Husqvarna vs Stihl on a big oak removal, clear winner for me

Last week I had to take down a 60 foot red oak that was leaning bad over a garage. I brought both my Husqvarna 572XP and my buddy's Stihl MS 461 to compare on the same cuts. The Husky just felt way more responsive in the cut and vibrated less after 20 minutes of nonstop work. I timed my big back cut and the Husky was about 3 seconds faster through 30 inches of wood. Anyone else notice a big difference between these two on heavy hardwood removals?

3 comments

3 Comments

terry_carter1520d ago

Man, you gotta account for the bar and chain setup too. The Husky's narrower kerf chain pulls through hardwood with way less drag, which eats up that time difference more than the saw itself. I've seen guys slap a full chisel Stihl chain on a Husky and it's a whole different ballgame.

hunt.quinn20d ago

You said "narrower kerf chain" like it's a Husky thing, but actually Stihl has been making narrow kerf chains for years too, especially on their homeowner saws. Both brands offer different kerf sizes depending on the model. The real difference comes down to the file guide and how sharp you keep that chain, not just the brand name on the bar.

the_matthew6d ago

Funny you mention file guides, cause I was just watching a YouTube video from this old timer who swears by those little angle guides. He was saying most guys just eyeball the angle and that's where you lose all that theoretical power from a narrow kerf setup. I think that's the real secret sauce, not the brand. A sharp chain with the right angle cuts way smoother than any new saw off the shelf.