New saws

[treesmith]

I had heard rumor that our local hardware/auto parts store was closing up, and needed a couple of snaps, so I dropped by today. Spoke with a young salesman who I’ve known for years and he confirmed that they were indeed closing. I asked if the saws were discounted and he said yes. I pointed at a nice shiny Stihl 500i and asked just how cheap I could take it home. He studied a minute and said $1300 out the door. Just this morning I’d gotten an email quote from a nearby dealer on a 500i….$1550 out the door. I then pointed to a 201T and asked about it. $700 out the door. And he offered to throw in a six pack of the big 5-gallon Stihl mixing oil to sweeten the deal. So….I own two new saws. Wound up going back thirty minutes later for two backpack blowers…a BR600 for me and a BR800 for a friend. I could easily spend too much money in there….🤣

 

[lxskllr]

Nice! Congratulations!

 

[davidwyby]

500i, one saw plan

 

[Dave Shepard]

I thought the 395XP was the one saw plan?

 

[davidwyby]

I thought the 395XP was the one saw plan?

395 is the oh, shoot, that’s a big one saw

So I guess the 3120 is the huge one saw?

 

[lumberjack]

I’ll give you 110%

500i, one saw plan

That's my take, 201T and Milwaukee M18 for climbing saws, 500is for ground saws. We run 20, 28, and 36" bars, nice and efficient. The Milwaukee is a new addition to the lineup.

 

[davidwyby]

If I was earning my living with saws instead of a hobby (~12 saws of various sizes🙄) I’d have two 500s.

 

[Kaveman]

500i FTW!

Fuel injection is the way of the future, can't wait for my first EFI climbing saw!

 

[Naturarbo]

@Kaveman now you will feel power, I drive the 500 with a 3foot bar and if I had longer one would put it in.
Good choice there

 

[Kaveman]

@Kaveman now you will feel power, I drive the 500 with a 3foot bar and if I had longer one would put it in.
Good choice there

I've had my saw for about a year and a half, bud. I typically run a 32in bar, full comp, square ground chain. The bar on my mill is 36. With that saw's power to weight ratio, there's just no other saw for me, everything else sucks, frankly. That saw regularly out cuts Husqvarnas with 15cc more displacement. Hell, my bosses ported 660 can't keep up. Add on to that the range of altitudes that I work at, the lack of having to retune the carb constantly makes for a much more productive work week.

I've sung all these praises and more since joining the forum. Miss New Booty is well known to be my favorite saw, ever.

 

[T Collins]

I just bought a 390xp power head that only had 3 tanks of fuel run through it for $600. I personally feel like this model saw doesn’t get the accolades that it should. Is a 500i objectively better, sure it is but it’s also more than twice the price that I paid. What are you fellers thoughts about the 390xp?

 

[Nutball]

I like it. Wish I had a new one, but I don't need one. I prefer the red and black Jonsered version, but would prefer a bigger air filter than the 365/385 style is uses.

 

[Dave Shepard]

The 390 is good. The 395XP is better for not much more weight, but it's an acquired taste, so to speak.

 

[BIGTWIG]

I've had my saw for about a year and a half, bud. I typically run a 32in bar, full comp, square ground chain. The bar on my mill is 36. With that saw's power to weight ratio, there's just no other saw for me, everything else sucks, frankly. That saw regularly out cuts Husqvarnas with 15cc more displacement. Hell, my bosses ported 660 can't keep up. Add on to that the range of altitudes that I work at, the lack of having to retune the carb constantly makes for a much more productive work week.

I've sung all these praises and more since joining the forum. Miss New Booty is well known to be my favorite saw, ever.

Sounds like Stevie Wonder ported that 660.

 

[davidwyby]

I just bought a 390xp power head that only had 3 tanks of fuel run through it for $600. I personally feel like this model saw doesn’t get the accolades that it should. Is a 500i objectively better, sure it is but it’s also more than twice the price that I paid. What are you fellers thoughts about the 390xp?

390 prolly better bang for buck for longer bars. The 500 is 10cc smaller and a bit lighter. Lot more $ and complication. Could be a one saw plan too though. But you’d need two, one for backup…

I also like my red and black 390 (ported)

 

[davidwyby]

The 390 is good. The 395XP is better for not much more weight, but it's an acquired taste, so to speak.

I love my 395 but I can wield the 390 all day, not the 395.

 

[Dave Shepard]

Strange. The 390 didn't feel at all lighter to me.

 

[davidwyby]

The numbers say only 1 lb…maybe it’s in my head. The 395 has quite a bit more grunt I think. For felling the most I run on my 2188 (390) is 36”, 42” on the 395 (that’s heavy). I think I have seen 60” on ported 395 with modded oiler.

 

[Burnham]

Well, you can bolt about any amount of bar you wish on many saws...but that doesn't make it a good combination .

 

[Nutball]

I knew a guy who put a 36" semi skip on a ms290.

 

[davidwyby]

 

[davidwyby]

Maybe I should say that for bucking continuously with the 2188 I’d probably run 32” or 28” depending on the wood. 395 will buck all day 36”…42” all day bucking gets the 3120. For 3 cuts felling, a bar that is a little on the long side doesn’t hurt and saves walking around the tree

 

[Nutball]

I ported my 395 for a 42", and with that recipe, there's plenty of room to change the numbers for a longer bar. As it is now, more aggressive than factory 3/8 full skip fully loads it up with a 42" buried in white oak on a 8t rim. I'd probably gear it down to 7t for more cutting like that.

 

[davidwyby]

I cut that last good sized euc with the 395 42”…and factor Oregon square skip, that was a mistake. I should have at least dropped the rakers. Chain could hardly load the saw.

 

[davidwyby]

Just got some husqvarna square from a fundraiser raffle, interested to try it.