Need Help Please

[fishhuntcutwood]

I would have thought that all saws were firewood saws except the absolutely huge ones used for felling huge trees.

And that's true. And there's a bunch of guys that will cut firewood with a Still 066 and a 20" bar. You can cut wood with anything you like. But a dedicated "firewood" saw is one which is intended to be used for that task predominantly. Look at Stihl's firewood saws-the 290 series of saw. All will do well with an 18"-24" bar in firewood applications. They may not do as well in a timber application where they'd likely need more torque, a wider power band, some may argue a stronger construction (polymer vs. magnesium cases), and where they'd need to weigh less for their power. Typically cutting firewood will take place in one spot-your backyard, in a clearcut cleaning up the slash left behind. A timber saw will be carried all over the place, in the brush, up hills, all day long. This is where the lighter weight of a professional, felling saw comes into play. If a "firewood" saw that you'll be using in your back yard bucking trees that are already down weighs an extra pound or two it won't kill you over the couple of hours on the weekend that the average firewood cutter will use it. Plus, the firewood saw typically won't be called upon to perform day in and day out like a professional timber saw would be.

Now these are generalizations, and many may argue them. There's always exceptions, but the average guy that buys a "firewood" saw to heat his home every year will cut maybe 2-3 cords a year in his backyard, and it's on that that these generalizations are based. Many of us here will use our professional saws that we work timber or residential trees with for firewood use as well. For the guy that cuts several dozen cord of wood a year, a basic firewood saw may not be enough, and therein lies the difference.

Jeff

 

[scotchguy]

Thanks for that explanation Jeff.

 

[fishhuntcutwood]

Quite welcome.

 

[computeruser]

One alternative, not mentioned, is to start with a backup saw and then, once you're comfortable with that, move up to what will be your main saw. A lot can be said for the virtue of having two saws, especially if you're going to be bucking and limbing in the field where you could easily pinch a bar and have a stuck saw that needs to be cut out.

I think that you might wish to consider starting with something in the Stihl 290/310/390 series. They're inexpensive (especially the 290, which I think is the best value; Jeff (FHCW) consistently votes for the 310), capable of doing solid work, and reliable. And if you're willing to open up the muffler a bit, they supposedly make a nice bit more power than stock. Once you're comfortable with that saw, move up to something larger and pro-grade if you feel you need to; if not, keep using what you've got and save your money. A 440 or 460 would be a good choice for a move-up saw, if you are intent on sticking with Stihl. This way, you end up with two solid saws.

 

[Mange]

I had several HVA 55 here used as Firewood saws, the run 15" with 3.25, and 18" on ocasion.
They where all happy with this, as no one here has 25" firewood, exept me I think.

 

[Lobo]

FHCW, you are right, we often overlook the 290 to 390 series and they are excellent saws for firewood at a respectable price. Properly taken care of they will last many fire wood cutters almost a lifetime.

 

[timberwolf]

Cutting with 2 saws is nice, easy on the saws as well.

I Knock it and block it with a 066 and clean up the limbs with a 260.

390 is ok, good price. Inlaws 390 has cut 10-20 cods a year for 10 years with nothing more than basic parts (chain, bar, spur, air filter..)

 

[keith c raymond]

Lots of good advice,Especially about PPE.You might want to see if there is anyplace you could do a rental of a saw or two that you might want to buy.Near me there is hardware stores and Homey D stores that rent daily.Try this out to get a feel for saws and power and what feels comfy.I would then,If budget allows ,but from a dealer that will show you tips such as how to maintain and sharpen,etc,Also use this site for updates and questions,you will always get all the options you can handle.Also there is a business called forestapps.com which offers classes ,instruction,and education about saws,applications,etc they are topnotch,and very informative no matter what your experience level.good luck.

 

[MacDaddy]

Just stay away from the small saws and you will be fine take a good look at the ms440

 

[ontario026]

For firewood I love my 044, I added the dual port muffler and retuned and it works very well. Normally runs with 18" bar and 8t rim, and it absolutely flys with a good sharp Stihl RS chain, I also have a 30" bar (7t rim) for it, so far it's only been used in poplar, but even with the full 30" burried in the poplar it pulled better than I had expected, it could bog it if I dug the dogs in and muscled it into the wood, but let it chew through on it's own and it self fed very nicely and quickly... I also have an 026, but I honestly don't think i have even fired it up since I got the 044.

