Stihl chainsaw recommendations

su888

hi guys, ive sold my stihl 009l and going to replace it with another stihl. However, i'm uncertain about what particular model this will be.

I'm leaning towards the MS180 as it will cost me the lease to changeover and pretty much simular specs to my old saw. I do not plan on using this everyday and will most likely be used 2-3 times a year.

Does anyone have an opinion on the MS180 or should i get a different model?

I thought about getting a 310 from the US for a little bit more money... however some say the build quality is sub-standard.

MS180 - $500 RRP (doubt i can get it much cheaper)
310 - approx $700 landed from US

treelady

The last time I needed to service my 180 and learned it wasn't worth fixing, I was told by the dealer that the low-end Stihls are not made to last longer than about a year. He advised to spend $300US to have the advantage of quality. My 210/021 does alright, but I now have returned to the lightweight, easy-starting Echo 3...series models for my chainsaw carving projects.

newguy18

Depends on what your doing,if you want it to last,ms 170/180 aren't going to take any kind of abuse.the 290 is an okay saw for firewood and certain climbing duties.

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old schooler

windthrown

Build quality for the 310 is not less than the 180, and in my experience it is actually better. The tops of the 170 and 180 are really flimsy (a joke, if you ask me). The 310 and 180 both have the plastic homeowner handles and starter housing, etc. The issue with the 180 is the vibration. Also the power; they are really gutless. The key to running a 180 is using the mini picco 0.043 NK B&C. Also the 180 only comes in the C model here, with the plastic side chain tightener. I would avoid those. I would get a 211 instead of a 180. Still gutless, but far better AV, and its a 'real' chainsaw. You could also get a 260, which is an even better saw.

Personally I would get the 310. You can easilly run a 20 inch bar on that and it will last pretty much forever if it is taken care of. I ran a 290 for over a year as my main saw managing an 85 acre tree stand (120 foot conifers and oaks) and using for firewood. The 310 has 4 HP. That is twice the power of a 180. All I could have done with a 180 is limb. Also the 310 has an adjustable oiler, and from my experience, they are far better to work on than the 170 or the 180, or the 1123 (210-230-250) saws. Also you can put on a rim sprocket drive and other pro features that you just cannot do on the 180.

For about $700 AUD ($635 USD) which includes postage and Paypal, I have a barely used 361 power head that I can ship down under. Saw has maybe 20 hours on it. The 361 will beat all the saws above in quality, power and AV, hands down. I can throw in a near new 0,063 3/8 in. 25 inch pro Oregon Power Match Plus bar and skip chain for $40 USD (I can ship used saws with bars, would also cost $20 more in shipping).

Bruce Hopf

If it was me, I'd get something that is versatile, that you can do limb work with, and if needed a bigger bar, something like what windthrown is saying. I haven't run a 310, like windthrown has, and he seems pretty impressed with it.
If I was going out to buy a new chain saw, I'd seriously look at the 310, because it is a chain saw with a lot of versatility. If you spend your money, spend it once, instead of wishing after wards that you went a different route, and you spend more money in the long run.
Just my opinion though. Bruce.

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McCulloch chain saws
1- Pro Mac 60, 1- Pro Mac 700, 2- Mac 10-10 Automatic's, 2- Mini Mac 30's, 2- Mac 110's,
2- Mini Mac 35's, 1- Mac 140 with Automatic Chain Sharpener,
1- Pro Mac 10-10, 1- Mac Cat, 2- Eager Beaver
2.0's, 1- Mac 1-10
Stihl chain saws
2- 044's, 2- 034's, 2- 024's, 1- 064, 1- 084,
Strunk chain saws
1- Busy Beaver, 1- SpeeDemon Special
Stand Back, I Have A Very Extreme Case of CAD (Chain Saw Addiction Disorder).

Eric Frei

Wouldn't there be a better option in that size saw from Husky, Echo or Shindaiwa?

I cant stand those Stihls and wouldn't wish it on anyone.

