Need Help Please

[ajklug]

I was wondering if you could please give me some advice. I apologize for the lengthy post...

My background is that I help family and friends with their firewood, and have a chance to cut some to sell. I have never run a saw (I primarily do all of the grunt work with splitting), but am looking into buying one. My in-laws both have wood burning fireplaces and have 5-10 cutting sessions/year. Eventually, I will have a fireplace as well. I am looking for a saw that I can handle as a newbie that is safe, solid and reliable. I am looking into this as as investment. I don't want to buy a saw that is too small and eventually need to buy a bigger saw. In addition, how do extra cc's and hp equate to $$ in saw prices? After talking to guys that cut a lot of wood and after reading these forums, I am leaning towards Stihl (dealer 8 mi from home and 2 from work) and Hisqvarna. Any ideas? What do I need to get started cutting?

Thanks in advance,
Al

 

[Lawn Masters]

I'd be concerned with proper protective gear along with ANY saw you buy. you're thinking wisely by wanting one that you can handle though. a husqvarna 350, or 353, would be pretty good choices.

the 353, is built for pros, but at a lesser expense, and has decent power to weight ratios, so it'll do some good work and not wear you out.

whatever you get, buy some chainsaw chaps, a helmet with face shield and hearing protection, and good leather gloves. most important of all, use common sense, and for the love of god, keep the chain sharp. Have the dealer show you how to properly sharpen a chain, and keep things in good working order, then report back with how you like the saw.

 

[MacDaddy]

I would buy a ms440 or a husky 372 not to big and not to small they will have all the power you will ever need and they are pro quality saws and they also hold a good value used

 

[Lobo]

Stihl MS361 is probably all you will need.

You have not mentionned what you are cutting, what size/diameter these trees are and how much cutting you plan to do.

 

[ajklug]

I'd be cutting mostly oak, with the majority of diam <=40". I envision starting at around 5 cords, but easily see having to cut more in the next couple of years.

 

[scotchguy]

Don't do what I did the first time I ever ran a saw! I fitted the chain the wrong way round so that it was running backwards. I could not figure out why it was not cutting when I applied it to a bit of wood.

Regarding the choice of saw, why not ask your relatives for a shot of theirs. Ear protection is a must.

 

[West Texas]

Also, how old and how big are you? Some people can lug a Stihl MS044/440 around, I can't; but, its one heck of a power saw. All of the above comments are great to consider. But, if I had the money and could only buy one saw, it would be the Stihl MS361. Its a smooth operating saw, has power and will easily handle a 20" bar.

Tom

 

[ajklug]

28
6'2"
205

My father-in-law has an old Homelite that he likes enough. He said that if he had it to do over again, he would get a Stihl or a Husky. My bro-in-law bought a Homelite from Northern (45cc) and fried it the first day he used it.

 

[MacDaddy]

buy the 440 or the 372 and get a 28 or a 32 and call it good these guys around the site like small saws Im sorry but I cant stand small saws they have no grunt and you have to bend over to cut Just think with a 32 you could stand up and cut all day

 

[Kneejerk Bombas]

It 's a little scary having you spend over a thousand dollars ona new saw and equipment without ever having run a saw.
Hook up with a person, or two, that have saws you can run, also have them give you the rundown on not hitting ground, how to tell if it's dull, or if its not running right, and how to safely hold and use the saw.
I work at a tree service and break in a lot of guys with saws. It just takes a few minutes to get them going, then I babysit them for a while as they start cutting.
It's better if you learn on a smaller saw, and after a few hours of that, move on to the size saw which will be best for firewood (70cc).

 

[BlueRidgeMark]

You'll find a lot of input in this thread. Keep in mind that there are a few folks here who just can't understand anything other than BIG SAW GOOD, SMALL SAW BAAAD! (Big meaning the biggest you can carry, and preferably modified for extra power.) They mean well, but they just don't get it. Of COURSE you want a big enough saw so you aren't working the saw (and you) too hard, but you probably don't need a 90cc saw to cut firewood.


Check eBay for protective equipment. I got a brand new set of chaps for $20 plus about $12 shipping.

 

[ajklug]

Mike M, I agree with you about the boku $ comment. I was leaning towards a Husky 353 with an 18" bar, but have seen Husly 359's with 20" for $400. Is the extra power and 2" work $65?

Thanks for all of the great advice guys!

 

[Lawn Masters]

I'd say if you want the 353, its a good choice, not too much power for you, but if you crave MORE , like a great many of us here, you can go with a 359, and if you STILL crave more, get EHP or one of the builders here to modify that thing, and let the chips FLY.

 

[fishhuntcutwood]

First of all, welcome to the site. Where in MN are you? I'm in Brainerd as I type this, as I'm visiting my parents right now.

Anyway, back to saws. I think you're wise looking at a good saw to start with. You'll never regret buying quality and doing it right. First thing I'd tell you to do is to do a search on this site for "firewood." There's been alot of discussion about firewood saws and alot of good info and advice. That said, you may be able to justify a larger saw than an average firewood cutter needs. You said that you'll mostly be doing oak up to 40". That there would justify an MS 440 or even a 460 if you wanted to, but the 440 would be my choice. However, if you're mostly cutting stuff around 20" the the 361 would be more manageable, comfortable to cut with and would handle that bigger stuff on the occasions that you'd need it.

Either saw is a pleasure to work with, and I can say that from first hand experience, as I own a 361 and two 44's.

Regardless, get the PPE and above all, get the training and experience you need. All the personal protection in the world won't protect you against dangerous practices and poor operating of the saw. Take a course, have someone knowledgeable teach you, keep the saw in good order-sharp chain, clean filters, dressed bar, good fuel, etc. A properly maintained saw is much safer than a saw in poor repair. Alot of guys dont' realize that.

Shop around, talk to your dealers handle some saws and let us know what you end up with.

If you do go with the 440, you might think about getting a couple of bars for it. It'll run the 28" easily, but it'd be nice to have a 20" or 24" to run when you can. I'm a long bar guy, and pretty much always run a 28" on my 44s, but sometimes that 28" is too much to yield, especially when you don't need it.

Jeff

 

[Lobo]

I'd be cutting mostly oak, with the majority of diam <=40". I envision starting at around 5 cords, but easily see having to cut more in the next couple of years.

40 inch oak !

I am not sure how much of that size you will be cutting but that being the case I would certainly not consider anything below a MS361 and if their is a lot of it you would probably be better served by an MS440 or MS460, Jonsered 2171, or husky 372 which is still available from Bailey's even if it is a defunct model now.


I suspect you will probably locate more long established Stihl dealers in your area than any other brand.

 

[ajklug]

I'm just south of Roch. 40" would be the exception, not the rule.

 

[Lobo]

Then what would be the rule for size ?

 

[pallis]

40" is pretty hefty wood. You'll need something that can handle a 20" bar with ease. The 440, 372 and 460 are all good saws, and would probably work well for you, but a 7900 would really have you going. Since you want to cut firewood to sell, you might want to go the bigger, faster route. If you decide to go smaller, give the Efco/John Deere CS62 a look.

 

[pinus]

There (IMO) is nothing more dangereous for the newbie as to start "saw-course" with the felling of large trees. No any protective gear will help there.
My advice is to began with the small (<10") trees and with the small saw with "green" chain and with the assistance of the experienced person.

 

[scotchguy]

There's been alot of discussion about firewood saws and alot of good info and advice.
Jeff

I hope you don't mind if I ask a question raised by this discussion. I am wondering, what exactly do people mean when they talk about a "firewood saw". I would have thought that all saws were firewood saws except the absolutely huge ones used for felling huge trees.

Thanks.