Father owns a variety of STIHL Saws from when he worked on the Mountain cutting timber. Watching their reliability as a kid I knew what brand of saw I would get. I currently own the smaller ms180 and ms250 saws. They have been very reliable and fulfill my needs for doing work around the home, cutting firewood for the stove, etc.
Boy oh boy!! You have either been working your tucckus off or you got a great angle on that wood shed! There's a lot more winter warm stacked up since the last time you showed us! Atta boy!💪💪💪
@@FlatTireFarmHomesteadingAlaska absolutely! I'm praying that winter holds off for you guys for a bit, but gets cold here asap. ENOUGH OF THE FLYS & BUGS ALREADY!! 😆😆🤨
@@sandijammes7761 we need about 4 times as much wood. And we don’t be using the toyo much since heating oil is more than double what it was last year…Almost everyone from us all the way to the top of the state heats with heating oil. We have no other option. I’m worried about them.
I also think this is gonna be a tough winter for lots of people... for LOTS of different reasons, but doubled heating oil prices... geeeze Louise... that's awful & it's not even "that" season yet. Smh
How has it been for you since? I was gonna pick one up yesterday and the dealer couldn't get it started brand new. He didn't seem to recommend the 251.
Hey friend! I love this saw. It’s got more power than the 211 and feels no heavier. Only issue was a bit back had to get the carburetor adjusted. Other than that, it’s been perfect. We haven’t really looked at any newer saws that came out after this one though. Maybe they’re even cooler. Ha! Thanks for watching.
Your Stihl dealer has you hooked on a line if you believe that story about pricing. I like a lot of Stihl chainsaws but if any of the dealers I know tried telling me that story I would have laughed pretty hard!
@@FlatTireFarmHomesteadingAlaska if I may, please understand that I mean no malice as I have been using saws since I was 13 and am 47 now, neither of these saws is good for the home tinker to fix when the need comes. A good idea, if you can, is to look up some classic saws from the 1990s or older and find one you like the idea of that still has good parts availability and pick one up. DO NOT PAY A LOT FOR THE SAW and make sure it is complete, then get it running and stockpile the basic parts for it such as air cleaners and recoil springs. Maybe a spare pot and piston as well as a few carburetor kits. The satisfaction is unexplained! They mostly won't run neck and neck with a new professional saw but they often aren't far behind and they often tool the majority of Farm/Ranch class saws of today. The homeowner class hasn't got a hope against the classics like the XL76 Homelite or even a 1200a Pioneer.
I have a 251 and have had it since 2016. It has given me more grief than any saw I have. It is not the Yo-yo starter version. Last year it ate up the sprocket nose on its bar and I put a new bar and chain on it. I have two MS 250’s. One I built from a kit and the other I bought last month. I do not think my 251 will cut with either of my 250’s, because they have RS chains on them. I like my Stihl 025 better than any medium class saw I have. It is easier to start and will cut right along with my 260 and 251.
Hey John, thanks for watching! I’m sorry to hear about your 251. You must’ve gotten one built on a Friday afternoon! Ha! By the way, how do you like the RS chains?
@@FlatTireFarmHomesteadingAlaska they are a little grabby out of the box on my ms 250’s but that means I will not have to file the rakers for a while. As long as I keep the dogs buried they are not that grabby. I have several on my bigger saws - my ms 360 and 440, too. I like them better than the LGX chains because they are made from harder steel than the Oregon chains. The one drawback is they cost more than Oregon chains- about $30 a pop verses $20 a pop for the Oregon chains.
@@FlatTireFarmHomesteadingAlaska could be a Friday saw. I left Red Armor in it last year and it beat me to death getting it going. I have learned Red Armor likes to separate, so I do not use it anymore. I use nothing but Pond Water, as Richard Flagg calls Stihl Ultra. Never had a mechanical issue with it which is why Use it. I even like it better than Stihl MotoMix. I use 50:1 with PNE gas and stabilizer. It feeds everything I got and I have 17 saws, weed eaters, hedge trimmers, blowers and other lawn equipment.
