Small Chainsaw

the quiet fella

Looking for opinions/advise for a new chainsaw for the farm. Looking for something small for clearing ditches for fencing, cutting small branches for firewood etc. Already have a larger stihl for the bigger stuff. Am familiar with the stihl already and it has not given any bother so would look to stick to the same brand again: 4 options from what i can see, would look to use a 12-14" bar

Stihl 170 €280 4.1kg 30cc
Stihl 171 €265 4.3kg 31cc
Stihl 180 €280 4.1kg 30cc
Stihl 181 €308 4.3kg 31cc

Anyone have these and care to offer advise.

Would imagine they would get between 20-30 hours running a year minimum

Would you notice the 0.2 kg of a difference in weight between models. i understand that the 171 & 181 seem to be newer versions and run more economically than their predecessors. Similarly is the 181 worth the €40 over the 171., i think there is a different carburetor. Are the older models better

Thanks n advance for your time in replying

50HX

Not a chainsaw expert but bought the 180 a few years back and best thing i ever bought

we had a tank of a thing before 30+ years old with 24bar on it and you'd be broke from using it

find the 180 perfect for what i use it for - like you stated, small branches/firewood, pointing stakes etc

runs like a clock and meets my needs perfectly

if i need something bigger i usually just get a lad in to fell a few trees & ring them

couldn't justify getting a bigger saw

patsy_mccabe

I've an MS250 Stihl. Must have it nearly 20 years now. I see it is 4.6Kg 2.2KW. At the time we bought it as a half way between a big and small saw. A Goldilocks saw, not too big, not too small.
Nobody has ever serviced it only me. Half thinking of getting a smaller one as it's starting to show it's age now and it has done a lot of work over the years.

Nekarsulm

Have a 170 that I bought off eBay. Its the best thing I ever bought for the kind of work you have in mind, just keep the chain razor sharp.

On your pricing, why is the 171 cheaper than the 170?

the quiet fella

Nekarsulm wrote: »

Have a 170 that I bought off eBay. Its the best thing I ever bought for the kind of work you have in mind, just keep the chain razor sharp.

On your pricing, why is the 171 cheaper than the 170?

based on shopping around to different suppliers. Some only had one option. I think the 180/181 can take a slightly heavier chain so thats why i was looking at them. it may be slightly easier to keep them sharp but that said not sure if it it worth the extra money. Are the newer model better and worth buying considering the extra weight

alps

Bought a battery powered husqvarna a few years ago and it is an absolute dream...
We seldom use the saw, but when we need it, we need it immediately, and whenever we turned to the petrol one there was always a drama in trying to start it..old petrol, no petrol, etc

Now just press the button and off it goes immediately, every time it's needed.

Battery last about the same length of time as a fill of petrol. However the silent nature of it I could see as being dangerous, as an operator could fall into the trap of not giving the saw the safety respect it demands. It is just as powerful as a petrol one of the same size.

For heavier work like windfall, we have an agreement with a guy who cuts them up and splits the wood with us 50/50 putting our lot in an outhouse.

Justjens

Just buy a smaller bar and chain for the saw you already have.

I was in the same prediciment as yourself a few years ago and found the cost of a new saw unjustifiable, so I got a 14" bar for my MS290. Very comfortable to use with the shorter bar and savage to cut, even on reasonably big timber.

Nekarsulm

the quiet fella wrote: »

based on shopping around to different suppliers. Some only had one option. I think the 180/181 can take a slightly heavier chain so thats why i was looking at them. it may be slightly easier to keep them sharp but that said not sure if it it worth the extra money. Are the newer model better and worth buying considering the extra weight

I think the 181 etc have "autotune" which is an electronic continously regulated carb/ignition. Never had a saw with it, but you dont hear of any problems either.

Genghis Cant

I was in the same boat. I bought a 180 over the winter.
I've only used it about four good days cutting but it's a cracking little saw. Easy on juice and light in hand.
Can't fault it so far.

Limestone Cowboy

I have a 181 with a few years. Done a lot of work now between cutting bushes for the burren life and cutting firewood. Never missed a beat, easy start and light as a feather.

the quiet fella

Justjens wrote: »

Just buy a smaller bar and chain for the saw you already have.

I was in the same prediciment as yourself a few years ago and found the cost of a new saw unjustifiable, so I got a 14" bar for my MS290. Very comfortable to use with the shorter bar and savage to cut, even on reasonably big timber.

Had that in the head alright but thinking you would not be saving much weight as all the weigh would be in the power unit anyway. the saw i have has an 18" bar and weighs 5.2kg. which is fine for the slightly bigger stuff. just wondering if one could justify spending the guts of €300 on another saw. a new smaller bar and chain would be about €50 anyway

Picked up a 171 in the coop yesterday and it was noticeably lighter than my existing saw and just felt that it would be a bit more nimble and easier to use on light stuff.

Felt it would be a great job for small fencing jobs etc and i have a lot of small branches to cut for firing about 2" diameter - at least a day work ahead of me and just for that alone it would start paying back fo its self due to being lighter in weight and easier on the body

Zoo4m8

I bought a Stihl MS 150 tc about eight months ago..stupid money but it now lives permanently in the jeep, wouldn't be without it.
It's basically a one handed saw so light as a feather, I've been doing a lot of cutting back and fence erecting recently and it does everything from cutting a point on esb poles for gateposts to cutting ivy off trees, quite happy up to six inch timber..
And the price? Nearly €600...:eek: don't know if you would be up for that!

patsy_mccabe

€600 might seem dear but if you knock 10 years out of it. A cheaper Chinese made one will cost you more in the long run.

