New here, Intro and a question (need a second saw)

[Hoosier]

I found this site a while back and all I can say is WOW. This place is full of information and knowledge.

I thought I would use the chainsaw forum for my intro since this is the forum where I have spent the most time...

I have a question at the end, sorry for the rambling beforehand...

A few years back I purchased a "United States Stove Company" wood burning furnace for the basement that has a built in thermostat and a set of fans, I hooked it up to my existing in-house duct work and to an unused chimney, the first year I fed that thing with a Fiskars ax, then the second season I admitted my age and got a cheaper splitter.

In the coldest of months I have a gas bill under $20, that makes it worthwhile to me. I use more gas in October than in January (to warm for wood, to cold for no heat at night)

Recently I purchased an older "Chip-more" drum chipper with a 300 in-line 6 Ford motor, that thing makes my life a lot easier while cleaning up the property etc.. First thing I got after that was a nice Stihl helmet with a screen and headphones.. Ya need it with that thing.

Now for the question;

I did some searching for small saws but found mostly info on top handle saws, not rear handle saws. I need a small saw for limbing and taking small trees from the backside of a dam and general small tree clearing. I love the MS192T, but this site has taught me that I should not use it on the ground, so I wont.

I currently carry a Stihl 028, I love the saw but am needing a second lighter saw for ground use (I don't climb) I love the Stihl MS200 rear handle, but that $550 is a tad steep, I don't mind spending cash on quality but there are allot of other saws out there that are as good as the Stihl that I need to look at and get honest feedback from users. I did look at the tiny MS170, but it is kinda "Plastic" and it kinda looks throw away to me. I tend to modify everything and when I started to see guys here taking about "Modding" the pipe it took my search to another level, I want to find a good lightweight saw that is serviceable and "upgradable" if I need more power. (exhaust mods)

So in a nutshell, whats a decent saw that is lightweight, I looked at Shidaiwa, kinda heavy IMHO. There small saw is 9 lbs..But it was a decent quality for the money and is not out of the running entirely.

What should I look at?

Sorry for the long post. opcorn:

 

[Uwharrie]

Welcome, There's a lot of good saws to fill your needs such as the RedMax G3100, Dolmar's new PS-3410TH and the Stihl's you've mentioned. I like the RedMax for a lower priced saw and it's been a favorite of several tree company's we service. The new Dolmar is just awesome and running it makes you appreciate the German quality and engineering. Some saws just perform and this saw will be a winner. Tony

 

[Hired Gun]

If you are happy with the Stihl family, why not an MS-260. Tried and true design. Good power, light weight. There are plenty of Huskys that are nice too. I love my 346's. The Dolmar 5100 is also a bargan. If you like your old 028 but the weight is an issue I think a 260 would do the trick if you want to stay with the orange and white. Just my wooden nickle.

 

[Finnbear]

Hard to go wrong with a Stihl MS260. I have an older one (026) that was my Grandpa's and it is a great smaller saw.
Finnbear

 

[RED-85-Z51]

Look into an Echo CS 520

50cc's. and only 10.8 lbs w/o bar and chain.

I think the MSRP is around $350, maybe a little more.

 

[Hoosier]

Welcome, There's a lot of good saws to fill your needs such as the RedMax G3100, Dolmar's new PS-3410TH and the Stihl's you've mentioned. . Tony

Are those are top handle saws? I really dont want a TH. I want to keep a rear handle saw with the lowest weight I can. Sub 9 LBS, I think if I am at or above 9lbs I may look at the Shidaiwa a little harder since there is local dealer. I have a Stihl store that sells the Shidaiwa saws along side the Echo.

That Dolmar PS-341 looks sweet, so does the 34 (wonder what the difference is?) I need to find a dealer around here and look at them, I have read allot of good things about them here.

I looked at the Stihl 26, it seems awful close to my 028 in weight (within a pound?)? I wish they made a 019 right now as I need to cut 4" trees by the boat load. But I cant seem to get past the hefty price on that MS200, at 8.4 lbs that thing would make my days shorter indeed.

Thanks for the help!

 

[l2edneck]

The best rear handle "little saw"(which is what i think yer looking for) i ever used was the Stihl 009L.Perfect rear handle climbing/smaller felling saw.But i dont know if they make em any more.Sure wish i could get my hands on one fer my lineup.

P.s. the dolmar 3410 Stihl ms200 and 192t those are top handle saws.The echo in the above post is called a rear handle saw.(I think?LOL)

 

[CaseyForrest]

You could take a look at the MS200. Its a rear handle saw. Seen one in action doing some carving. That thing rips and is small and light.

 

[fishhuntcutwood]

The Stihl 260 being an excellent option, I'll move past that. Look at the 250 series of saw. I bought a 250 to send to a member here who's in Australia, and just having the saw in my posession for a couple of days, I was really impressed with how it was built and put together. Never ran it, but I was impressed with how a saw of that genre was put together. It's about ten pounds, but they've also got the 210 and 230 as well. Nice little saws.