As a homeowner had a few saws in my lifetime mostly cheap homelites. I need a new saw the homelite 20" bar lacks power bogs easily good enough for 4-8" wood. I decided to buy a new Stihl figuring I'm going have to fork over $600-800 looked for a used one but most were junk I don't have time to rebuild. I was surprised cost have dropped local ACE hardware carries them price starting at $259. My first thought was these must be Chinese built good professional ones are built in the US.
Hey friend! Thanks for watching and commenting! I have to agree with you about the Homelite saws. That’s where I started as well and I was never impressed with them. It seems like I was always working on them. I would be really surprised to see a Stihl for $259. That doesn’t sound right to me either. What I have done in the past is find a full-service Stihl dealer so that I could bring tools back to them to repair as well. You’re going to pay a good bit more for them, but in my experience, it’s well worth the added cost. The advice that I got from my dad when I was tired of messing with Homelite or craftsman chainsaws was to buy a Stihl and don’t look back. That’s the same advice that I give to everyone. I agree with you though. I would stay away from a $259 chainsaw. I hope this was helpful!
@@FlatTireFarmHomesteadingAlaska What I found was indeed the lower cost "Homeowners" Stihl models were not the same as the more expensive commercial models. What I didn't like about them was the lack of a fuel bulb could not prime them. I had seen several bad comments left that had to pull the starter several times to get fuel to prime. I really could not afford a $600-1500 saw which had a fuel bulb I went with the Makita / Dolmar saw its 56CC for $459. EA5600FREG off Amazon. Makita discontinued the gas saws still selling stock they have. It has a primer bulb, traditional style bar adjustment with the two captured nuts and flat screwdriver. Top cover pops off with 3 clips. I had to buy special driver to adjust the A/F on the carb, but I haven't needed to mess with it even going up to 7500 feet in altitude. I had trouble starting it one time I believe it was user error I flooded it we eventually got it started. I have not seen it bog at all even large 15-17" thick old dried out Juniper trees. Too bad Makita quit selling the gas stuff and Dolmar is out of business the company invested the chainsaw in 1927.
@@FlatTireFarmHomesteadingAlaska I'm 14 years old and it is a 10/10 saw. I have a 20-inch bar for the big stuff but my favorite bar to run is the 18-incher.
Thats a sick saw for you xD i ordered the 251 yday, too bad it comes with 35cm bar stock. Upgrading will cost a buck, but i hope the saw is gonna be good
@@FlatTireFarmHomesteadingAlaska I will! I was already leaning towards the 251c before I saw this video pop up. I could probably get away with a smaller saw at this property but I know I'll need a larger one at some point so may as well get it now, but I don't want one as big as the 261 we have here currently.
I love the 251! It’s not much heavier than the 211, but it has more power and a longer bar. My advice would be get the ms251c and don’t look back! It can handle up to a 20” bar, and you really don’t need a bigger bar than that in south central anyway!
Hey friend! Do you have the new thinner bar? If so, you’ll probably have to get one from the dealer you bought the saw from. If not, any of the big box stores have most common sizes of chain. This is a super tough time of year though, because demand is quite high. If your dealer doesn’t have one, just keep checking. They may have just ran out temporarily! Thanks for watching and commenting! Hope that was helpful
@@FlatTireFarmHomesteadingAlaska ya it is a 1.3mm ace didn't have the same replacement. I think I found one but it has 5 more teeth. Just ordered it. Do you know if it's ok to run a 20 inch bar on the 251c? Thanks for commenting!
Hey Clay, glad to have you along with us. When we bought the 211 in 2015, it was $1000 at Jackovich which I believe is an Alaskan company and not a national franchise. In 2022, the chainsaw technology (easy pull, tool-less chain tensioner,etc.)had become standard and not newfangled like it was in 2015. So, the prices were way less gouging. We bought the 251 at Moores (an Ace Hardware) for around $500. We were shocked how much cheaper it was! Thanks for watching. Stay warm out there.
