Chainsaws

[Perfect Lawn]

I am looking for a new chainsaw. I am trying not to spend too much $. I have about 5 -100 foot trees on my lawn to cut and I cut maybe 5-10 trees a year down for customers. I had a craftman and would never buy it ever again. Please help, was looking at the Stihls, but I dont know which model I really need Thanks *trucewhiteflag*

[LCPullman]

Stihl is an excellent brand for chain saws. For the kind of trees you are talking about, I think you would want at least 50cc. The mid-range MS270 or the professional grade MS 260 are both 50cc.

I have a slightly older 50cc Stihl, works quite well, with good power for cutting through large trees. Has noticeably more power than a much older Echo 50cc I have. I'd be glad for a larger saw, but can't justify the price to get one since I don't use it enough.

[kkls2006]

I bought the MS270 Last Season For the same uses you speak of, I'm pretty happy with it except for it didn't like to idle when I first got it so I brought it back and they rebuilt the carb Charging me $70 Bucks!!!! They said it was because of dirty 2 cycle which is BS all my 2 cycle comes from one 5 Gallon can and I have no problems running anything else. Seems Ok now though.

[Total.Lawn.Care]

I second Stihl saws. Visit your dealer and look at the selection. For what you are talking about, I would look at the models between MS250 and MS270. These will give you a range of saws from the Occasional use saws (Homeowner), to Mid-Range Saws to Professional Series Saws. There is a little difference in the catagories, but all in about the same power range, give or take a few CCs in engine size and bhp.

You can also see the differences of toolless chain tension systems and adjustable oilers, as well as the Easy Starts. Let us know what you decide on.

[saw man]

Check into a Dolmar PS-510 or PS-5100, better than any Stihl listed in this thread and will outcut them anyday of the week!

[bill w]

For 100' trees, 60-70cc range... I'd lean toward the higher displacement.

[saw man]

Depending on how big of cuts you need to make, what is the diameter logs you will be cutting? What size of bar do you want/need? That may help a bit more.

We all have our own idea of how big trees are in our own area. You may be cutting down a redwwod tree! haha Let us know what you need and we should be able to narrow it down a bit better for you.

[Perfect Lawn]

OK, sounds good thanks for the advice. I wish I knew why georgia had so many cheap pines everywhere.

[Perfect Lawn]

So a 16 inch chain is ok

[Grn Mtn]

$550 and once you use it you won't even think about that price again.

I'm on my 2nd one now (first one got stolen when I was lazy one night after using it in the 40* rain for 12 hours:cry: ) I went to my dealer and said I needed another saw, he started showing me a bunch of others -lower price, and I said NO THANKS.

The Pro model has the same 50cc engine as the plain MS260 but it is 2lbs lighter, and if you are in the tree, or just plain using it for a while that makes a difference.

I can't afford mutiple saws, (I'm not a tree guy, but in my biz I do trim and cut down a bunch every year) so I need one that can eat through a 24" stump but is light enough to carry into the upper branches.

When I first started out I borrowed a Homelite-Junk! Then I borrowed a Stihl. The still saved me over an hour compared to the Homelite because of its power.

BTW, the info on Stihl website comparison chart is wrong for that model. Mine has the 18" chain and it doesn't show the weight difference.

[saw man]

So a 16 inch chain is ok

You tell us! Do you need anything bigger?

Like I said, check out a Dolmar 5100. Nothing in its class will compete with it! The 260 pro of the Stihl wont keep up and the Dolmar is only $399 for a 18"


Look here for some answers or even ask the question here for some better feedback. http://www.arboristsite.com/forumdisplay.php?f=9

[Scagguy]

I have a Stihl 290 w/ 20" bar and an Echo CS341 w/16" bar. Both are excellent saws for my purposes. While neither sees a ton of work, I haven't run into anything that I can't handle with these.

[Total.Lawn.Care]

If you are talking about South Georgia Pines, you shoudl be fine with a 16" bar. I cannot be all that far from you and there are very few pine trees around my area that I cannot handle with a 16". Now for the power, you need to judge that by how quickly you want to cut through them. Any of the saws I recommended earlier will do just fine, obviously, the bigger the CC, the faster they will cut provided you keep the chain sharp.

[SimonCX]

If your only going to get one, I would go for a 18" or 20" it will do smaller things and bigger to. If they are 100ft tree's I would go for the 20" because you'll need it. As far as the saw it depends how much you want to spend, stihls 310 is a go all around saw that is about $380. Personally for big trees I have a 460 with a 28" bar. I wouldn't go with the dolmar, I've used a dolmar and I perfer a stihl, power is not any better but for me the stihl feels better balanced. Go with a husky or stihl there are alot more dealers around, in my area there are very few dealers that sell dolmar.

