if you could only have one saw

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Hermio

Hermio

ArboristSite Guru
Joined
Oct 25, 2015
Messages
659
Location
45113
Ok, I'll have to slightly modify my previous post. Now that I am a 500i owner, the 500i is for sure my pick. It weighs slighly less than my 044s and I can still easily run a 36" on it. It's also way better AV than my old 044s or my 066.

I used to not care about AV that much, but I've got carpal tunnel issues, so it's a big deal nowadays. I was more than happy with the power/weight ratio of both my 044s(ported big-bore cylinders,) but they put my hand to sleep.

The biggest negative about the saw, is probably the filter. It's 2022, IDK why Stihl couldn't do an air injection set up like most of their other saws or just about every Husky made in the last 30 years. I'll throw a Max-flow on it eventually, but the stock filter gets dirty in a hurry.

No argument about them being very expensive, but for the above reasons, the cost of admission was worth it.
Amen to that! The MS500i is the most enjoyable saw I ever used.
 
CNYCountry

CNYCountry

ArboristSite Operative
Joined
Jun 7, 2005
Messages
251
Location
Remsen, NY
Had a MS361 for 15 years and it was a great middle of the road saw for everything. If I had to have just one the 361 was great but it was awful heavy for limbing and I wouldn't want to try to run more than a 20" bar with it. So, last year I bought a MS211 and MS661 and they have their places limbing and cutting big hardwood. Yes I know the 211 isn't a pro saw but it was dirt cheap, light, plenty of power for its size and it's disposable. It wound up being a great limbing saw even my old fat a** can work with all day. I had one of the newer 372xp's for a while but it wasn't enough bigger than the 361 to really make sense for me so I sold it and bought the 661 that I had really wanted.
 
deputyrpa

deputyrpa

ArboristSite Operative
AS Supporting Member
Joined
Nov 2, 2008
Messages
166
Location
Fort Ann, NY
It's a toss up between my Husky 371XP and Dolmar 5105SC (modded with 5100 muffler and porting). Although I've had the 371XP since new in 1999, I usually grab the 5105 to head out into the woods to fell and buck firewood. Its quick, light, and can handle any tree I would want to split.
 

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