I keep getting questions about which chainsaws to buy when you're starting out. With these 3 saws I feel you would have covered all your needs when starting out as an arborist. Do you agree?
I recently bought a Stihl 500i. I've been logging and cutting firewood to sell since 1968, so I'm not new to chainsaws and especially Stihl Chainsaws. I found the 500i with the 25 inch bar to be too much saw for me, now, at 75 years of age. I loved the way it burned through Douglas Fir when blocking logs 20 inches in diameter. But, besides the weight, I hated trying to restart the saw after putting it down after extended cutting then letting the saw cool down. It would then not start. This happened again and again. Yesterday I bought another 362 Stihl with a carburetor to pair up with my older 362. Those saws are just right for me, and they START EVERY TIME.
I agree with you. To get started, a small one like the ms 200T chainsaw is enough for pruning and the ms 500 i for felling large trees. Ciao from Italy.
So happy for you to start your own business . I think you are bang on with bar length for your 261 , It is my go to reliable saw . I have not tried the 500 as I have a lot of larger Husqvarna saws at this time . Great video . Thanks form Canada .
Great recommendation video. I recently got a 400c to fit between the 261 and 500i/661. The 400 is an amazing medium saw with aftermarket exhaust/intake filter.
Great line up in choices I’ve been in tree care since. 1989 and your choices are all very similar to the same sizes top handle medium and large size saw most tree work can be done with theses choices 👍🏼🙂 Joe from California USA 😉
I'm just a liw budget firewood cutter,but I run a ms250,ms310( that's been modded some),and a ms441c. The ms250 is the only one I bought new. The ms310 was bought for $250 from a pawnshop when it was only 2 years old,and the ms441c was bought from a pawnshop for $450 when it was almost new but with a broken chain brake lever and air filter cover. Super good saws and no real problems in the last 10 years I've had them.
Great choices to cover all the bases. I would do it a bit different Husqvarna style. T540iXP battery for climber with 14” bar, 550XP Mark II with 18” bar, 572XP with 24” bar and the new insanely powerful 592XP with a 28” bar.
Great choices! Your 200T is in great shape. Here in the states I would choose a ported regular carb ms261 as I prefer an 18"-20" light bar for topping. Have fun!
Great name for your company! Love it 😍. I almost chose the same saws, only difference is that I chose the MS150t as tophandle saw, because I wanted the lightes saw when climbing. It also works GREAT and I can even top trees with this little baby. For the bigger saws, I have exactly the same!
That 500i is a joy to run, when I was first starting out and looking at saws to buy I watched a lot of your review videos! Congratulations on starting your own company too!
As a firewood cutter my favorite saw is a 272XP with a twenty inch light bar, for me it just does everything well, felling limbing and bucking. This season I will be running a 371XP for the first time, looking forward to it.
Thank you for your videos and your info. I currently only have two saws. The 261c with a 20” bar and a 391 with a 25” bar. So I am running a medium and bigger medium. No problem running the bigger bar and chains on either saw. In fact they both came with this set up and research says it all good. One day, if work keeps coming and need requires I will get the 661 with a 28” bar. But that is a serious beast for a serious job.
I worked for Natural resources thinning crew for New Mexico and I have 10+ years of experience and it all goes down to how you use and care for your bar, yes there are all sizes of saws and guide bars for different applications, it all depends on how you use your equipment and how you maintain it, especially if you have to rebuild a blown saw in the field
I'am impressed what your doing, Felixia. i know, this is a hard job. The Family, the Kids and the many work in front. and than, your Clips, wow. you are very big.
I am a old woods man, from northern New York. Never climbed up a tree, you have me on that. Back in the day. We, my dad and I. We used 041, 045. To fell trees. I still have a 041. To buck up on the landing. Part’s are very hard to find. I just bought a ms391 Starting to get used to it. A bit of a change
I love chainsaws,I used to build them and work on them and I never know what I would need,so I have an MS171 for limbs,an 021,MS210,a couple MS250's,an 028,a couple MS271's,an ms291,and an MS460.I really don't need anything bigger than I have...congrats on your company!!
I've got a 661 that I primarily run a 25 in bar on, but I've had to use the 36 inch bar a few times. I also have an 881 with a 25, a 47, and a 59. It's a heavy saw, but it's an absolute beast.
I'm digging the arborist cookies on the wall. I may have to steal that idea from you for my climbing laboratory. Nice line up of saws you've got there. I need a few of those as well. I agree 100% with your preference. Been meaning to purchase a couple dozen 200's with the hope of building one or two of them. I'm glad I subscribed to your channel. I've only been in the tree care and line clearance business for 4 years now. Many get the impression that I've been at it for much longer. I reckon that's do to my strong passion of tree climbing and the art of working a tree. To say the least, I've absorbed much info in 4 years. I have no choice, I'm a ripe age for discovering a passion like this one we have. I hope to soon start my own company. Gonna call it "It'll fit tree service". I have a feeling I'll learn from you. Love your content. Keep it coming😁😘
I suppose with firewood, a good all-around saw is good, but in arborist work, replacing a top handle saw with a back handle saw would be a very bad idea.
