Chainsaw Comparison Echo CS-590 vs Stihl MS 362C

Cutting comparison for two 60cc chainsaws - the Echo CS-590 and the Stihl MS 362c. The first round of the comparison is cutting firewood from 14-16 inch oak logs. The second round is cutting 10 inch pine cookies. Watch the full video to see if one chainsaw performed better than the other.

[@richarddodds9326]

I'm 64, certified small engine. The cs590 is the best, easier to work on, better carb. I got both, the Husqvarna and stihl are engineered to self destruct. Sell more new saws. Quick.50:1 oil, computer leans it when air filter gets dirty. The 2v carb no oil in fuel/air at hi rpm. Make the epa happy, sell new saw quick. The bar oil, I will not use. 30 wt non detergent motor oil. The bar oil turns into scum that requires complete disassembly and scrubbing to remove. I use open pipe@ big carb, porting is not necessary.

[@Drfsr77422]

Great comparison. Thanks for taking the time to do this.

[@RoyFabian]

Just goes to show that the 590 is one heck of a bang for its buck. Its not a high revving saw, but it has a lot of low end torque and its reliable. Its very simple

[@toddfrost3019]

I've got both bought same day and the 590 still runs and stihl don't

[@JohnWoodbury-xk2cb]

You make a good point as the Stihl cost twice as much.

[@peanutbuttersanwhich1488]

590 all day, every day. Love the chainsaw

[@ProductiveRecreation]

It’s hard to make a comparison unless you are using the same cutting equipment. Or at least brand new stock bars and chains. It’s so easy for sharpening over use to mess up a chain, especially if someone else used and sharpened the Stihl before you. The pro saws are made to be lighter (better power to weight ratio) and have more robust components, particularly around the intake and air filter. Otherwise, power is power. If you make the same power, performance should be similar.

[@uilleannman]

Thanks for posting this movie, man. I used a CS 590 for the last five years, but it broke an accident and I am considering giving the Stihl 362 a try. Or maybe the Stihl 400. My echo did have a lot of power, but sometimes when deep inside a tree it would bog down some. It also was quite a lot of weight to lug around down on the slopes. Definitely got my pulse running high! Overall solid and reliable though

[@ejsocci2630]

590 hands down for me and I have three of them, best saw for your money.

[@wadeking0013]

Was just gifted one, thanks Roger. Gking to testit out for sure!

[@BradMyers]

One of the advantage of the Pro series of saws is the weight. If you are cutting all day long (or extended periods) the weight can be a big factor. For most of us, no longer than we cut, the weight isn't much of an issue. Yet, as in your case, where you are trying to produce a large volume of wood, weight does come into play. The speed difference isn't significant enough one way or the other to give much thought to the matter in my mind.

[@jophoto934]

Maneuverability, warranty, reliability, price, ease of start, dealer service…more important than 12oz.

[@dmalloy96]

That chain was really loose on the stihl at the beginning don’t know how you sharpened it

[@lindsaycole9441]

No kidding. That was embarrassing.

[@Wesley-m1r]

Had a Stihl, traded it for a 590, glad I did.

[@jasonpatton9665]

I am really surprised the Echo was faster. It sounded underpowered while you were cutting, like it was struggling to keep RPMs up. But I agree, as close as those times were, I would use the lighter saw, too.

[@WoodsTreeFarm]

I've tinkered with the echo but never gotten it to sound pure all the time. It's cutting well regardless!

[@PHS1990J]

I’m not sure what’s wrong with your ECHO but mine doesn’t run like that when I’m cutting. I did remove the spark screen and retune the carburetor after the 1st year but ever since then she screams.

[@shawzall404]

Yep. I just did a muffler mod, retune and left the spar arrestor in (but removed the baffle) and the Echo is a monster

[@niceguybille]

Fair comparison all things considered. Interesting the Echo times were faster but not surprising. As I stated before, we have nothing but Stihl sans one (smaller and lighter) echo and if it’s available I grab it. 🙂

[@OGAOutdoors]

Phil looks like a pretty good test. I was surprised at the weight of the saws. I thought the echo advertised a little over 13 lbs. I guess that’s without bar and fluids?

[@WoodsTreeFarm]

I think that's usually how the published saw weights are - that's just the power head.

[@benjaminleslie3155]

You should do a side by side comparison between the two and show what features and differences there are.

[@KNLFirewood]

Have you ever run an MS400 or 462 or 500i? The power to weight ratio on those are pretty amazing. I’m surprise the echo times were faster. Good show!

[@WoodsTreeFarm]

I have not

[@johnstafford2402]

They’re probably much more expensive though. The 500i is $$

[@richardbadish6990]

​@johnstafford2402 Probably? Oh they are! Only makes sense right?

