Please recommend a good firewood saw

[clearance]

Get a decent used Stihl or Husky, around 60-75c.c., no replacement for displacement. As far as wieght goes, saws are now lighter than ever, so a big saw now wieghs what a midsize saw wieghed years ago. Homeowners used heavy (by todays standards) saws to cut firewood in the 60s-70s so why not use a saw that has way more power but wieghs the same as the old stuff? Have people got weaker over the years or what? Personally I would feel o.k. cutting firewood with a 372 or a 460, or even a 288 or a 066. I am now working bucking logs in the bush with a 372 and a 460, if I can chuck them around all day in the hot sun then a weekend warrior should be able to cut firewood with one. Less time cutting, more time doing whatever else. Begley is right.

 

[fishhuntcutwood]

OK, go easy on me. I'm asking not to be a smart guy or start an argument, but because I don't know-

In standing timber, of course I understand. A bogged saw is a slow saw to cut with, and that will waste your time make your day longer. That's why even when my 361 will do the job, I'll still usually pick up the 440 or 460-in timber. There is indeed a significant difference when cutting timber or milling. We agree on that.

But really, in non commercial firewood with all else being equal, how much faster is a 460 than a 361 or even 260 through something even as big as 18" maple? It'd be a matter of seconds right? OK, so over the course of a day, a guy saves ten minutes at the most. But in the process, he's lugged around two more pounds, and gone through twice the gas. Now if a guy wants to use an 088 to cut firewood with, then sweet, go for it. I don't have an opinion on it, but I'm just curious if using overkill in a saw will really net that great of gains in a guy's stack of firewood in the back yard.

I agree with Gypo that it's largely the guy on the trigger, and then to a lesser degree, the saw. As well as that for commercial wood cutting an 066 would be the ticket. I'm wondering if the guy in the backyard really needs a 372 or 460 to cut wood. Litefoot asked for a firewood saw, not a timber saw.

Alright, let 'em roll...

Jeff

 

[Lobo]

Remember that supposedly now Jonsereds are made on the same assembly line as Huskies, just a different color scheme. That is not a bad thing!
QUOTE]

With all due respect I am not convinced about that.

For years I believe Jred was ahead of Husky quality and technology wise. The purchase by E-lux of Jred did put Husky on the map via their shared synergy and cross-over technology which benefitted Husky. However I wonder where Jred would be positionned in the industry today had they remained on their own and had they been able to re-invest their corporate profits back into their own R&D instead of E-lux coffers. (Probably ahead of Stihl). Most times that I met or talked to a Scandanavian (previous life, pre retirement) they would mentionned Jred very proudly and Husky did not seem to be considered as highly.

Both are well recognised world wide now however.

The Jred however still looks a lot prettier than a Husky in its red & black overcoat.

 

[GASoline71]

In standing timber, of course I understand. A bogged saw is a slow saw to cut with, and that will waste your time make your day longer. That's why even when my 361 will do the job, I'll still usually pick up the 440 or 460-in timber. There is indeed a significant difference when cutting timber or milling. We agree on that.

But really, in non commercial firewood with all else being equal, how much faster is a 460 than a 361 or even 260 through something even as big as 18" maple? It'd be a matter of seconds right? OK, so over the course of a day, a guy saves ten minutes at the most. But in the process, he's lugged around two more pounds, and gone through twice the gas. Now if a guy wants to use an 088 to cut firewood with, then sweet, go for it. I don't have an opinion on it, but I'm just curious if using overkill in a saw will really net that great of gains in a guy's stack of firewood in the back yard.

Again I agree with what Jeff has said. Just because someone else can lug a 25 pound saw around all day, doesn't mean the next guy can. It's not just braggin' rights for what saw is sittin' on your tailgate. Bigger is not always better.

I'm up to 8 cents now... Funny part is I have no "cents"!

Gary

 

[046]

nothing new to add, but I've got 026, 034 super and 046 magnum.

for a firewood only saw, I'd pick 034 super.

026 is so handy it gets picked for most small jobs. 046 comes out rest of the time.

so my 034 super is not used much at all.

 

[Marco]

Why not the next time you hear a chainsaw running in your area you track it down and ask the guy who's making the racket what he is using and see where he gets saws, parts and service? Some guys just don't care to deal with every accountant, attorney, and pastry chef that wants to play Paul Bunyan so they keep their shops kinda low key. You may be suprised what your options are besides your Stihl dealer if you look around a little and ask ?'s.

