New Large-ish Saw - Advice Appreciated

[headleyj]

ok guys - I've lurked here for awhile learning tons. Love the site. My story - we bought property from a logger (who logged the place) and built our 1st house. I'm running an Outdoor Wood Furnace since there's wood-a-plenty, but the 'ol 290 w/ 20" bar just isn't cutting it...no pun intended. I know a 20" is too big in some opinions....live and learn.

I've got alot of red/ black oak that's 36"-40" dia and some large poplar too, but softwood's not too bad. The 290 really struggles on thie big stuff even with a new full chisel chain.

I have all Stihl stuff now (290, 210, and trimmer) but I'm not stuck on Stihl. I don't want to get into a Stihl vs. Husky debate either.

I'd like to get an occasional use large-ish saw for this big stuff. I was thinking of a 460 with a 25-28" bar or 385XP/ 576XP with the same bar.

I'm not opposed to buying used, but really prefer to know what the stuff has been through and appreciate well maintained items.

BTW found a 385XP w/ 25"GB for $525 - from a pawn shop though, but hate to buy it as it may be lifted. I've also left a few PM's with "ale" on teh tradin post on his 460 but no dice yet.

Either saw would do the job wouldn't they? Looking for your experience/ advice here. Any advice is greatly appreciated gents.

Thanks,
Josh

 

[blsnelling]

For wood that big, the 385 is the smallest saw I'd consider. That's MS660/395 territory!

 

[valekbrothers]

:agree2: Listen to Brad............ my 394XP will eat anything I throw at it...

 

[outdoorlivin247]

You should try to make Erick's GTG...There will be several saws to run and you can get an idea of how they compare...Most of the saws will be modded, but there will still be a couple of stock saws to run...Good luck....

 

[Banshee]

Yes you should try to make the GTG. It's a good chance to run the saws you've mention.

Your story sounds a lot like mind. I brought a house with an outdoor burner. I started with a Husky 350, but realized it was too slow on the bigger wood.

I ended up with a 372xp and 395xp as my two main saws. 395xp would be a great choice for firewood with your 290 as back up and clean up work.
I think people forget with firewood you can most of the time drive up to the wood and the cutting is mostly low. So you more or less just "hanging" the saw on the ends of your arms. Your not really holding it up as with felling or limbing. So you can get by with a bigger saw. But this is my opinion.

There was a 385xp in the Indy CL for 525. I think if you shop around you can do better with price. There was a 288xp on the Bloomington CL for 300 not too long ago either.

For hard wood in the sizes your saying. You can't replace displacement.

 

[clearance]

Yes you should try to make the GTG. It's a good chance to run the saws you've mention.

Your story sounds a lot like mind. I brought a house with an outdoor burner. I started with a Husky 350, but realized it was too slow on the bigger wood.

I ended up with a 372xp and 395xp as my two main saws. 395xp would be a great choice for firewood with your 290 as back up and clean up work.
I think people forget with firewood you can most of the time drive up to the wood and the cutting is mostly low. So you more or less just "hanging" the saw on the ends of your arms. Your not really holding it up as with felling or limbing. So you can get by with a bigger saw. But this is my opinion.

There was a 385xp in the Indy CL for 525. I think if you shop around you can do better with price. There was a 288xp on the Bloomington CL for 300 not too long ago either.

For hard wood in the sizes your saying. You can't replace displacement.

This is good advice, get some ppe and a couple of bucking wedges as well.

 

[smilin possum]

Stay with the Stihl. A good 044 will do all you ever ask of it and not complain. 24" bar is no problem, good power and they really wake up with a muff. mod.

 

[blsnelling]

Stay with the Stihl. A good 044 will do all you ever ask of it and not complain. 24" bar is no problem, good power and they really wake up with a muff. mod.

But he's talking about 36"-40" Oak. That's not really 044/440 territory. Sure, it'll bet the job done. But it'll work you and the saw a lot more than if you started with a larger saw.

 

[Banshee]

The 660 being raffled by litefoot for his brother would work and it's for a good cause.

 

[leeha]

But he's talking about 36"-40" Oak. That's not really 044/440 territory. Sure, it'll bet the job done. But it'll work you and the saw a lot more than if you started with a larger saw.

:agree2:

There's no replacement for cc's when it comes to big wood.
Especially hard wood.
I would stick with at least a 90cc ish saw.


Lee

 

[056kid]

But he's talking about 36"-40" Oak. That's not really 044/440 territory. Sure, it'll bet the job done. But it'll work you and the saw a lot more than if you started with a larger saw.

