I'm looking for a new saw. I have narrowed the field to either Stihl or Husky. Stihl comes highly recommended, and has been more recommended than Husky, by the professionals I have talked to, but they all say that Husky is good too.

I'd like to hear from those with either saw, and your experience. It would be even better if you have used both.

Someone did tell me if I get a Husky go to a Husky dealer because the "warehouse" store Husky's aren't as good a saw as the dealer version of the same saw. Can anyone say if there is any truth to that?

I'm not interested in flames, just factual experiences.

Thanks,
Chris

 

I have had several different saws over the years, and these days, my choice for light duty work is a Poulan Pro 295, with a 20" bar, and 3/8" chain.

For the commercial work, I use a husky 365, 20" bar, 3/8" chain. Bought the saw two years ago, and have cut just over 400 cords of firekilled and beetlekilled wood with it. The only thing I have done to it, is flip the bar every new chain, several new chains, and one sprocket.

I tried Stihl saws, but in my experience, I am Stihl unable to get them to run. They were always busy sitting by the fire in cold weather, while I ran the husky saws to do the work... And since I do most of my commercial firewood work in the winter, having a cold blooded saw didn't go over well.

I have had excellent luck with husky product, with every one of their saws that I have owned over the last 20 years, and I would recommend them to anyone.

Good luck, and happy bucking....

 

I liked the choke/ high idle controls on the husky better than the stihl saws. I bought a husky 55 with an 18 in bar and love the thing.

 

"9 out of 10 maniacs who are choosy, choose "Other"

 

I have a sthil, heck, can't remember the number, must be getting old. I was at the same spot as you when I bought mine. The Stihl I bought was the smallest professional grade saw the stihl had at the time, the husky I was looking at was a little slower running and heavyier (sp?) + more expensive. For what I wanted, a big enough saw to down trees with and a light enough saw to clean with, I bought the stihl. I would NOT have been afraid of the husky at all, just didnt have 'zactly what I wanted at the time. If I was to buy again, both stihl and husky would be looked at, again, price and sizing would be the deciding factor, not brand. Can't go wrong with either one.

DuaneWKKC.

 

I have 2 Husky's, do I vote twice? What size are you getting? Different sizes have different features. I love my 372. It has the side adjustment, but you can still take the clutch apart to service the bearings. I use about 8 different chains on it, lots of time on it and nevr have to pull the spark plug to get it going. The 346 I got last year has the newer, sealed clutch, although it's also the professional series. I'm not as crazy about this, because I change bars and chain frequently and it's not as easy to change over. I like to be able to lube and keep an eye on the bearings, which you can't really do with this clutch. The clutch is outboard to dissapate heat better, which is their theory for the no-maintenance clutch. I can't disprove this theory though since I haven't cooked it yet. I do alot of ripping with both, which is one of the hardest jobs you can ask the saw to do.
Don

On edit, I do use the saws in the winter, with no problems as well. Also, while shopping, I found out Stihl locks their prices. They don't allow dealers to post prices in their websites. I bought my 372 off the web at a huge discount off sticker. I have since found a good saw shop, bought the 2nd one for $50 more from them than what I could've gotten, but still well under sticker. They had been very helpful, so I went with them. Stickers are farely close between the two brands for compareable saws.

 

Hey Chris I have a Husky Rancher 55 you can borrow and play with if you like. I don't think there's a big difference except price. The Stihls seem to have jacked up their prices for comparative saws. I bough mine off ebay (after my old saw was stolen) and it runs great.

 

I have a Stihl dealer about 2 miles from me, so I have been looking at those hard. I am looking at an 18" bar, but may want to put a 20" on there now and then.
I have been looking at the MS270C and the MS290. The "C" is the one with the bells and whistles, including the tool-less chain adjustment.
I have also been impressed by the Stihl chain, which seems to be a better design with it's oil passages built into the chain for better lubrication. While they come standard with an anti-kickback chain I was planning to have that replaced if I bought it, with a more aggressive chain.

I have noticed you don't see Stihl's for sale online. I have read discussions on this and it seems like Stihl is loyal to its dealers in that they do not promote sales that would cut their dealers out. This could be good or bad, depending on your viewpoint.

Another thing I found out about Stihl is they are based in Va. Beach, which is only 100 miles from me. Not that it really matters, except I can keep my money in Va.

Regardless, I do not wish to be biased, which is why I am asking.

This is the first I have heard of a Stihl being "warm-natured". I spoke to one fellow dieselhead, who owns a landscaping company, and while all of his eqipment is Stihl, he says the Husky is good too. I was at another member's shop, for rental equipment, and saw a lot of Stihl's on the shelves there.
I have also been hearing that professional lumberjacks use Stihl (don't know how true this is as I do not know any lumberjacks).

Thanks,
Chris

 

my dad has has 4 chainsaw's right now ranging from 53-72 cc'c .he cuts and burns 20 + cords of firewood a winter plus he cuts trees for his friends portsble saw mill to the tune of another 20 cords or so

he's tried all types over the years and his favorites are husky and johnsred(sp)

wich happen to both be made by the same company

he said he found the stihls to be somewhat harder to start than the husky's /johnsred's and the husky xp or professional series has a higer chain speed wich amounts to faster cutting



plus the husky / johnsred dealer here in town is very good

that said he said the stihl is a good quality saw and if you have a close dealer who's good to deal with it may be a good idea to go with them ......

oh BTW pretty much all the guys who work in the bush logging around here buy husky's, but again probably a dealer related thing more than anything

 

Not that long ago there was an interesting report on side by side comparison tests that were done on various brands of chain saws. Unfortunately I can't remember where I read this. Popular Science/Mechanics, Consumers Reports and Mother Earth news are some possible places that come to mind, but I no longer have those magazines on hand to check. Hopefully someone else may have seen this and can provide the source.

 

If you need a 20" bar, you might want to go bigger than 30cc. 27-29 is getting under powered. If your going that long for hte "reach". You might stay with the anti buck-back chain, although they use up a hair of your power too. OBTW Oregon makes the bars and chains for Stihl and Husky. When you buy replacements, don't spend the extra money for the name. If Stihl has a special chain for better lubrication, you can probably get it for hte other.

 

Own a Stihl MS290 Farmboss w/ 20" bar, have a 025 and 370 at work, have also used alot of Huskys. Personally I like the Stihls. Never had a problem with them in the winter.

One thing Ive noticed lately, not saying its a bad thing or trying to start a war, but Ive been seeing more and more Husky's being sold at Lowes........

 

Bring a couple of those saws down to Regina when ya get here...I have some renovations for us to do when you're here.

 

I bought a Husky and never looked back. My choice was between the two, and am very happy with my Husky. I doubt I would look at another saw to buy, kinda like the Cummins, why look elsewhwere when performance and reliability are right there?

 

Another vehicle project coming?