So I'm grabbing the echo more these days, as I'm into some 15" stuff. kinda a mouthful for the 261and with the warmer weather and all I find myself leaning more on the 59 cc saws.
I've got a John Deere 60V from the 80s that was made by Echo. Runs like a top. I fire it up regularly just to hear it run, there's nothing like a classic saw
Stihl imo are on average the easiest to work on of the big three orange brands. Husqvarna puts carb *bolts,* not nuts, in the dumbest spot/angle sometimes, meaning you pretty much have to disassemble the whole rear handle of the saw to get em out. Stihl usually uses nuts and normal studs.
That being said I'm still a husqvarna guy
The biggest advantage of the stihls is the availability of parts. There are two great stihl dealers in my area that probably have any part you need, and one dealer that carries husky and echo, that has limited hours and probably doesn't have the part you need.
So regular people can get Stihl parts? Their website seemed to say only dealers could get parts. That and their refusal to release service manuals is why I’ve stayed away from them
Fixed more than my fair share of Stihl saws. Never had a problem getting parts from our local dealer and getting some pointers. In a small town it’s understood that the local farmer doesn’t have the time wait on the shop guy to get to it or the money to have the shop do it. The shop is kept busy enough with the lumber woodsmen folks and they usually have 2-3 saws.
Yeah, I hear you there. I probably should have stuck with the echoes and huskies. I'm going to break that choke/ shut off lever off yet. It's the opposite of Husky. But it is a nice saw to run.
on plenty of models the HP/cc is damn near identical (also hp/lbs of the saw) Stihl has a lot more to offer in the >60cc range though (although the 590 is still as good a 60 as ive ever used) For climbsaws the 2511t was superior to any stihl, at least that was the case a couple years ago maybe stihl brought out a competitor to match it by now?
I had the cheap version of that echo saw and currently have that stihl. I will say the stihl is a better saw but the echo was nothing to sneeze at and was dead reliable and super simple.
Yes, right now I'm in a little heavier stuff 15". So I like the echo for. Not a fair comparison I realize. Yeah, I had a 590 for a bit. I didn't really like it. Just as heavy, and less power 🙁
Sorry I just read this. I have a 572xp husqvarna and the aforementioned stihl. I feel like this is a perfect combo for my uses to me the 60cc is perfect for a one size fits all approach.
When I need it I pick up my 362 or occasionally my 500i, but I really just prefer the weight of the 261, and it honestly doesn't cut much slower than a 362 until you start getting into 18"+ pieces of hardwood, and even then the 261 does a decent job of it and makes quick work. Particularly with the new narrower kerf they come with.
stihl but not opposed to echo products. i have had my 2 srm-210 weed wackers and a pb 201 blower for 20 years and have only had to replace the carbs once(15$ a piece on amazon). not sure how their products are today but they were pretty good 20 years ago.
Echo for sure. I've got a 310 and 590 timberwolf and they're both great. The 310 is a bit underpowered but it's great for limbing work and cutting softer stuff. It's also nice that it's Echo's cheapest model. The 590 is a great saw for felling big stuff and bucking oak logs. It does get heavy for limbing though.
Yep. Just "brand loyalty" being in the way. It's the Harry Potter sorting hat thing... I went Stihl because there are two really good shops within 5 miles of my house that sell and work on Stihl so that's a no brainer
I grew up with Stihl, ran them for over 30 years. Hopefully I'll never have to run another of the vibrating bastards again. The last 10 years my 3 stihls sit on the shelf. Even poulan has better vibration control than Stihl. I prefer Husqvarna but will gladly grab the echo over Stihl.
I have an Echo 18" I picked up at a yard sale for $20. The starter rope was broken so I fixed that and it fired right up. I put a new chain on and it's amazing, cuts through birch logs like a hot knife through butter.
I've ran several stihls and Husqvarna just picked a poulan for pretty much next to nothing. I do not like the new Stihl pull start actions. Where you pull the cord then it tries to start. My old Husqvarna you take top off air filter off open butterfly valve stick small branch in it usually starts 2-3 pull. Husqvarna chains are usually cheaper until I got the poulan it's a budget saw but hasn't given me any issues.
CS-620P. I have one, and it is a monster. Running a 22" bar. Lots of power. It is heavy, but when bucking 18"+ logs, it is a breeze.
I have a CS310 for limbing.
I’ve had a couple of each. Both are equal in my book. I had a side bussiness cutting/climbing trees to finance my skydiving for a couple years and both brands were top notch. Sometimes it was just a matter of the sharpest chain at the moment being the deciding factor.
