“Husqvarna vs. Sthil”.

I often get asked this question and really it the buyers preference. But I will be glad to shed so light on it. The first thing you need to keep in mind is what you are doing with the saw cutting wood, running a saw mill ect. I know there are some people that will agree or disagree with this Post. Husqvarna is a Swedish company while Stihl is a German company. [NB: Both companies have begun integrating more Chinese parts (like carburetors and bars) into their saws, which is unfortunate] but normal in today's world of trying to offer competitive pricing. Both companies make quality products and have been making chainsaws for a long time and both companies make saws in various sizes geared to different users. The first thing to understand in a comparison between these companies are that they both cater two two different markets: homeowners and professionals.
Homeowner saws are generally cheaper, have smaller displacement engines, shorter bars, and plastic crank cases which result in lighter weight, vs the pro saws which are for loggers, forestry and lawn care workers, and other professionals. The homeowner saws are generally under 55cc and run up to a 18” or 20” bar. The Professional saws generally pick up at 50cc and run up to over 100cc for more power to run longer bars for cutting bigger trees, have aluminum or magnesium crank cases for greater durability, as well as other features (such as rim sprockets instead of spur sprockets) that make them more useful for full-time use. There are also some middle class, “pro-sumer” saws, sometimes called “farm owner”, which are generally for more than just the “weekend warrior” cutters, and feature slightly larger displacement engines than the homeowner saws in the 50-60cc range, slightly more power, and slightly longer bars.
As most things in life, you get what you pay for, and the cheaper homeowner saws often lack power and wear out faster and for this reason you may have heard someone bashing one brand or another because of their experience that they are always having to “rebuild” a particular saw from one company. But the more expensive saws from both companies are more powerful and last much longer, and generally you won’t find one brand wearing out any faster than the other brand in the pro-saw category. The second thing to realize is that different saws are designed to meet different needs. There are little top-handled 35cc pro saws that run 12-16 inch bars that are great for climbing arborists; they weigh next to nothing and are good for taking off limbs on trees. This is what they were designed to do, and they are not by any means worse than another saw unless the task is different than their intended design. There are larger saws that are designed to run bars over 36” and are specifically made for felling large trees. Bar length is matched to saw displacement and generally larger bars should only be run by larger sized saws. Saying that your XX brand saw can or can’t run a longer bar than it came with is not a measure of how “good” a saw is. As a rule of thumb, in the pro-level saws, the bar length should be no greater than one third the engine displacement. Consider the following matching suggestion when using full comp (non-skip) chain:
40cc - 14” for hardwood, 16” for softwood A good saw for pruning or limbing trees
50cc - 18” for hardwood, 20” for softwood Good for small trees
60cc - 20” for hardwood, 24” for softwood Good for small to medium trees
70cc - 24” for hardwood, 28” for softwood Good for medium to large trees
80cc - 28” for hardwood, 32” for softwood Good for large trees
90cc - 32” for hardwood, 36” for softwood Good for very large trees
100cc - 36"+ and for use with chainsaw milling Good for the biggest trees. Have a nice day.
Stumper

 

Ya each brand has there strong suits stihl has the better pro 40cc saw 241 husqvarna has a strong 60cc saw 562, husqvarna also does better at the prosumer for the 545,555,365 stihl just jumps from farm to pro. I think husqvarna farm/ ranch saws are a bit easier to work on then stihl but that is probably just more familiar.
I also feel other brands make a more favorable prosumer line echo has some fantastic saws priced well and well built. Dolmar/ Makita also make some of the better prosumer saws. The 421 and 6100 make a two saw combo that will heat many homes for many years.

 

Do the non pro saws really wear out faster or is is the non pro users causing them to wear out sooner?

 

They turn up higher so they wear out faster. That is what my dealer told me anyway.

 

Husqvarna vs. Stihl, well i like the stihl chain adjustment better. Husky seems to win in the air filtration dept. I hate the master control switch on stihl saws, dont really care for the master control on the 550-562xp either but its better than stihl. I prefer choke on 1 side on/off on the other. I like the stihl recoil start better than husky, and the stihl starters seem to be a little tougher. Seems a stihl will get a crack in the fuel or oil tank sooner than a husqvarna. Would certainly give stihl the win in the chain dept i like stihl chain. Anti vibe its husqvarna all the way. Just my two cents, im sure others will be along to voice there opinion.