Young lady I love Stihl chainsaws although I was very impressed with you and the saws ( I think the Stihl company would be missing a great opportunity to get you in there advertising) what a fresh change in people using Stihl saws . I'm going to go buy a new Stihl tomorrow even though I don't need anymore. See what I mean. Good luck and thank you from NC
Good review I like your choice of saw’s the Ms 200T the best climbing saw ever made very powerful and reliable little saw. Don’t think I can say the same for the newer model had to many problems in Australia. As for the 500i very nice saw put’s a smile on my face every time I use never disappointed. Hope you’re business works out well and stay safe.
Wow wow wow smileaf good to see you back on video land lol . Back here in new Jersey those saws would be a good starting kit . With a lot of huge red oaks here im running 661 s n 500i n 460 s the most . Keep cutting girl 🌲
Excellent choice, I would have chosen ms 261 ms 400 and ms 500i. I happened to cut a 1.37 meter diameter plant with the 500i without any problem, I think it's the best chainsaw I've ever owned and used!
Great combination. Will pick up a 462 this Friday to compliment the old 441 and the 261. Just use them for cutting firewood. Asked professional lumber jacks here in Canada. They recommend the 462 over the 500. They love the 500 but apparently the injector clogs up if used for limbing and other jobs where it does not run flat out. Have you had similar experiences? They say the 500 is the best production saw pound for pound.
You are spot on! Oh how I wish I could get my hands on an MS200T. I saw one recently on Facebook marketplace that looked like it had been run over by a truck, and they were asking 1,000 USD! 😱😱😱 By the way, how can we buy some of your merch??? I reached out to the moose approves, but didn't get any response.
Congratulations on having your own business. It can be hard work, but should be worth it for you. I mostly cut around the farm and homestead so I have the MS192tc for my top handle saw, afew ms180, an ms 210, ms250c, my new baby ms261 with 18" bar, and several larger old mac's. I have be wanting a ms360 series or 500i but just can't justify it yet
MS 200 T☑️ MS 261☑️ MS 500i 🔲🤷♂️ I just built me a 241 from scratch this is a fine tool too! Perfect for smaller trees. Almost the power of the 261, but lighter.
I run most sizes..201 to 880 as right saw for each job ...usually 8 to 12 saws in truck at all times..why work hard and thus dangerous.. been arborist since 1973 and in 90s was one of the first ISA certified Arborists.
Great video. I'd also suggest if you're on a budget, the 194T can be a good first top handle saw to take up in the tree. It's what I've been using for a year and a half now.
I have MS250,290,291,460.....also have Top Handles, and some Vintage 80cc and 100cc saws........My Experience is this......get a Farm Saw for general work, get a Power Saw for heavy work, and get a Top handle for "trim up" work, or climbing trees......The main thing is get a saw around 45-60cc for General cutting, and a Top Handle for Clean up, you don't want to be wasting gas, you want the Smallest Saw you can get away with....... But like I said, if you're cutting 30"+ trees, you really need a Power saw or Muscle saw.....I've done it with Farm saws, it's okay, but takes forever! You need many many saws.....parts also tend to fail in the middle of jobs! Be prepared for that....if you have a Stihl dealer nearby, go Stihl.......if all you have is Husqvarna, go with them. You don't have time to order online and wait for parts.
Hey Felixia 👋🏻 Nice to see ya here again! Hope the new business venture is going well. It’s been a while since I’ve seen ya. Guess you’ve been dialing in your new business strategy. Anyway, looking stunning as always! 😉 Stay safe out there! And best of luck to ya moving foreword!!
I knew 2 of them. 261 Is the best of the best in my opinion. 500i Would be my big saw all day everyday in every way. and yea I said 201T. Right now I have 362 261 old Trusty 036 and a ms180 I use for limbing. and Light stuff. I also like that I can cut smaller trees and not worry about hitting the dirt or rocks getting low to the ground. I dont like putting my 261 near the dirt im a wuss lol.. I have a 20 inch bar for my 261 and a 16 inch bar. Man it flys with the 16... Its a beast. IF im cutting 18 inch 20 inch stuff I use my bigger saw so there is No reason for me to have a 3 20 inch bars on 3 saws thats why I like the 16 on my 261 keeps it Super light and it just RIPS.
Hi from Norway. Whats your opinion on HQ. I am a landowner and a hobby logger. Selling around 300m³ of pine trees a year. I really like the HQ 550, 560 better fuelcaps😂 but also faster revs. I really like this when limbing. Yes they are heavier i know. Intrested to hear your opinion. I also have most of the stihl saws too. I like both brands. My 462cm is my favorit. Its one og the few stihl sawn in the HQ rev territory. I take the 462 over the 500 because its less bulky when limbing😊 Good chanel.
Nice choices, but if you are working mainly arb you might like to consider adding a little echo top handle to your list, really light and small for getting into the tighter spaces.
What about fuel economy? I stick to my old 026 and 260 for as long as I get parts. Those saws are about 30 and 20 years old but still working perfectly. Every part except from a few nuts and bolts have probably been changed multiple times as I'm working 6-8 hours a day with the chainsaw most of the year. All Stihl resellers advise not to use regular petrol mixed with 2-stroke-oil for the new saws. I could buy a couple 261s a year for the extra cost of the recommended environmentally friendly fuel.
For this kind of soft wood you mostly have - you can easily put a bigger bar on the 500i. With a 50cm/20" bar you can easily fell the 2,5 sized tree. If you need any help, let me know.