[wanabe]

I just purchased a MS270 and it was $456.xx with the case, 2 chains and a 20 inch bar. The 270 is a new model that reduces vibration on the operator. Which ever stihl you pick, get one that has a magnuisum(Sp?) crank case, not the cheep plastic junk. They run so much nicer than the plastic crank case. The 20 inch bar is a grat combo with the 270. The 270 is also a mid level, not a home owner saw.

[Dunn's]

Check out the Echo CS440 yes I know everyone wants stihl but if it is so great then why do they only give a 90 day warranty with the Echo you get a year.

[Perfect Lawn]

thanks guys, $399 for the stihl MS 270. I will go down and look at them tomorrow.

[saw man]

Check other models. For the same price you can get a GOOD saw!

[saw man]

Compare this to the 270 for the same price

http://www.dolmarusa.com/site/managed/html/produkt/4084/PS-5100_S

[Perfect Lawn]

Boy you sure have faith in that Dolmar saw. How much is that 5100

[Perfect Lawn]

Sorry Saw man no dealers in my area 1.5 hours away

[saw man]

They run $399

Research it here-
http://www.arboristsite.com/forumdisplay.php?f=9

I am not the only one that likes the machine! Guys have said it will outcut a Stihl 361. It is a great saw, light weight, and tons of power and speed!

You can also get the 3/8 chain which is more common than the .325 pitch that the Stihl will come with. If you need a chain and have to go to a box store, most will not even carry the .325 pitch chain.

Just search on that site and see what U find. Give it a look!

[saw man]

Damn! thats too bad!

It's really a nice machine, too bad no dealer is close.

[128Steve]

saw man,

You speak the truth. That Dolmar 5100 is a giant killer of a chain saw.

[Just Mow]

Check out the Echo CS440 yes I know everyone wants stihl but if it is so great then why do they only give a 90 day warranty with the Echo you get a year.

They need something to help them sell chainsaws:laugh: :laugh:

[Tadams]

I've got a 14" Stihl Mini Boss MS180 and an 20" Stihl Farm Boss MS 310. They are both excellent saws! The 14" is good for limbs and small trees. The 20" hasn't let me down on any tree that I have put it on. Ya can't go wrong with a Stihl.

[Envy Lawn Service]

OK... I'll piggy-back another saw thread...

Anyone have a RedMax saw or know anything about them?

I've had the Strato-Charged one on the back of the brain for a little while.

[Envy Lawn Service]

saw man,

I just found out I have a Dolmar dealer again. I know these are good saws from past connections. Stihl just killed them here is all.

Anyways, are the Dolmars red or orange?
I can't tell from the website....

Which units in the lineup are the better ones?

How closely related are they to Fuji/Robin?
I noticed some of their stuff is Robin.

[saw man]

The Dolmar is a dark orange and black, they are made in Germany like the Stihls.

The Redmax is a decent saw but not up to par with Husky, Stihl or Dolmar.

Dolmar gets some of their trimmers from Robin some from Mitsubishi and they make their own 45cc unit. They also get their blowers from Robin, they make a good saw so that what they focus on.

They really dont have better models (Pro and consumer) like Stihl and Husky, except for their real small saws, which I wont even get into. Starting from the PS-460 and up they have saws that are better built and better priced than either Husky or Stihl.

A lot of guys talk about the PS-5100 that competes with the 346xp from Husky and the 260 from Stihl. The Stihl doesnt really compete with either though because it doesnt have the RPM like the others. (14,500 RPM) Not to mention you can get the 5100 with 3/8 chain and the others generally come with .325 pitch which is more expensive and if you ever need can pick up 3/8 at a lowes or home depot which the .325 is harder to come by.

The Dolmars can generally be had for about $100 less than comparable models from the other two and are just as reliable.

Best thing to do is go look at a place that carries both and look the machines over, you will find more plastic on the other saws, like the crankcase or oil tank, where the Dolmar is magnesium for similar priced machines.

Hope that helps a little.

[AMS lawns]

yes stihl are great chainsaw but they are heavy .keep that in mind

[Green King]

Saw Man is telling you like it is. I have a neighbor that is a pro tree cutter. He has always been a Stihl Husky guy. The local dealer here has been running a deal on the Dolmar PS-460. I told him to get the 5100 because I have one. Anyhow his 460 is outsawing his 026pro! He last week bought a 5100 and now is kicking himself for not starting off with the 5100. He is so sold on the Dolmar saws now he is planning on replacing ms660 with a dolmar.