talk me out of a top handle.

[Backyard Lumberjack]

Not likely unless the right small saw comes along. I still use it just not as much as I thought I would.

no doubt JM makes sensible decisions when it comes to the ins and outs of firewood making...

 

[Trapper_Pete]

now there's a heck of... a bargain! I paid $289.00! for my Echo CS-271... brand new, NIB! with a full tank of fuel and a 6-pk of Echo oil...

great saw! I really like it. pops off with ease every time. runs and cuts like a mean hornet! I like my 019T, also...

if I didn't have the Echo I would get their newest version:

https://blog.shankslawn.com/echo-cs-2511t-the-lightest-gas-chainsaw-on-the-market/

about $400.00 per copy. for $500... a guy should be able to get 2 CS-271's....

these light saws are fun. my 271 cuts 12" limbs with ease... bigger if I called it to task...

well I figured if I was going to have to buy it and ship it I should work in buying myself one also or most of one.

 

[Trapper_Pete]

LOL, maybe I should start a thread in Off Topic. Talk Me Out Of A Cold Beer!

I know what the benefits are, but maybe I should hear from some what the negatives are. lol... todate I have found none. and am about to go to my local grocery... as its on sale today. cold beer:

you can't talk me out of a cold beer this week , My mom told me I should drink beer it was good for my health. she is sitting on a beach in Florida probably drinking beer enjoying retirement.


just picked up a 30 pack of Hams , It's the beer refreshing , was down to 10.36 a 30 pack at the store yesterday ans I was down to my last in the fridge.

 

[Trapper_Pete]

Economics will do it every time!

my kids eat more than a new 372xp a month in groceries , that is my economics issue.

 

[chipper1]

the 2511t does look nice , but the only dealer for Echo around me is Farm and Fleet and they only seem to stock the 271t which I have looked at it is a pound more than the 2511t but still very light , they are considered a full service dealer but I don't consider Farm and fleet to be a full service dealer not compared to the service I get locally on Jreds

so I would be more likely to get a RedMax , my dealer has one at the shop for I think 30 dollars more than the 271t I am only looking at a 12 inch bar , if I need to cut something bigger than 6 or maybe 8 inches I will most likely grab the larger saw.

The 2511 is supposed to be the easiest of all the top handles to work on.
They can be had for under 400, if you want light it's the lightest.
One day I'll have one.

 

[chipper1]

my kids eat more than a new 372xp a month in groceries , that is my economics issue.

But you can "pay the bills" with a 372, or is that a stihl .

 

[James Miller]

What's the right small saw.

I'd really like to try one of the dolly 420/421.

no doubt JM makes sensible decisions when it comes to the ins and outs of firewood making...

I try. Someone offered to buy me a 7910 as payment for seasoned wood they needed so I have one of those now for no cash outlay. Would have cost less for them to pay cash.

 

[James Miller]

my kids eat more than a new 372xp a month in groceries , that is my economics issue.

I know how you feel and mine are only 3 and 6. Never stop eating or growing.

 

[TimberWolf530]

I have a bigish saw big enough to handle anything around here. Jred 2166
I have a medium saw Jred 2255


but I keep picking up the little top handles thinking it would be nice to have a very light saw 6-7 pounds for the small stuff limbs and trimming.

why should I not get a top handle , this should actually be interesting you all tend to be a bunch of enablers.

my only concern is that I might be tempted to start climbing trees again and in my 40s maybe I should stay out of trees I may be a very nimble 280 pound man but 280 and in a tree with a saw and over 40 might not be my best idea ever

I'm not going to talk you out of anything, but I will give you my take on top handles. They're great for off the ground work. Be it for climbing, which my fat ass absolutely does not do, or in a cherry picker, which I do use from time to time, they can't be beat. As soon as I get back on the ground, I reach for my small traditional saw. The Echo cs-352 I have is as light as a top handle, but I like the leverage a traditional handle gives you. I do pick up the top handle occasionally just for the heck of it. but if I have to cut all day, I won't use one because it's too hard on my arms. The feel like jello after using one of them all day. If you want one just to have one, go ahead and get one, but if you want one to use all day, I personally recommend a small traditional saw.