I'm a conservation land manager and using saws every day. I concur with your choices for arborist work. In my case, 260, 460 and 660. We also use 009L and 170 along with Silky hand saws. Long live Denmark.
nice choice of saws.. Running the MS180, Ms251 and about to probably add the Ms261c but still have a niggle for the 362.. Waiting for stock to arrive so i can decide
There is no comparison going from the 251 to a 261 likely similar in comparing the 180 and the 251 or think of the 261 as closer in power to a 290 but closer in weight to the 251. Niggle with the 362 is a personal decision. Still only my personal view when running the 261-50cc if I need a bigger saw, it usually is a bigger saw 70cc not stopping between with a 60cc saw. My jumps are 20-35cc top handles 50cc 70cc 90cc and 120cc if I was doing strictly firewood type cutting and only one saw a 60cc might be an ok in the middle compromise.
@@iffykidmn8170 I see. My initial thought was to run the 180, 251 and the 362 as my main felling saw rather than the 261 but heard so many great things about the 261 i thought on the lines of the 261.. The 362 does offer me an extra 14cc or 1.8hp extra to the 251 and although id love to go bigger budget is restricting at moment
@@ocdwhisky181 As said personal opinion and no person knows your needs but you, Hard to argue with your logic on the 362 combo of saws. Unfortunately budget often dictates purchases I have always purchased in the Pro line of saws and started with the 70cc and branched out smaller and larger as need and money allowed. If you were any where close I would borrow out a 50cc 261 and a 70cc for you to try. Kind of comes down to the old Goldie Locke's and the 3 bears.
I've been using chainsaws for roughly 45 years now and still have 5 of them. At times I've tried other brands but have always come back to Stihl and have been disappointed with anything else I've tried. I'm getting too old to start my bigger saws now though one I've had for over 40 years has the same compression it had when I bought it. I just can't start it these days so I experimented with a Makita 36 volt battery saw mainly because I was already using the battery system with other tools. I should have followed my instincts and bought a Stihl as the makita is useless! I'm about to trade one of my bigger saws in for Stihl battery saw, probably a 220C.
For our forests in northern Sweden I like the same sizes of chainsaws as you. Stihl 201 C-M, light and nimble, but very "plastic" Husqvarna 550 XPG, really like the design, how it screams and how everything fit together. ? (would like an Stihl 500i but I cant find the motivation just yet, in addition that is would be fun:-)
Very good and sensible choices.👍🏻😊 If you are planning to do some milling, you might need one more saw.🤔 P.S. that back wall looks perfect place to put some "logging related" artefacts on display.🤩 Greetings from Finland.🇫🇮🌲🌲🌲
Close captioning thinks this is a cooking show. Every time you say "saws", it says "sauce"! I couldn't stop laughing. We use ht131, 201tcm, 500i, and occasionally (rarely actually) an old 880. There's also a few others such as a 362cmq and an old Homelite that doesn't have a model number on it anymore, but those are usually only picked up when the others pinch or there's some other problem. The pole saw helps in more situations than we ever thought would happen. I strongly recommend getting one if you're in the business. I hope to someday drop the gasoline top handle in favor of an electric. The 362 used to do almost all the work outside of top handle work, but the 500i is almost the same weight but stronger, so now it does almost all the work. I haven't found a species that is too dense even with a 36" bar buried. If I have to go bigger than 36" which doesn't happen very often, then out comes the old 880, and the whining and complaining happens because I don't like using it. The first cut I did with it many years ago was fun because it was a new big saw, and every cut since then was not fun at all due to the weight.
881 with a 6 foot bar. No need for any other saw :P In all seriousness, I'm on the fence between the 500i and the 462. That one less pound makes the 462 feel a lot more climbable, at the same time, it feels a little weak for big ground work. Maybe 462 and just don't accept giant felling jobs until you can afford a 661.
Thank you very much for taking the time to post these very informational videos. I just traded in my MS 361 on a MS 400 and used it for the first time today. Like you, I have all the Stihl pro saws from the 241 through the 661, including the 500i. The 881 is too heavy for this old man. I do have a 362 as well and really like it. My first impressions with the 400 were not what I expected. When I first started using the 500i I was blown away, as you were. Can't say the same for the 400. What are your thoughts on the 400 and why did you pass it over for the 500i? By the way my wife and are homesteaders in Pennsylvania USA, and mange our 80 acre woodlot. I wish you the best with your new venture! Godspeed!
I like the 400 but with the saws I’ve got I never found a use for it. I’ll be running the 261 and when I need something bigger I’ll go straight to the 500i. The 500i just never disappoints and it’s not that much heavier than the 400
Stihl pro saws are always a good place to start. The 261 is a great all around saw and is my most used saw. The 46X and 500 saws make an excellent companion saw--I run a 461. Top handle... I don't climb so I don't really have a use for a top handle. On that note, I was in the saw shop where my son works the other day. Two different tree service business owners had been in that day, one while I was there, who cut their left hands while using top handle saws one handed. One cut the tendon in his thumb. The other missed the tendons and bones but still ended up with a hand full of stitches. These guys have been arborists for decades... On that note, from a safety standpoint, for light pruning and limbing, amateur and non-climbing users would probably be better off with something like an MS170-MS180 class two-hand traditional saw. Not as cool perhaps, but safer!
For those who want something more than a homeowners saw, Stihl makes rear handle CE version of their top handle T saws in what I like to the call the Pro-owner line 194CE and the 201CE at appx 4ozs more weight than the top handle version.
