New Guy, New House, New Saw!

[muz125]

Hello - New here. New wife and I just bought a new house and need a new saw! The house is overgrown and have to cut some limbs and small trees. I also cut some wood each year at hunting and fishing camp. All told, I probably cut a cord of wood per year.

I have a Craftman 18" saw that is a POS. Its been a POS for 10 years but I put up with it because I used it so little and infrequent.

Now, I want to step up to a better saw. My budget is $250. I looked at the stihl 210 or the Husky 340.

Pros and cons of each? Is the 210 wimpy?

Thanks

Greg

 

[bump_r]

Can't tell ya about th eHusky, but the 210 was designed pretty much exactly for your intended use. Can't go wrong with it.

Undoubtedly someone will chime in urging you to buy a $600-plus "pro" saw and/or the Stihl MS361 or Dolmar 5100, or a host of others. Focus, as you seem to be, on YOUR needs, wants, expectations and budget, and choose accordingly. Saw manufacturers offer different saws for a very good reason - to fill different budgets and markets.

My brother has heated 3 houses the last two years with his MS210, and says it cuts better, feels better, and is more reliable that his (now) backup "Wild Thing"

For an occasional use saw, the 210 would excel.

 

[rb_in_va]

Undoubtedly someone will chime in urging you to buy a $600-plus "pro" saw and/or the Stihl MS361 or Dolmar 5100, or a host of others.

Naw, what he really needs is a 3120 or an 088!:hmm3grin2orange:

jk Greg, bump_r gave you solid advice.

 

[Butch(OH)]

We have a 210 and it has been a decent saw. If I had to do it over again I would probably go with a 170 or 180 and save a few bucks and get about the same work done. Whimpy? yup but whimpy is what you get from that sized saw no matter who makes it. Don't know anything about the Husky.

 

[Log Splitter]

I'd vote for the MS 180 over the 210, but that's just me. The MS 180 weighs less, has the same HP, and runs PMN chain. The PMN chain helps take the 'whimpy' out to a certain degree.

Of course, if running a 16" bar is important for your application, then go with the 210.

Stay away from the EasyStart feature.

 

[robby26wi]

For about 210 dollars you can get a dolmar 401...Actually a pro saw with a very reasonable price...Mag crankcase and bolt on cylinder...I have one with a 14" bar but i am sure it pulls the 16" just as well...Awsome little saw...

 

[computeruser]

Buy used! Tony, an arboristsite sponsor, has a used Husqvarna 350 for $185, hell of a deal on a much better saw than the MS210...

Look Here!

 

[Dok]

I chose the MS170 over the MS180 mainly because that's what the dealer recommended. The 170 is a fine saw as long as the wood isn't too big. If you can increase your budget to around $300, the Husky 350 is a great saw that will cut anything you are likely to want to cut. It was my primary firewood saw until this site convinced me I needed a MS440 :hmm3grin2orange:
Brad

 

[robby26wi]

to get the power from stihl what u get in the dolmar you would have to get a 230....not sure how much those cost...The dolmar is like 8.8 lbs 39cc and 2.3 horse...

 

[bump_r]

Told ya.

 

[muz125]

Told ya.

I know. No suprise. I figured I would get a host of opinions - most having nothing to do with my original questions. Boards (all types) are great for that.

I don't have a Dolmar dealer within 50 miles from me. The stihl dealer is 3 miles from my house and the Husq dealer is 7 miles from my house.

I think I am going with the 210. The stihl dealer was really nice and took the time to talk to me for quite some time.

 

[04ultra]

I like my MS180 for small stuff... Its been a real good saw . I was even easy to fix after it fell off the skidder...


.

 

[rb_in_va]

I think I am going with the 210. The stihl dealer was really nice and took the time to talk to me for quite some time.

Smart move. Go with the good dealer. Then later on if you find you want a larger saw you'll know where to go. And if you stick around here you will want a larger saw sooner or later.

