Well done review. Just remember, wood cutter folks, always think before using that saw: 'Should I put on those chain saw chaps or no, aww I'm only gonna be doing a quick couple of cuts' !! AND, I really like this MS 181-C-BE and I am on my 78th trip around the SUN !!
Just bought a ms271 and still using the little 009. Great combination. The 181 is about $400 in Australia and my ms271 was $899. The people of America are lucky you have almost everything alot cheaper over there. The cost of living here has become ridiculous
mrdilligaf1968 I have two sister who live in Sydney they didn’t want to move to USA back in 90’s Now they kind of regret it Australia has high import tariff and taxes Real estate price also went insane Good luck
Ramfis Got Stihl 181 today as a gift from a good friend. Cut a 80 foot Maple that feel down from hurricane IRMA and put out to the street in 2 hours. Started right away. This is my second chainsaw, the first was a Poulan that was so hard to start and ran so erratic. The Stihl 181c in reality is a real superb saw for my needs.
Stihl products. Agreed - the best. I have eight of them from the 015L to the ms 391, however, my 271 is my favorite saw. My 181 is in storage condition right now. I am using my 271 and 391 for most work, right now. I do not have a problem dancing through the tulips with a 20 inch machine. I have one 14 inch machine, 2 16 inch machines, one 1i inch machine and 4 20 inch machines. Go figure.
I have been using a stihl ms 361 for 2 years now. I brought it second hand for £130 and then spent £100 on getting up to a good standard. It's a 2008 model but it still runs great! The problem is that the saw is heavy and it really shows when your using it all day. I am seriously considering buying a ms181 for the smaller jobs that just don't need the bigger engine. It will save time and energy using a smaller saw. Thanks for the video! It was very informative
Thanks for your explanation mate, you helped me to decide myself to take this one. Was unsecure of purchasing the cheapest of the catalogue, but it seems will be a good decision.
I agree, the ms 281 CBE is an excellent saw. I also have a 271 and 291, but they are equipped with 20 inch bars. just remember, like all saws less than about 45 cc's - the 181, 170 and even 211 are one tank a day saws. if you use them more than that you run a big chance of smoking them down. a 271 or 291 can work all day without to much difficulty, which is why I also have these saws, but it is best to equip them with RM or RS chains if you want to do some serious cutting in hardwood. green chains are OK for limping and other light work but yellow chains are better for bucking hardwood.
@@dertobbe1176 I actually ended up going with the ms 180. I absolutely love it!!! Highly recommend! I’ve never used a ms181 but I can’t see how ya can go wrong! Hope this helps
Hi. My older brothers have always bought and used Husqvarna.. and they are a bit annoyed of that I am looking at other brands.. but I'm considering Stihl 181 c.. because of lighter weight and lighter handling as you speak of in the video.. and the 181 c is coming on sale next week in the local hardware store.. thank you for your video
I got the 180 c for a couple of years ago and as he says the mashine is great , handles great and yeasy to use . I am happy with it . I dont use it every day it can go months apart the times i use it so i run it on stihls gasoline it costs more but the gas can stand for years in the saw and can.
Wow! I just bought the MS180C for my first chain saw. I was a bit concerned that it might be too small of a saw, but it was all that I could afford. I have an acre of land with many old Oak and Elm trees on it. I am having a home built on the property at this time and they ripped out a bunch of those trees. I want to go and cut as much of that up for my firewood for next Winter. After seeing your review and others here on CZcams, I feel that I have actually bought the "Right" saw after all.