A very good Selection perfect a bit of topic butt i can see you love your power saws I think you should make a piped ported one for yourself for some timber sport fun
I'm an echo and husqvarna man , however I have nothing bad to say about Stihl I just don't like them (with the exception of the 400c and 444 ) other than that I've just never been able to have them feel right in my hands. and my saws of choice are my 550xp, my 7310p , my 620p and my jred 2172 (husky 372) and for the big big stuff I have a 592 xp on the way
I don’t know I think the msa 161 T for up the tree and the 500i and the new msa300 for ground work I also have the husky xp540i T and the xp540i as well I’ve switched more to electric nowadays which are quite and just as good but I do like your choice and good luck with your new adventure all the best
Just need to have some mild porting done to then at some point and really pull some extra grunt from them. Doing a ms261 this summer out of curiosity. 026 and ms260 have made some good reliable rippers, bd have a 200t waiting to find time to tear into also, they're already grunty saws in stock form but hey why not
Husqvarna makes an excellent top handle electric that many professionals use every day of their lives. I love Stihl internal combustion engines, but Husq wins on the top handle electric. I''ll likely buy one; not sure why I haven't yet, but haven't been willing to set the 201tcm down yet.
@@iffykidmn8170 I agree, but I said the same when delaying my purchase of the 500i vs. carbureted saws, and I'm glad I eventually made the purchase anyway. When you use something for most of a day almost every day, it's worth it to get what does the job best. I'm seriously considering it because it's quiet for when I'm working in residential neighborhoods in the morning, it's light, and I don't have to pull start it. I'd really love to see a bungee strap doubling as a power cord for a backpack battery. That would make an electric top handle super light. I would easily pay as much as I did for the 500i for a system like that.
@@happycamper6352 August Hunicke? ran a Husky 540i for awhile with umbilical cord with a battery on his climbing harness for awhile, He still uses the 540i but I never heard why he quit using the umbilical cord. Now I see him more often than not running a Echo 2511 with 1/4pitch and Panther bar. Last I looked at the 540i with charger and 2 batteries I believe right around $1000 US.
I recently bought a Stihl 500i. I've been logging and cutting firewood to sell since 1968, so I'm not new to chainsaws and especially Stihl Chainsaws. I found the 500i with the 25 inch bar to be too much saw for me, now, at 75 years of age. I loved the way it burned through Douglas Fir when blocking logs 20 inches in diameter. But, besides the weight, I hated trying to restart the saw after putting it down after extended cutting then letting the saw cool down. It would then not start. This happened again and again. Yesterday I bought another 362 Stihl with a carburetor to pair up with my older 362. Those saws are just right for me, and they START EVERY TIME.
You need to press pimer bulb before shot starting
@@Faazer6 Well, yeah, duhhhh.
I Agree with you!
👌
Your love for chainsaw's and Sthil amazes me 😀
Thanks 😊
I have the residential MS192T and absolutely loving it for 15 years along with my pair of 026's. Good luck from WISCONSIN !
Nice!
Thank you
I agree with you. To get started, a small one like the ms 200T chainsaw is enough for pruning and the ms 500 i for felling large trees. Ciao from Italy.
👌
@@Femalelumberjack its Juan how are you
You've got everything covered. Wishing you the best with your new business. Take care and have a blessed day and I'll see you on your next video.
Thank you
You’re right about the 261 I got one for my parents with a 20 inch. Both my parents are in their 60s and it is feather light for both of them.
So happy for you to start your own business . I think you are bang on with bar length for your 261 , It is my go to reliable saw . I have not tried the 500 as I have a lot of larger Husqvarna saws at this time . Great video . Thanks form Canada .
Thank you
@@Femalelumberjack Its Juan how are you going
Great recommendation video. I recently got a 400c to fit between the 261 and 500i/661. The 400 is an amazing medium saw with aftermarket exhaust/intake filter.
you dont like the 462 as a medium saw?
Love the name of your new company. Good luck. You can't go wrong with Stihl and I'm sure you will know better than most what will work for you.
Thank you
Hello from Canada! I love my MS 261. A great saw! I would love to try out the 500. Thanks for sharing
Keep up your OUTSTANDING LEADING EXEMPLE for the young ladies Miss 😉👍👌🧐 Have a blessed week end Miss Cheers 🍻
Great line up in choices I’ve been in tree care since. 1989 and your choices are all very similar to the same sizes top handle medium and large size saw most tree work can be done with theses choices 👍🏼🙂
Joe from California USA 😉
Definitely the saws I use the most
Wishing you all the best for starting a business! You won't look back! Your video is absolutely spot on! 👍
I'm just a liw budget firewood cutter,but I run a ms250,ms310( that's been modded some),and a ms441c. The ms250 is the only one I bought new. The ms310 was bought for $250 from a pawnshop when it was only 2 years old,and the ms441c was bought from a pawnshop for $450 when it was almost new but with a broken chain brake lever and air filter cover. Super good saws and no real problems in the last 10 years I've had them.
Great choices to cover all the bases. I would do it a bit different Husqvarna style. T540iXP battery for climber with 14” bar, 550XP Mark II with 18” bar, 572XP with 24” bar and the new insanely powerful 592XP with a 28” bar.
Well start your own TH-cam channel and tell ppl there. . . That’d be a good start to reaching people that care! Husky SUCKS!!!!!
Great choices! Your 200T is in great shape. Here in the states I would choose a ported regular carb ms261 as I prefer an 18"-20" light bar for topping. Have fun!
