Thinking of buying new Stihl 280

[JamesP]

Hi all, I am new to the group.
I would like to get some feedback on the Stihl 280. It looks like a decent firewood saw. I cut 7 cord last year with my little old Homelite and wanted to upgrade to a better more powerful saw this year to slice up 12 cord. I was planning on getting the 280 with the 18 inch bar. I noticed that the Stihl 390 is a bit bigger in the HP department and has the forged connecting rod with caged needle bearings going for it. Is this a better saw for the money than the 280? I want something that will last a long time with care. My homelite is of the early 1990's and I always kept a sharp chain and treated it well so it still runs great today, just not beefy enough in the HP department.

The more I read all these post the better I start liking the 390, I would love the 361 but it is beyond my price range and likely more saw than I will ever need. I will be looking at a used 036 which I may be able to get for under $300. I heard it is the grandfather to the 361. Is this true and is this a good saw to by used??

 

[epicklein22]

The 280 will get the job done well and you will be smiling big time compared to your homelite. The 390 has nice power, but doesn't have the quality of a 280 and weighs more. An 036 is a classic saw and not uncommon for nice ones to bring north of 275. I personally like the 036 over the 361, but that is just me. Don't forget about the ms260. Another living classic.

Overall, you can't really do wrong. As you said, keep the chain sharp and enjoy.

 

[Raymond]

Hi all, I am new to the group.
I would like to get some feedback on the Stihl 280. It looks like a decent firewood saw. I cut 7 cord last year with my little old Homelite and wanted to upgrade to a better more powerful saw this year to slice up 12 cord. I was planning on getting the 280 with the 18 inch bar. I noticed that the Stihl 390 is a bit bigger in the HP department and has the forged connecting rod with caged needle bearings going for it. Is this a better saw for the money than the 280? I want something that will last a long time with care. My homelite is of the early 1990's and I always kept a sharp chain and treated it well so it still runs great today, just not beefy enough in the HP department.

The more I read all these post the better I start liking the 390, I would love the 361 but it is beyond my price range and likely more saw than I will ever need. I will be looking at a used 036 which I may be able to get for under $300. I heard it is the grandfather to the 361. Is this true and is this a good saw to by used??

Damn good saw go for it!

 

[minnnt]

all three are nice saws so i've read. Would you buy a new 280? If so you would have the warranty... but the 036 will have more power...

 

[Stihl here]

I say "invest with the best"!!! Go with the ms361...

 

[windthrown]

If you cannot afford the 361, consider a near-new one361 on CL. They are going pretty cheap there these days (one was listed for $395 here today that had 2 tanks of gas run through it). I would run a 20 inch bar on it with the stock rim drive (7 pin). Short of that, the 280 is a good saw, good AV, and is in the semi-pro line of Stihls. It has better plastic and far better AV when compared to the 390, and will probably last longer. I do not like the .325 B&C that they come with though, and I would run 3/8 standard bar, rim and chain on it. Probably be best with an 18 inch bar on the 280.

Also the 360/036 is not a bad choice, better than the 390 IMO. For less than $300 that is a fair price, but the used 361s are coming down pretty fast in this recession.

 

[JamesP]

Thanks for the info gentlemen. So the 280 is better but less power. and the 036 is a great saw but compared to the market price of a 361 it is pricey at $300. I am going to take a look at the 036 and see the condition and offer him closer to the $200 mark. I am sure he will counter offer, I know I would. I will post my findings after that. I think the 280 is great for my needs and I was intending to run it with the 18" bar. I guess this will be a good week as one way or the other I will have a great saw, new or used, by weeks end

 

[dadouthat]

I have a 280 and like it a lot. If you are at all concerned about vibration, this is the saw for you. It is the smoothest saw that I have ever used. I really don't see a problem with the .325 chain and I wonder if anyone has actually done a speed test comparing that with 3/8. Around here the 280 and even the 260 is sold with a 20" bar but in part that is a backsaver and in part since almost all of the "big" stuff is spruce.

 

[blsnelling]

280 is a nice saw but it's only $100 less than a 361. Find a cherry 361 used. I think there's one in the Tradin Post now.

 

[JamesP]

I am concerned about vibration and would like a lighter saw that will still cut reasonably fast. I imagine the 361 is heavier but will cut very fast. How does the 280 cut? Also is the new engine solid in the 280? I know it will come with a warranty but have to think about the future as far as getting parts to service it. I live in NH and will be cutting mostly oak and maple with the occasional birch, beach and spruce. Will the 280 be suitable for this type of fire wood cutting?
I want the saw to cut faster than I can work. So basically I can cut till I need a break not the other way around.

 

[Saw Dr.]

cuttinscott on here mentioned something about a nice used 270 or 280 in another thread. Might be worth a PM to check it out.

 

[Saw Dr.]

I am concerned about vibration and would like a lighter saw that will still cut reasonably fast. I imagine the 361 is heavier but will cut very fast. How does the 280 cut? Also is the new engine solid in the 280? I know it will come with a warranty but have to think about the future as far as getting parts to service it. I live in NH and will be cutting mostly oak and maple with the occasional birch, beach and spruce. Will the 280 be suitable for this type of fire wood cutting?
I want the saw to cut faster than I can work. So basically I can cut till I need a break not the other way around.

