XP-T. I chose against it because it was a 65% increase in price for a 14% in HP, and again... had them both listed under the Pro Forestry section of their site.

 

[DexterDay]

Now I must be missing something. Go to husqvarna.com, click on "Pro Forestry", then on the Pro Forestry page click on "Top Handle Saws". The only saw listed on their Pro Forestry page is the T-435. Did I somehow miss a better saw? I bought that little thing because it out-spec'd the closest Stihl on power to weight by a good margin, but I did not (and still do not) see any other top handle saws listed on Husq's Pro Forestry page.

Furthermore, their literature stated something to the effect of, "For professional use only. This saw is designed for arborists and tree care professionals, and should not be used for other purposes." I wish I could find that exact quote now.

edit: Going back to my notes from when I bought the saw, I did look at the 338 XP-T. I chose against it because it was a 65% increase in price for a 14% in HP, and again... had them both listed under the Pro Forestry section of their site.

XP saws are Pro Saws... The 435-T is still designed for Pro's (so to speak). Because its used in trees. But its not a 338-339 XP-T. It costs about $600?? Which is a lot more than the $300 I paid for my 435-T.

 

[Dairyman]

I know of two people who have Husqvana....not sure of the model, but my little Craftsman ran circles around them, as a matter of fact, had to borrow mine to finish off what thiers couldn't....not downing all the Husqvanas, but watching them steered me to the Stihl

Sounds like someone needs to learn how to sharpen their chain.

 

[Ashful]

XP saws are Pro Saws... The 435-T is still designed for Pro's (so to speak). Because its used in trees. But its not a 338-339 XP-T. It costs about $600?? Which is a lot more than the $300 I paid for my 435-T.

Got it. Again, that explains a lot of my observations, with the 435-T feeling so much cheaper and more flimsy than the Stihl pro saws. Cost on the 435-T is $310, and cost on the 338 XP-T is $510, 65% more than the 435-T.

 

[MasterMech]

The 435-T is a nice saw (had one), but is not there Pro top handle model. The 339 XPT or 338 XPT euns circles around it. IMO

435-T is a homeowners model

(But I will agree with the comment made. I have slowly gotten rid of all my Husqvarnas except one and the 455 is on its way out. Love my Stihl's )

Gotta ask Husky who designed the plastics on the 435-T, Fisher Price?

I admit the HP of the 435 is nice but for $300 I'm still buying a 192T.

And both the 338/339XP-T are shamed back into their cases by the MS200T's legendary power and reliability. So far so good is what I'm hearing from the MS201T as well.

Stihl still rules top handles! And Echo gets my runner-up award.

 

[Bigg_Redd]

I am a west coaster, we cut big wood, soft wood and we use stihl saws. My entry into the stihl market was with the 290 a few years ago. They come equipped with 20" bars and 3/8 chain from the dealer when you live here. I have found that skip chain doesn't really speed up the cut but it sure is easier to sharpen so I'm a big fan.

x10

And if you ever want to see what a 440 will do to a big Fir log just gimme a call

 

[Beer Belly]

Sounds like someone needs to learn how to sharpen their chain.

Both were throwing chunks...both were bogging down....could have been the one behind the saw, but that same person ran mine. Anyhow, proud of my little Craftsman, it serves me well, but time to upgrade, and I was hoping the 290 would do the trick considering the budget....believe me, I'd love to get the "right" saw, but it's not in the cards, and I'm grabbing what I can before she changes her mind

 

[smokinj]

x10

And if you ever want to see what a 440 will do to a big Fir log just gimme a call

440/460 can be a big a long day out in the midwest and east coast. Thats the diffrance. I would have walk away with a 460 on this one. Will walk away from now on!

 

[Thistle]

Both were throwing chunks...both were bogging down....could have been the one behind the saw, but that same person ran mine. Anyhow, proud of my little Craftsman, it serves me well, but time to upgrade, and I was hoping the 290 would do the trick considering the budget....believe me, I'd love to get the "right" saw, but it's not in the cards, and I'm grabbing what I can before she changes her mind

Long as its running OK,keep that little Craftsman as backup & for smaller stuff.

 

[amateur cutter]

440/460 can be a big a long day out in the midwest and east coast. Thats the diffrance. I would have walk away with a 460 on this one. Will walk away from now on!


View attachment 72892

Sure you'll walk away Jay. Till it haunts your dreams. Then you'll buy another big saw & walk right back to it.
You know darn well it'll still be there too, cause not too many people know how to tackle those monsters. A C

 

[smokinj]

Sure you'll walk away Jay. Till it haunts your dreams. Then you'll buy another big saw & walk right back to it.
You know darn well it'll still be there too, cause not too many people know how to tackle those monsters. A C

I will still do under 45-47 inch hard wood. You throw another 10 inchs on top of that it becomes what seems like 20 times harder. I have a new policy if it dont fit I must acquit! (28 inch bar is the standard) With a sleeper 32incher......

 

[amateur cutter]

I will still do under 45-47 inch hard wood. You throw another 10 inchs on top of that it becomes what seems like 20 times harder. I have a new policy if it dont fit I must acquit! (28 inch bar is the standard) With a sleeper 32incher......

LOL That's funny! A C

 

[mecreature]

I'd like to probably stay under $750

What ever you get, Like it.
I would get a brand spankin new 362

(broken image removed)

 

[Treacherous]

My boss decided to keep the chainsaw so still searching for a saw. Since I have had time to think about it I plan to look for a good deal on CL. The other day I missed a 290 that was used 6 times, came with 6 chains and a case for $190. It looked immaculate in pictures too.

In the meantime I've been distracted rebuilding an old mid-80's Sears Brushwacker (Robin/Subaru NB04/Sachs-Dolmar BC37.7) My brother ran too weak of an oil mix when he borrowed it from my father and seized it. I got the piston out. Only minor scoring on cylinder but piston is toast. I'm gonna throw $30 in parts at it. You can really take the small trees down when it has the saw blade on it.

 

[4fire]

There are good deals on the used market if you are patient and jump on them when they come up. My dad just bought a Husky Rancher off craigslist for $200. Seller said it's 4 years old but it looks brand new. He bought it as a backup to his 30+ year old Stihl that's starting to act up.

Wide open throttle the whole time and pockets full of chips.

I like this line.

 

[Elderthewelder]

It'll run the sh_t out of a 24" bar. No one, and I mean no one runs 036/360/361/362 with a 20" bar in this state.

I guess I should go get the U Haul reserved so i can move out of state ( check my sig), not to mention the others I see on craigslist selling the same with a 20" bar, Glad you can speak for the entire state of Washington!!

 

[Bigg_Redd]

I guess I should go get the U Haul reserved so i can move out of state ( check my sig), not to mention the others I see on craigslist selling the same with a 20" bar, Glad you can speak for the entire state of Washington!!

Look on the bright side - at least you haven't fallen prey to the full-comp chain myth

 

[Elderthewelder]

Look on the bright side - at least you haven't fallen prey to the full-comp chain myth

I was on the bright side, you were on the dark side making a such a broad based statement about no one running a 20" bar on a particular saw when they show up all the time on Craigslist with said bar

 

[heaterman]

no thanks........I want the tune-ability "at my control". I'll stick with the old skool stuff.

The auto tune Husky's actually tune the motor as it's in the cut. ...You do that with a screwdriver? They will also keep the saw running at best possible performance even as the air filter becomes restricted. I don't think there are any cars or trucks made with tunable carbs on them any more. Same deal with the saws.