Thanks yes it’s almost like new
@@Femalelumberjack can I wear pull on boots for arbotist ?
Great choices! Safety first my saw friend, best wishes to you and your cool company.
Thank you
Great name for your company! Love it 😍. I almost chose the same saws, only difference is that I chose the MS150t as tophandle saw, because I wanted the lightes saw when climbing. It also works GREAT and I can even top trees with this little baby. For the bigger saws, I have exactly the same!
Thank you! I really like using the battery saws when climbing as well!
@@Femalelumberjack Yes I am still waiting for the new MS 220T. That will be my next saw 😍
That 500i is a joy to run, when I was first starting out and looking at saws to buy I watched a lot of your review videos! Congratulations on starting your own company too!
As a firewood cutter my favorite saw is a 272XP with a twenty inch light bar, for me it just does everything well, felling limbing and bucking. This season I will be running a 371XP for the first time, looking forward to it.
Nice!
You won't be disappointed, best saw ever made in my opinion.
@@liamb.6251 I bolted on the big dogs, plugged the decomp and opened up the exhaust a bit, just waiting for the snow to disappear so I can go cutting.
@@timberray9572 proper exhaust flow on a 371 can wake it up alot, I run an 8 tooth sprocket on mine and it pulls a 28in like it's nothing.
Thank you for your videos and your info. I currently only have two saws. The 261c with a 20” bar and a 391 with a 25” bar. So I am running a medium and bigger medium. No problem running the bigger bar and chains on either saw. In fact they both came with this set up and research says it all good. One day, if work keeps coming and need requires I will get the 661 with a 28” bar. But that is a serious beast for a serious job.
Great advice for the starting of your business there Young lady 💐
Thanks
@@Femalelumberjack anytime young lady 💐
Yes love the 261
Great saw!
I worked for Natural resources thinning crew for New Mexico and I have 10+ years of experience and it all goes down to how you use and care for your bar, yes there are all sizes of saws and guide bars for different applications, it all depends on how you use your equipment and how you maintain it, especially if you have to rebuild a blown saw in the field
You have an amazing saw collection
I sure do
Same I will choose the same saws
I'am impressed what your doing, Felixia. i know, this is a hard job. The Family, the Kids and the many work in front. and than, your Clips, wow. you are very big.
I am a old woods man, from northern New York. Never climbed up a tree, you have me
on that. Back in the day. We, my dad and I.
We used 041, 045. To fell trees. I still have a
041. To buck up on the landing. Part’s are
very hard to find. I just bought a ms391
Starting to get used to it. A bit of a change
I love chainsaws,I used to build them and work on them and I never know what I would need,so I have an MS171 for limbs,an 021,MS210,a couple MS250's,an 028,a couple MS271's,an ms291,and an MS460.I really don't need anything bigger than I have...congrats on your company!!
I just wanted to say congratulations on starting your own company and I wish you all the best of luck
Thank you
Love your choices and always love your videos! Wishing you the best in your new company!
Thank you very much
Beautiful hinge.
Thanks
Congratulations on your new company, great videos.
Thank you
I've got a 661 that I primarily run a 25 in bar on, but I've had to use the 36 inch bar a few times. I also have an 881 with a 25, a 47, and a 59. It's a heavy saw, but it's an absolute beast.
It’s a pure beast!
Pretty much same as i would also choose.
I'm digging the arborist cookies on the wall. I may have to steal that idea from you for my climbing laboratory. Nice line up of saws you've got there. I need a few of those as well. I agree 100% with your preference. Been meaning to purchase a couple dozen 200's with the hope of building one or two of them. I'm glad I subscribed to your channel. I've only been in the tree care and line clearance business for 4 years now. Many get the impression that I've been at it for much longer. I reckon that's do to my strong passion of tree climbing and the art of working a tree. To say the least, I've absorbed much info in 4 years. I have no choice, I'm a ripe age for discovering a passion like this one we have. I hope to soon start my own company. Gonna call it "It'll fit tree service". I have a feeling I'll learn from you. Love your content. Keep it coming😁😘
Congratulations on starting your own business. I'm sure you will have much success.
Thank you very much
Beautiful ... saw.
Good luck for your new company
Thank you
Stihl has a great selection of saws, for all sorts of different users. For me as a firewood cutter, the 400c replaces the 200T.
I suppose with firewood, a good all-around saw is good, but in arborist work, replacing a top handle saw with a back handle saw would be a very bad idea.
The 400 is a very nice saw as well
True
Young lady I love Stihl chainsaws although I was very impressed with you and the saws ( I think the Stihl company would be missing a great opportunity to get you in there advertising) what a fresh change in people using Stihl saws . I'm going to go buy a new Stihl tomorrow even though I don't need anymore. See what I mean. Good luck and thank you from NC
Haha thank you! Enjoy your new saw 😉
@@Femalelumberjack 🙂
Good review I like your choice of saw’s the
Ms 200T the best climbing saw ever made
very powerful and reliable little saw.
Don’t think I can say the same for the newer model
had to many problems in Australia.
As for the 500i very nice saw put’s a smile on my face every time I use never disappointed.
Hope you’re business works out well and stay safe.
congratulations!! that's amazing you started your own company, all the best luck to you!!! if you need a helper/novice climber let me know!
Wow wow wow smileaf good to see you back on video land lol . Back here in new Jersey those saws would be a good starting kit . With a lot of huge red oaks here im running 661 s n 500i n 460 s the most . Keep cutting girl 🌲
Thank you!