The Shindaiwa 446 is a good little saw actually, worth a look, stacks up in power about the same as a Stihl ms250.

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stjawa

We use 3 shindaiwa 446's for our chipper hire buisness.There light,plenty of power and very well balanced.There used constantly every day 5 to 6 days a week on some of the hardest, dead, twisted, sand filled coastal vegitation you will ever see.The only problem we have had is contractors and arborists grabing them to use on there own work while where chipping for them.One of our contacting arborist (Who is a stihl fanatic) borrowed one last week for small job and it isnt back yet.

Bruce Hopf

That is one thing I wouldn't allow, is someone taking one of my chain saws. You spend a lot of money to go out and buy them, get them back abused, dull chain, or don't get them back for a week.
If they are contractors doing tree work, why are they not using their own equipment. When I was doing custom fire wood cutting, nobody supplied me with any chain saws. Why are they any different from you, or I? Bruce.

__________________
McCulloch chain saws
1- Pro Mac 60, 1- Pro Mac 700, 2- Mac 10-10 Automatic's, 2- Mini Mac 30's, 2- Mac 110's,
2- Mini Mac 35's, 1- Mac 140 with Automatic Chain Sharpener,
1- Pro Mac 10-10, 1- Mac Cat, 2- Eager Beaver
2.0's, 1- Mac 1-10
Stihl chain saws
2- 044's, 2- 034's, 2- 024's, 1- 064, 1- 084,
Strunk chain saws
1- Busy Beaver, 1- SpeeDemon Special
Stand Back, I Have A Very Extreme Case of CAD (Chain Saw Addiction Disorder).

Eric Frei

Yep, the 446 is a great tough little worker and best power weight ratio for the CC's.

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stjawa

Your right Bruce.The problem is that few of these contractors are like kids in toy store.They see a nice new saw which out performs their own and they have to use it. We now get in to a habbit of locking the saws away when we chip for the greedy boys!As for my arborist,at least I know the saw will be returned sharp and full of fuel.His next chipping bill though will have a few added extra's ie.chainsaw hire.
What I should have done is listen to my dad all those years ago, when he was teaching me how to use the mac 15. "Son ,there are two things you dont lend to anyone, your chainsaw and your wife!!" Looks like I've been guilty of one, although when I get handed the jobs that MUST be done around the house THIS WEEKEND list from my darling wife I could be tempted.

Cole

haha god u crack me up bruce i love some of the stuff u come up with, lol "you spend alot of money to go out and buy them" sonds like someone i know, ive brought 13 new saws the past 4 years and ill lend any of them to my mates, polesaw etc etc you name it after all thats what friends are for right, but they should definetly give you some beer or smoke in return, yeah why arent they using there own equipment, i borrow saws from mates just for a change sometimes try something diffrent. what exactly is custom firewood never heard that before. his an arborist thats how his diffrent

Bruce Hopf

When I was in my late teens, early twenties, I'd go out and cut fire wood for someone else,k that didn't have the time, like big farm operations, and for others that didn't have a big enough chain saw to do the job.
Something like a guy that has a combine, and goes around doing combine work, for other farmers who doesn't have a combine, on a custom level, or as custom work. That is what we call it over here anyways. Bruce.

__________________
McCulloch chain saws
1- Pro Mac 60, 1- Pro Mac 700, 2- Mac 10-10 Automatic's, 2- Mini Mac 30's, 2- Mac 110's,
2- Mini Mac 35's, 1- Mac 140 with Automatic Chain Sharpener,
1- Pro Mac 10-10, 1- Mac Cat, 2- Eager Beaver
2.0's, 1- Mac 1-10
Stihl chain saws
2- 044's, 2- 034's, 2- 024's, 1- 064, 1- 084,
Strunk chain saws
1- Busy Beaver, 1- SpeeDemon Special
Stand Back, I Have A Very Extreme Case of CAD (Chain Saw Addiction Disorder).