AdamEater Hi Adam: I used the saw yesterday to begin cutting up all of those Oaks and Elms. It really is a great saw, but after cutting for about an hour (taking breaks and also checking on the Bar Oil) I noticed that it began to "Smoke" a little while I was cutting. I was very worried that I might be burning up my saw, so I called my dealer and explained to him what was going on. He asked me "Is the saw kicking out CHIPS or does it look like Saw Dust?"...and I told him I really hadn't paid attention to it. He said that if it looks like Saw Dust, then your chain is dull and needs to be sharpened. That was believable due to the fact I was cutting some old Oaks. So, I brought the saw in and I'm having the chain sharpened and I also bought another new chain as a back up. Changing a Chain on this little saw is so damn easy, as easy as it is to adjust the tensioning. The diameter of the wood I was cutting was generally in the 8 to 10 inches, but I have some that are huge and I might have to rent a Farm Boss to cut them up..they are around 26 inches in diameter.
Keep in mind that the Oaks/Elms are hardwood and your saw is going to work a little harder getting threw them. A lot of times the sawdust can gum up your oiler. So even though you're top off on bar oil, you need to take the cover and bar off and clean off the oiler. I take compressed air to it. That's probaby why you're getting a bit of smoke. Also, depending on how much cutting you've been doing there's a chance the chain needs a sharpening.
I'm not sure where you're located, but the 271 is 400 in my area. For 500 I could get the 291 or 311. Personally I run the 028, 029, 271, 391, and now the 661. I'm looking to buy the 462, 500i, and 880 eventually. Nothing wrong with small saws, I just don't use them.
I do not know if it is the best saw for the homesteader or not but I do like my 181cbe. I use my MS- 360/361 an awful lot. I do not like that tapered bar the 181 comes with nor that .043 gage chain, either. I am replacing my bar with an Oregon Versacut bar and their .050 gage chain. Use good two cycle oil (Stihl Ultra) and good gas ( premium, non ethanol) and your aw should last a lifetime.
Thanks for the vid. Does your chain loosen quickly? After cutting for just a few minutes, I have to tighten the chain. Perhaps that's normal, I'm a bit inexperienced.
Heat causes your chain to loosen, make sure you take the cover off and clean the bar housing, that should help with the heat as your oil should flow a little better, another thing, the wind up chains tend to loosen quicker than the tool tightened ones
My mind is made up, I'm buying the 181 tomorrow, and they have 2 in stock at my store, and to think I was thinking about buying the 170 or 171, I am so glad I didn't...
Is there a big difference between the MS180 and the MS181? I have an opportunity to get either one used. Both lite use, 180 is a 2017 and the 181 is a 2019. I qon't be ising it too often and not heavily. Whay do you think?
Husqvarna is good too but be careful if you are buying the lowest end Husqvarna then you are most likely just buying an orange poulan. Just check and make sure the model you are buying is made by Husqvarna and not poulan.
I have an Echo and it's a POS I am constantly having the chain either come off or get loose after like 2-3 horizontal cuts. Buying a Stihl soon hoping to remedy that issue
Great video thanks for the info I'm in the market for a new saw, using an older craftsman 16" and its not performing the way I need to. Been looking at Stihl as one of the ones to buy might end up being the case.
I think you'll like Stihl. Plus, like I mentioned in the vid, they really stand behind their products if you ever have a problem. Let me know what you decide:)
I'm gonna buy my first gasoline chainsaw, thinking of STIHL MS 170. Should i cosider to give few bucks more for MS 180? Also should i go to 171/181 range (same power more expensive, but newer models)?
Good question, what is it's primary use going to be? That's really how to decide if you want the extra power. For a what I do the 180/181 is the minimum I need. Any less powerful of a saw should be restricted to just limbing trees.
I would spend a few extra dollars and move up to the 180. Cutting the walnut will be a bit of a chore for the 180, but if you don't cut that often it will fit you well. They're also priceless to have around for pruning and removing limbs. Plus, if you ever get into cutting larger trees more often with a larger saw, the 180 is a great "Rescue" saw for when you get the large one pinched or in a tight spot. Good Luck!
I'm also very confused? Are we saying that a saw made in an EU contrary i.e. Germany is cheaper new in the USA than I can purchase a used one with some issues and a worn chain and bar from Ebay? is this really true I am genuinely asking. ❤
Had mine for 3 years now. Great saw. Light to use, good on fuel. Gets used all day some days tackling some big timber. Great.