Matthew

 

[DanManofStihl]

If I were to get a saw to cut 40" wood I would have to go with the 066 magnum. I could not amagine going to cut a 40in tree with my ms 361 but that is just me. The smallest saw i would look at would be the ms440. That is just my opinion I would not recomand a large saw to start out with thought but for 40 in wood a ms 170 is not going to hack it.

 

[Lobo]

Do not forget your PPE's there rookie !

This is a photo of my jeans calf area after my wife washed the jeans, the blood, oil, dirt washed off as well as as the crap in the crotch of the jeans.

I was REALLLLLL lucky, it should have been much worst. I slipped on a wet boulder in the bush. I still quiver thinking of it.

No need to say I now wear my PPE pants to prevent this.

 

[Patrick62]

Nice photo, I did something similer years ago. PPE is nice, but there is no substitute for respect for even a little saw can cut you up real bad.

I would reccomend newbie/rookie/whatever to start with a small to medium size saw. around 45 CC ???? No more. When comfortable with that, then if needed go for a big gun. There simply ain't no way I would turn a complete rookie loose with a full size pro saw running 24" and up in bar length !!!!!

Little saw, less problem. Even less if it won't start.

-Pat

 

[12guns]

ajklug,
40" is a big tree. If you're slicing 40" sections frequently, go w/ the larger saw, 440, etc. the 361 would be a bit underpowered for that task. If you cut mostly smaller stuff, 24" and less, stick w/ a smaller saw around 50 cc and you can run it all day. My 026 weighs a little over 10 lbs, and I still feel it after running it for a while. I'm about 6' and 190, so maybe you can handle a larger saw. just keep in mind the weight and what you will be cutting while shopping. Oh yeah, and get a Stihl.

 

[fishhuntcutwood]

40" would be the exception, not the rule.

If 40" is the exception, you should be fine with the 361 or 440. I'll make the assumption that you're gonna average 20". Again, either saw would do you nicely. You don't need too much saw. You don't need a 460 or 660, as that's really more than you need for firewood. Not more than you can use, but more than you'll need. Use too much saw (too heavy, too cumbersome, too much gas relativ to the task at hand) just because you can or because you want a big saw, you'll quickly wish you had a smaller saw.

Right tool for the job.

Jeff

 

[jokers]

I think that fishhuntcutwood summed things up pretty well, he covered all the angles if a pro saw is in your budget.

Russ

 

[Lobo]

If 40" is the exception, you should be fine with the 361 or 440. I'll make the assumption that you're gonna average 20". Again, either saw would do you nicely. You don't need too much saw. You don't need a 460 or 660, as that's really more than you need for firewood. Not more than you can use, but more than you'll need. Use too much saw (too heavy, too cumbersome, too much gas relativ to the task at hand) just because you can or because you want a big saw, you'll quickly wish you had a smaller saw.

Right tool for the job.

Jeff

Yep, especially when the years start getting up there, such as myself. I will sacrifice some power for less weight gladly. At the end of the day I got what I wanted done anyways. Simply had a few less beers along the way.

 

[lostone]

I own both the 036 (close to the 361) and a 046, and cutting into what you are talking about I would want the 044 for it. The 361 I'm sure is a great saw but for what you talk about you will want the extra power of the 044 (MS440), and to keep going with what the others are telling you if you are going to start off with a saw that size and that power, find someone with training or skill on working a saw of that size and have them teach you, you arent going to get off lucky with a saw like that if something goes wrong. The Husky 372 also comes to mind (having never ran one but reading what everyone says) you cant go wrong with a husky either, also as mentioned by someone on here there is the Dolmar 7900 and I have only read good comments about this saw as well, and the price is cheaper than the husky or the stihl but parts and dealer support will be an issue with it as they aren't near as many as stihl and husky. Just my two cents from a non pro.

 

[PWB]

Hey Lobo, got two(!) cuts like that on my chainsaw pants! saw wasn't at much more than an idle, still made a mess of the pants. Glad I had them on!

Prefer a little bigger than a little smaller as far as a saw goes, but I thought I had the world by the tail with an 034 super (now 036) when I got it. Good starter, keep it when you decide to go bigger!

 

[bugfart]

You have to go local.
Or the inlaw(s) will go cold.
I presume you live with one of their daughters.

What was the original question?