My two Stihl's.

[Topkicker]

Agreed.

If you can get by with a smaller saw, the Dolmar PS350 and PS420 have about teh most awesome AV of any saw I have ever ran:thumbsup:

I'd like to try a Dolmar. They look like a high quality saw. They make the only saw I would consider other than Stihl. Whats a comparable Dolmar saw to a MS290 or a MS310?

 

[LD1]

I'd like to try a Dolmar. They look like a high quality saw. They make the only saw I would consider other than Stihl. Whats a comparable Dolmar saw to a MS290 or a MS310?

PS5105....Comparable in CC's only. The dolmar is much smoother, faster, and lighter.

I havent heard much or ran the PS460 and PS510, But are probabally more comparable in speed and weight

 

[SpringHollow]

Stihl makes some lower vibration chains as well, their RSC chain for example.

And the 361 and 660 are both wonderful saws.

Ken

 

[RobertN]

I want an 090. Just because...

Or a Contra/Lightning...

I dream of a MS 660 too. My cusin in GA has one with a skip tooth full chisel chain. You can take that bad boy out of the case and the tree gives up and just falls.:laughing::laughing::laughing:

 

[Topkicker]

Stihl makes some lower vibration chains as well, their RSC chain for example.

And the 361 and 660 are both wonderful saws.

Ken

My MS290 came with the low kickback chain on the 20in bar. I switched to a RSC the second day I owned it. Major difference in cut time.

 

[xyz123]

I'd like to try a Dolmar. They look like a high quality saw. They make the only saw I would consider other than Stihl. Whats a comparable Dolmar saw to a MS290 or a MS310?

PS5105....Comparable in CC's only. The dolmar is much smoother, faster, and lighter.

I havent heard much or ran the PS460 and PS510, But are probabally more comparable in speed and weight

I dont think Dolmar even builds a PO like a plastic 290 or 310. The 5105 is built like the stihl MS260 MS261, husky 346xp. Pro grade not cheap grade crap.

 

[LD1]

I dont think Dolmar even builds a PO like a plastic 290 or 310. The 5105 is built like the stihl MS260 MS261, husky 346xp. Pro grade not cheap grade crap.

I guess I though he meant comparible as far as weight and cost were concerned.

Do doubt the dolmar is MUCH higher quality than those two particular stihls

 

[9973720wb19]

was using my Stihl just this past Monday and it was very windy...had my regular eye glasses on yet the saw dust was flying and blowing...ended up at one of those 24 hour medical care places in bad pain from the saw dust scratching into my eye. missed work tuesday and still in pain...never do that again!!, ordered some nice wrap around protective safely glasses. let's all learn from this...

 

[Coyote machine]

Started using Stihls made in western Germany back in '65 or '66 when I had my first real job working for the largest tree outfit in northern NJ. Ran everything they threw my way, ALL Stihl. No chain-brakes, not even hand guards on the top of the saw in those days, no ear plugs, chaps, or helmets, or eye protection. The branch chippers we ran were way more deadly than those used today. No kill bar or anyway to stop them when operated by one guy. Came too close to going in the chute too many times.
Have 7 Stihls now- nothing amazing, size wise or cc wise, but all good saws for my own use and my hired hand, whom I'm teaching to run the saws effectively.
See signature below.:thumbsup:

 

[HickoryNut]

The 290/310/390 series beg to be muffler-modded. Serious power gain, quicker acceleration, and mechanical longevity when you Dremel out the muffler baffle/port and re-tune the carb properly. Tons of google info on this process.