 

[Trapper_Pete]

I know how you feel and mine are only 3 and 6. Never stop eating or growing.

mine are all teens currently 17,15, 14.

and I used to think that would mean lots of free labor , but my friend's wife was more right than I like to admit , her kids are all 6-10 years older than mine we were doing some work at their place one day I said something about they should be free labor , cause I know my friends dad worked them hard when they were kids , she says in her thick German accent , "Free labor , they not free labor, they Free loaders"

 

[turnkey4099]

Its those with weak wrists, that need to avoid top handle saws!
Now, I don't have one. But, I want one, and I ain't skeered, and my wrists are fine!
:]

Just spent 3 hours clearing brush in the willow patch. 95% of the work was with the tophandle and, yes, it was almost all one handed. Much faster brushing with a tophandle than a regular one. I used to do it with a a rear hand Stihl equivalent of the top handle (MS310).

 

[chipper1]

I'd really like to try one of the dolly 420/421.

I don't have the red and black version, only the Makita 4300, they are good little saws, but I'm not thinking it would have a place in your current lineup, it's real close to the cs490. That being said you just might like it too, one never knows, that's why I try them all, then I know.

 

[Trapper_Pete]

I was at the hardware store getting some gloves and they had a MS193T for 339 I picked it up and it had a 16 inch bar on it , felt front heavy much bar for a the saw could probably cut half a pound off just in bar , the CS-271t 12 inch seemed a lot lighter it was 299 at farm and fleet .

 

[chipper1]

I was at the hardware store getting some gloves and they had a MS193T for 339 I picked it up and it had a 16 inch bar on it , felt front heavy much bar for a the saw could probably cut half a pound off just in bar , the CS-271t 12 inch seemed a lot lighter it was 299 at farm and fleet .

I prefer a 14 on a 192, a lightweight 14 is even better.

 

[James Miller]

I don't have the red and black version, only the Makita 4300, they are good little saws, but I'm not thinking it would have a place in your current lineup, it's real close to the cs490. That being said you just might like it too, one never knows, that's why I try them all, then I know.

Any recommendations for something I might need? Theres a jonsereds 111s coming soon that should scratch the unnecessary 100+cc saw itch .

 

[turnkey4099]

Just spent 3 hours clearing brush in the willow patch. 95% of the work was with the tophandle and, yes, it was almost all one handed. Much faster brushing with a tophandle than a regular one. I used to do it with a a rear hand Stihl equivalent of the top handle (MS310).

Correction. It the equivalent is an MS210. Still have it and used it bucking small guage limbs the other day.

 

[chipper1]

Any recommendations for something I might need? Theres a jonsereds 111s coming soon that should scratch the unnecessary 100+cc saw itch .

I think you have everything you really need already.
Now it would be anything you'd like to try, just hang back and wait for any deals on something you've wanted to try, if you buy them right you will be able to get your money back out of them.

 

[chipper1]

Correction. It the equivalent is an MS210. Still have it and used it bucking small guage limbs the other day.

I was wondering about that, haven't seen any 60cc top handles lol. But you could put a 36" on the 310 for clearing brush.

 

[Oldmaple]

Been full time in the tree business for over 35 years. Here's my two cents worth. Saws are made to be run with two hands. A rear handle saw is safer since it spaces your hands farther apart and gives you more leverage. Ergonomically a rear handle saw is better for you (in fact most carvers I know like a rear handle saw for better control). That being said I have several top handle saws and do use them one handed from time to time (only climbing or bucket work). Never one handed on the ground limbing brush, I don't care if it is quicker. An employee caught doing this will be using a hand saw for limbing brush and won't be happy with me but he's not paying the workers comp. A top handle saw will bite you the same as any other saw. If you want a top handle saw then get one, just understand it's dangers and limitations.

 

[turnkey4099]

I was wondering about that, haven't seen any 60cc top handles lol. But you could put a 36" on the 310 for clearing brush.

I don't think so LOL. It used to run a 24" really well but now he is old and tired (like me) and doesn't even pull 20" well. I do feet him a chunk or two for old times sake.