Small limbing saw

[MS460WOODCHUCK]

I need a small rear handle saw for limbing 4-10" branches. What would be your suggestions. I want to buy only new and don't mind plastic saws...heck I actually prefer them for my limbing saw because of the lighter weight. I've had all the pro 50cc saws and see no need for them myself cutting smaller limbs (IMO). I am wanting to keep it under 250.00. Any opinions on the small Efco's? I have never been around them.

 

[fordf150]

Ps-32/35, cs-400 are the smaller saws I have been around and would recommend. I'm sure there are more good ones out there. 351 Dolmar meets your criteria(almost). Slightly higher cost and probably heavier than what your looking for too. I would stay away from cs-310...Not a bad runner and fairly smooth but to cheaply made IMO to be a reliable runner for years to come. Know nothing about efco except dealer/parts are harder to come by. The couple that have been in the shop seemed well built but heavy.....they were both efco dressed as John Deere in the 60cc variant

 

[a. palmer jr.]

I think some of the smaller Huskys and Stihls might be in that price range, not sure..

 

[Hinerman]

Stihl 180. Get one without the quick tensioner. They also come with fully adjustable carbs IIRC.

 

[fordf150]

Don't all the new small Stihl saws come with the easy start?

 

[SawTroll]

The smallest saws I would want for that limbing is a 50cc saw, preferably a 346xp or 550xp, since they are way better suited for such use than the competition - and even better suited than the red versions (Jonsered), because of the handlebar angle.

It is a misconseption that weak saws are suitable for limbing, and in this case it is about rather large limbs. I actually might have opted for the 560xp, with a 16" bar, in this case - with 3/8x8....

 

[a. palmer jr.]

They may come with the easy start now, didn't used to. I have several older 021s and they don't have it. I had an MS250 that had one and I removed it and put the conventional starter on it. I've had a few of the tooless bar tensioners and I'm not real crazy about them either.

 

[a. palmer jr.]

I thought about the 346 Husky but doubt if you can find a new one for $250, which is what OP said he wanted to pay..

 

[fordf150]

661 with a 36" bar would be a perfect light weight limbing saw...just have to figure out how to get that In his price range.

 

[Andyshine77]

The MS211 I had ran just fine, a bit under powered IMHO but acceptable. I prefer my Dolmar 421 even though it's heavy for it's size, the build quality isn't even close between the two. The Husky/RedMax 543 is a nice saw, but the price is way too high for a saw that size. Have you looked into a top handle? nothing wrong with using them on the ground IMHO. Some of the battery powered saws look interesting. The Echo 58V is too heavy, but the Ego is 8.29 lb and looks well built.

http://www.arboristsite.com/community/threads/egopower.281010/
http://www.arboristsite.com/community/threads/echo-58-volt-cordless-chainsaw.277864/

 

[jughead500]

Look into a redmax gz4000.they were down to around $250 new but are up $275-300 now.

 

[_RJ_]

Not all of them are easy-2-start models. The 181C-BE is the smallest in lineup with E2S. But it's about $279

 

[funky sawman]

Ms241cm, nuff said

 

[SawTroll]

I thought about the 346 Husky but doubt if you can find a new one for $250, which is what OP said he wanted to pay..

Well, that amount may be based on the misconseption that I mentioned. There shouldn't be an expression like "just a limbing saw", as limbing can take up a lot of the cutting time used on a tree.

 

[Cope1024]

Look into a redmax gz4000.they were down to around $250 new but are up $275-300 now.

Here's one on eBay.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/251872634165?_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT

 

[Ironworker]

Vminovations.com has refurbished husky homeowner saws in your price range.

 

[7sleeper]

I prefer my Hitachi CS40EK = Tanaka ECV3801 to anything else around. Very light, powerful, pro build and high reving, what more can one ask for!



7

 

[fearofpavement]

I have a lot of saws to choose from when cutting up a tree. My go to saw for limbing is a Stihl 018C. It has the tool less tensioner which I dislike but that's how it came. I use this saw when cutting up a firewood tree because I cut the wood down to very small diameters. If I can get a straight 16" piece, I'll cut it. That said, the 018 works great for slashing through the tops and smallerizing the tree. I usually run about a tank full through the 018 and then switch to an 026. I do everything up to about 8" or so with that and then go to an 039 or an 044 for the rest of the tree. (I have larger if it's a big guy)
If the tree is going to go into the chipper, I start with the 026.

 

[Jon1212]

http://www.arboristsite.com/community/threads/poulan-2400-woodsman.280048/

 

[Farmer_Nate]

The smallest saws I would want for that limbing is a 50cc saw, preferably a 346xp or 550xp, since they are way better suited for such use than the competition - and even better suited than the red versions (Jonsered), because of the handlebar angle.

It is a misconseption that weak saws are suitable for limbing, and in this case it is about rather large limbs. I actually might have opted for the 560xp, with a 16" bar, in this case - with 3/8x8....

I have a 50cc saw with a short bar I like for limbing. I like more power, and typically less bar...for yet more power. Ha Ha.