Lightweight ground saw?

[woodslinger]

I'm looking for a lightweight ground saw for my dad. He works with me pretty often, and is very fond of his old homelight, with the 2 position handle (dual triggers). My echo cs450P gets a little heavy for him when cutting up limbs on the ground and it is overkill for cutting limbs to reduce weight so they can be dragged. He likes the weight a little better on my echo 355t, but doesn't like that he has no leverage when he is cutting slightly larger stems.

Does anyone know of a good lightweight saw for nipping limbs apart on the ground? Husky is out as I have no good dealers in my area. I have a good Stihl guy, who does a little with husky's but not much. I also have an echo dealer right down the street. I'm thinking maybe a stihl 150? or something close to that size?

 

[MasterBlaster]

Rear handled 200 FTW.

 

[Bermy]

Or an 021/210 stihl. Light enough, plenty of power, was my first saw and I still use it when ground bashing. Just make sure you get a conventional one, tool less chain pensioners are a PTA...

 

[Cut4fun]

Look at the echo 400 PHO 10.1lbs . I hear it is suppose to run like my echo 3900.

Reason I cant say check the lighter echo 310 out it is a turd in the cut. Had one in and couldnt believe they sell those so under powered for 30cc.

Just comparing 450 11.2lbs pho and 355T 8lbs pho

 

[Cut4fun]

Eco 361P shows 8.4lbs pho might be one to look at. http://www.echo-usa.com/Products/Chain-Saws/CS-361P

Its a 355T in rear handle.

Compact rear handle design - based on the proven CS-355T

 

[woodslinger]

I like the look of that CS361. I'll have to swing buy the shops and compare that and the 200 rear handle. Thanks everyone for your input!

 

[Burnham]

200 rear handle is absolutely the one. Do they even make it any more, though? Maybe that questionable 201 version, then.

 

[SimplyArbor]

Husqvarna 346/550 are mean little ground saws.

 

[FireFighterZero]

Dont laugh at me, but I have a MS 250 with the easy start that has been a good saw. Its the saw I run the most.

My dad has bad shoulders and he can start it easy, hence the east start! It is light and has good power.

Not a pro saw, but still pretty good I guess. Lighter than my 850!

 

[pantheraba]

I have an MS 250 I inherited from my father in law...fine saw...it will do a lot.

Somehow it seems to have ended up at my son's house.

 

[MasterBlaster]

Ain't that always the story?

lol

 

[Bermy]

MS250 is OK too, I sold mine to my neighbour, he needed a ground saw. The 361 is fine too, but starting to get heavier, 210, 250 are still light enough for all day work

 

[stig]

200 rear handle is absolutely the one. Do they even make it any more, though? Maybe that questionable 210 version, then.

You're behind the times, Burnham ( Which is ok for a retired guy).
The fixed the problems with the 210, everybody I know who has one of the newer ones, love them.

I had to do a simulated rigging test for my ISA/ETW test last week.
The two guys judging me were pretty young.
In fact I have been rigging longer than either of those have been alive, so I gave them a bit of a hard time and made some fun as we progressed.
One thing I told them, "You tell me, I have 30 minutes to do the two rigging scenarios, and send me up a Husqvarna saw. Shit, it is going to take me longer than that just to get that POS started"!

 

[MasterBlaster]

210? Don't ya'll mean 201?

 

[Mick!]

Lot of love around for electric saws around ATM.

 

[Cobleskill]

Husqvarna 346/550 are mean little ground saws.

 

[treesmith]

210? Don't ya'll mean 201?

No, Butch, the MS210...replaced the 021. I keep one in the truck for limbing and cutting up brush. Mainly to preserve chains on the bigger saws.

 

[MasterBlaster]

Cool.

 

[stig]

I meant 201, sorry.

 

[woodworkingboy]

I had a chance to use some new rear handled Zenoahs recently. They seemed too good to be true, light and quick cutting and very smooth operation. Zenoah has been making a very good professional grade chainsaw for a long time. The most vibration free saws I have experienced, and also possibly the easiest starting. They kind of fly under the radar compared to the two big names, maybe that's a good thing. It's not just the new models that are good, the old ones were as well, at least the couple...2...3.. that I am familiar with.

Another thing is that under that name, they don't put out any cheap crap to be sold to John consumer at a discount hardware store, like Stihl and Husky do. Why cheapen a good brand?

 

[flushcut]

To make more money silly.
346/550 is a very nice saw.

 

[shesthebaum]

wood working boy, you have me very interested in these zenoahs saws....

I think the Stihl 200 series ( new, old??) would be the best if you go with Stihl. I wouldn't recommend a Stihl 193 though, in case you were looking at it, only because my husband uses one daily in a bucket and has to get a new chain every week.

 

[treesmith]

I meant 201, sorry.

Whoops...then I was misaken, Butch....I DO have a 210 in the truck. I haven't tried a 201T yet.

 

[cory]

201 for aerial stuff and small stuff on the ground, 576 for all else.

 

[treebilly]

I like the ms 261. 18" with the 3/8 upgrade