Thinkin about..

[4570Man]

The 6100 was a saw I refused to stock as a dealer. I would order one if somebody really wanted one. Otherwise I would push you toward the 6400/6401/6421. The reason was the 6100 uses the K095 mount which limits you to 20 inch bar or 24 if you searched for that bar which was somewhat uncommon. The 6400 series uses the D009 mount which can go larger to 32 inch or more. 24 inch was the normal bar I sold that saw with. Cost difference between the 2 saws was $20.

If I had of known that bit of information I’d have probably paid the extra $20 just so I could interchange bars with the Makita and my 372 and 272. If the oiler is better I’d have been thrilled to pay another $20. The oiler on my 6100 is terrible. It can’t even keep my 18” bar sufficiently oiled at max output. But from a power standpoint a 24” bar is plenty for that saw. Just because you can mount a 32” doesn’t mean you should.

 

[4570Man]

Very good saw, but approaching $1,000 now, but it would blow away a MS271 Farm Boss. It’s like 5.4HP buy runs around 10,000RPM
The Makita (Dolmar) 6100 is much more reasonable priced at $650, but like 4.6HP but screams about 13,500 RPM.

I don’t know that $1k would even buy a 372. It sounds like the 6100 is enough to satisfy the OPs requirements but the Husqvarna is definitely a better saw.

 

[RandyT]

If I had of known that bit of information I’d have probably paid the extra $20 just so I could interchange bars with the Makita and my 372 and 272. If the oiler is better I’d have been thrilled to pay another $20. The oiler on my 6100 is terrible. It can’t even keep my 18” bar sufficiently oiled at max output. But from a power standpoint a 24” bar is plenty for that saw. Just because you can mount a 32” doesn’t mean you should.

24 is the top of what you can run normally on 60 cc but can run 32 in an emergency but you have to run full skip chain. I have personally seen a lot of 50cc and above saws benefit from full skip, even with 18-20 inch bars. But that is kind of a specialty chain and not for everybody.

 

[scaredychicken]

i have a version of this one. small, light, easy to use, and even i can manage it around burn piles, falling / limbing smaller trees etc

for anything that is a bigger job, i wait for my friends to use my chainsaw, or the friend brings the real equipment

the power tools / outdoor equipment dealer sales person sold it to me, and months later when i was getting it serviced she snickered and called it a TOY. . i said, I bought it here, and YOU sold it to me yourself. ??? haha. quality equipment and funny sales staff. whatever. it works very nicely for my needs

 

[BillyDoster]

I also have a Husqvarna 372xp! This is a great thing expensive but it is worth the money!

 

[Cycledude]

I have Husqvarna 562XP and like it, considered the 372XP but it seems to big and heavy for me to carry around much in the woods. Also own a 400 Echo lots of folks brag about them being great saws but the only great thing I have to say is it’s light and starts very easy, it’s handy for light work.

 

[Duds13]

Trying to find a local dealer for Dolmar/Makita, not having much luck at all. I have an Echo/Stihl dealer 5 minutes from my house who I have purchased a lot of equipment from (zt mower, compact tractor and implements, Echo PB8010 blower) and they take pretty good care of me. That's part of why I was leaning toward Echo, the 5 year warranty and the dealer service is pretty important.

 

[Hay Dude]

I’d say stick with them
My Dolmar dealer closed shop about a month ago after like 70 years in business. Don’t know if someone else will take it over.

 

[Wolfy]

Dolmar makes great saws but they dont have long, especially after giving up on gasoline engines. They never had good parts support, with zero aftermarket.

 

[5030]

Have 3 Stihl's (pre noise police), 075, 028 and a MS pre and all good. Just bought an Echo top handle. Nice saw but will need some dremel work on the muffler. Keep in mind that Echo's warranty (on all of them) is 1 year commercial and 5 residential.

Stihl has basically priced themselves out of the market today and they all need (new ones), muff mods as well as rejetted.

 

[two_bit_score]

Have 3 Stihl's (pre noise police), 075, 028 and a MS pre and all good. Just bought an Echo top handle. Nice saw but will need some dremel work on the muffler. Keep in mind that Echo's warranty (on all of them) is 1 year commercial and 5 residential.

Stihl has basically priced themselves out of the market today and they all need (new ones), muff mods as well as rejetted.

Can you explain what you do on the muffler with a dremel?

 

[5030]

Simple, open it up to allow the exhaust unfettered exit. I of course leave the USDA spark screen intact but it gets cleaned regularly as well. Problem with especially the new Stihl's is Stihl has really chocked them down to comply with European noise regs.

 

[stumblinhorse]

If you are used to a ms271 farm boss the ms261C will be a huge upgrade. I have a ms291 farm boss and got a 261C and was amazed at the difference. The bars and chains are inter-changeable for me so no brainer. Huge difference.

 

[5030]

I really don't care for the new MS saws in general. Way over priced and way to quiet.

 

[stumblinhorse]

I really don't care for the new MS saws in general. Way over priced and way to quiet.

I would be ok if they made no noise at all, main thing for me is that they cut… And first time I used the ms261C after using the 291 for 10 years, I wondered why I waited so long. It “cut“ down my firewood time by almost half for my 10-12 cords. See what I did there…

 

[5030]

Cut speed has little to do with power and more to do with the saw chain and I'd never have a noiseless chainsaw as I don't cotton to battery powered saws.

 

[stumblinhorse]

Cut speed has little to do with power and more to do with the saw chain and I'd never have a noiseless chainsaw as I don't cotton to battery powered saws.

With any tool, it needs to do the job that it is intended to do at least comparable to my current tool. At this point there is not a battery powered anything that does that for me. But unlike some the intended purpose is the most important trait. In this case, cutting wood. And you are a magician with a chainsaw if you can make my ms291 cut as fast as my ms261. They have the exact same bar and chain on them. They are both in like new condition. The ms261 just flat out cuts a lot faster.

Please start another thread to tell me how to make both my saws cut at the same speed. I would appreciate that info.

 

[5030]

Keep them sharp and the rakers set. I run 404 skip tooth square cut on my 075. Wicked chain and wicked saw.

 

[Hay Dude]

Nice price. Probably get some off with an Amazon card.
Great 20” saw

https://www.amazon.com/Makita-EA6100PRGG-20-Chain-Saw/dp/B01MQW7QVN/ref=sr_1_13?crid=13VA5L22WMIZW&keywords=20%22+chain+saw&qid=1673909541&s=lawn-garden&sprefix=20+chain+saw%2Clawngarden%2C84&sr=1-13&ufe=app_do%3Aamzn1.fos.2b70bf2b-6730-4ccf-ab97-eb60747b8daf

 

[yomax4]

How about any of the suggested saws used in great condition? Half of the saws out there get pretty light use. I bought an MS361 for $175 opened up the muff and she is a screamer..