Which saw to recommend?

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bogydave

Minister of Fire
Dec 4, 2009
8,426
So Cent ALASKA
A buddy ask which 20" chain saw I'd recommend. He was looking around $700. He has "Snap On" tools & I have Craftsman & S&K & mixed.

I quickly said " the new Husq 562XP", $740
http://www.husqvarna.com/us/forest/products/xp-saws/562-xp/#specifications.

Some like the MS 362, $680
http://www.stihlusa.com/chainsaws/MS362.html

He was looking at the Solo 656-20 , $700.
http://www.solousa.com/store/flypage/chain_saws/656-18.html
found one on line, amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/Solo-656-20-20-Inch-2-Stroke-Powered/dp/B003AOBW2S

Hadn't heard of the Solo brand before, impressive specs. Looks nice & the lightest weight of the 3.
Hope he gets one so I can see it up close. :)

I'd be happy with either. All 3 look great & are around the same price.
Pricey to me, but I'd say these are the top of the line saws out there.

Which one would you recommend?
I like Husq & Stihl because of more local dealers. I think the Solo may be online parts, which I guess I do that allot now anyway.
 
The Husq....... well I may be biased, I used to work at a Husky dealer. Although anything made in Germany is always good so Stihl, it's a Ford/Chevy thing really. Buy the best or die like the rest. Haha
 
Solo has a good rep. Hopefully wkpoor will chime in here as he knows quite a bit more about the Solo's than I do.

I'm a Stihl guy that drools over the new 562XP and can always appreciate the "odd" saw that comes around too. So this would be a damned hard decision for me too! ;lol

I started out with my Craftsman tools and still work with them daily. Hate them. Almost every one of them has something about it that drives me up a wall. Been slowly migrating to mostly Snap-On since. ;)
 
If you were set between the MS 362 or the 562 XP..... Then I say Husqvarna. My Brother in Law just bought one about a month ago. The 362 is a damn fine saw and I love me a Good Stihl saw. But that 562 is definitely a runner! !!

I have been a Stihl man, (for about a year now) ever since I ran my 1st one. I had 4 Husqvarna's this time last year. I know have one (455) and 3 Stihls (192-T, 036, 460).

Sleek and Sexy looking... And runs like Mother$&%#*@!! Nothing wrong with the 362. For the little extra money, you gain an extra edge.
 

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What's the dealer choices there? Probably not a lot of Solo dealers, so I'd stick with one of the big two. The only Solo I've ever heard anything about is the 681, which is a screamer. Unfortunately not available anymore thanks to EPA.
 
460 is alot of fun with a 20.
 
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The 562 hands down for dealer support and the AutoTune.

I also wouldn't overlook the 555. A little lighter, cheaper, but it has a small bar mount. Also AutoTune.

Things I have read where people compare the 562 to the 555 and it's a toss up.Cant go wrong with either one.
 
Does he need a dealer? If so buy the dealer. If not order the 562XP shipped to your door for $715
 
Does he need a dealer? If so buy the dealer. If not order the 562XP shipped to your door for $715


Its amazing how much these 59cc saws are going for.
 
All my saws are Stihls, but if I were in the market for a new saw I would be looking hard at the 562. It looks like a nice saw.
 
361 is my favorite saw. I am not thrilled with the EPA 362. 372xp series II pre-EPA was my second favorite saw, but I could not justify keeping it. 562xp? Looks like Husky is finally going after the 361/2 saws.

More spendy saws are thanks to the John Deere lobby to force EPA laws on small engines. Long story, but they are to blame.

361s.jpg
 
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