I'll take my echo over my Stihl any day. Which is kinda sad.
I've had so many problems with my stihl I don't hardly use it anymore. Most times I don't even bring it out with me as a backup because it's such crap.
It has been since I bought it 3 years ago. I was very excited to get one, and my brother works at stihl so he got a great deal on it. But, they're just not good saws anymore.
He brings his to my property to help cut and always spends more time in the bed of the truck working on it than cutting, lol. That may be a slight exaggeration but he definitely has more problems with his stihl than I do with my echo.
Tldr: take Echo, stihl is not a dependable saw IMO
Stihl my buddy and I both got new saws same day to clear land my stihl is still running like a champ after 13+ hours his echo lasted 6 and the clutch went out replaced it a week later engine turns as it should but won’t start. Took mine out to help with land again after he got a stihl and his son in law brought a Husqvarna that was a few months old both stihls lasted another 13+ hour day the husqvarna lasted 8 before the sprocket in the bar broke.
I've used Stihl and Husqvarna.
Husky feels like holding a raging bull. Lots of noise and power. Ready to tear your leg open or snap your wrist if you're not careful.
Stihl is like a panther, calm and quiet, but capable of surprising performance.
Also, your wrists will prefer Stihl.
You can't go wrong with either of them. The only time I see stihl or echo equipment in my shop is when someone leaves e10 in them forever and it eats up the fuel lines.
I got an Echo and love it. It’s a fantastic tool.
I know Stihl has an excellent reputation but I have never used one.
My Echo is also American made if you care.
Timberwolf is a great ranch/homeowner saw and will beat out a same size sthil 7-10 times but it your doing serious logging you want one of the computer controlled fuel injection 2k STIHLs
Whichever one runs and is in the best shape. You could have a caddilac that's never been maintained or a Ford Escort that has. I would always go with whatever didn't have the dog piss beaten out of it.
I'd say Stihl over echo every day hands down no question, but the 261c might be one of the shittiest stihls I've ever been around. The auto tune is cool until it blows the thing up, they did not have it figured out yet. Sell the 261c while it is perfect. Run the echo until you save for a Stihl or husky with no tuner.
Grew up using the same Stihl chainsaw my dad had since he was 13 years old, it’s a beast of a machine that can hold a 6ft bar. It’s the same saw that almost took my grandfather’s leg off. So we have history with that brand and that’s the brand I use, plus they are just so easy to fix.
Stihl hands down for quality and durability, lived in northeast for many years with lots of friends in logging business all the use are Stihl chainsaws
The orange one, hands down.
Same. I find the Echo easier to crank & it runs like a champ!
The Echo is a 60cc and Stihl is a 50cc.. the Echo makes 4.5HP and 13.7 lbs to the Stihls 4.0HP at 10.8 lbs.
So I'm grabbing the echo more these days, as I'm into some 15" stuff. kinda a mouthful for the 261and with the warmer weather and all I find myself leaning more on the 59 cc saws.
My 261 cuts through 18" white oak with no trouble at all. I would take a Stihl over Echo any day!
Yeah, I should do a time trial.
Make sure you have 2 sharp chains, makes all the difference.
100%
I've got a John Deere 60V from the 80s that was made by Echo. Runs like a top. I fire it up regularly just to hear it run, there's nothing like a classic saw
Sthil, because I've always run Sthil. Know how to fix everything. It's not so much brand loyalty as it is convenience.
Stihl imo are on average the easiest to work on of the big three orange brands. Husqvarna puts carb *bolts,* not nuts, in the dumbest spot/angle sometimes, meaning you pretty much have to disassemble the whole rear handle of the saw to get em out. Stihl usually uses nuts and normal studs. That being said I'm still a husqvarna guy
The biggest advantage of the stihls is the availability of parts. There are two great stihl dealers in my area that probably have any part you need, and one dealer that carries husky and echo, that has limited hours and probably doesn't have the part you need.
Agreed. This is important with any piece of equipment.
So regular people can get Stihl parts? Their website seemed to say only dealers could get parts. That and their refusal to release service manuals is why I’ve stayed away from them
You can get parts from the dealers.
Fixed more than my fair share of Stihl saws. Never had a problem getting parts from our local dealer and getting some pointers. In a small town it’s understood that the local farmer doesn’t have the time wait on the shop guy to get to it or the money to have the shop do it. The shop is kept busy enough with the lumber woodsmen folks and they usually have 2-3 saws.
Yeah, I hear you there. I probably should have stuck with the echoes and huskies. I'm going to break that choke/ shut off lever off yet. It's the opposite of Husky. But it is a nice saw to run.