Excellent choice, I would have chosen ms 261 ms 400 and ms 500i. I happened to cut a 1.37 meter diameter plant with the 500i without any problem, I think it's the best chainsaw I've ever owned and used!
I've got those 3 as well. An incredible line up for the firewood cutter.
Yes it really is a great saw!
@@Femalelumberjack The best!!!
I like your business name good Selection on the chainsaws always like watching the bloopers at the end hope your business takes off really good for ya
Thank you
Congrats on your company love
Great combination. Will pick up a 462 this Friday to compliment the old 441 and the 261. Just use them for cutting firewood. Asked professional lumber jacks here in Canada. They recommend the 462 over the 500. They love the 500 but apparently the injector clogs up if used for limbing and other jobs where it does not run flat out. Have you had similar experiences? They say the 500 is the best production saw pound for pound.
So awesome, that you started your on own company 🥰, You go girl 🥰🌹
Nice choice
Thanks
You are spot on! Oh how I wish I could get my hands on an MS200T. I saw one recently on Facebook marketplace that looked like it had been run over by a truck, and they were asking 1,000 USD! 😱😱😱
By the way, how can we buy some of your merch??? I reached out to the moose approves, but didn't get any response.
Sorry about that. I’ll look into it for you
Congratulations on having your own business. It can be hard work, but should be worth it for you. I mostly cut around the farm and homestead so I have the MS192tc for my top handle saw, afew ms180, an ms 210, ms250c, my new baby ms261 with 18" bar, and several larger old mac's. I have be wanting a ms360 series or 500i but just can't justify it yet
MS 200 T☑️ MS 261☑️ MS 500i 🔲🤷♂️ I just built me a 241 from scratch this is a fine tool too! Perfect for smaller trees. Almost the power of the 261, but lighter.
I’ve run the 241 as well but I much prefer the 261
@@Femalelumberjack The 241 can’t replace the 261. But I wanted something a little bit smaller for backup. I repair and use chainsaws for hobby.
@@P.T._aus_B. I am building a homelite xl-12right now. I am gonna try a 20 inch 3/8 bar and chian on it!
I run most sizes..201 to 880 as right saw for each job ...usually 8 to 12 saws in truck at all times..why work hard and thus dangerous.. been arborist since 1973 and in 90s was one of the first ISA certified Arborists.
Great video. I'd also suggest if you're on a budget, the 194T can be a good first top handle saw to take up in the tree. It's what I've been using for a year and a half now.
That’s a very good point! Thank you
Nice saws, I love the older 0 series Stihl. Lately I've been using the 660 with a 25' bar. But she's a heavy girl 🌲🪓
So many nice saws!
i'm in Georgia and the best chainsaw Stihl ever made is the MS462!
Great choices FL! 👍🏻👍🏻
Thanks
I have MS250,290,291,460.....also have Top Handles, and some Vintage 80cc and 100cc saws........My Experience is this......get a Farm Saw for general work, get a Power Saw for heavy work, and get a Top handle for "trim up" work, or climbing trees......The main thing is get a saw around 45-60cc for General cutting, and a Top Handle for Clean up, you don't want to be wasting gas, you want the Smallest Saw you can get away with....... But like I said, if you're cutting 30"+ trees, you really need a Power saw or Muscle saw.....I've done it with Farm saws, it's okay, but takes forever! You need many many saws.....parts also tend to fail in the middle of jobs! Be prepared for that....if you have a Stihl dealer nearby, go Stihl.......if all you have is Husqvarna, go with them. You don't have time to order online and wait for parts.
Great video. Thanks for sharing your thoughts with us.🌳💚🌳💚👊👍
Hey Felixia 👋🏻 Nice to see ya here again! Hope
the new business venture is going well. It’s been a while since I’ve seen ya. Guess you’ve been dialing in your new business strategy. Anyway, looking stunning as always! 😉 Stay safe out there! And best of luck to ya moving foreword!!
Thank you very much
I knew 2 of them. 261 Is the best of the best in my opinion. 500i Would be my big saw all day everyday in every way. and yea I said 201T. Right now I have 362 261 old Trusty 036 and a ms180 I use for limbing. and Light stuff. I also like that I can cut smaller trees and not worry about hitting the dirt or rocks getting low to the ground. I dont like putting my 261 near the dirt im a wuss lol.. I have a 20 inch bar for my 261 and a 16 inch bar. Man it flys with the 16... Its a beast. IF im cutting 18 inch 20 inch stuff I use my bigger saw so there is No reason for me to have a 3 20 inch bars on 3 saws thats why I like the 16 on my 261 keeps it Super light and it just RIPS.
Hi from Norway. Whats your opinion on HQ. I am a landowner and a hobby logger. Selling around 300m³ of pine trees a year. I really like the HQ 550, 560 better fuelcaps😂 but also faster revs. I really like this when limbing. Yes they are heavier i know. Intrested to hear your opinion. I also have most of the stihl saws too. I like both brands. My 462cm is my favorit. Its one og the few stihl sawn in the HQ rev territory. I take the 462 over the 500 because its less bulky when limbing😊 Good chanel.
Thanks for sharing.
You’re welcome
Great choices congratulations on your new business!
Thank you
Great chainsaws good look with them!greetings Gûnter
Thank u so much
You’re welcome
My favorite chainsaw...one that run great and is razor sharp....Shoe
ps...Stihl or Husqvarna thank you very much...