Where are you in Indiana? I'm from Leavenworth and Plymouth. I'm an IU basketball fan, but follow Notre Dame in football, even through the bad years. But they're getting their butts handed to them by GT right now.

Welcome to AS.
Jeff

 

[computeruser]

If you're looking for a small, lightweight saw with some nice torque and a wide powerband, it is the Echo CS346 all the way. The were recently discontinued but you should be able to pick one up for about $180 on eBay, new in box. They're respectable performers (once the muffler is opened up), weigh somewhere in the neighborhood of 7.5lbs. They're durable as sin and last forever.

If you buy one, toss the Intenz bar that come with most of them. Replace it with a good bar and add the conventional bar tensioner screw and pin (a $10, 10 minute OEM swap). Get rid of the safety chain and you'll be good to go!!

The top-handle sibling of the CS346, wearing a 14" upgraded bar:

 

[spike60]

Based on your weight preference, look at the Red Max 3800 if you have a dealer near by. Another one that doesn't get mentioned much is Shindaiwa, which makes great rear handle saws in this weight class.

See, if you ask a question on this site, you get too many answers!

 

[Just Mow]

the MS 200 rear handle is an awesome saw. All the power you will need.

 

[fishhuntcutwood]

Just Mow, how's that 441 treating you?

 

[Hoosier]

the MS 200 rear handle is an awesome saw. All the power you will need.

That is the $550 saw I mentioned , I love the saw, but the price is goofy high compared to all of the others listed here.

I wonder what kinda power rating that Redmax 3200 has, it hits the weight target niceley, the 3800 weighs in at the same weight as the Shindaiwa saws I have looked at (dealer near my house) But the Redmax has dual action (inertia I am guessing) chain brakes, that is a definite plus! And the warranty looks killer... From the website I found a dealer 30 min away, I may check them out.

Anyone here ever mod the pipe on a Redmax?
I am not really an Echo fan to be honest, I love the trimmers, but the saw leave me feeling a bit plastic, I will look again.


Thanks gang...

O, and fishhuntcutwood, I am from the Greenwood area (suburban area), I cut down in Brown county..

 

[Uwharrie]

Yes, I second the vote for the RedMax 3800 as it is definitely light and has a great power for it's size. I guess I missed it in the first post about not wanting a top handle saw.

 

[fishhuntcutwood]

I cut down in Brown county..

(Sigh) I love Brown County.

 

[Brushwacker]

I believe the ms180 would be a very good working investment for what you describe. My 86 year old dad likes the way it handles,has decent power for that size saw and not very expensive. You want a hotsaw I would find something used and have it rebuilt and modified.

 

[RED-85-Z51]

I am not really an Echo fan to be honest, I love the trimmers, but the saw leave me feeling a bit plastic, I will look again.

Alot of people think that about Echo, but think about it.

Plastic is lightweight, strong, cheap to replace if you do manage to bust it, and has some give that would otherwise crack metal parts.

Ive got a CS 520 sittin in my shop right now, its been used heavily, very heavlily. It has not been babied or cared for at all. It is a 1-2 pull starter, every time. IT revs up real nice, idels smooth, lots of torque, good power through out the power band.

No broken plastic parts at all, no melted parts or anything.

The guy beats the living crap out of it, ran it so hard that he ran it out of oil and seized the chain to the Bar, worst Ive ever seen. New bar and chain, and a new brake band. Only about 75 in parts, and its back to humming through logs. The owner will be more careful with bar oil im sure.

Dont count Echo out, really great saws. Heck, if they werent any good, they wouldnt still be around.

And yes, the Trimmers are second to NONE.

 

[Just Mow]

Alot of people think that about Echo, but think about it.

Plastic is lightweight, strong, cheap to replace if you do manage to bust it, and has some give that would otherwise crack metal parts.

Ive got a CS 520 sittin in my shop right now, its been used heavily, very heavlily. It has not been babied or cared for at all. It is a 1-2 pull starter, every time. IT revs up real nice, idels smooth, lots of torque, good power through out the power band.

No broken plastic parts at all, no melted parts or anything.

The guy beats the living crap out of it, ran it so hard that he ran it out of oil and seized the chain to the Bar, worst Ive ever seen. New bar and chain, and a new brake band. Only about 75 in parts, and its back to humming through logs. The owner will be more careful with bar oil im sure.

Dont count Echo out, really great saws. Heck, if they werent any good, they wouldnt still be around.

And yes, the Trimmers are second to NONE.

Echo saws have no power, leak oil, and have a single post chain brake that is pure junk. Their trimmers use to be decent but not recently.

 

[SawTroll]

Echo saws tend to be underpowered compared to other saws with the same cc.

There is a reason why they don't publish the saws power output.....

They used to publish the numbers in the UK at least, but the last few times I have looked they had quit there also.