Hurricane Milton Wrecked My Yard! How My Small Chainsaw Got the Job Done
Hurricane Milton tore through my yard and took down some of my oldest, most beautiful oak trees. If you're like me, watching a massive tree fall is both sad and mind-blowing. When itβs right in your driveway though, it becomes something youβve got to handle.
This gives me the perfect chance to put my STIHL MS 170 chainsaw to the test. Letβs break down what happened and how this little saw stood up to such a big challenge.
The Damage and My Insane Oak Tree Problem
The storm came in strong and fast. My wife and I were watching a movie and suddenlyβTHUDβwe felt the entire house shake. Turns out, one of the mighty live oak trees in my yard had come crashing down. These oaks are no jokeβthick, sturdy, and super heavy. While it was cool to see a tree of that size, having it blocking my driveway was another story.
Now, I didnβt have my full setup with me. All I had was my trusty STIHL MS 170. And looking at the size of the tree, I wondered if this chainsaw would be enough. The tree was so thick that it was bigger than my torso, but I was ready to see if this little tool could power through it.
Putting the STIHL MS 170 to the Test
For those unfamiliar, the MS 170 is not STIHLβs most powerful saw. In fact, itβs one of their most basic and affordable models. These usually run about $200, and what I had in front of me was a $250 job, minimum, for someone else to come handle.
For a chainsaw I bought five years ago and that hasnβt had any maintenance beyond chain changes, Iβve been more than impressed. After starting it up, I began working my way down the tree. The cut wasnβt going to happen in one swoop because the tree was that massive, but the saw handled each section like a champ.
A Quick Side Note on Oak Trees
Itβs worth pointing out how much I hate seeing an oak get knocked down. Theyβre some of the best treesβstrong, beautiful, and lasting. And this was a live oak, some of the sturdiest around. So, while I was cleaning it up, letβs just say I wasnβt thrilled.
Old Chain vs. New Chain: Does It Make a Difference?
After making good progress, I realized it was time for an interesting challenge. The chain I was using wasnβt even new. It had seen plenty of action on other trees. I figured itβd be fun to compare how fast I could cut with the older chain versus a fresh one.
Hereβs what I found: the new chain was way faster. With the old one, it wasnβt like I couldnβt get the job done, but switching to the fresh chain made everything smoother and quicker.
I mean, once I swapped the chain, the difference was night and day. The saw cut faster and didnβt get hung up as much in the wet, stubborn wood.
Chain Maintenance Tips
- Keep your chains off the dirt. The fastest way to dull your chain is to let it hit the ground while cutting.
- Replace when needed. You donβt need a new chain every time, but fresh teeth really speed things up, as I saw firsthand.
Finding the Limits of the MS 170
Now, to be fair, I did run into some issues that showed where this sawβs limitations lie. The tree was incredibly wet and wide, putting the saw under a lot of strain. Each time the bar got deep into the wood, the chainsaw would sometimes get stuck or start to pinch.
At one point, it even felt like the blade hit something solid inside the tree. I thought there might be a screw or metal growing up inside it (yeah, trees can hide some weird stuff). Moving along the trunk and picking my spots helped, but I did need to muscle through at times.
Should You Buy an MS 170?
If youβre wondering whether the STIHL MS 170 is worth it, the answer is a strong yes. No, itβs not the most powerful chainsaw out there, but for a small, low-cost tool, it punches way above its weight. Even on this big project, it was more than capable of getting the job done.
It never felt overwhelming to handle. I didn't feel one bit out of control or unsafe during the entire tree removal. For a first-time chainsaw user, or just someone who needs a lightweight tool thatβs easy to manage, this model is a solid pick.
Final Thoughts
In the end, using my MS 170 saved me a good chunk of money and made the job surprisingly quick. I only had to refill the fuel once and the chainsaw kept performing all the way through. Sure, it got hung up here and thereβespecially on the thickest part of the treeβbut itβs a small saw doing big work.
If youβre in the market and need something dependable for smaller tasks (or even some not-so-small ones like this huge oak!), definitely consider a STIHL MS 170. Itβs affordable, durable, andβyou'll see this in your own yardβmore powerful than youβd expect.
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Product Discussed In The Video
- STIHL MS 170 compact lightweight Chainsaw (Discontinued)
Replacements for MS 170
- STIHL MS 162 Z β 16β Gas Powered Chainsaw
- STIHL MS 172 C-E Gas Powered EasyStart Quickstop Chainsaw
Do you own a STIHL chainsaw? Whatβs the toughest tree your saw has cut through? Let me know in the comments!
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