Recommended saw for spar work

M

Mcsmith

New member
Location
Alexandria
What do you guys like for spar work. Doing more urban jobs and working in tight spaces. Crews I’ve worked with in the past it’s either a top handle or jump up to a 440 or 460. I’ve tried a 271 and an echo cs 590 on a spar recently but what do you prefer? I’m going to be using it for spar work and light to medium felling jobs. Don’t have a big budget but want to buy something that will last for me. Willing to do some modification down the road to make the saw work better for me. Also interested in a full wrap handle potentially.


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I purchased an Ms400C in 2021. I have bought and installed the West Coast Saws Bark Box and 3 point felling dawgs since then but I have run the crap out of it and it still runs, as @rico likes to say, “like a raped ape.” I love it. Same weight as an ms 362 but 67cc before any modifications. I run a 25” bar with a full comp chain and I use it almost daily. Looking to get a light bar for it at some point.

I think when it first came out there was some concern about the magnesium piston head not holding up but I would say it can take plenty of abuse (hopefully this doesn’t mean that it blows up on me now). And I think it’s still under $1000. Hope this helps.
 
Bendroctanus said:
I purchased an Ms400C in 2021. I have bought and installed the West Coast Saws Bark Box and 3 point felling dawgs since then but I have run the crap out of it and it still runs, as @rico likes to say, “like a raped ape.” I love it. Same weight as an ms 362 but 67cc before any modifications. I run a 25” bar with a full comp chain and I use it almost daily. Looking to get a light bar for it at some point.

I think when it first came out there was some concern about the magnesium piston head not holding up but I would say it can take plenty of abuse (hopefully this doesn’t mean that it blows up on me now). And I think it’s still under $1000. Hope this helps.
Click to expand...

Definitely something to consider. I was thinking a smaller saw but that’s probably a better saw to consider.


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It all depends on the size of your trees. I'm in western Washington so work in doug firs 90% of the time, meaning lots of spar removals. You can have a 100' tree that is only 18" at the base, so in that case I'll strip the tree of limbs, top and as much trunk wood as I can with my Husky T540i battery climbing saw, then finish the rest of the trunk with a 261 with an 18" bar. Depending on the taper of the tree, maybe I'd go to the 400c with a 20", and if it's a bigger tree at some point switch to the 500i with a 28" bar.

Sometimes I can do the whole tree, limbs, top and trunk with a 16" 200T/201T. There are lots of good saws out there, it just depends on the context. Today I was working a shore pine with my lightly modded 2511T, then the 261 for wood. Other days it's a different combo as I have like 20 saws to pick from.

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I’m in Kentucky and southern ohio so I deal with lots of different trees. Most recently have been 24in across or more where I’m sending down chunks. Last week I chunked down a pine with my echo 271t and 14in bar but the wood was so wide I had to walk circles around the tree to cut all the way through. Need something to pull a 20-24in bar but wouldn’t hurt to have something to handle anything bigger too.


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I used to have a decent collection of saws but I moved before I started teaming up with the company I work with now and downsized on all my saws and gear so I have to build back up again. I’ve been considering a 372xp or a 261 but might just go bigger where I need more of an all around saw and most of the recommendations lean towards the bigger sizes


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20”-24” chunking saw? A new Husky 562 mk2 or a Stihl 400 would be my first recommendation, and you really can’t go wrong with either. If you feel like you need something bigger a 572/372 will make a 28” ring like a church bell. A 500i will also work well with a 28”, but will cost you more money and in stock form I feel the 572 has more grunt and a little less chain speed than a stock 500i. Whichever you choose do yourself a big favor and get a full wrap handle.
 
Yeah I’m that baby-armed bunny that grabs a 261 for anything up to 20”. It will cut it, and it may take an extra 15 seconds but it will be a lot lighter and easier to get good work positioning. It is my favorite saw for general swamping of material on the ground as well.
 
I finally took the plunge and purchased a ported 550XP last year. It has a 20 inch bar with a 0.325 pitch chain, and it’s a dream for spar and/or crane work. It isn’t as obnoxiously loud as the Bark Box which is important when you’re running a saw close to your head.
 
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