@@FlatTireFarmHomesteadingAlaska dang I picked up a ms211 today, had a old polan like 40 plus cc that ms211 cut through theses four trees like butter 🧈 in 15 minutes. I was scared it be too small not At all, for a small saw
@@FlatTireFarmHomesteadingAlaska I have both saws in the e-z start tool less bar adjustable models that I bought in 2013 {ms251 c-be 379.00 with a case & extra chain a sales special) and the ms211 c -be in 2014 was 329.00 in Oregon. I got a ms 362 in 2013 and it was 700.00 and just a week later the price went up to 750.00
Great video. I was really enjoying your video UNTIL you used that loud hideous background music turned up to cover up the sound of the chainsaws. Why did you do that. I really wanted to hear the differences in the saws going through the wood. Other than that a great video. Please ditch the background music.
Father owns a variety of STIHL Saws from when he worked on the Mountain cutting timber. Watching their reliability as a kid I knew what brand of saw I would get. I currently own the smaller ms180 and ms250 saws. They have been very reliable and fulfill my needs for doing work around the home, cutting firewood for the stove, etc.
Those old logging saws are beasts! I wish I had a few. Be blessed friend.
I have a 180 and a 251 myself love them both
The 251C is a powerful saw for its class, keep a sharp chain n u be laughing all the way 😅
@gunterbecker8528 agreed! I still absolutely love this saw! Thanks for watching
Love my 251 , never let me down . Perfect saw for basic firewood use.
We love ours too! Thanks for watching friend.
Just bought a 251C of FB marketplace. I’ve wanted a Stihl for as long as I can remember. Can’t wait to use it
Awedome! I hope you love it like I do!
Boy oh boy!! You have either been working your tucckus off or you got a great angle on that wood shed! There's a lot more winter warm stacked up since the last time you showed us! Atta boy!💪💪💪
Thanks for noticing friend!
@@FlatTireFarmHomesteadingAlaska absolutely! I'm praying that winter holds off for you guys for a bit, but gets cold here asap. ENOUGH OF THE FLYS & BUGS ALREADY!! 😆😆🤨
@@sandijammes7761 we need about 4 times as much wood. And we don’t be using the toyo much since heating oil is more than double what it was last year…Almost everyone from us all the way to the top of the state heats with heating oil. We have no other option. I’m worried about them.
@@FlatTireFarmHomesteadingAlaska wow, more than double. Thanks Joe. I'll keep them in my prayers - way up there. 🙏🙏
I also think this is gonna be a tough winter for lots of people... for LOTS of different reasons, but doubled heating oil prices... geeeze Louise... that's awful & it's not even "that" season yet. Smh
I just got the wood boss and love it. Great video
I’m glad you enjoyed it, friend. Have a great week.
How has it been for you since? I was gonna pick one up yesterday and the dealer couldn't get it started brand new. He didn't seem to recommend the 251.
Hey friend! I love this saw. It’s got more power than the 211 and feels no heavier. Only issue was a bit back had to get the carburetor adjusted. Other than that, it’s been perfect. We haven’t really looked at any newer saws that came out after this one though. Maybe they’re even cooler. Ha! Thanks for watching.
Your Stihl dealer has you hooked on a line if you believe that story about pricing. I like a lot of Stihl chainsaws but if any of the dealers I know tried telling me that story I would have laughed pretty hard!
@@turtlewolfpack6061 there is no story here, these were two different experiences that I purchased with my own money. Musta got lucky 💕
@@FlatTireFarmHomesteadingAlaska if I may, please understand that I mean no malice as I have been using saws since I was 13 and am 47 now, neither of these saws is good for the home tinker to fix when the need comes. A good idea, if you can, is to look up some classic saws from the 1990s or older and find one you like the idea of that still has good parts availability and pick one up.
DO NOT PAY A LOT FOR THE SAW and make sure it is complete, then get it running and stockpile the basic parts for it such as air cleaners and recoil springs. Maybe a spare pot and piston as well as a few carburetor kits.
The satisfaction is unexplained! They mostly won't run neck and neck with a new professional saw but they often aren't far behind and they often tool the majority of Farm/Ranch class saws of today.
