Asking for more advice I may not follow.....

I have been lurking for a long time then finally joined and asked about a saw rec for me. I ignored the good advice and bought a Stihl 361. I ran the saw this weekend for the first time with an uncle and a couple cousins. My uncle loved it but wants a lighter saw. He is my last uncle still around and I have lost 2 uncles in the last year. Sooooo, I have decided to get him a saw for Christmas (really just cuz I want to get him something to say thank you for all the things he has done for me) but I want to get him something lighter than the 361.

He's a big guy (picture a grizzly bear....) and I think he could handle a heavier saw but he has mentioned before that he would like a lighter saw (he has a really big old McCullough) and I know he thinks Stihl is the Cadilac of saws (not starting a Stihl vs. every other saw discussion) and I am torn. Thought about getting him a 260 but wondering how it compares to a Dolmar 5100. I am leaning toward a 260 cuz I know he likes Stihl. Cost is not a major factor and he will not work on his own saw and there are no dealers nearby for Dolmar. So, I guess I am wondering what you guys think of a 260 (any recommendations on a similar size saw) to run a 16 or 18" bar. I would like him to have a pro type saw because I don't want to cut corners on a gift like this.

He lives on a small farm (retirement place but he has a few cows to piddle with) and cuts wood to cook on and have an occasional fire in fire place. Mostly oak. He has a BIG saw that can handle big wood. I would just like to get him a saw that is light and nimble for the small jobs. In the 260 size (weight first, then power) is there a Husky that is better? (there are Husky and Stihl dealers in the area but no Dolmar or Jonesred that I know of...)

Why even get into the religious saw comparison debate.. just buy him what he wants.... You obviously like Stihl (nice choice on the 361!), he likes Stihl, and you want to spend the $$ on Pro version, them get him the 260-Pro. If you just want "light" (and it is cheap) get an MS180. He'd probably be just as happy with an 025, or just about any new small to mid-size saw...

According to Ed, the 5100 is the fastest 50cc saw currently (maybe ever) available. If dealer support is important to you, choose either the Husqvarna or the Stihl. The Stihl 260 comes in last in a stock 50cc saw race but this may be of little matter to your uncle. The Husqvarna 346 was the fastest "50cc" saw until being dethroned by the new Dolmar. A Husqvarna 350 is a good solid alternative to a 260 as well. If your uncle liked your 361 but wants a lighter saw, he may feel snubbed if you get him anything but a 260 (You get a Stihl, he gets 'something else') Can-o-worms for sure.

Wow Lots of responses in a short time. If he lives in SE Texas then he isn't cutting much wood. I would doubt he needs a pro saw like the 260. I have a Ms 025 now called a 250. It has been a very good saw for my needs. about same weight as 260 has enough power for my needs and probably his. Pros need pro saws because of the amount of work they do with them. I don't even want to do that much cutting. It's kinda like those guys that have F350s duallys and drive them to work and back. You see them on the Katy freeway all the time. A F150 would be a better choice for them. You know your uncle and what he would like and needs. Sure wish I could go fishing with mine just one more time.

PS: I noticed you went with the 361 instead of the dolmar or husky so you must have found a Stihl dealer you like, sounds like the place to get your uncle's saw.

Ray

Just like sedanman said!
Just as Your Uncle would prefer shihl, anything a differant color wont work as well. Old school loyality is something we see even in the color of tractors, like if he is a John Deere guy! He may like a Stihl hat also, your uncle might wear it if the dealer would toss it in on the deal?

I am a 'senior' citizen and as you can see by my signature; I'm a stihl guy. Get him the 260 Pro because it has an adjustable oiler and a decompression valve for easier cranking. Strange as it seems, my 026 is a tougher one to crank than the 360 and 361. Put a square chisel chain on it and he will cut wood like a whiz. 16" bar cuts most wood in West Texas. Would not put anything longer than an 18" bar on it. Good luck. Sounds like you got a great uncle, he's a lucky guy too.

xring said:

Wow Lots of responses in a short time.
Ray

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Wow..You said it! I have never had such response on any board. Thanks guys!

ShoerFast said:

Just like sedanman said!
Just as Your Uncle would prefer shihl, anything a differant color wont work as well. Old school loyality is something we see even in the color of tractors, like if he is a John Deere guy! He may like a Stihl hat also, your uncle might wear it if the dealer would toss it in on the deal?

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Ha, the only thing he might appreciate more than a free saw is a free hat! (joking obviously but those old guys love free hats!)...

He is funny about brands...he has a Ford tractor, an old Farmall and a Duetz. But when he goes hunting, he'll be carrying a Browning, guaranteed. With saws, he has the old Mac but only because he got a good deal on it. He has always wanted a Stihl but probably wouldn't buy it for himself. So, I guess I just needed some confirmation. A 260 it is (or I may check out the 250 specs.) He's in his early 70's so I like the idea of the decomp valve on the pro model 260. That's probably what he will get but keep the opinions coming. Thanks guys.