Well done review. Just remember, wood cutter folks, always think before using that saw: 'Should I put on those chain saw chaps or no, aww I'm only gonna be doing a quick couple of cuts' !! AND, I really like this MS 181-C-BE and I am on my 78th trip around the SUN !!
recently purchased the MS181 C-BE and absolutely love it. great saw for many homeowners.
Im heading out to buy one shortly. I like the bigger gas tank and oil tank vs the regular 180.
minibike madman you’re going to love it
Just bought a ms271 and still using the little 009. Great combination.
The 181 is about $400 in Australia and my ms271 was $899. The people of America are lucky you have almost everything alot cheaper over there. The cost of living here has become ridiculous
mrdilligaf1968
I have two sister who live in Sydney they didn’t want to move to USA back in 90’s
Now they kind of regret it
Australia has high import tariff and taxes
Real estate price also went insane
Good luck
I have the 271 and just purchased a used 181. I would agree. Damn good saw!
Ramfis
Got Stihl 181 today as a gift from a good friend. Cut a 80 foot Maple that feel down from hurricane IRMA and put out to the street in 2 hours. Started right away. This is my second chainsaw, the first was a Poulan that was so hard to start and ran so erratic. The Stihl 181c in reality is a real superb saw for my needs.
Looking at buying a 181 myself so thanks for this video, helps me make up my mind
Thanks for reviewing this. I just bought an MS 181 to go with my MS 311 for firewood cutting this season. Looking forward to firing it up.
Brilliant review! I have a ms181 and find myself using it 3 times as much as my ms 261 or my 038 super. Fantastic saw that can fell trees well.
I have the 181 saw and is a great machine! The easy chain tensioner is very handy!
Bought mine today! MS181c, can't wait to use it this winter
Just had one second hand with four new chains. Single 19mm captive nut and flat screw tension. 16" bar. Looks great next to my 180, 021, 020T and 261.
Just bought one yesterday can't wait to use it
I've had the ms500i ms251 and I tend to use my ms181c mainly.
Great presentation 👏
by the way well done
Thanks for this video. I find your rundown of this saw to be very helpful; I am either going with this saw or the 171. Excellent video...very helpful.
Stihl products. Agreed - the best. I have eight of them from the 015L to the ms 391, however, my 271 is my favorite saw. My 181 is in storage condition right now. I am using my 271 and 391 for most work, right now. I do not have a problem dancing through the tulips with a 20 inch machine. I have one 14 inch machine, 2 16 inch machines, one 1i inch machine and 4 20 inch machines. Go figure.
I love all Stihl products!
I have been using a stihl ms 361 for 2 years now. I brought it second hand for £130 and then spent £100 on getting up to a good standard. It's a 2008 model but it still runs great! The problem is that the saw is heavy and it really shows when your using it all day. I am seriously considering buying a ms181 for the smaller jobs that just don't need the bigger engine. It will save time and energy using a smaller saw.
Thanks for the video! It was very informative
You're welcome. Let me know if you get one, be curious to see if you like it as well.
Bought mine today and can’t wait to use. Wish I lived in the states if that is the price. Just paid $449
I have the same saws other than my farm boss is a older ms290
Completely agree with your assessment,love my little ms181c
I got ms 180 16 inch blade i love it
Thanks for your explanation mate, you helped me to decide myself to take this one. Was unsecure of purchasing the cheapest of the catalogue, but it seems will be a good decision.
I just bought the ms 181 used it once. Awesome so far..
Enjoy..Love my 181, you'll love it too!
I agree, the ms 281 CBE is an excellent saw. I also have a 271 and 291, but they are equipped with 20 inch bars. just remember, like all saws less than about 45 cc's - the 181, 170 and even 211 are one tank a day saws. if you use them more than that you run a big chance of smoking them down. a 271 or 291 can work all day without to much difficulty, which is why I also have these saws, but it is best to equip them with RM or RS chains if you want to do some serious cutting in hardwood. green chains are OK for limping and other light work but yellow chains are better for bucking hardwood.