 

[Ax-man]

Just go down to the gas station or your local convience store buy a lotto ticket, win big, that way you can pay someone to cut your wood, split it and stack it for you. Now you don't have to worry about which saw to get

Not much going on upstairs so I thought I would come down here and see what kind of trouble I can into.

Larry

 

[fishhuntcutwood]

Why not the next time you hear a chainsaw running in your area you track it down and ask the guy who's making the racket what he is using and see where he gets saws, parts and service? Some guys just don't care to deal with every accountant, attorney, and pastry chef that wants to play Paul Bunyan so they keep their shops kinda low key. You may be suprised what your options are besides your Stihl dealer if you look around a little and ask ?'s.

That's a pretty good idea. A happy customer is a great indicator of a shop's true service and quality.

Jeff

 

[MickJ]

mate it all comes down to how much you like chainsaws
and how much money you've got.

I got a 350 husky for camping, clearing tracks and cutting a bit of firewood, its a great saw, light and i'd highly recommend it, i only cut a bit of firewood and the odd tree down but still justified an 090 a couple of months ago for the big stuff (want rather than need) contrary to what most guys say i don't find it too cumbersome to carry around for a day and cut up some mid to large sized stuff with the 25" on it, like another guy said, gloves come in small medium and large.

that said if youve got the coin and a buster for magnesium a 359 would be good or a 346 or 357, pretty sure the 346 is more of a high revver so would be more suitable for soft or green wood imho maybe! I dunno a lot about the smaller stihls so can't really comment.

I'd totally agree with fishhuntcutwood though, plastic aint what it used to be, i wouldn't be afraid of it.

 

[buck futter]

I'm with gypo

you need to cut pine and fir from what you've said. Lots of limbing you are better of with a 3.0 cube saw in my mind, they mostly run a .325 chain which I believe to cut smoother and be a little less grabby when limbing. A 3.0 cube saw will weigh a little less 1-2 pounds doesn't seem like a lot but the extra fatique does add up at the end of the day the more exhausted one becomes the more likely an accident is, that is a fact. A 026/ 260 is a time proven and bullet proof saw and is very light 10.4lb , but a new one costs quite a bit, you got the time you can have a couple of dealers let you know if they get a partner 500/5000, stihl 250/260, husky 346/353, jonsey 2145/2149/2050/2152. A 45-55cc and 50cc being about perfect is what I think would be ideal for you get a 16 inch bar .325 chain, open up the muffler and most important of all keep it sharp.

Best of luck and let us know how you make out.

lucky

 

[litefoot]

You all have given me much to think about. I probably didn't make it clear that I will be running the new saw while my son will run the Jonny 2050. I'll keep my eyes peeled for a good Jones, Husky or Stihl in the classifieds here and there, though the Husky 359 looks good right now. Thanks for all the input. You folks are a super bunch!

 

[Lawn Masters]

Well, if he's gonna run the 2050, you could always upgrade to a bigger saw like the MS440, or something like that.

 

[fishhuntcutwood]

You folks are a super bunch!

You must not know us very well then!!

Glad we could help. Let us know how you like whatever it is you end up with.

Jeff

 

[lostone]

litefoot what part of Ut are you located, I believe you told me once before but I cant remember. If you are close and we can get the time I will let you take the 036 and 046 of mine to some wood and you can decide.

 

[166dolmarnp]

I have anew ms260 stihl i will sell cheap $450.00 canadian. 166dolmarnp.

 

[GASoline71]

litefoot what part of Ut are you located, I believe you told me once before but I cant remember. If you are close and we can get the time I will let you take the 036 and 046 of mine to some wood and you can decide.

That there fellas......... is what it's all about.

Gary

 

[Lawn Masters]

Yep. the willingness to let others try out various models from one's own personal inventory. I'd be willing to, if you were near me, but its a good ways away from me.

 

[litefoot]

Lostone,
Thanks for the offer. I'm out in Vernal, but I'm betting you're on the Wasatch front, right? LOL! I haul my wood from up in the Uintahs. This year, the USFS pretty much opened up everywhere for firewood. I guess they finally figured we regular folks might do some good helping to clear out all the forest fire fuel.

 

[lostone]

Im in South Salt Lake, I'm heading up to Kamas next weekend for a camping trip, I will be taking the gurls with me to have some fun up there.

 

[SawTroll]

...... For years I believe Jred was ahead of Husky quality and technology wise. The purchase by E-lux of Jred did put Husky on the map via their shared synergy and cross-over technology which benefitted Husky......

I agree with your statement, but don't forget Partners role in the story. "Air injection"/"Turbo" was a Partner innovation from about 1983/84, I think (P7700).