Ich denke deine Ausstattung wird das meiste überdecken was du vorhast, alles gute und haltbare sägen und natürlich ein guter Bediener!
🍀🍀👍👍💪💪
Good video good luck starting your company
Thank you
Love my MS 391, run both 20" and 25" with it.
Best of luck with your new company
Thank you
Nice choices, but if you are working mainly arb you might like to consider adding a little echo top handle to your list, really light and small for getting into the tighter spaces.
I’ve got a battery top handle I like to use but this was just to say if I could only get one top handle I would get that one
@@Femalelumberjack I am with you on that, 200T was the classic climbers saw and still very sought after.👍
@@mick4862 Once my 200Ts get to the point of no longer being able to be rebuilt I am considering trying a Echo 2511 with a 1/4 pitch and Panther bar.
Congrats on the new business!
Thanks 😊
What about fuel economy? I stick to my old 026 and 260 for as long as I get parts. Those saws are about 30 and 20 years old but still working perfectly. Every part except from a few nuts and bolts have probably been changed multiple times as I'm working 6-8 hours a day with the chainsaw most of the year. All Stihl resellers advise not to use regular petrol mixed with 2-stroke-oil for the new saws. I could buy a couple 261s a year for the extra cost of the recommended environmentally friendly fuel.
For this kind of soft wood you mostly have - you can easily put a bigger bar on the 500i. With a 50cm/20" bar you can easily fell the 2,5 sized tree. If you need any help, let me know.
I'm a conservation land manager and using saws every day. I concur with your choices for arborist work. In my case, 260, 460 and 660. We also use 009L and 170 along with Silky hand saws.
Long live Denmark.
Great saws
nice choice of saws.. Running the MS180, Ms251 and about to probably add the Ms261c but still have a niggle for the 362.. Waiting for stock to arrive so i can decide
Both are very nice saws!
There is no comparison going from the 251 to a 261 likely similar in comparing the 180 and the 251 or think of the 261 as closer in power to a 290 but closer in weight to the 251. Niggle with the 362 is a personal decision. Still only my personal view when running the 261-50cc if I need a bigger saw, it usually is a bigger saw 70cc not stopping between with a 60cc saw. My jumps are 20-35cc top handles 50cc 70cc 90cc and 120cc if I was doing strictly firewood type cutting and only one saw a 60cc might be an ok in the middle compromise.
@@iffykidmn8170 I see. My initial thought was to run the 180, 251 and the 362 as my main felling saw rather than the 261 but heard so many great things about the 261 i thought on the lines of the 261.. The 362 does offer me an extra 14cc or 1.8hp extra to the 251 and although id love to go bigger budget is restricting at moment
@@ocdwhisky181 As said personal opinion and no person knows your needs but you, Hard to argue with your logic on the 362 combo of saws. Unfortunately budget often dictates purchases I have always purchased in the Pro line of saws and started with the 70cc and branched out smaller and larger as need and money allowed. If you were any where close I would borrow out a 50cc 261 and a 70cc for you to try. Kind of comes down to the old Goldie Locke's and the 3 bears.
I've been using chainsaws for roughly 45 years now and still have 5 of them. At times I've tried other brands but have always come back to Stihl and have been disappointed with anything else I've tried. I'm getting too old to start my bigger saws now though one I've had for over 40 years has the same compression it had when I bought it. I just can't start it these days so I experimented with a Makita 36 volt battery saw mainly because I was already using the battery system with other tools. I should have followed my instincts and bought a Stihl as the makita is useless!
I'm about to trade one of my bigger saws in for Stihl battery saw, probably a 220C.
For our forests in northern Sweden I like the same sizes of chainsaws as you.
Stihl 201 C-M, light and nimble, but very "plastic"
Husqvarna 550 XPG, really like the design, how it screams and how everything fit together.
? (would like an Stihl 500i but I cant find the motivation just yet, in addition that is would be fun:-)
What do you have instead? A 572?
Nothing larger then the 550 :-(
But who knows what will happen.....
Keep up the great work and stay safe
Mine would all say "Echo" on the side. That way, 5 years later, they all run just as good.
Haven’t had any issues with my Stihl saws
Very good and sensible choices.👍🏻😊
If you are planning to do some milling, you might need one more saw.🤔
P.S. that back wall looks perfect place to put some "logging related" artefacts on display.🤩
Greetings from Finland.🇫🇮🌲🌲🌲
Close captioning thinks this is a cooking show. Every time you say "saws", it says "sauce"! I couldn't stop laughing.
We use ht131, 201tcm, 500i, and occasionally (rarely actually) an old 880. There's also a few others such as a 362cmq and an old Homelite that doesn't have a model number on it anymore, but those are usually only picked up when the others pinch or there's some other problem. The pole saw helps in more situations than we ever thought would happen. I strongly recommend getting one if you're in the business. I hope to someday drop the gasoline top handle in favor of an electric.
The 362 used to do almost all the work outside of top handle work, but the 500i is almost the same weight but stronger, so now it does almost all the work. I haven't found a species that is too dense even with a 36" bar buried. If I have to go bigger than 36" which doesn't happen very often, then out comes the old 880, and the whining and complaining happens because I don't like using it. The first cut I did with it many years ago was fun because it was a new big saw, and every cut since then was not fun at all due to the weight.
