Recommend small saw for older guy?

[mike_belben]

I realize society and legal industry at large will disagree, but i was raised in a stroller in the garage with dad, and taught very clearly that the responsibility for not getting hurt was on me.  That the cost for failure was pain.  Ive shook many an older hand lacking some digits on account of a bean picker, toolchange arm, spindle, chuck, buzz saw, snowblower.  I know because i ask, and there is always an admission that amounts to 'i made a mistake.'

 I remember my grandfather screaming at me when i put my hands on the end of a plank coming out of the planer, safely away from the knives.  I thought he was being a jerk.   it only took me 35 ish years to understand him, when i started screaming at my boy to never run behind the truck or machine im operating even when he is 20 feet back.  I'm being mean to him out of love and someday he will get it like i did.

So my brain doesnt think 'dont recommend him the tool for the job' .. it thinks make sure he knows how to use the tool.  I dont see a saw as any worse than a hatchet.  If you can be deemed competent to drive to the woodlot, you can be deemed competent not to cut on the kickback side of the nose and not to put a body part in the path of the bar's plane.  They dont make arm or face chaps, we have to use our wits in place of armor.  That said, a certain amount of tragedy is beyond our control. 


I guess maybe its just a culture change as we creep away from being an industrial society and become some other sort of thing.   People in asia wear flip flops in factories and seem to live to a similar age as us.

[Tin Horse]

I completely agree with Mike. At times I'm criticized for working alone and with what I may be using. I know the consequences that can occur. But I'll never blame or accuse someone else if something did happen. My choice and my decision. My favorite saw is the Husqvarna  T540XP. It's light and good power for it's size. I'd rather not be working with something heavier all day when I don't need to. Years ago lots of saws around here were top handle. Now some would like to ban them. I don't believe it's someone else's right to decide what's best for anyone.
I also wouldn't want to promote that type of saw to someone inexperienced. The safety features on today's equipment are great; but it seems to have gone to far over liability issues.

[wild262]

                  I myself wouldn't deprive a buyer from buying a top handle just because of a potential safety issue, unless I was bound by my insurance company.  Sure there dangerous. But no more than any other saw "if used incorrectly".  Its not up to dealers to be a regulator or to judge how a saw is to be operated.  And your doing that by not selling to them.  Last time I knew, people in this country were allowed to excersize free will.  That's our right.  Some may have no common since, but we still can't make deciesions for them.   Such thinking is what leads to everyone to losing  there  freedoms and rights.  Then before you know it, were no better off than the dictators across the pond. We have enough of George Soris's here the way it is.   I have used a top handle, and still do on occasion, "on the ground".  Still have all I was born with.  People need to learn to be responsible for there own actions, just as I too was taught at an early age. Sad to say, society is not recognizing this to be the case.   That's my rant for the day.  Some of you may like it, and some may not, but I could care less.

[John Mc]

He's not going to be buying a top handle saw. He has used the standard handle for 50+ years and is comfortable with it. He's not going to change now.

[brianJ]

People need to learn to be responsible for there own actions  @wild262 You are not in favor of payouts for very hot coffee?

[Savannahdan]

I like the MS201 in the video.  My main line up includes a Husky 3120xp and Makita DCS7901, both too large for what he needs, and an Echo CS210.  The little Echo is a workhorse and will does a great job for me on smaller projects.  Most of the time I grab the Makita and that's only because the Husky is used for ripping and has a long bar on it and the Echo is in a box and I'm too lazy to pull it out.

[wild262]

People need to learn to be responsible for there own actions  @wild262 You are not in favor of payouts for very hot coffee?

Lol   .   Nope

[HolmenTree]

Before my time but back in the day pulp cutters up here were running Stihl 07 and 08 saws which technically are top handle saws. Now try and cut one handed with those .

I've owned many pro grade Stihl and Husqvarna top handles over the last 20 years and still do to this day. But I never run them on the ground as their completely useless to me on the ground.

My saw suggestion for the OP of this thread is the Stihl MS241CM pro grade magnesium cased lightweight powerhouse.....with a consumer grade low price.

[sprucebunny]

I like my MS 193s. Good balance, lightweight, good power and medium price $370.
They oil well, start easy and have been more dependable than the 180s. 

[upnut]

I can highly recommend the Stihl MS241CM from personal experience. After putting 5 gallons+ of fuel thru mine a few things stand out including excellent ergonomics, ease of starting, power to weight ratio, and consistent smooth idling. The air filter is very easy to access remove and clean and the M-tronics has functioned flawlessly. I started looking for the smallest saw with a compression release and have not been disappointed with this one for ease of cranking. Running this saw side by side with home owner grade saws the pro anti vibe system is noticeably superior, and at 64 yrs old much appreciated. I started running chainsaws with my Dad's beastly old McCulloch, followed by some Homelite XL's whose anti-vibe consisted of a thin layer of chrome. My first Stihl 028 was a dream come true and this 241 puts them all to shame...

Scott B.

[mike_belben]

@Chrome AV

[trapper]

upnut in reply 29 expresses my experience with the cm241   My echo 310 has been flawless always starts easy but a bit too small for general use/  

[gspren]

  For those with the 241 what is your favorite bar length and chain? At 66 I appreciate the lighter saw but still like some power, the 241 sounds impressive.

[upnut]

gspren- Mine came equipped as recommended, the 63PS3 55 chain and 16" bar. 

Scott B.

[MAF143]

I'm a fairly heavy casual user that heats with wood and have a hobby sawmill.  I'm totally happy with the MS-250.  Light and powerful without breaking the bank.  And I prefer the old fashioned carbs.

For the bigger stuff and cutting logs into firewood, the MS-391 comes out to play, but I wouldn't want to carry it around all day.

I'm not a pro, just a weekend and evening cutter in our own woods.

[mad murdock]

For the O P, i would not discount the better models of electric saws. With a couple spare batteries they are nice. No fuel mixing, no pulling etc. Pull the trigger and go. A friend of mine uses a greenworks saw with either a 14” or 16” b/c and for anything other than a felling saw, says it is a go to for him for use around the mill and lighter duties. 
Maybe a 3 Saw solution would be good for your friend an echo for those times when you need more power or endurance, and a battery electric (decent one) for all the rest. 

[sablatnic]

The best would be a Stihl MS241, a can of orange paint and a few Husqvarna stickers.
And I say that as a Husqvarna fan boy!

[HolmenTree]

The MS241CM sold in North America is made in Virginia Beach USA.
Good for the country's economy 

[John Mc]

As I mentioned earier, I don;t think a pro-level saw is in the card for this guy. I agree the MS241 would be a nice fit, but I don't see him shelling out that much for a saw.

So I guess the question is, are any in the range of the Husky 440 or the Stihl MS211 or MS250/251 really dogs or maintenance hogs, or are they decent midrange saws?

No good Dolmar dealers in my area. Not sure about Echo. I'll have to nose around a bit for them.

[mike_belben]

Just send him to lowes then.  Theyre all decent until they break.