Looking for my first chainsaw: Stihl MS251 or Jonsered 2255?

[KenB2920]

Good saw though...

This got me thinking. We all have our opinions on saws. We all debate which has a slight edge over one another. Which saw would you NOT buy and WHY? That may be helpful.

 

[Bluegill2]

This got me thinking. We all have our opinions on saws. We all debate which has a slight edge over one another. Which saw would you NOT buy and WHY? That may be helpful.

Good question, but...Too many to list here...

I will not buy homeowner/farm boss/rancher saws with plastic cases. I use saws too much for that type of bulky, heavy construction.

I wont buy Stihl, because I like the size, weight, cutting speed & handling of Husqvarna / Jonsered much better. Pro Stihl saws are very durable though.

Most people don't know the 'Landowner' series saws from Husq have mag cases and are basically slightly detuned less expensive pro models. 353, 359, 365, 545, 555.

A lot of folks buy by price and this can get ya a piece of crap. Dolmar is the exception here, because of spotty dealer network, they have priced their saws lower than the big two. Most Dolmars are pro quality with mag cases. I don't buy by price, I buy what works for me.

 

[DeereMann]

This got me thinking. We all have our opinions on saws. We all debate which has a slight edge over one another. Which saw would you NOT buy and WHY? That may be helpful.

Pro Stihl, Husky, Jonsered, Dolmar are the only brands I consider. Maybe Echo (don't know much about them).

All others = junk, not even worthy of occasional homeowner use due to unreliability. Renting one is better if that's your user profile.

 

[KenB2920]

Pro Stihl, Husky, Jonsered, Dolmar are the only brands I consider. Maybe Echo (don't know much about them).

All others = junk, not even worthy of occasional homeowner use due to unreliability. Renting one is better if that's your user profile.

Funny you listed everything you would consider but not one you WOULD NOT.

What are all the others you consider junk. Have you used all the brands listed to say you would consider them, or have close connections with fellas who use them.

As far as renting, that's not my profile at all. Especially when it comes to a saw. So far I have a simple stihl MS270c that works for me. I am not a lumberjack by any means and it doesn't get used daily. I've only cut about 20 face cord with it over the past two seasons.

Like posted above, I'd consider Dolmar after the research TSO has shared with me personally. I have no "first hand experience"with any of the other brands so I can't say they are junk. I don't want I go off what I have heard in a forum because its rare you get a persons true use.

My saw would probably last a suburbanite guy 10 lifetimes and would die of rot before wearing out. My saw may only last a week in the hands of a guy who does this for a living. So Reviews online I take with a grain of salt "at times". All input is welcomed but also carefully looked at.

 

[DeereMann]

Funny you listed everything you would consider but not one you WOULD NOT.

What are all the others you consider junk. Have you used all the brands listed to say you would consider them, or have close connections with fellas who use them.

As far as renting, that's not my profile at all. Especially when it comes to a saw. So far I have a simple stihl MS270c that works for me. I am not a lumberjack by any means and it doesn't get used daily. I've only cut about 20 face cord with it over the past two seasons.

Like posted above, I'd consider Dolmar after the research TSO has shared with me personally. I have no "first hand experience"with any of the other brands so I can't say they are junk. I don't want I go off what I have heard in a forum because its rare you get a persons true use.

My saw would probably last a suburbanite guy 10 lifetimes and would die of rot before wearing out. My saw may only last a week in the hands of a guy who does this for a living. So Reviews online I take with a grain of salt "at times". All input is welcomed but also carefully looked at.

Yes, I have either used, borrowed, rented, or know those that have operated Poulan, McCouglah (?), Pioneer, Homelite, and a couple more I can't think of. They had problems with operating, insufficient power, or broke, hence when it came time for me to do a lot of cutting, I bought Stihl Pro on advice from a U.S. Forest Service friend. By the way, he endorses the other brands I mentioned as well. I didn't want to write war & peace, but you've beat it out of me!

 

[KenB2920]

Yes, I have either used, borrowed, rented, or know those that have operated Poulan, McCouglah (?), Pioneer, Homelite, and a couple more I can't think of. They had problems with operating, insufficient power, or broke, hence when it came time for me to do a lot of cutting, I bought Stihl Pro on advice from a U.S. Forest Service friend. By the way, he endorses the other brands I mentioned as well. I didn't want to write war & peace, but you've beat it out of me!

Sorry for pulling teeth lol. I think we can all agree there are better brands than others but I really like to hear more than. " I had "X" unit that I couldn't start so its crap (typically stihl). Funny thing is, this is usually user error and not the equipment. If I didnt swallow my pride when purchasing my saw new when the salesman asked if I wanted to learn a few things about it, I probably would of called it crap too. I learned it starts completely different than ALL my other two stroke motors. With that said, when folloing their procedures, its starts the exact same way every time.

