Adding a 4th Saw

[jcarlberg]

Well, CAD has kicked in with the amount of wood I’ve been cutting lately. I honestly can’t really justify a 4th saw. Most day-to-day work done with the MS 261. Enjoy breaking out the 390 XP for bigger stuff. Thinking about an in-between somewhere around 70cc. MS 462 or 572 XP are where I’m leaning but wouldn’t rule out MS 400. Good dealers for both locally. Thoughts/advice?

 

[farminkarman]

Well, CAD has kicked in with the amount of wood I’ve been cutting lately. I honestly can’t really justify a 4th saw. Most day-to-day work done with the MS 261. Enjoy breaking out the 390 XP for bigger stuff. Thinking about an in-between somewhere around 70cc. MS 462 or 572 XP are where I’m leaning but wouldn’t rule out MS 400. Good dealers for both locally. Thoughts/advice?

How long of a bar/ how big of wood do you want to cut?

 

[TX_Welder]

462 with a 25" es light gets my vote.

I could be a little biased though. That's smaller of my two saws at the moment, I run a 28 on mine full time. Love that saw.

 

[jcarlberg]

How long of a bar/ how big of wood do you want to cut?

My 390 only has a 20 inch bar. Wouldn’t mind a saw with a 24. If I got the 572 I could swap it out - 24 on the 390 & 20 on the 572. The wood I have to cut is not huge, but it’s hard.

 

[farminkarman]

My 390 only has a 20 inch bar. Wouldn’t mind a saw with a 24. If I got the 572 I could swap it out - 24 on the 390 & 20 on the 572. The wood I have to cut is not huge, but it’s hard.

If you are only gonna be running a 20”, I would skip the extra saw and have the 261 ported. Else I would just get a 400. The 462 & 572 are more 28” bar saws even in hard wood.

 

[FederalQ]

You can never have enough chainsaws! Good recommendations so far.

 

[PA Dan]

Well, CAD has kicked in with the amount of wood I’ve been cutting lately. I honestly can’t really justify a 4th saw. Most day-to-day work done with the MS 261. Enjoy breaking out the 390 XP for bigger stuff. Thinking about an in-between somewhere around 70cc. MS 462 or 572 XP are where I’m leaning but wouldn’t rule out MS 400. Good dealers for both locally. Thoughts/advice?

Only 4 saws? What's wrong with you? Catch up already!

 

[TX_Welder]

If you end up with a 462 or 572 with a 20-24" bar, I doubt the 390 will be seeing much action.

Our wood here on the gulf coast isn't super hard. The live oak is hard. Some of the elms are pretty tough also. My 462 with an 8 pin sprocket and a 20" bar is pretty nasty in anything under bar length.
With the 28, I run a 7.

 

[drf256]

500i ported. Get rid of the 390 and look for a good 395.

Have all 3 saws ported. All of mine are ported.

I use my 261 for most small work. I have a 200T which is a fun little tool, but the 261 is pretty light.

Next step for me is the 500. Is around the same size as the 462 and has more balls. 28” in 404 on mine. Chain lasts a good long time.

For the stuff bigger than 30” diameter, the 395 comes out. I have a 3120 as well, but even for milling 36” of less, the 395 will do the job.

If I drop a tree, it’s the 261 for all of it, unless it’s bigger than 24”. Then it gets the 261/500 combo.

If a tree guy drops me off log lengths, I only grab the 500 and a few loops. Nothing else needed. Light enough to swing all day, even in the heat.

 

[Steve]

Makita 6100.

 

[Sloughfoot]

Personally, I avoid overlap with saws. What's out of the pile and running at the moment is a ~30cc, a~70cc and a ~100CC (ms180, 044, 2100 CD. 16", 24", and 32" bars. All three go on jobs. There's nothing one of these does well that one of the others that is 30cc larger or smaller can come close to . You get that with 30ish cc and 8" bar length jumps. If I had a 261 and a 390 that I liked would probably get an MS400. Ported they'll hang with a stock MS461. Gotta be ported to do that though.

 

[jcarlberg]

Got a price for the 572 XP $950 USD taxes in.

 

[HumBurner]

If you are only gonna be running a 20”, I would skip the extra saw and have the 261 ported. Else I would just get a 400. The 462 & 572 are more 28” bar saws even in hard wood.

I agree with you on the bar length on the 572. 24" was no different than running a 562 with a 24" in hardwood or softwood. No need for the extra pounds.

 

[HumBurner]

Unless you're going to isolate a saw for a specific purpose, a lot of people have hit the nail on the head.

I had a 372 for milling only, but as I'm not milling now, I've found it works nicely as a falling saw for medium-to-bigger wood. For bucking, swap to the 390 for the extra torque and oil. Keeps the 372 with less wear for longer. This obviously doesn't apply deep in the woods where you're hiking gear in.

 

[jcarlberg]

572XP $950

MS400 $100 more locally.

 

[hacskaroly]

572XP $950

MS400 $100 more locally.

In my area its $1,189 for the 572 with a 24" bar and $1,079 for the 400C with a 24" bar. I know a few people very happy with their 572's.

 

[Hoser]

I can only speak for the 400 but I like mine in the bush cutting sub 20” hardwood. Oilers a bit stingy but that’s my only gripe.
If you can find one and can tune a carb what about looking for a 461? They do everything well for me, torquey, simple, I like the rubber av and they always seem to sell cheaper IF you can find them

 

[Woodwackr]

Only 4 saws? What's wrong with you? Catch up already!

Is 25 runners bad?
And, another couple dozen projects…

 

[Woodpecker]

Makita 6100.

Know anyone selling one?

 

[Woodpecker]

Well, CAD has kicked in with the amount of wood I’ve been cutting lately. I honestly can’t really justify a 4th saw. Most day-to-day work done with the MS 261. Enjoy breaking out the 390 XP for bigger stuff. Thinking about an in-between somewhere around 70cc. MS 462 or 572 XP are where I’m leaning but wouldn’t rule out MS 400. Good dealers for both locally. Thoughts/advice?

A 462/572 is going to have you questioning why you have the 390 on anything 28” or under. If you go that route you might end up wanting to sail the 390 on down the river for a 395 or 661.