Please recommend a good firewood saw

[CNYCountry]

i dont see what all the bickering about is over the 036.. i have been running an 036 pro for 5 years now as a firewood saw, ive cut a 38" log with that 036 pro and it has never let me down.. ive owned an 044 and an 046.. they both were sold shortly after buying.. that 036 stayed with me.. what does that tell you.. if i need a bigger saw i grab my husky 181! i see no valid need for an 044/046 for firewood unless you just like to throw money around.

You bet. I would love to have a bigger saw but my 361 in stock form with a very sharp chain is plenty fast to do what I need, I spend a tiny fraction of my time actually running the saw, most of it is piling, splitting, loading/unloading, etc for firewood. I am dealing with good sized hardwood here, up to 40" across.

Somebody said that the faster she cuts the sooner you can put her down, but it's nice to balance that with weight of the saw...

 

[CNYCountry]

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.

OK, yes, Jonsereds used to be the technology leader. For years it was this way, no doubt about it, it was *the* premium saw. But the point I was trying to make was that if all they are now are Husky equivalents then that's still not such a bad thing, at least they're not made alongside cheap box store only saws...

 

[begleytree]

OK I admit that I'm blind Didn't see that in line number 1
-Ralph

 

[Damo]

I seriously love Willie Nelson...anyway, WHAT A QUESTION !! That should bring the bores out of the woodwork, so to speak. What about a 038 Stihl ?? (probably under another set of numbers now). Not pro, but not povo either!
357xp, (sensational), but may be a pain because you don't have anyone local.
I've got a Johnny 2145 and I love it, doesn't vibrate you to Parkinsons and the torque is quite good...they don't cost the earth either. Good luck, Damo.

 

[TimberPig]

Unfortunately, the 038 is no longer available new in North America, so that isn't a viable option in a new saw. Although it would be a good one no doubt.

 

[Damo]

Thanks for that, TimberPig. It was a good saw. Hown do you fellas rate the Jonsered's in your part of the world?

 

[andrethegiant70]

Good thread, good thoughts.... Litefoot, say "hi" to Vernal for me... flew cargo into Vernal for a few years... nice, quiet place!

 

[SawTroll]

.....What about a 038 Stihl ?? (probably under another set of numbers now). Not pro, but not povo either! ......

What makes you state that the 038 wasn't a pro saw? As far as I know it was/is, but power to weight is not so good by todays standards.
It is still sold as the MS380 in parts of the world. I think it is made in Austalia and/or Brasil.

 

[fishhuntcutwood]

What makes you state that the 038 wasn't a pro saw?

I agree. I think you'd have a hard time finding many guys who wouldn't consider it a pro saw....well I guess we've found at least one.

Jeff

 

[litefoot]

Thanks again for all the input. I've about decided to go with a Husky 359 or a Jonny 2159...whichever I can find the best deal on. I did find a place in CA that will sell me a Jonny 2159 for $440 shipped, so I might go with that. Of course if I happen on a killer deal on a nice Stihl on eBay, then all bets are off.

But you know, I guess saws are a little like trucks. The best one out there is usually the same as the one you grew up with...and for me, that'd be a Jonsered.

 

[fishhuntcutwood]

Madsen's has the 359 with a 20" for $440 as well. They're in Laytonville, CA.

Jeff

 

[TimberPig]

Jonsereds are good saws, not as popular as Stihl or Husky, but part of that is poor dealer representation in some areas. The new ones are basically red Husky's though. The biggest problem in my own personal opinion is that for some reason only the 2186 is available with a wrap handle. This leaves every other Jonsereds model out as falling saws here, even though the same engine is available in Husky with a wrap. They also have no saw bigger than the 2186, which while a good falling saw, is a bit light for some fallers' tastes, especially in big wood.

 

[stehansen]

Popular mechanics magazine did a test of 7 chainsaws, all about the size of the ms250. Stihl barely beat husky and jonsared was third followed by solo, echo, homelite, and poulan

 

[litefoot]

UPDATE...UPDATE!!! I'm on the road traveling in CO. Found a 036 Pro at pawn shop. Compression seems good and it started on 3 pulls. Price...$225. Buy or no buy? Wadya think? Thanks, friends.

 

[lostone]

BUY, if it is in good shape, pull the front of muffler if you can and inspect for any damage, if you get it there is an easy way to open the muffler up and you will really like it then.

 

[CNYCountry]

Sounds like a good deal. Against my better judgement I put a 24" Windsor speed tip bar and a Windsor full chisel full comp chain on my unmodded MS361 a few days ago to cut up a 40" soft maple log. The dealer did not have any skip chain or I would have used that. I touched up the cutters on the new chain to get a good sharp edge and left the rakers at .025" and it actually cut great without bogging at all. Soft maple is a medium hardness...

 

[lostone]

So litefoot what did you end up doing? did you go for the 036 or are you holding out for an 088

 

[litefoot]

Lostone,
I gotta wait a bit. My daughter is registering at UVSC this week, so the Ben Franklins are bit scarce at the moment. The saw was at a pawn shop in Montrose, CO.

 

[Jim1NZ]

Gotta love the 88!

 

[IBwoodtick2]

Firewood saw......

Jonsered 2159!

Born and bred to rip and shred.....

60cc of raw power, well balanced, and good lookin!

If I tickle the chain alittle with the file from my back pocket....the work will be done shortly!

My stihl now is retired and up on the shelf.

Did I mention $150 less than a comporable Stihl 361!