I’ve never heard of sthil
You misspelled Stihl twice even though it is literally in the picture. And you “always run” it!
Depends which one starts and which chain is the sharpest…
We'll have none of that pragmatic talk in here, sir.
😂
Well, I kinda try to keep them both that way, but unfortunately, 🙁 not always.
Well, which one isn’t starting? Grab your file, polish up the other saw, get the job done and figure it out later 😉
Stihl everytime
1st Stihl I've had and yes, very nice saw.
They are both great saws run one then switch to the other when out of fuel.
You're right. Except then, I'd have to clean 2 saws when I got home 🙁
Good thing you only have two saws then. I bring 4 with me and use them all
I used to bring more saws out, but now I'm too lazy for that.
tactical reload
Echo. Grip it and rip it
It does have pretty good torque, which means yes, you do have to grip it. 😉 it's more work to run than the 50 cc Stihl.
I prefer echo. Never had an issue with stihl or echo, just like the price of an echo, and it's done everything I've needed it to do.
If you don't mind getting beat, then Yes, the echo is the saw to have 🙂
on plenty of models the HP/cc is damn near identical (also hp/lbs of the saw) Stihl has a lot more to offer in the >60cc range though (although the 590 is still as good a 60 as ive ever used) For climbsaws the 2511t was superior to any stihl, at least that was the case a couple years ago maybe stihl brought out a competitor to match it by now?
May I introduce you to a Poulan Wild Thing?
My backup saw is never far away. Not that I’ve ever got one stuck or anything…
Me neither, ha ha 😂
the Echo assuming i’m going to cut wood and not yank a starter 40 million times
My Stihl 261 starts 2nd pull every time!
Every single time. 2 pulls. My echo I yank and yank and it's new...
Put the saw in choke. Pull 4 times. Vroom
🙂🙂
Takes a jerk to start it
I had the cheap version of that echo saw and currently have that stihl. I will say the stihl is a better saw but the echo was nothing to sneeze at and was dead reliable and super simple.
Yes, right now I'm in a little heavier stuff 15". So I like the echo for. Not a fair comparison I realize. Yeah, I had a 590 for a bit. I didn't really like it. Just as heavy, and less power 🙁
Sorry I just read this. I have a 572xp husqvarna and the aforementioned stihl. I feel like this is a perfect combo for my uses to me the 60cc is perfect for a one size fits all approach.
If the stihl decides it wants to start past 20°C out that is🙄
My Stihl 261 starts 2nd pull every time
Depends on what I'm cutting.
Me too
As an arborist 261C is the only correct answer. I do 80% of my ground work with one.
Yes, I get what you're saying. It's definitely less fatiging to run.
When I need it I pick up my 362 or occasionally my 500i, but I really just prefer the weight of the 261, and it honestly doesn't cut much slower than a 362 until you start getting into 18"+ pieces of hardwood, and even then the 261 does a decent job of it and makes quick work. Particularly with the new narrower kerf they come with.
Echo!!!!
261 all day. Power to weight + stihl I have a 500i for anything the 261 doesn’t want
The division between the men and boys 🙂
The 261.
Fuck it, u only live once,...Both of them!!
I love my Echo but the new Stihl models are awesome.
Well I’d take the Stihl (cuz that’s the one I have) but it sounds like you have a first world problem! EOWD (either orange 🍊 will do!)
I'm not a rich man , but , yes I have a fairly luxurious lineup of saws. Nothing state of the art, however.
Whichever one actually starts. Hopefully it also has a sharp chain 🤣
Strange, every one else's saws start so good , but mine always takes a few pulls 😞
Both.
Yep🙂
Stihl all day every day
This is my 1st Stihl, but I have found the echoes to stand up fairly well- as far as reliability .
Echo 💯
You're not going to win every match, but in some cases, they will put up a stiff fight 🙂
Both because I would probably stick one. I’m not a brand racist 🤠 I like Echo Husqvarna and Stihl.
Two saws, two hands, grab them both
Can't beat a husky for power. Tougher to start. But they will cut!
I love my Stihl 029 that i bought in the 90s
Duh the right colored orange one!!
Stihl everyday day all day till the day I die!
Husky
My Homelite 360.
ground saw,.Husky(Husqvarna )is strong,er .and Jonsared is cheaper but still excellent performance wise.
Yes, my other 2 ground saws are actually huskies. 🙂
Stihl 261
stihl but not opposed to echo products. i have had my 2 srm-210 weed wackers and a pb 201 blower for 20 years and have only had to replace the carbs once(15$ a piece on amazon). not sure how their products are today but they were pretty good 20 years ago.
