Just found something else that's going to kill me...

kaiser715

kaiser715

Doing hard time
Joined
Jun 1, 2006
Location
7, Pocket, NC
For the last 20+ years, I've kept a little top-handle Stihl 009. Nice little light saw, great for trimming and limbing up -- much lighter than the 028 and 038.

It's showing it's age, lots of hours running it, and was thinking of replacing it....but see on Stihl's website the top handle saws are all "professional use only"....then read stuff like this online:

Top handled saws are for professional use. They should only be used by people who need them. If you are cant handle the weight of a full size saw you should not be using a top handled one. They are dangerous and should require a license to operate.
Click to expand...

and...

And in some states you do need an arborist's license to obtain them.
Click to expand...

I've never felt it was *that* dangerous....and in some cases, less so than a big saw...of course, I don't go running it one-handed either. Guess the nanny-state feels I need to be saved from myself.
 
mommucked said:
Where else would the handles placed?
Click to expand...

Behind, instead of on top. Top handles are more nimble, but have less leverage because the distance is shorter. I've never used one, I just think they're cool.

ms192tce.jpg

stihl-362%5B1%5D.jpg
 
My tree guy has one... I love that little saw, light and easy to use, BUT..... I can see how it would get away from you in a heartbeat.
 
Oh, now it could be one handed....small and light for limbing.But I'd want chaps to my neck If I was gonna hold it w one hand even with a 12" bar.
 
Oh, wow. Seriously? Wait, there are some folks that don't belong with a saw in their hands anyway. I love my top handles and I'm usually more concerned with where the limb or top is going to go than the saw. Not many places to go if you are in the tree. I don't like doing it much now.. too much adrenaline involved. Nothing quite like watching a tree top fall from 2' away from the hinge 40' up though. My top handle saws are about 3 SAE hp, all torque too. Last thing i want is one to bind in the cut. Oh and they are yellow and black.. "the bumblebees" aka McCulloch
 
Interesting. I have an MS192T that I one hand most of the time for limbing.
 
Not saying I haven't done it myself but one handing those saws is the more dangerous aspect of them. Many people including very experienced people have been injured when using them. Just wish I had one:D
 
My go to saw is a ms 191 t
great saw I use it more than than the bigger saws
But all saws are dangerous and mistakes happen
But than again what's life with out a little adrenaline
 
My buddy has a 200t. It's a mean little thing and the balance of it makes you want to one hand it. awesome power to weight ratio. I can certainly see it getting away from you. As far as the arborist license thing, I'm all for natural selection.
 
They are made for using one handed in a bucket truck, where you are working below the top of the bucket, and there's a fiberglass barrier between you and the saw. I loved using mine in the bucket truck, and hate using it on the ground. As @Fabrik8 said, the distance between the wrap handle and the trigger grip are too close, which drastically reduces your ability to control the bar, and greatly increases the likelihood of kickback and/or the saw getting away from you. Just based on the separation of the handle, you have 2 TIMES the leverage to control the saw with a conventional saw. You'll be fine if you keep those things in mind when using it, and be not an idiot.
 
My 009 is not as top-handle-ly as the pic up above...get a little more leverage, maybe that's why it works so well....

Looks like this one:

99426_stihl_009_l_miniboss.jpg


Great little saw, I'd hunt down another like it if this one died.
 
That's cool, first 1 I've seen. But I wont forget the time I was cutting a limb, hanging on a ladder! Lucky I was only about 8' off the ground. I had a Homelite with a 14" bar, in place of the 16".
When i cut through the outer length of limb, that the ladder was on, the limb jumped upward, dislodging my ladder. I Never expected that! Anyway, I Threw that Homelite away from me, as I rode the ladder down landing on my back. Not hurt, just embarrassed as Hell! And the little Homelite, sitting on the ground, on it's side, happily idling, as thought it was laughing at me.:lol:
 
Lol had a guy ask me the other day where he could get parts for his homelite... I told him "in the trash".....
 
2 years ago my wife wanted a small chainsaw for christmas so i searched out the lightest
one i could find. ended up with a echo cs-271t. she uses it for clearing small pines inside
our goat fences. handles very nice and cuts well for such a small saw.
being physically challanged i use this saw quite a bit myself--after she cuts the trees
and pulls em out of the woods she makes a pile so i can sit in my wheelchair or on the golf
cart floor and cut em into shorter campfire usable wood. great little saw IMO. kinda pricy tho.
btw ive got a great old lady.
 
I was watching some arborist videos on YT yesterday, and saw the guy cut through his drop rope with his top handle saw.

So, yeah... it could kill you. But maybe not for the reasons you'd expect. :lol:
 
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