Stihl has a feature on the Ms250C Called Easy2start. I dont know if it is well designed and of good quality but it sure looks easy to use. They have a video on the stihl website.

xring said:

Stihl has a feature on the Ms250C Called Easy2start. I dont know if it is well designed and of good quality but it sure looks easy to use. They have a video on the stihl website.

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Don't.... It's only for people who are physically limited in their ability to pull a saw over (and for that they work well). Saws with the "un-easy start" are really easy to flood (mainly because if you miss the "cough", and wind it up again, it turns over too much and is now flooded), and then once flooded, a pain to get going again - the winder just doesn't give you any control....

Lakeside53 said:

Why even get into the religious saw comparison debate.. just buy him what he wants.... You obviously like Stihl (nice choice on the 361!), he likes Stihl, and you want to spend the $$ on Pro version, them get him the 260-Pro. If you just want "light" (and it is cheap) get an MS180. He'd probably be just as happy with an 025, or just about any new small to mid-size saw...

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Ditto.

If it has to be a Stihl, and lighter than the 361, 260 pro would without doubt have been my choise;
But, there probably are better 3 cube saws out there......

Lakeside53 said:

Don't.... It's only for people who are physically limited in their ability to pull a saw over (and for that they work well). Saws with the "un-easy start" are really easy to flood (mainly because if you miss the "cough", and wind it up again, it turns over too much and is now flooded), and then once flooded, a pain to get going again - the winder just doesn't give you any control....

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What is different than when you keep it in choke and keep pulling the cord. I usta keep trying that with my 025 & Flooded the heck out of it often until I learned if it doesn't pop by second pull then bump up the choke lever anyhow. Now Always starts. I thought a guy in his 70s might be a candidate for the easier pulling cord.

hmmm.... why hasn`t anyone mentioned the ms270 or 280? The 280 is lighter than the 361 and is pretty smooth in hand, ie; low vibes. It also has more power than the 260 and the air filter doesn`t get plugged as quickly. I`m not knocking the 260 in any way, I`ve had several, just that I see a more modern saw on the horizon.

BTW, I also owned a 280 long enough to get a good feel for it and then sold it to a good friend. It is a saw that I would give to my father, another guy who considers Stihl to be synonomous with the highest quality.

Like some of the others have said, if your uncle is special enough to warrant you giving him a saw, give him what he wants, regardless of what the latest and greatest or hottest equivalent may be. If the extra hundred bucks or so isn`t taking toys from your kids at Christmas it will be money well spent on the Stihl for your uncle for many years to come. Even after he is gone you will remember with satisfaction, giving him something that he will no doubt value.

Russ

SawTroll said:

If it has to be a Stihl, and lighter than the 361, 260 pro would without doubt have been my choise;
But, there probably are better 3 cube saws out there......

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I forgot to mention;
If he has used your 361 and the good anti-vibe was a factor when he liked it, he may be disappointed with the vibration level of the 260. It is an old construction, and its weakest points is probably the anti-vibe and air filtration.

It is a pity that the MS280 weights closer to the 361 than to the 260. Otherwise it might have been the answer......

SawTroll said:

It is a pity that the MS280 weights closer to the 361 than to the 260. Otherwise it might have been the answer......

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Hi SawTroll,

Your comments about the 260 are spot on and I agree that it`s too bad that the 280 isn`t lighter, but on the other hand the 280 is right between the 260 and 361 both in weight and power. Too bad that it doesn`t have the vertically split case like the others because I do believe that has some positive effect on longevity, but there are many saws with horizontally split cases now on the market delivering very good longevity and the case design is improved over that of the ms250, 290, 310, and 390.

Russ

I would go with the ms 260 pro I know a couple of people around here that use them as a limbing saw and they love the power to weight ratio. It will also last a lifetime with proper care and maintance.

The 260 is a great saw but when you start running other 3 cube saws like the 346xp and then the 5100 Dolmar you begin to realize that the antivibe could be better.

Russ

I read somewhere a while ago that the 270 were originally concieved to be a pro saw, and replacement for the 260, but that it didn't happen because of lack of acceptanse of the horisontally split case and the weight issue - so they decided to carry on with the 260 as the pro option.
Some kind of test flight that went wrong?

The very high profile initial marketing of the 270, at least over here, tend to support such a theory, but the 270 was withdrawn from the market after a couple of years. The 280 arrived a little later than the 270 with more cc's, and is still offered.

Does anyone know any more about this?

I wonder if a 261 will arrive next year besides the 441.......

jokers said:

The 260 is a great saw but when you start running other 3 cube saws like the 346xp and then the 5100 Dolmar you begin to realize that the antivibe could be better.

Russ

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Actually, when you run any other saw, you realize that.

The 260 is a overrated IMO, even as a combination boat anchor/wheel chock.
To me the 026 feels about the same as the 361 in weight, even though the specs say differently. You can't tell anything from reading specs, you gotta go out and run the saw.

Take a look at the Husky 336.