Your Favorite Rear Handle to Climb With

Basswood

Basswood

Carpal tunnel level member
Location
Long island
Title says it all. I have a ms201 and 441 combo and looking to add an in between size saw for ground work as well as aloft. Was considering either a 261 or 361 from stihl, but not opposed to the other vendors at all.
 
Personally I don't think there's enough of a difference to justify an in betweener for those 2 saws. I used to keep one in that range but always grabbed the 440 anyways.
 
I have used 461, 361 and 261 at my full time job but none of those aloft. Really like them all, but hard for me to comment on weight as they never had the same size bar as far as I remember.
 
A big thing to consider is what you are cutting. Here, we run a Stihl 362 with a 20” bar as our first step up from the top handle. The 362 is also the “small” saw for crane work. Our next step above that is the 461 with a 25”, and then a 661 with a 36”. We find that the 20” bar is enough for 85% of the cuts that a 16” on a 201T won’t handle, if we need bigger we send bigger.

If you’re cutting softwoods, you might run a 25” on a 362, or run a 261 with a 20” and find it’s plenty for you. Around here, in our hardwoods, we need more power than that.
 
Reach said:
A big thing to consider is what you are cutting. Here, we run a Stihl 362 with a 20” bar as our first step up from the top handle. The 362 is also the “small” saw for crane work. Our next step above that is the 461 with a 25”, and then a 661 with a 36”. We find that the 20” bar is enough for 85% of the cuts that a 16” on a 201T won’t handle, if we need bigger we send bigger.

If you’re cutting softwoods, you might run a 25” on a 362, or run a 261 with a 20” and find it’s plenty for you. Around here, in our hardwoods, we need more power than that.
Click to expand...
201 14”
362 20”
460 25”
661 28”- 36”
That’s how we roll!!!
 
I run a ms460 with 20” bar at moment which is robust, but after using other contractors husqvarna saws found husky are a little lighter to wield when climbing and don’t feel as tired after using them. Gave up on ms260 variants noting we have lots hardwoods here and is a little pointless. Also the air filter system in Husky is better so if the wind is not favourable the filter doesn’t clog so badly...
 
Husqvarna 357xp. I know they don't make them anymore, but it's still kicking after getting used 4 days a week. (it gets a rest when I don't need it aloft. Have a 372 and a 576 for ground work)
 
Skye401 said:
Husqvarna 357xp. I know they don't make them anymore, but it's still kicking after getting used 4 days a week. (it gets a rest when I don't need it aloft. Have a 372 and a 576 for ground work)
Click to expand...
I agree the 357 was a great saw. I have an older 372 thats still rips with constant use 15+ years never needs work.
 
Reach said:
A big thing to consider is what you are cutting. Here, we run a Stihl 362 with a 20” bar as our first step up from the top handle. The 362 is also the “small” saw for crane work. Our next step above that is the 461 with a 25”, and then a 661 with a 36”. We find that the 20” bar is enough for 85% of the cuts that a 16” on a 201T won’t handle, if we need bigger we send bigger.

If you’re cutting softwoods, you might run a 25” on a 362, or run a 261 with a 20” and find it’s plenty for you. Around here, in our hardwoods, we need more power than that.
Click to expand...
I agree 346 20" is my crane saw until we hit the big wood then generally jump to 372 32". Pretty much dont use a top handle on crane work.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

New threads New posts

Back
Top Bottom