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?

2 comments

2 Comments

terry_carter151d 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.quinn1d 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.