Help what saw to buy!! (small saw)

[7sleeper]

Dear AS community

I have been at this forum for some time and now I belive it is time to ask the question. I belive I have read all the threads on these 2 models.

These two saws are on sale at the moment and that is all I can afford here.

Both for 199;€ (that is at current exchange rate approx.300$)

1. Stihl 170
30,1 cm³
1,3/1,8 kW/hp
with 13 inch/30cm b&c

2. Husqvarna 136
36.3 cm³
1.6 kW / 2.2 hp
with 15 inch/b&c

and NO i will not afford a 361 or 5100!

a 142 husqvarna costs 300€, a 450 500€ so there is no reason in acquiring such an expensive piece of equipment for my casual (firewood)use.

I went to the dolmar dealer and he offered me a special price on a ps 350 for 340€.(a ps420 for 430€) sorry not in the budget.

Questions
1.Would the 0.4hp make a significant difference?
2.would the 2inch bar length diminish the hp advantage?

I don't care if the husqvarna is made in the poulan factory. Stihl has a factory in China so I do not really care. I still believe the quality will be to husqvarna standards.

I am using a mini Mac 833 av(1,1hp) at the moment. It runs great, 1-2 pulls and it's running. No full length bar encounters with a little pressure, it stops the chain quicker than the safety features. but it has a frighteningly sharp chain (I sharpen with a file) so the work gets done.

so please feel free to hijack this thread after you could please advise me!!

thanks for all the input

7sleeper

from Austria

 

[Log Splitter]

Welcome to AS, 7sleeper, and hello from Texas, USA!

I can't really speak to the quality of the Husky, but a good friend of mine has a MS 170 and likes it a lot. It seems to have plenty of power to handle the small stuff he uses it for.

I'm not sure either one of your options would be the best answer for your only firewood saw since they are both small. But if you already cut everything you need with the little Mac 833 then both of the saws you mentioned should be a step up.

Have you considered a Stihl MS 361?

 

[7sleeper]

Welcome to AS, 7sleeper, and hello from Texas, USA!

I can't really speak to the quality of the Husky, but a good friend of mine has a MS 170 and likes it a lot. It seems to have plenty of power to handle the small stuff he uses it for.

I'm not sure either one of your options would be the best answer for your only firewood saw since they are both small. But if you already cut everything you need with the little Mac 833 then both of the saws you mentioned should be a step up.

Have you considered a Stihl MS 361?

What can I do with a Stihl MS 361 that I cannot do with a mini Mac?

:greenchainsaw:

Just to give you guys an impression, I cut upto approx. 45-50cm (~ 25 inch ) hardwood with that mini saw. It takes time but its done in a reasonable amount of time.

7sleeper

 

[mig]

Hi

I have a Sthil MS 180, and I really like it. It's a great saw in is class (30-35 cc).

 

[volks-man]

Welcome to AS, 7sleeper

Have you considered a Stihl MS 361?

+1:greenchainsaw:

 

[SawTroll]

1) Yes, that is a significant difference.

2) A tad, but only if you use the full length.

I have cut a lot of firewood with a Poulan-made 34cc saw with less hp than the 136. It lasted 3 years, or a bit more, and still runs - but I lost interest in it.

 

[maccall]

I don't care if the husqvarna is made in the poulan factory. Stihl has a factory in China so I do not really care. I still believe the quality will be to husqvarna standards.

You're missing the point a bit: Stihl claims that they have the same quality in their Chinese factory as in their German, and they might or not, but if you buy a 170 it will be made in Germany with the traditional German Stihl quality.

Husqvarna on the other hand does no attempt to disguise that the expected quality of what's produced in the Poulan factory is adjusted to the level of quality of what they actually produce there; they are simply not of the same quality as other Husqvarnas, they are of the same quality as the other Poulans.

I would have chosen the 170 for it's light weight, or waited to see what the new Husqvarna 2xx and 4xx coming out later would cost (and where they''ve been assembled) when they hit the shelfs later this year.

 

[7sleeper]

You're missing the point a bit: Stihl claims that they have the same quality in their Chinese factory as in their German, and they might or not, but if you buy a 170 it will be made in Germany with the traditional German Stihl quality.