With proper maintenance and use, any of the Stihl saws (even the "homeowner" ones) is rock solid reliable. If money is tight, and you're worried about weight, I'd go with a 280. You can spend the cash you save on some extra chains and files. Keep a sharp chain on it, and you will be happy. A 280 with a well sharpened chain will cut rings around a 361 with a dull one.

 

[radar1975]

I just got myself into an 028 av woodboss and an MS 310. 028 has a 16" bar and the 310 has a 20" bar. If you are cutting the smaller stuff (less than 16" across) then a saw like the 028 is great. Man that saw has a lot of power and goes through dead rock hard white ash like butter (with the right chain). For bigger stuff the Ms 310 is a good buy for the money. My buddy has the Ms 361 and another the Ms 290 and they all seemed comparable to me. I really wanted the Ms 361 but I could not see myself spending the money. Now I have two saws for $400 and It works good for me. Can't go wrong with a Stihl.

 

[Soilarch]

With proper maintenance and use, any of the Stihl saws (even the "homeowner" ones) is rock solid reliable. If money is tight, and you're worried about weight, I'd go with a 280. You can spend the cash you save on some extra chains and files. Keep a sharp chain on it, and you will be happy. A 280 with a well sharpened chain will cut rings around a 361 with a dull one.

If money is tight you can wait (I know, the one thing we hate to do) for a deal on a saw. I bought my 460 for less than half what they are new because numb-head either ran her too lean or without oil or something. Used saw, new piston and cylinder...half price. I would think it's not too uncommon for the shops to get seized up heads.

As for the 280...I only have a little experience on a 028 that has been "farm-used" (a.k.a. flat-out abused) and it's a good size do-all.

A sharp chain will make more difference than 10 or even 20 extra cc IF the bigger saw has a chain like most guys keep around here. To me it's like trying to skin a deer with a steak-knife. Why bother? I'd rather spend the time sharpening and use less effort, be safer, do a better job, let the saw run easier, etc. than THINK I'm saving time.

Edit:
and don't let them sell you a "safety" chain. They DO have their place, but that place isn't on a 280 used to do 12 cords a year by a guy who's used to doing 7 a year. IMO. That'll make a difference as well.

 

[Wild Knight]

I am concerned about vibration and would like a lighter saw that will still cut reasonably fast. I imagine the 361 is heavier but will cut very fast. How does the 280 cut? Also is the new engine solid in the 280? I know it will come with a warranty but have to think about the future as far as getting parts to service it. I live in NH and will be cutting mostly oak and maple with the occasional birch, beach and spruce. Will the 280 be suitable for this type of fire wood cutting?
I want the saw to cut faster than I can work. So basically I can cut till I need a break not the other way around.

Think you may have to decide on what is most important to you. It's just like with cars. Speed = money, how fast do you wanna go?

The 280 will cut fast enough to wear your back out picking up all those logs.

I agree with a previous post, if you are willing to spend the money on the 280, then find a used 361. If you are trying to save cash, then get the 270. You won't notice a difference in cutting speed between the 270 and 280. The 280 is priced badly I feel. If you are gonna spend that much, you might as well spend a little more and get the 361. Especially when the 280 is not that much better than the 270.

Either way, stay away from the 390 and never buy a chain with a '3' on it!

 

[Saw Dr.]

As for the 280...I only have a little experience on a 028 that has been "farm-used" (a.k.a. flat-out abused) and it's a good size do-all.

Just to be clear, the 028 and the MS280 are ENTIRELY different saws. About the only thing they have in common is the bar mount, and maybe the spark plug. I would not begin to compare the performance of the two. They are fine saws, but nothing alike.

 

[JamesP]

I can see that the 361 is the top performer in this area but at $110 more than the 280 I can get some nice chains and still have enogh cash to put gas in it:greenchainsaw:

 

[SawTroll]

Think you may have to decide on what is most important to you. It's just like with cars. Speed = money, how fast do you wanna go?

The 280 will cut fast enough to wear your back out picking up all those logs.

I agree with a previous post, if you are willing to spend the money on the 280, then find a used 361. If you are trying to save cash, then get the 270. You won't notice a difference in cutting speed between the 270 and 280. The 280 is priced badly I feel. If you are gonna spend that much, you might as well spend a little more and get the 361. Especially when the 280 is not that much better than the 270.

Either way, stay away from the 390 and never buy a chain with a '3' on it!

Looks like the price picture varies a bit - a 20USD difference was posted in another thread the other day.....

Imo, price and weight usually are too close to the 361, so get the 361 if there isn't a firm limit to the budget.

 

[Wild Knight]

In my area:

270 = $400
280 = $490
361 = $600

I agree with you on the weight to power ratio Troll. In my opinion, the 270 is money saved, while the 361 is power gained. Both are gonna eat through firewood tasks with ease.

Like I said JamesP, if you don't have the money to spend, then I do not see the benefits of the 280 over the 270. If you have the budget, then get the 361. If the 280 seems like a good compromise to you, then go get it and get sawin!

 

[JamesP]

Let us not forget that I have a used 036 with the "QS" feature to consider as well. A fella I work with has it and is looking to sell. He says it is in good condition. He is asking $300 at the moment but I will see just what kind of shape it is in before making any offer. Is the best way to check the engine to pull the muffler off or are there better ways to inspect it? Of course I will run it after a visual inspection.