 

[Lakeside53]

Great choice... buy it as quick as you can.. hang around here and you'll get really confused...

 

[bump_r]

Now that that's settled, you can steer this thread into a MS290 hop-up and "good saw/bad saw" debate. There's only 27 going on right now, we need somewhere for the same guys to say the same things about the same subject in the same words as they have for since the 029 came out...

or not.

 

[Erick]

I have a 021 (MS210) and it is a great little saw, a little underpowered for dedicated fire woodcutting but perfect for trimming, limbing, and an occasional load of wood for deer camp. I think it would be an excellent choice for what you say you will need it for.

Having said that I think you got some excellent advice above.

For about 210 dollars you can get a dolmar 401...Actually a pro saw with a very reasonable price...Mag crankcase and bolt on cylinder...I have one with a 14" bar but i am sure it pulls the 16" just as well...Awsome little saw...

If you have a dealer near you the 401 with a 16" bar might be just what you need. I have never used one but it seems like that little saw has gotten quite a few good reviews here on AS, and as a general rule folks here don't really like small saws. As was stated it is a pro model saw with split a magnesium case and bolt on cylinder. The published propaganda says it's lighter with more HP (8.8 lbs/2.3 HP) than the MS210 for less money. After reading all the reviews I've been thinking of trading my 021 in for a 401 just to give the dolmar line a try, but anymore I just cant seem to put the MS260 down for the smaller duties.

If you can increase your budget to around $300, the Husky 350 is a great saw that will cut anything you are likely to want to cut. It was my primary firewood saw until this site convinced me I needed a MS440 :hmm3grin2orange:
Brad

Buy used! Tony, an arboristsite sponsor, has a used Husqvarna 350 for $185, hell of a deal on a much better saw than the MS210...

IMO the 350 is more saw than you need right now (did I just say more saw than you need, I must not be feeling well) but if real firewood duties are in your future it defiantly would be the way to go now.

 

[Erick]

Man I gotta learn to type faster.

Or not reply to post's when my wifes not home and my little girl has me doing twenty other things.

The MS210 will be a great saw you'll like it.

 

[Erick]

Now that that's settled, you can steer this thread into a MS290 hop-up and "good saw/bad saw" debate. There's only 27 going on right now, we need somewhere for the same guys to say the same things about the same subject in the same words as they have for since the 029 came out...

or not.

 

[SawTroll]

Hello - New here. New wife and I just bought a new house and need a new saw! The house is overgrown and have to cut some limbs and small trees. I also cut some wood each year at hunting and fishing camp. All told, I probably cut a cord of wood per year.

I have a Craftman 18" saw that is a POS. Its been a POS for 10 years but I put up with it because I used it so little and infrequent.

Now, I want to step up to a better saw. My budget is $250. I looked at the stihl 210 or the Husky 340.

Pros and cons of each? Is the 210 wimpy?

Thanks

Greg

Both will do, but the Husky has better anti-vibe, better air filter system, and simply a better feel to it - more power also, the 230 is really the Stihl to compare to the 340.......

 

[NYH1]

Can't tell ya about th eHusky, but the 210 was designed pretty much exactly for your intended use. Can't go wrong with it.

Undoubtedly someone will chime in urging you to buy a $600-plus "pro" saw and/or the Stihl MS361 or Dolmar 5100, or a host of others. Focus, as you seem to be, on YOUR needs, wants, expectations and budget, and choose accordingly. Saw manufacturers offer different saws for a very good reason - to fill different budgets and markets.

My brother has heated 3 houses the last two years with his MS210, and says it cuts better, feels better, and is more reliable that his (now) backup "Wild Thing"

For an occasional use saw, the 210 would excel.

I couldn't agree more! My first saws was a 021, which is the same thing as the MS210. I still have it and use it quite a bit. I bought it with a 16" b&c then switched to a 14" b&c and it likes the shorter bar a lot better. I think it would be a great saw for what you're going to be doing. Good luck!