Prices from Hourigans in Limerick;
http://hourigans.ie/chainsaws.htm

archer22

patsy_mccabe wrote: »

€600 might seem dear but if you knock 10 years out of it. A cheaper Chinese made one will cost you more in the long run.

Prices from Hourigans in Limerick;
http://hourigans.ie/chainsaws.htm

Don't be so quick to dismiss the Chinese saws I bought one those 100 Euro ones 4 years ago after "Darwin"...it chopped up all the big old trees the storm brought down and a lot more since.It has never given an ounce of bother.
Hell of a sight better than that crap of a Partner that I paid 4 times more for.

Nekarsulm

patsy_mccabe wrote: »

€600 might seem dear but if you knock 10 years out of it. A cheaper Chinese made one will cost you more in the long run.

Prices from Hourigans in Limerick;
http://hourigans.ie/chainsaws.htm

Do you have to be an Arborist to buy from these people?

http://arborist.ie/product/stihl-ms-150-tc-e/

patsy_mccabe

Nekarsulm wrote: »

Do you have to be an Arborist to buy from these people?

http://arborist.ie/product/stihl-ms-150-tc-e/

Give them a ring. They are in Cork.

Bullocks

What's the opinions on the easy start ? Worth getting or can they give bother over the normal pull cord

ford2600

Bullocks wrote: »

What's the opinions on the easy start ? Worth getting or can they give bother over the normal pull cord

If you are buying a stihl, buy one with the *traditional two bolt mechanism for tensioning chain. Tool free is a pos

*if you go with easy start, read the manual;treating it like a standard pull cord will end in tears

Whatever you buy, use fresh petrol always and use a decent 2 stroke oil. Get the mix right; it's not difficult.

I wouldn't buy a one handed saw. An intrinsic safety aspect of a standard saw is both hands are on handles. One handed saw are lethal in hand of non professional user.

I have 3 saws
A 12 yr husky 350 which has been faultless
A 7 yr Stihl 250ms
6 month old 560xp

Even though heavier I rarely reach for smaller saws. Pro saws, if you use saw a decent amount, are worth it in the long run. Way more efficient with your time, a joy to use.

Brilliant saw for limbing, cutting wood in horse with 15" bar and loads of grunt for heavier work. Have an 18" bar but rarely use it.

Processed 6.5m3 in 3 hours this morning, while I was well set up with horse and lengths in stacks, would have taken a lot longer with either of the other two saws as faultless as they have been

Zoo4m8

I reckon it comes down to what your needs are, in my case I gave up burning timber years ago so don't need heavy duty saws, any trees that come down are given to friends.
I have a lot of maintenance on a place that has been neglected over the years , so use a saw with a 14" bar, a pole saw and the little Stihl.
Just to clarify, the little saw is a two handed saw but is light enough to be used one handed on occasion, as Ford says in the wrong hands it could be risky but for very light cutting one hand is quite safe IMO, and as I've managed to reach this great age I intend to keep adding the years as long as possible
And on the price, as an oul lad I know says " it's only dear on the day you buy"
On easy start, it's on a couple of machines here and never a bit of bother...

Bass Reeves

I know a few fellas that bought 16'' Timberpro's over the last 12 months. Real basic saw costs about 130 euro Inc two bars and chains. Bars are very light as are chair s but lads are happy out with them. If you get three years you are winning compared to a 4-600 euro saw. Stuff from China is improving all the time. At this stage you be surprised what is made out there.

cj maxx

Have a wee husky, grand but avoid the tool free tensioning, old 2 nut system is better

the quiet fella

Genghis Cant wrote: »

I was in the same boat. I bought a 180 over the winter.
I've only used it about four good days cutting but it's a cracking little saw. Easy on juice and light in hand.
Can't fault it so far.

What im thinking is that even in the worst case scenario is if i dont get the use out of it i could still sell it in 12 months time and recoup some or most of the outlay or that i may use it more than the bigger saw due to it handyness and lets face it none of us are getting any youngerso taking the small saw will probably be easier than a bigger one

patsy_mccabe

Bass Reeves wrote: »

....Stuff from China is improving all the time. At this stage you be surprised what is made out there.

Ya, like the cheap umbrella I bought in Dunnes and the catch at the top went second time using.

Bullocks

Bass Reeves wrote: »

I know a few fellas that bought 16'' Timberpro's over the last 12 months. Real basic saw costs about 130 euro Inc two bars and chains. Bars are very light as are chair s but lads are happy out with them. If you get three years you are winning compared to a 4-600 euro saw. Stuff from China is improving all the time. At this stage you be surprised what is made out there.

I'd say some stuff can be grand just that maybe more stuff gets through quality control than should . Could be lucky or unlucky with them

Who2

oleo mac have a small saw that was cheap to buy at one stage but gone up with stihl in the price region of late. they are an absolute beaut to use. Dont dismiss the one handed saws either, they are dear but seriously handy.