[@chrisfoxworth3228]

The difference is the still 362 works itself with higher chains speed and less torque while the 590 has torque with lower chain speed. You have to finagle the echo 590 to get it to 2stroke through the wood. The 590 weighs alot. I had a 590 but fell inlove with my 362 as a professional.

[@craigunderwood4353]

Echo 590 is a Bad Ass Saw Period!

[@ejsocci2630]

I love my 590 and have two of them

[@danradtke1663]

I say both saws have their place on your property. Always good to have a back up at any level when chains get dull and you want to finish the day cutting. The purpose is that they both cut and thats whats needed not 2 seconds faster. What are you going to do throw the other one out. I think not. Next topic see how much you can cut in one day with two ready chainsaws. Now thats a test that makes sense. Happy firewooding. Lol 🪵🪵🪵🪵 stay safe

[@bwyyy7306]

I have a CS590, it’s worth replacing the factory chain, it’s not very good

[@jacobheitmann6795]

I run an echo 620p at work all day and I own a Stihl 362c-m and I'll tell you without a doubt my beat up pos 10 year old work echo without felling dogs is the better saw.

[@m.k.k.4931]

Yup my 620p is a beast. Light and heavy work all d

[@davidkrajnik6296]

Great video! Thanks for posting.

[@WoodsTreeFarm]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@kellascat1]

love my echo ms 590 echo tools just run 😄

[@rjc9000]

stihl chain seemed sharper and def needed to be tightened up. The cs-590 looked like it was throwing samller chips and more powder. Be curious to see the comparison with new chains and bars on each saw. Cool video thanks for sharing.

[@DirtZen]

Don’t you know logs have tapers! Those cuts weren’t the same at all! This was a stupid test. What a waste of my time!! Just kidding haha, that was funny. Great video and comparison, very helpful when shopping chainsaws. Weight is a big factor when spending hours cutting up firewood but not sure it's worth twice the price. Thanks for posting!

[@so-dan-bought-some-land]

Echo 590 MSRP $449 Stihl MS 362C MSRP $899 Also the Stihl is a pro level saw while the Echo is a homeowner level saw. A better comparison would be the Echo 620p @ $629

[@WoodsTreeFarm]

Maybe but it's tough to do a comparison with a saw I don't have 🤔

[@so-dan-bought-some-land]

@@WoodsTreeFarm Then quickly run into your house and proclaim to your wife" Someone on the internet said I need a new chainsaw" Then go get one or two. She'll understand.. :-)

[@ΣΤΕΛΙΟΣΒΛΑΧΟΣ-ο5λ]

Still for ever....!!!

[@boiledelephant]

My Echo 4510 sounds similar to this from factory, bogging down a lot, struggling to achieve or maintain high rpm. People online put it down to the jet restrictors in the carb, but I'm skeptical because the 590 doesn't have them, and usually runs much better than this, so I wonder if it's just a carb tuning issue. I do think the Stihl should be dropping through the wood faster than that, having used that chain gauge on Stihl saws a lot myself - it almost looks to be moving how they do when the rakers aren't far enough down. If you used the same depth gauge tool to sharpen them both and they're different gauge chains, that would explain why the Stihl is so much slower despite being at higher RPM and a more efficient (on paper, I think?) saw.

[@gunterbecker8528]

I have sthil saws,u done good!

[@zeromark202]

Echo 590 $450 Stihl 362 $950 Will take 2 of the Echo’s!! The 362 sucks!!

[@WoodsTreeFarm]

Can't dispute the value of the Echo, but the lighter weight of the 362 makes a world of difference when running the saw for an extended period. Thanks for watching

[@TheRsixpilot]

Yeah after they sit for a few months the echo will start right up by the third pull

[@clintbliss2046]

The stihl sounds fast.

[@67_PowerStroke]

I run 2 of each, and i swear the 590 feels more powerful. 362 definitely smokther and more refined, but 590 just has the brute strength.

[@WoodsTreeFarm]

I started running the 590 lately with skiptooth and really like it keeps the rpms up.

[@johnstafford2402]

Echo smoked that dreamsicle.

[@richardbadish6990]

You better be careful putting all your weight on that saw while cutting! A dull chains more dangerous that pne that's razor sharp! I think you hit the dirt probably 5x or better. Then the Stihl chain was so loose. It looks like you put a 25in chain on a 20in bar. With how loose it was, it looked that way. The dogs are on there so you can avoid having to put all your weight into the saw. Making it unpredictable and dangerous! I own the ms362cm and its a lot faster than either saw in this video. But its also got a sharp chain! Thats snother thing, when you are having to put a lot of weight on the saw. Once you cut the your cut, you are extremely likely to smack the dirt. The dogs are you friend! Pivot, down, pivot, down. I realize you probably did it to keep the results fair. But the stihl was definitely setup for failure. That stihl is a much better saw. You vould hear the difference in rpm. But a dull chain will sabotage any saws performance!