Great video! I was torn over which model to get. Your video has helped me so much! Thank you! MS 181 looks like my go to model. God bless you sir
And Do you recommend it?
@@dertobbe1176 I actually ended up going with the ms 180. I absolutely love it!!! Highly recommend! I’ve never used a ms181 but I can’t see how ya can go wrong! Hope this helps
2:20 $170 7 years ago, I paid $400 for it last week :)
The 171 that I own is also a good option for small tree work
Hi. My older brothers have always bought and used Husqvarna.. and they are a bit annoyed of that I am looking at other brands.. but I'm considering Stihl 181 c.. because of lighter weight and lighter handling as you speak of in the video.. and the 181 c is coming on sale next week in the local hardware store.. thank you for your video
You're welcome!
I got the 180 c for a couple of years ago and as he says the mashine is great , handles great and yeasy to use . I am happy with it . I dont use it every day it can go months apart the times i use it so i run it on stihls gasoline it costs more but the gas can stand for years in the saw and can.
I would go with Stihl, Husqvarna has shitty customer service.
I'm waiting for my 181cbe to be delivered but I've been using a friends 181c for about a year and I love it
Enjoy, just a great all around saw!
AdamEater have you ever tried the 211?
binzy1996 My neighbor has one, saw it in action a few times..Great saw as well.
Wow! I just bought the MS180C for my first chain saw. I was a bit concerned that it might be too small of a saw, but it was all that I could afford. I have an acre of land with many old Oak and Elm trees on it. I am having a home built on the property at this time and they ripped out a bunch of those trees. I want to go and cut as much of that up for my firewood for next Winter. After seeing your review and others here on CZcams, I feel that I have actually bought the "Right" saw after all.
Let me know how it works out! Really just comes down to diameter of the wood your cutting.
AdamEater Hi Adam: I used the saw yesterday to begin cutting up all of those Oaks and Elms. It really is a great saw, but after cutting for about an hour (taking breaks and also checking on the Bar Oil) I noticed that it began to "Smoke" a little while I was cutting. I was very worried that I might be burning up my saw, so I called my dealer and explained to him what was going on. He asked me "Is the saw kicking out CHIPS or does it look like Saw Dust?"...and I told him I really hadn't paid attention to it. He said that if it looks like Saw Dust, then your chain is dull and needs to be sharpened. That was believable due to the fact I was cutting some old Oaks. So, I brought the saw in and I'm having the chain sharpened and I also bought another new chain as a back up. Changing a Chain on this little saw is so damn easy, as easy as it is to adjust the tensioning. The diameter of the wood I was cutting was generally in the 8 to 10 inches, but I have some that are huge and I might have to rent a Farm Boss to cut them up..they are around 26 inches in diameter.
Keep in mind that the Oaks/Elms are hardwood and your saw is going to work a little harder getting threw them. A lot of times the sawdust can gum up your oiler. So even though you're top off on bar oil, you need to take the cover and bar off and clean off the oiler. I take compressed air to it. That's probaby why you're getting a bit of smoke. Also, depending on how much cutting you've been doing there's a chance the chain needs a sharpening.
AdamEater buy the stihl sharpener and do it yourself..super easy its the 2in 1 sharpener..
Great, helpful video. Thanks for posting!
Thanks for a good video, very well explained.
I'm not sure where you're located, but the 271 is 400 in my area. For 500 I could get the 291 or 311. Personally I run the 028, 029, 271, 391, and now the 661. I'm looking to buy the 462, 500i, and 880 eventually. Nothing wrong with small saws, I just don't use them.
Going to buy 1 today. It was between this and husqy.
