Stihl 661 c-m

Now that it has been out for a little while, what is the general consensus on this saw? I need a big enough saw to do a little bit of milling in some 9ft by 24" logs. I need just enough to make the frame of a bed for my wife. I don't want to buy a saw that will just sit in the shed like an 880 or 2100 would. The 661 should be light enough to handle for a couple hours in the woods compared to the bigger saws and I have wanted one ever since it's announcement. What do you guys think? Thanks in advance for your input.

Justin

 

Having ran about 5 tanks through mine, yes brand new still I find the saw has lots of grunt and after the third tank really showed its true colors.

 

I just picked up a 661c last week. Ran it Saturday, almost 3 tanks. I know I can't buck with it for a long period of time, and that's with a 20" bar on it. I know I'm out of shape, but it's a heavy bucking saw! I use my 441c for that stuff, and even then it can get heavy for me. I use my 661c for trunks and big stuff (only a 28" bar, but big enough for me so far). I've heard it's a good milling machine though, but I've never done any milling myself.

 

I love mine - it feels lighter to me than the 660, and some of the new features really make it a pleasure to use. I use it almost exclusively for milling. It's definitely got the power to do what you want it to. However, if that project is the only thing you have planned for it, I'd take a real hard look at some other options. Shocking, I know. Bandsaw mills are more accurate, and will turn a lot less of the log into sawdust. Chainsaw milling takes some practice, and it demands a Sharp Chain, which also requires some practice.

For me, I have quite a few nice logs on the ground in my woods, and ma nature is delivering new ones all the time. I don't have a truck/tractor/atv capable of pulling them out and stacking them for a later time. So for me, it was a relatively cheap, DIY solution that allows me to get them out of the woods and turn them into lumber before they rot away.

Chainsaw milling is Hard Work, but I find it extremely rewarding. Every cut I complete, it's like Christmas morning, and I'm opening up the gifts that ma nature has given me.

I could probably ramble on and on all day about this stuff, but I'll try to cut it here. If you want to talk more, I'll be around.

 

chit man, a 661 isn't really much lighter than a 2100, and I think might just be bulkier than a 395xp.... Probably a lot more expensive than a 395, too.

 

2100 is compact but over 20lbs. 661 and 395 look about the same size but the 661 is lighter.

 

That's some awesome milling there Shawn! Those posts and thick slabs look awesome! I have a fair amount of property (~27 acres) and about 50 percent of it is covered in white and red oak. Long term I would like to get either a bandsaw or circular saw mill. The bandsaw mill would give me the least amount of waste but I like tinkering with old stuff, so I would be open to an older circular saw mill with a neat Detroit or Cummins powering it. How long does it take you to dry your lumber in your facility?

 

Wow! A picture is worth a thousand words. I've run a 395 before in big oak and was extremely impressed, but have not run the 390. The 661 falls right in between the 390 and 395 in displacement I think. I like the looks of the Stihl better though.



*Edit*
After looking at the above photo, the Stihl looks much wider due to the way it is rotated relative to the Husqvarna. The bucking dog is making it look much wider. I think the pull starter cover is definitely wider on the Stihl though.

 

What's a 395 cost? My 661c was $1100 plus tax at .07, so $1177 out the door with a 20" bar and chain on it.

 

Thanks! Well in that case, a 661 is definitely a 'need'. [EDIT] If you're milling with it, get the regular 1/2 wrap and splurge on a lightweight 063 gauge bar.

I plan to give the stuff in my garage a few years. The general woodworking rule of thumb that I've heard is 1 inch per year air dried for hardwoods. I'm sure it varies by species too though. But the topic of drying lumber is an art and a science itself. I'm really just getting started myself, but I like to pass on what I've learned - which mostly comes from Will Malloff's "Chainsaw Lumbermaking", and members here.

Welcome to the club, by the way!

 

I paid about that for my 661 with a 32" Tsumura RW bar, and I got this super nice 395xp with a 41" bar and new chain for less than half that...

 

390 vs. 395.

 

thats how we roll out west

 

yeah, I lost power for 13 hours. I very rarely ever loose power. But i cant complain alot of people are still in the dark. It was just a downpourin some crazy sideways rain with that high wind

 

A 395 for that price would make me forget about a 661 real quick. Lol!