Best light weight saw for limbing?

[bwalker]

A 50cc for limbing ?
That's what I use for felling...
So you need the same saw you need for felling a tree to limb it ?
It don't look good on yah mate as an experienced woodfellah...

Never cut a tree down with one saw and the picked another up to limb it..that's ridiculous.

 

[thompsoncustom]

Never cut a tree down with one saw and the picked another up to limb it..that's ridiculous.

Depends. When your taking out a fence row and u got 100 trees to take down I'll drop them with the ms660 and then come back and limb them all with the ms260 and then switch back to the 660 to cutting them all up. Saves a lot of time this way.

It is was just one tree than ya I wouldn't switch saws.

 

[sean donato]

Depends. When your taking out a fence row and u got 100 trees to take down I'll drop them with the ms660 and then come back and limb them all with the ms260 and then switch back to the 660 to cutting them all up. Saves a lot of time this way.

It is was just one tree than ya I wouldn't switch saws.

That's personal preference.

 

[Lawless]

Wrapped around the axle this group is getting.

 

[John Lyngdal]

I've been all over the place with my choice of ground limbing saws, first it was an 036, then a 026, then muffler modded MS180s( because I could find them used locally for $50). I stuck with the MS180s and lived with weak clutch until I snagged a Dolmar/Makita 4300. The 4300 has better AV than the older Stihl saws and I snagged the saw for a little over $100 as a Home Depot rental. Then I came into a pair of 346XP saws and the rest is history.

 

[Defdice]

The echo 4910/501p is a very good saw but not on par with the ms261.
I didn't really believe that myself....so recently I bought both saws. As much as I wanted the echo to be equal to or at least super close to the Stihl......it just isn't.
The Stihl has much better acceleration, and the av on the echo is nowhere near as smooth as the Stihl.
Bottom line is the Stihl way outperforms the echo.....you can make more sawdust faster with the ms261

The echo is a very good saw, that would last a person for a long time.... it's just not as impressive as the Stihl.....but it is substantially less expensive, therefore it's still a very good value, imo.

Hi Saw Dust Man,
How did starting the 501 compare to starting the 261. I traded my 251 for a 501 partly because the 251 was so hard to pull over - much harder than my 620p. I use it for hardwood thinning so many start/stops an hour. Was always curious about the 261. Thanks in advance

 

[Sawdust Man]

Hi Saw Dust Man,
How did starting the 501 compare to starting the 261. I traded my 251 for a 501 partly because the 251 was so hard to pull over - much harder than my 620p. I use it for hardwood thinning so many start/stops an hour. Was always curious about the 261. Thanks in advance

In my opinion the 501p pulls over quite a bit easier than the ms261, not that the 261 is particularly hard to crank.....it's just that the 501 is easier.
For lots of start/stop type cutting, I'd probably prefer the echo over the Stihl..... but as I said before the 261 kicks the 501p's backside pretty well in the performance department, so it all depends on how a person plans to use the saw.

 

[sean donato]

Hi Saw Dust Man,
How did starting the 501 compare to starting the 261. I traded my 251 for a 501 partly because the 251 was so hard to pull over - much harder than my 620p. I use it for hardwood thinning so many start/stops an hour. Was always curious about the 261. Thanks in advance

Comparing a 250/1 to a 260/1 is like comparing an apple to a brick. Totally different animals.

 

[JKendrick87]

So it’s down to 3 for me. If this used 201 doesn’t work out… I’m leaning towards an MS 180 or a CS-3510 thoughts?

 

[coffeebrk]

So it’s down to 3 for me. If this used 201 doesn’t work out… I’m leaning towards an MS 180 or a CS-3510 thoughts?

I have both and I'd go with the cs3510 with it's adjustable carb

 

[link]

Comparing a 250/1 to a 260/1 is like comparing an apple to a brick. Totally different animals.

I don't know anything about those saws but if you compare the 025 to a 026; the 025 have the power needed and is lightweight and nimble indeed, the 026 is slightly more powerful and feels pretty much like a boat anchor.

 

[Sawdust Man]

So it’s down to 3 for me. If this used 201 doesn’t work out… I’m leaning towards an MS 180 or a CS-3510 thoughts?

I own both those saws.... my vote goes to the 3510.

 

[dmb2613]

I don't know anything about those saws but if you compare the 025 to a 026; the 025 have the power needed and is lightweight and nimble indeed, the 026 is slightly more powerful and feels pretty much like a boat anchor.

I have both and would not trade an 026 for 3 025s if I hade to run them on a regular basis The 026 is a pro saw the 025 is a plastic home owner saw

 

[JKendrick87]

I have both and would not trade an 026 for 3 025s if I hade to run them on a regular basis The 026 is a pro saw the 025 is a plastic home owner saw

Yeah I’m kicking myself for not buying that clean 026 for $150

 

[thompsoncustom]

I don't know anything about those saws but if you compare the 025 to a 026; the 025 have the power needed and is lightweight and nimble indeed, the 026 is slightly more powerful and feels pretty much like a boat anchor.

Weight of the 025 is listed at 10.14lbs
Weight of the 026 is listed at 10.36lbs

I'm surprised you can even fell the difference

 

[Sierra_rider]

Weight of the 025 is listed at 10.14lbs
Weight of the 026 is listed at 10.36lbs

I'm surprised you can even fell the difference

...and the first time I've heard the 026 described as a boat anchor.

 

[JKendrick87]

...and the first time I've heard the 026 described as a boat anchor.

If the 026 is a boat anchor, I’m lugging around the whole dang boat with my 310!!

 

[bwalker]

...and the first time I've heard the 026 described as a boat anchor.

The 026 power curve wise is a dog compared to a 346xp, but it's light and trim.

 

[Piotr Pakuła]

and this dog is a big one ;-) or a yorkie

 

[coffeebrk]

Ms180 had some mix in it so did some small limbs and brush. It runs superbly.