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[chadley]

I have always used large saws for firewood and have used both Stihls and Husqvarna's.  I work for a tree service as a side job and use mid-range to larger saws daily.  However, I've never really used small limb saws as we tend to use pole saws for that type of work.  I am in the market for a small lightweight but dependable Stihl saw for clearing small saplings and small dead fall off my farm.  I have a Stihl 461 for my big firewood and felling jobs.  Can you suggest a saw for me? My dealer recomended the 170 but I've read bad reviews on them being cheaply made as well as the whole line of smaller Stihl saws.  I just spent a grand on my 461 so I'm on a budget as well.  What do you guys suggest?

[MD20/20]

I have the same question. 

[tree climber]

ms 260 if you can find one

[J Cooch]

I have had an MS 170 for about 7 or 8 years and so far it has been good. For a small saw it has done alot of cutting. I bought an MS 250 for the larger wood both are fairly lightweight. I only cut for myself maybe ten cord per year.

[BIGDIESEL20S]

MS 260 or MS 200T would be my first picks. But they are very pricey saws if you want to save some cash try a MS 250 its not a pro seires saw like the 260 & 200T but for the money you can not beat the power to weight ratio of the 250. I have all three and I cut wood with my 61 year old uncle and he always had the 250 in his hands until I just got my 200T now he says that those are his and I can use all the big saws  .

[garz]

My "go to" saw for anything smaller than 8" is my Stihl 192T. Nothing beats a top handle for small limbs

[tree climber]

carefull  with the 192 and the 200t top handel saws are bad on kick back. made to use in tree

[Tree_Killer]

I second what "tree climber" said.  Those 2 saws weren't meant for ground work, or none professional use imo.  Both great small and powerful saws...but that is what makes them even more dangerous.  They are still two handed saws.

I have both of these saws. But if doing ground work Ill grab my 361 (or for big stuff the 660).  The 361 may still be a bit big for small limbs though.  I would recommend staying away from top handled saws and go with a small traditional handled saw.

[fireboss]

I to have a ms 200 14" bar and it has two handels and it is an animal. it is very light weight and it cost me rite around 600$ best saw I ever ran if i need anything biger I dont bother with it to much like work!

[kybaseball]

I have a ms 211c with a 14" bar for all small stuff. I bought it for my younger son to use as he lives to be in the woods with me. It handles great and has a lot of power to get the small stuff done quick. Also will do some mid size wood. Really light to get into the tuffer places.

[BIGDIESEL20S]

The only thing that makes the 200T and the 192T such a danger is the user. Most of the time it comes back to the user not having proper chain on saw or not using both hands to run and hold the saw like it was intended to be used. I agree that both saws are intended for pro use, and the top handle does promote one handed use even though (per Sthil) its never suppose to be used that way. Any saw can be a danger if not used properly. You can also get either of those saws with rear handle and be safer than top handle since its not tempting you to try to reach way over or up with one hand on the saw to make that one or two cuts.