Firewood- favorite saw

[Allar]

In Europe (atleast in my country) 50 cc chainsaw is the sweetspot for firewood. I truly bealive 50cc is all you need for firewood.
That being sayd, i would go with 545/550xp as an all around firewood saw. And maybe a 555, for some really huge stuff.

 

[sunfish]

V

In Europe (atleast in my country) 50 cc chainsaw is the sweetspot for firewood. I truly bealive 50cc is all you need for firewood.
That being sayd, i would go with 545/550xp as an all around firewood saw. And maybe a 555, for some really huge stuff.

Very good answer.

 

[DSW]

Lots of guys built this kit 440s for Randy's GTG last year, and a lot of them swore off kit saws after the experience. Might want to look hard before pulling the trigger.

What was the verdict?

 

[Ryan'smilling]

What was the verdict?

I personally had no experience with them, but I remember hearing serval guys being frustrated with them. Maybe @drf255 can shed some light for us.

 

[captjack]

046 with 28 inch bar and ms260 (big bore kit installed) 16 inch bar - covers anything I run across when bucking firewood

 

[Big_Al]

Stihl 362 with 20 or 24" bar. We don't have any hardwoods around here tho. Might go up a size or 2 if we did.

 

[drf255]

I personally had no experience with them, but I remember hearing serval guys being frustrated with them. Maybe @drf255 can shed some light for us.

The 440 kits were very poorly made. There were nearly no usable parts in the entire kits. The final fuçk you was the impulse barb being .125” too long. That caused it to abutt the wall of the impulse line and cause all sorts of fuel issues.

The 660 kits were fine with the exception of the chain tensioner and the piston pin bearing.

 

[rarefish383]

Stihl 362 with 20 or 24" bar. We don't have any hardwoods around here tho. Might go up a size or 2 if we did.

I cut almost all dead Oak for firewood. I probably use my MS 660 with the 25" bar the most. But, to be honest, my MS290 with a 20" bar and Stihl yellow box chain will do most of what I encounter. The biggest thing is to keep the bar and chain out of the dirt, and for a new guy that nicks the dirt after each cut, that is IN THE DIRT. After 5-6 cuts you'll be swearing you need a bigger saw. I'd say get a 50-60CC saw from a dealer you like. I do really like Echos for homeowner use.

 

[Stew7]

MS241 for 12" and under. 562xp for pretty much everything else. Usually only go to the MS460 when the wood is 30"+ which is rare.

 

[DSW]

I personally had no experience with them, but I remember hearing serval guys being frustrated with them. Maybe @drf255 can shed some light for us.

The 440 kits were very poorly made. There were nearly no usable parts in the entire kits. The final fuçk you was the impulse barb being .125” too long. That caused it to abutt the wall of the impulse line and cause all sorts of fuel issues.

The 660 kits were fine with the exception of the chain tensioner and the piston pin bearing.

I almost bought a 372 kit a year ago.

Weird that the 440 could be that much different than the 660. You'd assume they'd either both be trash or both be alright.

 

[cheeves]

In Europe (atleast in my country) 50 cc chainsaw is the sweetspot for firewood. I truly bealive 50cc is all you need for firewood.
That being sayd, i would go with 545/550xp as an all around firewood saw. And maybe a 555, for some really huge stuff.

My old 032 was a fantastic firewood saw. ? the best ever made. Cut a huge amount of firewood with that saw. Haven't used it for a nomber of years. Saw has a new P/C in it and I never use it. Bought it way down in the hills of SE Ohio because the dealer wouldn't sell me a Husqvarna because the electronic ignition systems were bad that year. Now my firewood saws mostly are my 262, Efco 56.5, and "Mighty Mouse" Jerry's fabulous 026.

 

[alleyyooper]

I wanted some thing smaller than my Jonsered, husky so bought a Echo CS 400. It is now my favorite saw easy to carry on the tractor.

Easy starting and cuts up dead seaoned Ash very well. It has the stock bar on it 20" but I have been really thinking of buying another tna put a 16 inch bar on it.

I really like the Jonsered 2159 now that I got rid of the hand cooking cat muffler they put on it from the factory.

If I ever buy another new saw It will be Echo as the dealer is a great one, no saw leaves his shop with out haveing been ran and any lean conditions removed and Making sure you know how to adjust the chain and mix the fuel for it. Husky has been gone from this area for about 12 years.

I might be willing to try a dolmar if there was a dealer in the area.


Al

 

[Slackerjpt]

I have a 046 stihl, and an 017.
Somehow, for firewood, I'd like a saw with less weight than the 046, and more power than the 017.
I'm not brand fanatic, (except anti poulan!) We have a local stihl dealer. But there's a husky dealer too now.

Anyway, I bought the 017 for my atv, (it lives there) to make occasional trails, or cut logs off the road. It's real handy. But, for trees bigger than 3-4", more power seems good. So what's your favorite "sweet spot" saw?
I'm thinking a 260, or 360.

 

[Slackerjpt]

MS 261C with 18in bar. I almost never touch my 440, kinda feel guilty.

 

[Firewood Daddy]

I used a Husky 455 for the last 10 years and bought a 372XP this past fall. Haven’t run into any wood they can’t handle. I live in the N.Y. Catskills and we can get some pretty big sized logs. This combo works well for me.


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[Trapper_Pete]

I used a Husky 455 for the last 10 years and bought a 372XP this past fall. Haven’t run into any wood they can’t handle. I live in the N.Y. Catskills and we can get some pretty big sized logs. This combo works well for me.


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I am running very close to that combo a Jonsered 2255 18 inc bar and a Jonsered 2166 24 and 28 inch bar if you find something you can't handle with that comb you are in some very big wood indeed.

 

[sundance]

I'll take a different tack......my favorite is my old Jonsereds 49SP. These days I don't use it real often but I do like the old school "grunt" it has. I tend to use my Echo CS-346 or Stihl 036Pro for the majority of my cutting these days (or the Stihl 250 if I feel like fighting it to get started the first time) . The 241's and 261's sound really good but haven't been able to justify as yet. I don't know the Huskys well enough to have any opinion. some of the Dolmars sound interesting as well.

 

[Huskyuser]

My Husky 455 has gotten to be my go to saw for the most part. I have a Husky 345 which I'll use for 8" diameter and under...Both run like champs and cut great. All sharpened and maintained by yours truly...

 

[fulladirt]

Running 455 Rancher for 5 years, it was a great saw never let me down cut between 5-7 cords a year + all kind of storm damage pine trees. That saw's still running great.

But now going with 2 saw plan, 562xp 20" for general all around and MS660 clone for big trees. Mostly standing dead red oak around here.

 

[NSMaple1]

I have a 046 stihl, and an 017.
Somehow, for firewood, I'd like a saw with less weight than the 046, and more power than the 017.
I'm not brand fanatic, (except anti poulan!) We have a local stihl dealer. But there's a husky dealer too now.

Anyway, I bought the 017 for my atv, (it lives there) to make occasional trails, or cut logs off the road. It's real handy. But, for trees bigger than 3-4", more power seems good. So what's your favorite "sweet spot" saw?
I'm thinking a 260, or 360.

With what you have now - add a 260/261. Great fit. IMO one of the best saws on the market.

I just picked up a used one for a nice price, had been watching for quite a while. Can't wait to try it out the upcoming season. I also have a 170, 250, 360 that needs a piston & rings (but still works great) & a 044 spread out in boxes that I can't seem to find the time to put back together. Have had another 260 for years, work related that doesn't live here - that thing has taken abuse & neglect for its whole life & just keeps going & going, very capably.

The 250 might need to go now - although it is in very good shape and has been very good to me.