 

They both are great or the greatest. It is more an individual size category thing.
I've never liked how Stihl sets up their pro saws handle bars . The spacing anyway. They have always been designed to balance with short bars. Husky has always had a bit more stretch in the distance the handle bar is from the pistol grip.
As a general rule , Stihls felt like a box with handles on it . Huskies generally felt like a saw a guy Wanted to hang on to. . However the longevity of Stihls tends to be legendary and some of their saws felt awesome in the hands. Like the 044 R . What a sweet saw.

 

Thanks You Cold Trigger Finger for your input on this Post... Have a nice day!
Stumper

 

Thank you tamarack for this input on Husqvarna vs. Sthil you covered a lot of The finer details on both saws..
Have a nice day!
Stumper

 

Flippy caps ;


I really like Stihl's fuel and oil caps. They are the most trouble free caps They have ever had , once a guy learns how they work.

 

Thanks Cold Trigger Finger for your input...And thanks for reading my Post! Have a nice day!
Stumper

 

I liked it when Stihl and Husky had caps hat were interchangeable. It looked stupid, a Husky with a Stihl cap, or vice versa, but it was nice to swap them around when needed. They caught on to that pretty quick!

I also agree with you on the o44 Stihl, that saw, along with their 028 was probably the best saws they ever made. The 028 is a lot smaller, but was a nice homeowners saw that ran forever. I still know people that have them kicking around.

 

What is your opinion on the chain coming out of the new Husqvarna factory? I have always run Stihl so I really have no basis for an opinion on it over that of what the old Husky/Oregon chain was like. I would think in 2017, with modern technology and tooling (not to mention 25 million dollars), they would be producing good chain for themselves now.

I like it so far, but I have changed my filing style too since going to my latest Husky saw, so I am really not sure if it is the saw, my new filing method, or new chain coming from Husqvarna's own factory now (rather then Oregon).

 

You know, some guys could break an anvil with a glass hammer, so that's a good question.

 

A lot of firewooders would be better off buying the used pro saws rather then buying a new consumer saw in my opinion. More power and better longevity. Around here a lot of pro loggers will run a saw for a year, trade it in for a new one, and allow the saw shop to resell decent saws at decent prices to people who will not wear them out for years.

Me, I just drive over the saws before I have a chance to trade them in! (Making fun of myself)

 

I can fully understand why my Grandfather says what he does. I am in no way changing my theory that skidders would impress them more than a chainsaw, but a skidder is impressive just the same.

I was pulling tops today out of the woods from them big old Sugar Maple and Ash logs I cut. They were interwoven something fierce, some over a foot on the ends. I had 4 big ones, woven between (2) big hemlocks that came down when they did and I had all 4 tires bouncing up and down and the winch chattering! It was even lugging down the engine and my skidder had its 353 Detroit swapped out for a 453 Detroit. It finally busted them loose, but 100 horses could not have done that. It was the winching and pulling that saved the day. And a good day at that. 10 cord from 1 person and done at 3PM.

 

I will have to say this about Husqvarna Chain that was made prior to the new factory being built it had the most stretch of any brand, by the way Carlton was bought out by Oregon Chain and is made in same plant. The new Husqvarna Chain is called The X-Cut saw chain has been tested and fine-tuned for about two years now. Following classic Husqvarna procedures, a combination of lab tests and test runs in different environments has been crucial for perfecting its features, refining its design and ensuring its quality. Also it’s seems to have gotten the word about the stretch on previous Chain and now they claim to pre-stretch the X-Cut saw Chain. Thanks LoodgedTree for your input. And thank you for reading my Post. Have a blessed day...
Stumper

 

I have always wanted to ask you what type wood you cut? And are you familiar with Tiger Cat logging equipment?

 

I dont care for oregon chain very much. The stihl chain holds an edge much better.

 

Inboard or outboard clutch, and whether you are German or Swedish., Or a mix of some or neither.

There's other brands out there too

 

I tried the "other brands"
Had a few good Jonsreds which last I knew were made in the same factory as Husky.
When it's all said and done Stihl or Husky have the saws a guy needs.