I like to hear, Unit "A" is poor because the bar doesn't take heat well and binds or bearings wear out. Unit "B" has the same CC and HP motor as "C" but seems to bog down more than "C". I cant compare a 440 to a 170 and expect them to run the same. I think alot of people shy away from their amount of use. I love my battery operated saw and managed to cut down a solid 4 inch sapling. BEST SAW EVER!!! j/j. Sorry, random thought. I am tired this glorious afternoon.

 

[DeereMann]

Sure, completely understand.

I've owned & operated only Stihl saws for 24 years, so my memories of 'other brands' are just that - memories. But I can accurately comment on Stihl, even though you asked what brands we would not recommend.

I concur with other members that Stihl's are 'harder to start' cold. By that, I mean they take more pulls. I believe, but am not positive, the reason is the Germans are eco-conscious & purposely run the engines lean. Even with full choke on, it takes a bit to pull enough fuel through to fire them cold. Maybe 4-6 pulls. Once hot, they start on the first pull. If that alone is enough to dissuade one from considering them, fine, but it doesn't deter me.

My oldest Stihl, Model 026 (now called 'Pro') has never failed me. It still runs great & cuts great. I have never had a problem with it. Except when a tree piroutted & fell on it! But that only mangled the handled, which I replaced. The 026 I used for everything until I could afford another saw for limbing, my 018.

The 018 is perfect for limbing - it is light and saves your forearms from fatigue from holding the saw up & out away from your body.

Then, I got the MS460 - serious power (6 hp) for felling & bucking large solid oak trees (up to 34" diameter). This was SO much easier than taking forever with my 026 it paid for itself within a couple big trees. And also for bucking (slicing up the huge but ends of the oaks). It cuts through them like butter.

The MS460 jumps up a chain size to 3/8" (0.375"). The 026 is 0.325" That makes a huge difference in speed of cut, but you gotta have the hp to do it. I only use 'chisel' chains on the 026 & 460. Safety chains are useless - the sit there & make sawdust instead of peeling chips.

How's that?

 

[KenB2920]

Sure, completely understand.

I've owned & operated only Stihl saws for 24 years, so my memories of 'other brands' are just that - memories. But I can accurately comment on Stihl, even though you asked what brands we would not recommend.

I concur with other members that Stihl's are 'harder to start' cold. By that, I mean they take more pulls. I believe, but am not positive, the reason is the Germans are eco-conscious & purposely run the engines lean. Even with full choke on, it takes a bit to pull enough fuel through to fire them cold. Maybe 4-6 pulls. Once hot, they start on the first pull. If that alone is enough to dissuade one from considering them, fine, but it doesn't deter me.

My oldest Stihl, Model 026 (now called 'Pro') has never failed me. It still runs great & cuts great. I have never had a problem with it. Except when a tree piroutted & fell on it! But that only mangled the handled, which I replaced. The 026 I used for everything until I could afford another saw for limbing, my 018.

The 018 is perfect for limbing - it is light and saves your forearms from fatigue from holding the saw up & out away from your body.

Then, I got the MS460 - serious power (6 hp) for felling & bucking large solid oak trees (up to 34" diameter). This was SO much easier than taking forever with my 026 it paid for itself within a couple big trees. And also for bucking (slicing up the huge but ends of the oaks). It cuts through them like butter.

The MS460 jumps up a chain size to 3/8" (0.375"). The 026 is 0.325" That makes a huge difference in speed of cut, but you gotta have the hp to do it. I only use 'chisel' chains on the 026 & 460. Safety chains are useless - the sit there & make sawdust instead of peeling chips.

How's that?

BAM :thumbsup::cool2::drink: PERFECTO!!!

 

[KenB2920]

BAM :thumbsup::cool2::drink: PERFECTO!!!

See, if you would of said your 018 is a great saw and recommend it. Someone who skips posts would think "Hey, I read this guys liked his saw and now I should go fell some 100 year old oaks with it". lol

 

[TSO]

Ok, here she is (although KenB did get a Sneak peek at her last night)...

I would say the color might be somewhere between red & Orange, but closer to Orange. A sad cry uglier than the sexy Makita blue/gray, but sacrifices must be made sometimes lol.

Haven't put gas in her yet or started her ... just took her out of the box. First impressions: she feels and looks like a chainsaw lol. No magic feat of engineering, but I would say the fit/finish look & feel nice. It's got the stock .325" safety chain, so I'll be replacing out with a 3/8" chisel and see how she takes it.

More to come once I start her ... I've got a few stumps to grind that have fallen to the back of the line because they're to tall, so the saw has jobs waiting.