Small Limbing Saw

I might get a smaller limbing saw, nothing real expensive so I have been looking at the Stihl 180.

My BIL has one but doesn't use it much except for clearing some dead trees a few weeks back at his son's camp, he likes it so far.

Backwoods Savage has one and has given it some good reviews while I talked with him about it. He actually talked my wife (over the phone) into letting me get a smaller saw (good job Sav) anyone else out there have more reviews on the 180 good or bad, maybe a different smaller Stihl saw.

With all the Pine and Hemlock I limb up, it's time for a lightweight saw.

 

No comments on the 180 but I bought a little Echo CS 400 that I absolutely love.

 

I picked up a free 170 on a local ad. I was trying to get over elbow tendonitis at the time. I was also looking for a light saw for limbing up dead spruce and removing bittersweet vines.

I like the weight of it a lot. Works fine for cutting limbs. It is also a good starter saw for our son to get a feel for a saw.

It does bind a lot in vines and throws the chain nicking the tangs that ride in the bar. The smaller chain required another hand file system. MS170 does not have an adjustable carb.


The need.



The results.

 

I can't comment on the 180, however I have had a lightweight Stihl 192 T (arborist saw) for many years and it is the only Stihl I have never liked. Doesn't matter what I do, it always takes forever to get that saw going. Cuts fine once it is running but has always been a PITA to start. I ended up getting a Stihl MSA 220 battery-powered saw last year for limbing/light work and have been impressed with it so far (only PITA with that saw is that it likes to dump oil when stored sitting).

 

My Dewalt does the same thing.
I like it for limbing and brush and tested it out on 8" locust.
It powered right thru.

 

I'll be over near the Stihl dealer this week so I'll stop in an take a look at both Stihl and Husqvarna small saws. I have to have my hand looked at by the same doc who took care of my Dupuytren's Contracture, I either have it coming back in a different area or a small tumor.

 

Since we had a hard rain this morning and yesterday, I'm staying off the trails so I took a ride over to the Stihl & Husky dealer, pretty much all the smaller saws are gone.

They've had their order in for saws but if it's like anything else, it might take a while.

 

Good luck at the Docs. Hope it’s not a tumor!

 

Same here. I think it's Dupuytren's Contracture in a different spot but we'll see.

 

I have used a 170 many years ago. It was fine for what it was. I have a buddy who is giving me his 170 that he can't get to run, but I haven't made the trip to get it.

It will be a truck, yard , limb saw if I get it running. Right now I have some small similar sized Chinese saw I use or a Stihl 025 that I use. The 025 is was better but it's a top handle 40cc saw so it will have more grunt than the 180.

 

My vote is for an MS 170. They go on sale for $179, then tack on about $50 for a 14in bar, 3/8 Picco (not PMM3) yellow chain, and fleabay sourced side chain tensioner from an MS 250. That's what I run for my shoulder saver saw, and I love it. She sometimes sounds like she wants to fart out, but always powers through. Ya know, in wood she has zero business being in. Sharpened with my Pferd 5/32 all in one.

 

My appointment was today, the nurse felt the affected area first ( the nurse thought it was a cyst ) but they did an x-ray and after the doc read it he came in, it's the start of Dupuytren's Contracture starting in a different area on the same hand they took care of earlier this year.

There isn't any pain or it isn't stopping my thumb from functioning in a normal matter so we'll wait until it gets bad enough where insurance will pay for it.

 

Good to hear! How bad was the pain for your first Dupuytren's Contracture surgery. My dad had it and said it was extremely painful. At 45 I have it starting, but it doesn’t seem to be progress much at all over the last 3 years.

 

I didn't have any pain from my first Duypuytren's Contracture but I had a tear in my skin underneath my little finger that was a bother, it also was pulling that finger down more and more each year. I was happy with the way the Xiaflex worked on my hand, I'm glad that I had it done.

 

I picked up the "won't start ms170" from my buddy today. Hopefully a little messing with it and it runs!

 

Never heard of this, but good that it's treatable, and not a tumor.

 

I'm glad it wasn't a tumor also. Hope the other problem doesn't progress very fast either.
As far as small saws, we have 2, I got my hunny the MS180 EZ start and this year she got me the Echo 2511T. That thing is super light...
The MS180 has a bit more power and metal dogs compared to the MS170. I finally did a muffler mod, changed the oil pump (got 1 for a 250) and changed to bar to 14", .050 gauge, 3/8Picco full chisel chain...that little saw eats...
https://youtube.com/shorts/bOkTmWG1TpQ?feature=share
If you want to spend a bit more and get a pro grade saw, that Echo 2511T is the ticket...it does rather well also. It is still factory set-up. Scotty Overkill just had huskihl port a new one for him, I hope he will do a video on it.
Here is ours cutting some smaller rounds...it has a great oiler on it, side tensioner on the chain...