Hey I am in the process of buying a saw and am thinking of getting this one. I was wondering if any of you had this saw and could let me know how you like it. Also I would like to know how large in diameter would it can effectively cut. Any comments are appreciated. Thanks!
MS 180 Mini Boss
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blackdogon57
Addicted to ArboristSite
Nice saw
But not good for much more than clearing brush and limbing. Nice and light to handle for small jobs and very small diameter wood. If you are going to cut firewood over 4-6" you really need a bigger saw.
But not good for much more than clearing brush and limbing. Nice and light to handle for small jobs and very small diameter wood. If you are going to cut firewood over 4-6" you really need a bigger saw.
Zackman1801
ArboristSite Guru
i got lucky the other day. i got a MS290 for under $200! its a great saw. go down to your local dealers and look at what they have for used saws. make sure that you look them over though. but you can find lots and lots of good deals used if you look, ive got both of my saws used for $200 and under and both are good reliable saws, but im lucky i have a great dealer who really cares about his customers and will do what he can to keep them happy, he always throws in some goodies when i buy stuff from him and goes out of his way to get me what i need. look around you would be surprised what you would find.
on a second note your going to want a saw with some power for firewood, nothing more aggrivating than standing there and waiting and waiting for your saw to get through the wood especially when you look up and see that pile of wood waiting for you. your deffinatly going to want to look into a saw bigger than 50cc. look at the MS260 MS290 and MS310 for a light little firewood saw, they have good power, good weight, and they are all good saws. if you really want to do some work i would suggest you pay the money and get a good saw if you plan to use it year after year and get something big over the 60cc mark. my Husky 365 makes chips out of big maple and oak with no problems, while i use my MS290 for the smaller stuff.
good luck in your search for a good saw, but make sure your really happy with what your getting or else you will regret it.
work smart, work safe.
on a second note your going to want a saw with some power for firewood, nothing more aggrivating than standing there and waiting and waiting for your saw to get through the wood especially when you look up and see that pile of wood waiting for you. your deffinatly going to want to look into a saw bigger than 50cc. look at the MS260 MS290 and MS310 for a light little firewood saw, they have good power, good weight, and they are all good saws. if you really want to do some work i would suggest you pay the money and get a good saw if you plan to use it year after year and get something big over the 60cc mark. my Husky 365 makes chips out of big maple and oak with no problems, while i use my MS290 for the smaller stuff.
good luck in your search for a good saw, but make sure your really happy with what your getting or else you will regret it.
work smart, work safe.
we got a ms 180 about a year ago. its an awesome little saw... for cutting kindling and limbing. It definitely surprises with how much power it has for its size but i think for a wood cutter you need a 260 or bigger. (like a 441).
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Zackman1801
ArboristSite Guru
how much wood do you need to cut? and how big are the pieces? how much use are you going to give this thing? these are things to think about. for all day use you really cant get anything smaller than 50cc, mostly because it will get hot and just wont start. my small little homeowner saws do it to me alot they get worked and get hot and then they shut off. my 290 does it some too once its good and hot it dosent like to start for me.
most any saw will handle that... even a wild thing 
go for at least a 50cc class saw. MS260 is the preferred choice but is pricey. there's lots of other choices stihl makes that consumer oriented.
personally would rather get a used pro saw like 260, rather than spend the same $$ for a new consumer saw.
go for at least a 50cc class saw. MS260 is the preferred choice but is pricey. there's lots of other choices stihl makes that consumer oriented.
personally would rather get a used pro saw like 260, rather than spend the same $$ for a new consumer saw.
I like my 180's and have cut 14" basswood in a pinch with them....I would not cut oak in that size with it......
Almost any saw can cut big wood if you have all day............
Almost any saw can cut big wood if you have all day............
Zackman1801
ArboristSite Guru
oh ive got all day, but i dont want to spend it on one log. go with something a little bigger than what you think you going to need, then if you do end up using it more, or need to cut some wood thats a little bigger you wont be wondering if the saw is going to hold up, or if its going to make it through the wood.
Jkebxjunke
*Politically Incorrect*
Akron area? I am originally from OH Wadsworth area.. and I have family in the Akron and Doylastown area. getting to be a small world
I recently purchased an MS250 Stihl as my backup saw and to use for limbing. I rarely use it. I don't like the short 14" bar and the homeowner anti-kickback chain that comes with it. It's hard on the back bending over with the short bar and your reach is also limited. I prefer my MS460 with 20" bar for all phases of firewood cutting from felling to limbing and bucking. My most recent purchase is a Jonsered 2186 with 24" bar so now the 460 doesn't get much use. My advise (after over 40 years of cutting firewood) is to buy a saw that can handle at least a 20" bar, learn how to hand file your chains and buy a monster maul for splitting (I have worn out three of them over the years. In the last 8 months I have made 59 loads of firewood. I have a 2000 Dodge heavy 3/4 ton with 2' side racks and usually heap the loads above the rack. Good luck with your new saw. Wood cutting is good for the soul. Ken
Rookie1
Addicted to ArboristSite
Ive had an 021 for about 7 or 8 years now, I lose track of time, anyway I think its a good homeowners saw but on the small side. I like the 3/8 pico chain too. I cut probably 2 to 3 cords a year and it does me fine. Been out with BIL with his 026 and I let him cut the bigger stuff,makes him feel macho that his saw is bigger than mine, but we split pile 50/50 so it works for me.:greenchainsaw:
MS460WOODCHUCK
Addicted to ArboristSite
sounds like a good deal to me. let him do most of the work and you get half of the wood:greenchainsaw:
Mr. Firewood
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my little ms170 has cut alot of firewood back in the day, I bought that back when I was splitting 5 cords a month in highschool with a maul :jawdrop: just the other day I knocked down a 16" maple that was on craigslist with it, preformed flawlessly
TJ-Bill
Addicted to ArboristSite
I bought a MS-180 last year as my 1st saw.. Although I am very happy with it I wish now that I had gotten a much much larger saw. something like a 290-390 or 361.. Persoanlly I think you should borrow your dads saw for now until you get comfortable with them and then go by a larger saw.. Look at is as an invesment, If you by the right saw it'll be the last one you'll ever need..
(probably not the last one you'll ever get though
)
(probably not the last one you'll ever get though
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