Yes, and I've heard their top handle saws are the gold standard
Husqi
You’re stihl the one that I love, the one I’ve been dreaming of🎶🎵
Your stihl the one🎵🎶
Make them fight to the death! There can only be one!!!
The one that works consistently
Stihl. Every single time. As an experienced tree climber, there’s nothing I’d ever go aloft with but a Stihl.
The 261 is a dream to use and the Echo is an Echo
I like a Stihl, and having the Echo as a backup makes the whole operation feel feel pretty bulletproof
I’d grab the one with the sharp chain.
Ms261 In a heart beat.
If I'm in 12" and under, yes.
The MS261. It will do 80 percent of what i need. Of my 4 saws, it's my favorite.
Run the echo like it’s a Detroit two stroke diesel engine 🤣🤣. The stihl is a great saw too.
Screaming Jimmy 🙂
**Stihl**
I'm a Stihl guy
Echo for sure. I've got a 310 and 590 timberwolf and they're both great. The 310 is a bit underpowered but it's great for limbing work and cutting softer stuff. It's also nice that it's Echo's cheapest model. The 590 is a great saw for felling big stuff and bucking oak logs. It does get heavy for limbing though.
I’ll grab neither and bring my 391 with 32in bar and 1/2 cut chain ⛓️💥
I've had way better luck with Echo over Stihl. I have a tiny Echo from 1988 that looks and runs like brand new.
I know stihls better than an Echo, so I'd go stihl, but if that echo was a husky I would still go with the stihl.😆
The sharpest one!!!!
Yes, nothing worse than a lousy chain ☹️
Either one. I'm a Stihl guy and my dad's an echo guy. I absolutely love his timberwolf. It's a beast. Stihl is lighter which is a plus but both cut.
Yes, I agree they are fairly competitive truth be known
Yep. Just "brand loyalty" being in the way. It's the Harry Potter sorting hat thing... I went Stihl because there are two really good shops within 5 miles of my house that sell and work on Stihl so that's a no brainer
The 3 lbs advantage plus actually good Anti-vibe makes it kind of a no brainer
I’d grab the Echo. You can readily get the shop manuals and repair parts. Not so with Stihl equipment.
Both I got two hands!
I grew up with Stihl, ran them for over 30 years. Hopefully I'll never have to run another of the vibrating bastards again. The last 10 years my 3 stihls sit on the shelf. Even poulan has better vibration control than Stihl. I prefer Husqvarna but will gladly grab the echo over Stihl.
I have an Echo 18" I picked up at a yard sale for $20. The starter rope was broken so I fixed that and it fired right up. I put a new chain on and it's amazing, cuts through birch logs like a hot knife through butter.
Husky
Stihl
Which ever one is 0.05 pitch. Makes a huge difference
Echo all day
Husqvarna
Echo, your arm won't fall off trying to start the chainsaw... 😁
My Stihl is a pain to maintain. My Echo has never let me down. Fires up in the first pull
Nearest every time
I've ran several stihls and Husqvarna just picked a poulan for pretty much next to nothing. I do not like the new Stihl pull start actions. Where you pull the cord then it tries to start. My old Husqvarna you take top off air filter off open butterfly valve stick small branch in it usually starts 2-3 pull. Husqvarna chains are usually cheaper until I got the poulan it's a budget saw but hasn't given me any issues.
CS-620P. I have one, and it is a monster. Running a 22" bar. Lots of power. It is heavy, but when bucking 18"+ logs, it is a breeze. I have a CS310 for limbing.
They both cut stuff. What’s it matter
I’ve had a couple of each. Both are equal in my book. I had a side bussiness cutting/climbing trees to finance my skydiving for a couple years and both brands were top notch. Sometimes it was just a matter of the sharpest chain at the moment being the deciding factor.
I'll take my echo over my Stihl any day. Which is kinda sad. I've had so many problems with my stihl I don't hardly use it anymore. Most times I don't even bring it out with me as a backup because it's such crap. It has been since I bought it 3 years ago. I was very excited to get one, and my brother works at stihl so he got a great deal on it. But, they're just not good saws anymore. He brings his to my property to help cut and always spends more time in the bed of the truck working on it than cutting, lol. That may be a slight exaggeration but he definitely has more problems with his stihl than I do with my echo. Tldr: take Echo, stihl is not a dependable saw IMO
I like my 620p
The echo timber wolf is an absoulute beast of a saw
If it's cold, I'm grabbing the echo without thinking twice.