That happens when it’s not your mother tongue I guess 😊
Yes the 880 or 881 is a heavy machine
881 with a 6 foot bar. No need for any other saw :P
In all seriousness, I'm on the fence between the 500i and the 462. That one less pound makes the 462 feel a lot more climbable, at the same time, it feels a little weak for big ground work. Maybe 462 and just don't accept giant felling jobs until you can afford a 661.
I would pick the 500i
Nice recommendations
Thank you very much for taking the time to post these very informational videos. I just traded in my MS 361 on a MS 400 and used it for the first time today. Like you, I have all the Stihl pro saws from the 241 through the 661, including the 500i. The 881 is too heavy for this old man. I do have a 362 as well and really like it. My first impressions with the 400 were not what I expected. When I first started using the 500i I was blown away, as you were. Can't say the same for the 400. What are your thoughts on the 400 and why did you pass it over for the 500i? By the way my wife and are homesteaders in Pennsylvania USA, and mange our 80 acre woodlot. I wish you the best with your new venture! Godspeed!
I like the 400 but with the saws I’ve got I never found a use for it. I’ll be running the 261 and when I need something bigger I’ll go straight to the 500i.
The 500i just never disappoints and it’s not that much heavier than the 400
I wish someone had given me this good advice 25 years ago.
Thank you!
Stihl pro saws are always a good place to start. The 261 is a great all around saw and is my most used saw. The 46X and 500 saws make an excellent companion saw--I run a 461. Top handle... I don't climb so I don't really have a use for a top handle. On that note, I was in the saw shop where my son works the other day. Two different tree service business owners had been in that day, one while I was there, who cut their left hands while using top handle saws one handed. One cut the tendon in his thumb. The other missed the tendons and bones but still ended up with a hand full of stitches. These guys have been arborists for decades... On that note, from a safety standpoint, for light pruning and limbing, amateur and non-climbing users would probably be better off with something like an MS170-MS180 class two-hand traditional saw. Not as cool perhaps, but safer!
For those who want something more than a homeowners saw, Stihl makes rear handle CE version of their top handle T saws in what I like to the call the Pro-owner line 194CE and the 201CE at appx 4ozs more weight than the top handle version.
Two decades climbing full time in huge PNW trees running 020T, 200T and 201T and have never even almost cut my hand. Hard to blame the saw, honestly.
I love my 261c/16” setup. It’s a very angry little lightsaber, very nimble.
Good choices , the biggest isn't always the best ! Still have Timber ? Nice dog !
Yes I do! She’s wonderful
A very good Selection perfect a bit of topic butt i can see you love your power saws I think you should make a piped ported one for yourself for some timber sport fun
I really want to make a hot saw at some point but I need to find someone who can guide me 😊
Ironhorse here on TH-cam his got everything need to know about porting very good videos he makes it easy to understand😁
@@OSPREY5150 Rusty-pony Hahaha!
My own set of chainsaws is MS181 with 14 inch bar and MS362 with 18 inch bar.
I'm an echo and husqvarna man , however I have nothing bad to say about Stihl I just don't like them (with the exception of the 400c and 444 ) other than that I've just never been able to have them feel right in my hands. and my saws of choice are my 550xp, my 7310p , my 620p and my jred 2172 (husky 372) and for the big big stuff I have a 592 xp on the way
I don’t know I think the msa 161 T for up the tree and the 500i and the new msa300 for ground work I also have the husky xp540i T and the xp540i as well I’ve switched more to electric nowadays which are quite and just as good but I do like your choice and good luck with your new adventure all the best
Just need to have some mild porting done to then at some point and really pull some extra grunt from them. Doing a ms261 this summer out of curiosity. 026 and ms260 have made some good reliable rippers, bd have a 200t waiting to find time to tear into also, they're already grunty saws in stock form but hey why not
I thought we might see a battery-powered top handle alternative...
Husqvarna makes an excellent top handle electric that many professionals use every day of their lives. I love Stihl internal combustion engines, but Husq wins on the top handle electric. I''ll likely buy one; not sure why I haven't yet, but haven't been willing to set the 201tcm down yet.
Unfortunately the new ones have been delayed so I haven’t had a chance to try them out yet
@@happycamper6352 Husky 540ti downside is price and weight compared to a top handle gasser.
@@iffykidmn8170 I agree, but I said the same when delaying my purchase of the 500i vs. carbureted saws, and I'm glad I eventually made the purchase anyway. When you use something for most of a day almost every day, it's worth it to get what does the job best. I'm seriously considering it because it's quiet for when I'm working in residential neighborhoods in the morning, it's light, and I don't have to pull start it. I'd really love to see a bungee strap doubling as a power cord for a backpack battery. That would make an electric top handle super light. I would easily pay as much as I did for the 500i for a system like that.
@@happycamper6352
August Hunicke? ran a Husky 540i for awhile with umbilical cord with a battery on his climbing harness for awhile, He still uses the 540i but I never heard why he quit using the umbilical cord. Now I see him more often than not running a Echo 2511 with 1/4pitch and Panther bar. Last I looked at the 540i with charger and 2 batteries I believe right around $1000 US.
I have two Husqvarna chainsaws model 357Xp and 572 XP amazing saws cut fast.. Legend saws.. I work only whit Husqvarna Company 🤝💪💪💪💪💪
I was going to get a 261c but I went with the 550xp mark ii, I love it though, I imagine they are close to the same
They’re extremely close - both great saws