Thread: Stihl Saw Comparison $/lb $/HP HP/lb

Just for fun and because I am an engineer (and to stir the pot up a little for the new year), I took all (most) of the available data for Still saws and calculated $/lb, $/HP and HP/lb. Not sure $/lb really means anything, but $/HP is what a homeowner would be attracted to and HP/lb is what, according to the people on this site, a pro user would look at. Well guess what, the MS290 has the best $/HP, so for all of you pros out there that just can not understand why someone would by a 290 or 310 for occasional use, just look at the stats below. Also, I attached the charts, not sure how those will show up on the post though and I don't think the HTML text will keep the columns lined up - oh well.

Model Weight Price HP $/lb $/HP HP/lb
MS 170 8.6 170 1.7 19.8 100.0 0.20
MS 180 C-B 8.8 200 1.9 22.7 105.3 0.22
MS 180 C-BE 9.3 230 2.0 24.7 115.0 0.22
MS 210 9.7 230 2.0 23.7 115.0 0.21
MS 210 C-BE 10.6 280 2.0 26.4 140.0 0.19
MS 250 10.1 300 3.0 29.7 100.0 0.30
MS 250 C-BE 10.8 340 3.0 31.5 113.3 0.28
MS 270 11.7 390 3.4 33.3 114.7 0.29
MS 270 C-B 12.1 430 3.4 35.5 126.5 0.28
MS 280 11.7 420 3.6 35.9 116.7 0.31
MS 280 C-BQ 12.1 470 3.6 38.8 130.6 0.30
MS 290 13.0 350 3.8 26.9 92.1 0.29
MS 310 13.0 410 4.0 31.5 102.5 0.31
MS 390 13.0 490 4.3 37.7 114.0 0.33
MS 260 10.6 460 3.2 43.4 143.8 0.30
MS260 Pro 10.6 500 3.2 47.2 156.3 0.30
MS 361 12.3 610 4.4 49.6 138.6 0.36
MS 361 C-Q 12.6 650 4.4 51.6 147.7 0.35
MS 440 13.9 730 5.4 52.5 135.2 0.39
MS 460 14.6 810 6.0 55.5 135.0 0.41
MS 460 R 15.9 1050 6.0 66.0 175.0 0.38
MS 650 16.5 910 6.4 55.2 142.2 0.39
MS 660 16.5 1060 7.0 64.2 151.4 0.42
MS 880 22.3 1630 8.6 73.1 189.5 0.39
MS 192 T 6.6 300 1.7 45.5 176.5 0.26
MS 200 8.4 510 2.1 60.7 242.9 0.25
MS 200 T 7.7 510 2.1 66.2 242.9 0.27

For the record, I got the price data from the Stihl 2005 price list using the longest bar for each saw listed, the rest of the data comes from Stihl.usa.com

I am impressed!

HP/LB is what most pros are concerned with.

Originally Posted by 460Ted

HP/LB is what most pros are concerned with.

Right, Hp/lb - brain fart on my part. - hey this edit thing is great, now it is like I never made that typo up in the original post.

Could you be a swell fella and do this for Husky?
Then include chain speed/$ and divide by noise emissions?
Sorry, had some wine with dinner. I'll be quiet.

Interesting info

Thanks

Too Funny,
I did something very similar about a year ago, but used pro husky's and stihl's only. And for the record, I to am an engineer.

Nice data. It clearly illustrates why pro's love MS440's 460's and 660's (HP/lb) an why homeowners flock to MS290's ($/HP).

Originally Posted by smokechase II

Could you be a swell fella and do this for Husky?
Then include chain speed/$ and divide by noise emissions?
Sorry, had some wine with dinner. I'll be quiet.

LOL! X 10

Could you spare me a glass of that wine?

Just for the heck of it I plugged in these 2 saws:

Dolmar PS5100: .35HP/lb, 95$/HP
Dolmar PS7900: .46HP/lb, 103$/HP

Originally Posted by smokechase II

Could you be a swell fella and do this for Husky?
Then include chain speed/$ and divide by noise emissions?
Sorry, had some wine with dinner. I'll be quiet.

Originally Posted by davefr

Just for the heck of it I plugged in these 2 saws:

Dolmar PS5100: .35HP/lb, 95$/HP
Dolmar PS7900: .46HP/lb, 103$/HP

Why on earth would anyone want to look at anything except a STIHL??

Looks like the Dolmars blow away the Stihls as far as specs. For someone willing to deal with limited parts availability and pretty much handling all your own service, they are quite a deal. 10 years ago I wouldn't buy anythnig but Stihl, today I own 4 Huskys and just might buy one or two Dolmars this year.

Originally Posted by skwerl

Looks like the Dolmars blow away the Stihls as far as specs. For someone willing to deal with limited parts availability and pretty much handling all your own service, they are quite a deal. 10 years ago I wouldn't buy anythnig but Stihl, today I own 4 Huskys and just might buy one or two Dolmars this year.

And where would one go to buy a Dolmar in the Orlando, FL area??

Same place I got my Huskys, online.

Oh BTW Russel, if you ever want to meet up and say hello, or try out a modded 346, just holler. And Timistal has a modded Dolmar 5100 and he's up the road in Sanford. I'm having lunch with him Tu. or We. and looking at a job with him.

Thanx for the research and for posting those tables. You hit the nail on the head for my situation. As an occasional user (read 'homeowner') that scavenges firewood for supplemental heat ( 5 cords annually), I decided on MS290 based mostly on price for an "all-around-saw" without resorting to Poulan or far more expensive (really good) pro saws. 3.5 years ago it cost about $300 and now (after seeing these forums) I yearn for a lighter limbing saw plus somethin' with "more grunt". Although the MS290 has worked out fine for me (18" bar w/.325) ... "Had I only known then what I know now"... Heheh. It all comes down to what you can afford and what can you justify (for homeowner use). Whole different matter for folks who make a living with these saws. Your post is a good Engineers' perspective.