(I really don't know anything about saws)
I do not know if it is the best saw for the homesteader or not but I do like my 181cbe. I use my MS- 360/361 an awful lot. I do not like that tapered bar the 181 comes with nor that .043 gage chain, either. I am replacing my bar with an Oregon Versacut bar and their .050 gage chain. Use good two cycle oil (Stihl Ultra) and good gas ( premium, non ethanol) and your aw should last a lifetime.
Thanks for the vid. Does your chain loosen quickly? After cutting for just a few minutes, I have to tighten the chain. Perhaps that's normal, I'm a bit inexperienced.
Heat causes your chain to loosen, make sure you take the cover off and clean the bar housing, that should help with the heat as your oil should flow a little better, another thing, the wind up chains tend to loosen quicker than the tool tightened ones
i have a stihl ms 170 and y am very happy with it. But my next saw is probably gonna be ms 181
You'll love it. I'm consistantly impressed with it's performance, it's does more than I expected it would. Thanks for the comment.
My mind is made up, I'm buying the 181 tomorrow, and they have 2 in stock at my store, and to think I was thinking about buying the 170 or 171, I am so glad I didn't...
Do you recommend it?
Is there a big difference between the MS180 and the MS181? I have an opportunity to get either one used. Both lite use, 180 is a 2017 and the 181 is a 2019. I qon't be ising it too often and not heavily. Whay do you think?
Husqvarna is good too but be careful if you are buying the lowest end Husqvarna then you are most likely just buying an orange poulan. Just check and make sure the model you are buying is made by Husqvarna and not poulan.
Am stuck between buying this 181 and the 211 just wondering is the 211 actually worth extra money for little bit more power
The sparkplug isn't toolless. Always, always bring a sparkplug and plug wrench.
Great review though.
I have an Echo and it's a POS I am constantly having the chain either come off or get loose after like 2-3 horizontal cuts. Buying a Stihl soon hoping to remedy that issue
Late reply I know , always lift the tip of your bar when tightening the bar nuts otherwise the bar will move when cutting and the chain will loosen .
This is helpful, thx. But if you know where to get a new one for 150, please let me know.
Great video thanks for the info I'm in the market for a new saw, using an older craftsman 16" and its not performing the way I need to. Been looking at Stihl as one of the ones to buy might end up being the case.
I think you'll like Stihl. Plus, like I mentioned in the vid, they really stand behind their products if you ever have a problem. Let me know what you decide:)
I will thanks again!!
How big of a bar is on the 181 in this video?
I'm gonna buy my first gasoline chainsaw, thinking of STIHL MS 170. Should i cosider to give few bucks more for MS 180? Also should i go to 171/181 range (same power more expensive, but newer models)?
Good question, what is it's primary use going to be? That's really how
to decide if you want the extra power. For a what I do the 180/181 is
the minimum I need. Any less powerful of a saw should be restricted to
just limbing trees.
Mainly cut down a walnut tree 20'' diameter and then cut for firewood. Also for olive trees pruning. Thank you for the response.
I would spend a few extra dollars and move up to the 180. Cutting the walnut will be a bit of a chore for the 180, but if you don't cut that often it will fit you well. They're also priceless to have around for pruning and removing limbs. Plus, if you ever get into cutting larger trees more often with a larger saw, the 180 is a great "Rescue" saw for when you get the large one pinched or in a tight spot. Good Luck!
I have the ms 181c and it’s £359 in the UK so about $400 that pisses me off we just get ripped off
Forgot to say I love it
£229 in the uk
Use google
Rural king sold me my 181 for 300.00.... what the heck
Only thing I ran is stihl product
In Ireland the ms181 is 500 euro and the farm boss is closer to 1000 euro 😠
Funkypotamus .we are being screwed.
I'm also very confused? Are we saying that a saw made in an EU contrary i.e. Germany is cheaper new in the USA than I can purchase a used one with some issues and a worn chain and bar from Ebay? is this really true I am genuinely asking. ❤
Under $200 ?, Try $279