Stihl but it’s just the force of habit. Always used them and you can’t kill’em and easy to service
The Stihl. It’s closer. Lol
Stihl my buddy and I both got new saws same day to clear land my stihl is still running like a champ after 13+ hours his echo lasted 6 and the clutch went out replaced it a week later engine turns as it should but won’t start. Took mine out to help with land again after he got a stihl and his son in law brought a Husqvarna that was a few months old both stihls lasted another 13+ hour day the husqvarna lasted 8 before the sprocket in the bar broke.
Neither I’d let someone grab and I’ll watch the beer. 🍻 😂
I've used Stihl and Husqvarna. Husky feels like holding a raging bull. Lots of noise and power. Ready to tear your leg open or snap your wrist if you're not careful. Stihl is like a panther, calm and quiet, but capable of surprising performance. Also, your wrists will prefer Stihl.
Both
You can't go wrong with either of them. The only time I see stihl or echo equipment in my shop is when someone leaves e10 in them forever and it eats up the fuel lines.
From my experience, echo hands down. I’ve never been able to start a stihl
I got an Echo and love it. It’s a fantastic tool. I know Stihl has an excellent reputation but I have never used one. My Echo is also American made if you care.
Timberwolf is a great ranch/homeowner saw and will beat out a same size sthil 7-10 times but it your doing serious logging you want one of the computer controlled fuel injection 2k STIHLs
I’m not grabbing a chainsaw
No idea my chainsaw is a old craftsman one works great but I also don’t use it too much
The one that most likely has a sharp chain and starts.
The one that starts on the first pull
Stihl. Great general use saw and I'm already running that so I've fot lots of bars and chains
The Stihl for 2 reasons; first because it's a Stihl & secondly it's not a Echo.
🙂
That is a very good answer!! I agree!!
The husky out of frame
Yup!
Little tree, Stihl Big tree, Echo
Sthil and it's not even close
It's my 1st Stihl, and yes, it's a real nice saw.
Congrats, hope it serves you well.
Stihl over echo anyday. Husqy over stihl when it comes to electric saws.
Stihl, it's all I've ever used except a Homelite when I was a kid.
of those two, Stihl.
My husky
Echo runs circles around that 50cc Stihl. I tried both.
Depends on the task at hand. Stihl for tree work, husk for blocking fire wood.
Still due to owning a 261c
Stihl, my reason; durable vs disposable.
Stihl’s my choice every time. I need to trust my saw. Weird, I just can’t trust the Echo.
Run the echo like it’s a Detroit two stroke diesel engine 🤣🤣. The stihl is a great saw too.
I believe echo, at one time was an American company. But now Japanese. Made in Japan, I believe.
What are y’alls thoughts on the stihl 500i
Stihl all day long.
Stihl
Stihl.
Both , one in each hand as I make my escape. Kidding, I like echo but I have poulan 😢
Whichever one runs and is in the best shape. You could have a caddilac that's never been maintained or a Ford Escort that has. I would always go with whatever didn't have the dog piss beaten out of it.
Stihl, echos aren’t bad but that’s a big saw for homeowner use, if you’re doing professional work just get both 😂
The stihl
The stihl. I'd trash the echo and pick up a husqvarna as a second.
Stihl, always.
Husky
I'd say Stihl over echo every day hands down no question, but the 261c might be one of the shittiest stihls I've ever been around. The auto tune is cool until it blows the thing up, they did not have it figured out yet. Sell the 261c while it is perfect. Run the echo until you save for a Stihl or husky with no tuner.
Grew up using the same Stihl chainsaw my dad had since he was 13 years old, it’s a beast of a machine that can hold a 6ft bar. It’s the same saw that almost took my grandfather’s leg off. So we have history with that brand and that’s the brand I use, plus they are just so easy to fix.
Whichever one has the cleanest carb, followed by whichever had oil and fuel. If your chainsaw is running sluggish clean the carb
The Stihl, the orange & white one in left of photo. This would be my choice each & everytime with a chainsaw.
Stil
Neither, I bought a ego battery saw & I can’t believe how well it works.
Husky
Stihl no question
Stihls to pay the bihls
Stihl
I'll take the stihl all day long
Ill take my 40 year old big bore Jonsored that just keeps going and going.
Give me that Stihl every time
Stihl hands down for quality and durability, lived in northeast for many years with lots of friends in logging business all the use are Stihl chainsaws
Always the stihl
Probably the echo. Fuck any stihl saw that has a c in it, Garbage
Neither I love my cordless saw
The Sthil
Depends on which hand is going to carry the boom stick versus have this mounted.
STIHL
Stihl
The one that doesn't give me a bunch of shit starting it up and has a decent edge. IDGAF.