Sure it is, for cutting fire wood I wouldent go any bigger/ heavier than a 460 or a 372, like whats the point? As long as you arent going to go out every day and try to cut a dump truck load of 40 inch oak rounds... the said chainsaws cost less too...

 

[blsnelling]

Sure it is, for cutting fire wood I wouldent go any bigger/ heavier than a 460 or a 372.

But he already has a 290 for the bulk of his work. He's looking for "an occasional use large-ish saw for this big stuff". And when that includes 36"-40" Oak, I'm looking for a 90cc saw.

 

[TRI955]

Sure it is, for cutting fire wood I wouldent go any bigger/ heavier than a 460 or a 372, they cost less too...

:agree2:
It may take a little more time, but normally when I'm cutting firewood, I'm not in a big hurry to get back home!!!


Mike




P.S. Most men don't mind a bigger/heavier saw.....

 

[gink595]

ok guys - I've lurked here for awhile learning tons. Love the site. My story - we bought property from a logger (who logged the place) and built our 1st house. I'm running an Outdoor Wood Furnace since there's wood-a-plenty, but the 'ol 290 w/ 20" bar just isn't cutting it...no pun intended. I know a 20" is too big in some opinions....live and learn.

I've got alot of red/ black oak that's 36"-40" dia and some large poplar too, but softwood's not too bad. The 290 really struggles on thie big stuff even with a new full chisel chain.

I have all Stihl stuff now (290, 210, and trimmer) but I'm not stuck on Stihl. I don't want to get into a Stihl vs. Husky debate either.

I'd like to get an occasional use large-ish saw for this big stuff. I was thinking of a 460 with a 25-28" bar or 385XP/ 576XP with the same bar.

I'm not opposed to buying used, but really prefer to know what the stuff has been through and appreciate well maintained items.

BTW found a 385XP w/ 25"GB for $525 - from a pawn shop though, but hate to buy it as it may be lifted. I've also left a few PM's with "ale" on teh tradin post on his 460 but no dice yet.

Either saw would do the job wouldn't they? Looking for your experience/ advice here. Any advice is greatly appreciated gents.

Thanks,
Josh

Hey Josh, I have a good friend that lives down there in Bloomington, he's a welding instructor at Bloomington North HS. Anyhow you aren't that far from Scottsburg you should try to come out to Ericks GTG as mentioned earlier. Then you can try out anything you're interested in. IF you're cutting 36-40 wood and thats all it is than you'll want a 90cc saw, 660, 395 hell maybe a 880.... But if your just buying a saw to cut this crop of wood and afterwards you won't need a saw that big then you could get by with a 460 or 7900 for a lot less coin on a new one. 7900 will run a 32" no problems I'm sure a 460 will too.

 

[TRI955]

:agree2:

There's no replacement for cc's when it comes to big wood.
Especially hard wood.
I would stick with at least a 90cc ish saw.


Lee

:agree2: Listen to Brad............ my 394XP will eat anything I throw at it...

For wood that big, the 385 is the smallest saw I'd consider. That's MS660/395 territory!

I also agree with these guys too if you have the extra money to throw at a 90cc for occasional use, they will lead you in the right direction for sure. I think I'd be looking for an older used saw myself....husky 288, 2100cd, Stihl 066, Homelite 925xl.....good luck.


Mike

 

[tomtrees58]

try a 064 or 066 tom trees thers are 084 / 076

 

[Bounty Hunter]

I have to agree with my Brothers on this one...a 066 or 660 would be the way to go. If a man's in reasonably good shape he can work a 17 pound saw all day. On the other hand, I found that I could get my truck and trailer full much faster, and go home early, with a 660 over just using 044s.

Bounty Hunter

 

[056kid]

So a 372 with a 28" bar is not substancially larger than a 290?


I guess i have never understood why folks go and buy 395's, 660,s 3120's and 880's to cut firewood.

Your allright though Brad, the way you get them to run, sthl and husqv should send em ALL your way befor they hit the market! haha.

I dont know, I was raised on the philosophy, "Dont be over gunned and under maned" Words from my Grandpa...

 

[blsnelling]

So a 372 with a 28" bar is not substancially larger than a 290?


I guess i have never understood why folks go and buy 395's, 660,s 3120's and 880's to cut firewood.

Your allright though Brad, the way you get them to run, sthl and husqv should send em ALL your way befor they hit the market! haha.

I dont know, I was raised on the philosophy, "Dont be over gunned and under maned" Words from my Grandpa...

I can't help it. It's just the Tim Allen in me

 

[056kid]

I would say that you are more of a Smokey Yunick or Mr. Norm of saws haha...