Cordless saw: Stihl MSA 300 vs. 200?

[Stubby]

On 21/12/2024 at 00:45, scbk said:

Looks like the OP @Al Gordita has disappeared without telling us what bike he has! 

That's the problem with artificial intelligence , its artificial and that .  🙂

[Peter 1955]

Apologies for sticking my question in on here, but I didn't think it merited another thread so similar. I've been looking at the MSA300 because it can run on the same bar/chain as my 261 does. Most of my wood is hedge trimmings, and because it's bent branches, I use a sawhorse of sorts. I cut the bits to manageable lengths to bring into the yard, then log it and split it into the shed. It's often a two person job, one loading/unloading the horse, one cutting.

My 240v Makita is good for the stop/start nature of this, and is also low noise, which is a safety bonus. The safety drawback is the length of orange cable underfoot. That's why I was looking at the330, to lose the cable. Also, it would be portable for other jobs. 

With two batteries, I can probably keep going as constantly as I need to in the yard, but the astronomical price is a hindrance. The 220 has a big cost advantage, but I don't think I can get it on the same light 04 bar as the 300/261, which I would want, to save having so many different chains/sizes. 

Should I stick with the cabled saw, should I splurge on the 300, ( which to my way of thinking is the best option ), or can I save money on a 220, and still have the same bar/chain as my 261? Floor's yours folks, thanks for the advice. 

[Steven P]

Going on what I do - sounds similar to you, use the battery saw in the garage on firewood.

 

Guessing the hedge trimmings arn't going to be 2' diameter, more 6"? I went battery for the same reason - didn't want to trip on cables and is handy to have that saw out and about.

 

Matching bar and chain is a small consideration when talking multiple batteries though it is handy.

 

 

Based on you mostly cutting smaller stuff with it, and the 261 for anything meaty, I'd go 220. (As far as I understand it, till you get to a certain diameter the chain speeds will be pretty much the same, same cutting ability, unless you reach that point with the hedge trimmings the performance will be the same... happy to be corrected on that part though)

[scbk]

13 minutes ago, Peter 1955 said:

Apologies for sticking my question in on here, but I didn't think it merited another thread so similar. I've been looking at the MSA300 because it can run on the same bar/chain as my 261 does. Most of my wood is hedge trimmings, and because it's bent branches, I use a sawhorse of sorts. I cut the bits to manageable lengths to bring into the yard, then log it and split it into the shed. It's often a two person job, one loading/unloading the horse, one cutting.

My 240v Makita is good for the stop/start nature of this, and is also low noise, which is a safety bonus. The safety drawback is the length of orange cable underfoot. That's why I was looking at the330, to lose the cable. Also, it would be portable for other jobs. 

With two batteries, I can probably keep going as constantly as I need to in the yard, but the astronomical price is a hindrance. The 220 has a big cost advantage, but I don't think I can get it on the same light 04 bar as the 300/261, which I would want, to save having so many different chains/sizes. 

Should I stick with the cabled saw, should I splurge on the 300, ( which to my way of thinking is the best option ), or can I save money on a 220, and still have the same bar/chain as my 261? Floor's yours folks, thanks for the advice. 

What sort of volume, have you thought about a circular saw bench?

[Stere]

Id stick with the mains saw but never have  being bothered by the cable......

 

Id like a MSA300 just to play with but don't think it would be any advantage....for such cost

 

Do you have a  pole saw would be  nice to have a battery one to lop branches alongside the ms261 if you are trimming the  branches/trees on  hedgelines

 

 

 

 

[Peter 1955]

8 minutes ago, Stere said:

Id stick with the mains saw but never have  being bothered by the cable......

 

Id like a MSA300 just to play with but don't think it would be any advantage....for such cost

 

Do you have a  pole saw would be  nice to have a battery one to lop branches alongside the ms261 if you are trimming the  branches/trees on  hedgelines

 

 

 

 

Kombi Pole saw yes, petrol. The cunning plan going forward might be to get the battery version as well. Most of the trimmings are either done by a contractor with a 360 and shear, or sometimes me in a teleporter basket. 

21 minutes ago, scbk said:

What sort of volume, have you thought about a circular saw bench?

Oh good heavens yes. How I wish I hadn't had to say goodbye to the cast iron bench driven by a combine engine I put on a farm trailer many years ago. The right bench would actually be the perfect solution, but it's finding the right one at the right money. 

[scbk]

Have a look at the Balfor circular saws  https://www.balforuk.co.uk/shark-saw-benches

 

[Dan Maynard]

Buying an MSA300 instead of 220 to save having different chains is just nuts. Buy a 220, few spare chains, and a weekend away in the country.

 

Or a circular saw bench, more efficient.

[Peter 1955]

23 hours ago, Dan Maynard said:

Buying an MSA300 instead of 220 to save having different chains is just nuts. Buy a 220, few spare chains, and a weekend away in the country.

 

Or a circular saw bench, more efficient.

I'm not convinced that the 220 will offer quite enough muscle for what I want, as some of the logs are quite hefty. I definitely don't want yet another different chain profile, which is the reason for the appeal of the 300 running the same as my 261. 

Now as to a saw bench, well there's no question that a good bench would be a game changer, less handling time, more cutting time. Due to rarely having straight timber, the " logging " benches are ruled out, I'd be looking for something along the lines of this. 

Redband diesel saw bench

WWW.EBAY.CO.UK

---

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Redband diesel saw bench at the best online prices at eBay! Free delivery for many products.

That really would allow me to manage some of the awkward timber I come across.