The homeowner class hasn't got a hope against the classics like the XL76 Homelite or even a 1200a Pioneer.
I have a 251 and have had it since 2016. It has given me more grief than any saw I have. It is not the Yo-yo starter version. Last year it ate up the sprocket nose on its bar and I put a new bar and chain on it. I have two MS 250’s. One I built from a kit and the other I bought last month. I do not think my 251 will cut with either of my 250’s, because they have RS chains on them. I like my Stihl 025 better than any medium class saw I have. It is easier to start and will cut right along with my 260 and 251.
Hey John, thanks for watching! I’m sorry to hear about your 251. You must’ve gotten one built on a Friday afternoon! Ha! By the way, how do you like the RS chains?
@@FlatTireFarmHomesteadingAlaska they are a little grabby out of the box on my ms 250’s but that means I will not have to file the rakers for a while. As long as I keep the dogs buried they are not that grabby. I have several on my bigger saws - my ms 360 and 440, too. I like them better than the LGX chains because they are made from harder steel than the Oregon chains. The one drawback is they cost more than Oregon chains- about $30 a pop verses $20 a pop for the Oregon chains.
@@FlatTireFarmHomesteadingAlaska could be a Friday saw. I left Red Armor in it last year and it beat me to death getting it going. I have learned Red Armor likes to separate, so I do not use it anymore. I use nothing but Pond Water, as Richard Flagg calls Stihl Ultra. Never had a mechanical issue with it which is why Use it. I even like it better than Stihl MotoMix. I use 50:1 with PNE gas and stabilizer. It feeds everything I got and I have 17 saws, weed eaters, hedge trimmers, blowers and other lawn equipment.
17 saws?! Holy smokes! I’ve only got three! Out of curiosity, what’s your favorite?
@@FlatTireFarmHomesteadingAlaska for big stuff, my ms 360 that I built in 2019. For smaller stuff my 025.
I own both of these saws. The 251 is significantly more powerful, it can cut down a 20.inch tree.
The 211 is better suited to 4" limbs
The 211 has about 2,3hp, the 251 about 3hp, so the difference ist just about 0,7hp…but u can definitely feel that the 251 is more powerful!
Definitely! I love these saws!
As a homeowner had a few saws in my lifetime mostly cheap homelites. I need a new saw the homelite 20" bar lacks power bogs easily good enough for 4-8" wood. I decided to buy a new Stihl figuring I'm going have to fork over $600-800 looked for a used one but most were junk I don't have time to rebuild. I was surprised cost have dropped local ACE hardware carries them price starting at $259. My first thought was these must be Chinese built good professional ones are built in the US.
Hey friend! Thanks for watching and commenting! I have to agree with you about the Homelite saws. That’s where I started as well and I was never impressed with them. It seems like I was always working on them. I would be really surprised to see a Stihl for $259. That doesn’t sound right to me either. What I have done in the past is find a full-service Stihl dealer so that I could bring tools back to them to repair as well. You’re going to pay a good bit more for them, but in my experience, it’s well worth the added cost. The advice that I got from my dad when I was tired of messing with Homelite or craftsman chainsaws was to buy a Stihl and don’t look back. That’s the same advice that I give to everyone. I agree with you though. I would stay away from a $259 chainsaw. I hope this was helpful!
@FlatTireFarmHomesteadingAlaska the stihl ms170 or 180 is at 259... haven't heard bad things about them. Good for small stuff
@@FlatTireFarmHomesteadingAlaska What I found was indeed the lower cost "Homeowners" Stihl models were not the same as the more expensive commercial models. What I didn't like about them was the lack of a fuel bulb could not prime them. I had seen several bad comments left that had to pull the starter several times to get fuel to prime. I really could not afford a $600-1500 saw which had a fuel bulb I went with the Makita / Dolmar saw its 56CC for $459. EA5600FREG off Amazon. Makita discontinued the gas saws still selling stock they have. It has a primer bulb, traditional style bar adjustment with the two captured nuts and flat screwdriver. Top cover pops off with 3 clips. I had to buy special driver to adjust the A/F on the carb, but I haven't needed to mess with it even going up to 7500 feet in altitude. I had trouble starting it one time I believe it was user error I flooded it we eventually got it started. I have not seen it bog at all even large 15-17" thick old dried out Juniper trees. Too bad Makita quit selling the gas stuff and Dolmar is out of business the company invested the chainsaw in 1927.