Husqvarna on the other hand does no attempt to disguise that the expected quality of what's produced in the Poulan factory is adjusted to the level of quality of what they actually produce there; they are simply not of the same quality as other Husqvarnas, they are of the same quality as the other Poulans.

I would have chosen the 170 for it's light weight, or waited to see what the new Husqvarna 2xx and 4xx coming out later would cost (and where they''ve been assembled) when they hit the shelfs later this year.

if the quality was of no importance for husqvarna why do they put their name on the product and even have it on there homepage? I believe you are correct that the professsional models are far supiriour, but this is a consumer model that I believe is better the a poulan. I might be wrong but I would be happy if someone with experiance with these models would tell me I am an idi... . no offence please

7sleeper

 

[7sleeper]

1) Yes, that is a significant difference.

2) A tad, but only if you use the full length.

I have cut a lit of firewood with a Poulan-made 34cc saw with less hp than the 136. It lasted 3 years, or a bit more, and still runs - but I lost interedt in it.

thank you for your input SAWTROLL. it means alot to me that the mighty sawtroll has spoken on this thread.
I have one question what is a lit?

thank you

7sleeper

 

[toddol1971]

I believe he meant lot not lit. Have you considered an echo?

 

[Log Splitter]

thank you for your input SAWTROLL. it means alot to me that the mighty sawtroll has spoken on this thread.
I have one question what is a lit?

thank you

7sleeper

A lit is somewhere between a 'tad' and a 'lot'.

It's an English word only used in Norway.

 

[SawTroll]

thank you for your input SAWTROLL. it means alot to me that the mighty sawtroll has spoken on this thread.
I have one question what is a lit?

thank you

7sleeper

Misprint, I meant to say a lot.....

...and I am not mighty, just an amateur firewood cutter with opinions, and some knowledge, or a lot of it......LOL

 

[Toyjunkie]

I would take the Stihl MS180 or the Dolmar 350. The Dolmar has a .2 hp advantage, but that amount of difference wouldn't be noticed. The Husky model you are looking at has allot of vibration to it.

So if quality and place of manufacture are important (but you say it isn't) and the MS 180 is made in China (not to say that the standards are not high at that plant) then I would look even harder at the Dolmar (I am assuming it is made in Germany).

I think either would be a great choice.

 

[Dapper Dan]

" I don't care if the husqvarna is made in the poulan factory. Stihl has a factory in China so I do not really care. I still believe the quality will be to husqvarna standards."

DREAM ON!

Other than this...I have no further comment

 

[SawTroll]

" I don't care if the husqvarna is made in the poulan factory. Stihl has a factory in China so I do not really care. I still believe the quality will be to husqvarna standards."

DREAM ON!

Other than this...I have no further comment

I agree that no Stihl saws are made in China, even though copies of some are, and the carbs on some saws (the same is the case with Husky though).

 

[Just Mow]

I cannot speak of the Husky saws because I do not own any.
The 170 is a fine saw. I personally have the 180 which is basically the same saw, and it is both like and full of power for it's size.

The Stihl in China is a Stihl owned factory run by the Stihl people to their standards. It was built to service that area as the others were built where they are to service the area's that they cover.

The Husky units made in Shreveport are just re-badged Poulan saws that they put their color and name on.

And you do not need a 361.

 

[sawinredneck]

I've run a 170, dang near bought one, and may yet just because. But I like the 180 a bit better powerwise!
I've run the small Huskies, and am less than impresed with them!!
I would buy the 170 of the choices listed, but certainly look at the 180!!

 

[SawTroll]

The Husky units made in Shreveport are just re-badged Poulan saws that they put their color and name on.

Not true at all, you didn't do your homework.......

The core (engine and crank) of the 136 and 141 are Husky made (Sweden), with chromed cylinders, and nothing like the "real" Poulans with the zintered (or whatever) cylinders, but the rest is more or less Poulan, and they are put together by Poulan.

 

[GeeVee]

One more for the 170....

I have one that gets used a wee bit. Easy on the musculature, fits in your back pocket, fires every time. Good little saw. What my two youngest children are learning with.

Have you tried the 361?

Couldn't resist....

 

[SawTroll]

A Husky 339xp is neater, lighter, and has a lot more power and build quality than the MS170/180, but the price is also a tad different......