Comments please

[Happycamper]

I am looking at buying a new saw, mainly a Stihl MS170 which is a small light weight saw for only cutting the slabs from the mill into fire wood. I want light weight as I have a 031 and an 038 which I find heavy and awkward for cutting the slabs. Has nothing to do with my age of course. I'm interested to your pro and cons to this issue.
                        Thanks
                           Jim

[joe_indi]

Jim,
If I were in your place and if my purse were to stretch a bit more, I would opt for the MS250.
Joe

[Caloren]

The MS170 should do that job just fine. It's not a pro saw, but I've used mine a LOT in the last 6 years and still like it! 
Loren

[luvmexfood]

I have had one for about a year now in addition to my Stihl 029. I use the 170 for limbing and the ocasional task of sawing out the bigger saw if I bind it. It sure is a pleasure to set the larger saw down and pick the 170 up for smaller tasks. With that said if I had it in my hand and needed to buck some larger trees it stood up to the task. Slower, but by the time I set it down and got the larger saw time was about the same. Have bucked 20 inch black oak with it.

It is a consumer saw. Just keep that in mind. I have no problem with mine.

[ladylake]

 A MS170 is gutless, get a MS250 or Echo Cs400, both will cut twice as fast. The Echo weighs 13# and the MS250 about 13 1/2 # ready to cut, about 2# more than the 170 but you wont be holding them near as  long as the 170 to get the same job done.  Steve

[NCFarmboy]

Steve has got it right AGAIN!  MS211 would be a better choice than a MS170.  Not much tho IMO.  I would rather have a Wild Thing than a 170 or 180 or 211.  Dolmar 420-421 would be another excellent choice a little pricey tho.
Shep

[Happycamper]

Thanks for the replies seems almost 50-50. I don't want to spend much and I do want the light weight. I'll be cutting slabs from the little wm mill so it is not a production issue. Probably cut the ones on the saw buck twice a week so not a large pile.  I'll have a look at the Stihls tomorrow and talk with the dealer too on this and let you know my decision. Meanwhile thanks again for the input two heads are always better than one.
                                        Jim

[AdkStihl]

Find yourself a Shindaiwa 360. Lightest saw I've ever held. Pro built as well.

[luvmexfood]

I know I orginally posted get a Sthil 170 but after what I have experienced from 3 different Sthil dealers today, two of which I have purchased saws from, trying to get either repair or parts from I would have to thank long and hard before I buy another Sthil.

[Hilltop366]

Will you be anywhere near electricity? If so a electric chain saw might be handy.

[pabst79]

The 170 is the smallest saw in my collection, even though it is a cheap homeowner saw and the plastic bucking spike is silly. I do carry the little feller with me on my atv for trimming and it is kinda fun to limb with because its so light, however it cuts half the speed of my 026, but an 026 cost more than 180 bucks, which will buy you a brand spanking new Ms170. Overall I do not regret buying the 170, it has its place 

[chainsaw dog]

I'm an old guy too ,and I bought my 170 for limbing.It weighs 8.6# over my 250 's 10.1#.The only thing I didn't like was the chain adjuster and lack of bumper spikes.I put on spikes for $7 and a quick chain adjuster for $60.and it suits me just fine.I suppose dollar for dollar I should have gotten a 180CBE,but thats 9.3#.It does take about 12 tanks before it reaches full power and it rips!I don't use synthetic oil.I use premium gas and Stihl HP in the orange bottle and a little splash of etyanol stabilzer.We have E2 up here in Maine.I truthfully can't say anything bad about any of the Stihl saws I have.I accidently ran over my 250 with my Kioti tractor today and it survived with only minimal damage and fired right up

[ST Ranch]

Jim - I too have been looking at the MS170 as a light weigth saw for limbing and trimming. Some recent injuries have made it a bit tough for me to use my bigger saws [stihl ms260 and joni 535] for hours at a time, but the tradeoff is definitly the lack of power.  Used a friend's for an hour or so and it was OK.

I see that Stihl have a specal on the ms170 at this time $229.95 CAN and with an extra roll of chain [plus a saw box] you get a new saw value for under 200 bucks. For me that is about the same a fill up for my Dodge Cummins at the pumps.  I do not know who is closer to you, Endeby Equipment or Woodmans, but both listing the saw at about 230 bucks.

Good luck in your choice.  Tom

[Raceline08]

Get the MS170. Nice little saw that runs good.

Good luck,

Brett

[WDH]

I agree with Hilltop.  An electric chainsaw around a mill is very handy.  It is what I use to trim boards or slabs.

[HolmenTree]

The other day I saw a new Stihl battery powered chain saw at the dealership, that may be what you need.

[tolman_paul]

For what you're looking to do, get the lightest saw you can find.  I picked up a fairly beat echo cs3000 as I wanted a light top handle saw for tasks where cutting power wasn't important, but light weight was.  It's been an outstanding saw for that job.  I was organizing my wood pile a couple weeks back and some misc branches and 2X4 cut offs had accumulated in the pile.  The little echo was superb for that job and it's a very light saw.

When I start milling the echo is going to be on hand to cut up the leftovers for firewood.

[Happycamper]

Today I bought the MS170 from the Stihl dealer in Enderby,BC.
I was very happy with the service and good advise that Paul offered before the sale and there was no pressure to go either direction. It was a very pleasant transaction. This weekend I will put it to the test as I have several slabs waiting on the sawbuck to end up in firewood length. I especially like the very small chain as it shouldn't grab the small slabs like the 038 wants to. So now I have an 031 to sell for 50 bucks as I don't need three saws.
                                     Jim



 

[Lanternguy]

Hi
I've been running a ms180 bce for 5 years and its still running strong, its light enough we bring it inland camping and it has cut all kinds of dirty, punky downed logs over the years.  I added the echo 450p for myself beacue the wife prefers this saw when she is cleaning up the brush vs the top handle.   

[sawguy21]

Today I bought the MS170 from the Stihl dealer in Enderby,BC.
I was very happy with the service and good advise that Paul offered before the sale and there was no pressure to go either direction. It was a very pleasant transaction. This weekend I will put it to the test as I have several slabs waiting on the sawbuck to end up in firewood length. I especially like the very small chain as it shouldn't grab the small slabs like the 038 wants to. So now I have an 031 to sell for 50 bucks as I don't need three saws.
                                     Jim



 

;D Paul_H is a good hand, we plan on keeping him around for a while.

[chainsaw dog]

I think you will like that saw.don t baby it.full throttle after 3- 4. Tanks .put the metal spikes on it.why do they cost that much more up there?? 179$$ down here

[Paul_H]

I don't know either but in Canada a MS170 is $199.95 with 16" bar or $229.95 with the woodpro kit. No charge for PDI and free 6pack of oil.

[chainsaw dog]

Ooo k we have to buy the oil to get 2yr warranty+has to be synthetiic stuff  i. Don t.  Use. I only  got 14in bar too.let me know how it works with 16in.  I might buy  abigger bar..

[bandmiller2]

Camper,as stated if you have 110v go with an electric chainsaw,I've been using a Mikwaukee electric with a 20" bar for years,sure easy to start. Frank C.

[Mooseherder]

You're going to like that saw.
I picked up an ms170 with 14 inch bar last year for limbing and love it.
Just used it on a yard maple at my brother's house.  It took several hours to process the one tree.  It is nice to have a small saw in your hand for hours instead of a bigger one.  I had taken half of the limbs off before dropping it with my ms280.  I could of used a much bigger saw and bar to drop it but that wasn't at hand.