I have an MS 261.
Hey friend! What do you think of it?
@@FlatTireFarmHomesteadingAlaska I'm 14 years old and it is a 10/10 saw. I have a 20-inch bar for the big stuff but my favorite bar to run is the 18-incher.
That’s awesome! The 18 is my favorite too!
Thats a sick saw for you xD i ordered the 251 yday, too bad it comes with 35cm bar stock. Upgrading will cost a buck, but i hope the saw is gonna be good
@@karm00n29 you’ll love it! Its my favorite saw I’ve ever owned! Enjoy it!
speak of the devil, look what showed up in my search results tonight. currently leaning towards the 251c.
❤️❤️
Let us know if you have any questions. This video was a bit of an overview.
@@FlatTireFarmHomesteadingAlaska I will! I was already leaning towards the 251c before I saw this video pop up. I could probably get away with a smaller saw at this property but I know I'll need a larger one at some point so may as well get it now, but I don't want one as big as the 261 we have here currently.
I love the 251! It’s not much heavier than the 211, but it has more power and a longer bar. My advice would be get the ms251c and don’t look back! It can handle up to a 20” bar, and you really don’t need a bigger bar than that in south central anyway!
I think more than likely the cost reduction has more to do with Chinese manufacturing. lol
I can not find a new chain for the 251c!
Hey friend! Do you have the new thinner bar? If so, you’ll probably have to get one from the dealer you bought the saw from. If not, any of the big box stores have most common sizes of chain. This is a super tough time of year though, because demand is quite high. If your dealer doesn’t have one, just keep checking. They may have just ran out temporarily! Thanks for watching and commenting! Hope that was helpful
@@FlatTireFarmHomesteadingAlaska ya it is a 1.3mm ace didn't have the same replacement. I think I found one but it has 5 more teeth. Just ordered it. Do you know if it's ok to run a 20 inch bar on the 251c? Thanks for commenting!
@guitarplaya696 yes the 20 in bar is ok for the 251. I think it’s the longest bar they recommend
Where do I get it for half the cost as 211 lol
Hey Clay, glad to have you along with us. When we bought the 211 in 2015, it was $1000 at Jackovich which I believe is an Alaskan company and not a national franchise. In 2022, the chainsaw technology (easy pull, tool-less chain tensioner,etc.)had become standard and not newfangled like it was in 2015. So, the prices were way less gouging. We bought the 251 at Moores (an Ace Hardware) for around $500. We were shocked how much cheaper it was! Thanks for watching. Stay warm out there.
@@FlatTireFarmHomesteadingAlaska dang I picked up a ms211 today, had a old polan like 40 plus cc that ms211 cut through theses four trees like butter 🧈 in 15 minutes. I was scared it be too small not At all, for a small saw
@@clayramsey019 yeah, it pretty much rocks. Ha!
@@FlatTireFarmHomesteadingAlaska I have both saws in the e-z start tool less bar adjustable models that I bought in 2013 {ms251 c-be 379.00 with a case & extra chain a sales special) and the ms211 c -be in 2014 was 329.00 in Oregon. I got a ms 362 in 2013 and it was 700.00 and just a week later the price went up to 750.00
@@IJLook whoa!
Great video. I was really enjoying your video UNTIL you used that loud hideous background music turned up to cover up the sound of the chainsaws. Why did you do that. I really wanted to hear the differences in the saws going through the wood. Other than that a great video. Please ditch the background music.
Glad you enjoyed it
They don't call it wood-Boss for nothing.
😊
C'mon. No PPE. Great show butt, for all you do, think about the ER visit cost .