Gooserider
ArboristSite Operative
- Joined
- Jan 21, 2008
- Messages
- 101
- Reaction score
- 16
First post, I'm a mod over on **********, and have had several users there suggest looking here for saw picking advice, so I decided to check in. Heating with wood means needing to make the fuel to feed the stove, so I'm in the market for a second big firewood and felling saw.
I currently do my own wood processing, about 6-10 cords a year (this may go down once I get a couple more years ahead on the supply) and I need a second / better saw. I do some felling, but most of my wood I get delivered as log length. Almost all the stuff I get is hardwood, and most of it is oak (some white, mostly red)
My current saw is a 36cc Poulan “homeowner” grade saw - came with a 16” bar, and I didn’t find it to cut that well - I have since replaced it with a 12” bar, and learned a bit more about sharpening a chain and adjusting it - now it’s a wood eating mini-machine. Great for limbing and small stuff, but doesnt get it on the larger logs. (I still haven’t mastered the art of getting my cuts to line up well enough to deal with more than about 16” diameter logs)
My wood guy brings trees w/ up to 40” or so trunks, so I’d like to get a saw that can handle serious wood occasionally, though I’d like to stick with the usual 3-4cc per inch of bar rule most of the time. Thus what I’m considering is something in the 60-70cc range, more or less, that I will mostly run with around a 20” bar, but have the ability to occasionally swing a 26-28” bar if needed. Does this sound like a logical choice for a second saw? Is there any reason not to do the 20" bar, with an occasional swap to a big bar if needed?
I’m currently inclined towards a Stihl pro-grade, probably an MS441, or (dreaming) an MS460, but could be talked into a Husky / Jonsered, or Dolmar of similar grade (although it would take some talking to convince me that a Husky/Poulan is a good saw, after owning a Poulan)
- Other saws in that class? (I’ve seen a couple mentions of Shindaiwa?) Cost is a definite issue, but I think a pro-grade saw is probably worth it. I’d also look more favorably on a saw that makes it’s power with displacement, not revving through the ceiling… I think an outside sprocket is also a desirable feature. I’m not unwilling to go for a used saw, as long as it’s in reasonably decent shape, however I cheaped out on getting my Poulan (before I started burning) and this time I’d rather pay for whatever it takes to get a GOOD saw…
I've been reading a lot about Dolmars, and it seems that people who have them are happy with them, assuming they either do their own work, or can find a dealer. Looking at the specs, am I correct in guessing that the 6400, 7300, and 7900 are all the same saw except for the piston and jug? Is the step up between the 6400 and 7900 worth it? Looking at the prices online, it seems Dolmar is less expensive than similar sizes of Stihl or Husky, does that hold at dealers as well?
I’ve noticed there is some difference in the chain sizes the different saws seem to come with - some use 3/8”, some .325, and some .050 - Is there any real difference to make one size better than the others?
Any particularly good model reccomendations?
How about good shops (or shops to avoid) in the Lowell MA area? I’d also be interested in shops in southern NH - we get up to the Nashua / Manchester area fairly often… When is a good time to buy a saw (i.e. when are the dealers most likely to be A: Hungry, and B: Loaded down with used saws and / or last years models?
Other good places to purchase a decent used saw?
Thanks,
Gooserider
I currently do my own wood processing, about 6-10 cords a year (this may go down once I get a couple more years ahead on the supply) and I need a second / better saw. I do some felling, but most of my wood I get delivered as log length. Almost all the stuff I get is hardwood, and most of it is oak (some white, mostly red)
My current saw is a 36cc Poulan “homeowner” grade saw - came with a 16” bar, and I didn’t find it to cut that well - I have since replaced it with a 12” bar, and learned a bit more about sharpening a chain and adjusting it - now it’s a wood eating mini-machine. Great for limbing and small stuff, but doesnt get it on the larger logs. (I still haven’t mastered the art of getting my cuts to line up well enough to deal with more than about 16” diameter logs)
My wood guy brings trees w/ up to 40” or so trunks, so I’d like to get a saw that can handle serious wood occasionally, though I’d like to stick with the usual 3-4cc per inch of bar rule most of the time. Thus what I’m considering is something in the 60-70cc range, more or less, that I will mostly run with around a 20” bar, but have the ability to occasionally swing a 26-28” bar if needed. Does this sound like a logical choice for a second saw? Is there any reason not to do the 20" bar, with an occasional swap to a big bar if needed?
I’m currently inclined towards a Stihl pro-grade, probably an MS441, or (dreaming) an MS460, but could be talked into a Husky / Jonsered, or Dolmar of similar grade (although it would take some talking to convince me that a Husky/Poulan is a good saw, after owning a Poulan)
- Other saws in that class? (I’ve seen a couple mentions of Shindaiwa?) Cost is a definite issue, but I think a pro-grade saw is probably worth it. I’d also look more favorably on a saw that makes it’s power with displacement, not revving through the ceiling… I think an outside sprocket is also a desirable feature. I’m not unwilling to go for a used saw, as long as it’s in reasonably decent shape, however I cheaped out on getting my Poulan (before I started burning) and this time I’d rather pay for whatever it takes to get a GOOD saw…
I've been reading a lot about Dolmars, and it seems that people who have them are happy with them, assuming they either do their own work, or can find a dealer. Looking at the specs, am I correct in guessing that the 6400, 7300, and 7900 are all the same saw except for the piston and jug? Is the step up between the 6400 and 7900 worth it? Looking at the prices online, it seems Dolmar is less expensive than similar sizes of Stihl or Husky, does that hold at dealers as well?
I’ve noticed there is some difference in the chain sizes the different saws seem to come with - some use 3/8”, some .325, and some .050 - Is there any real difference to make one size better than the others?
Any particularly good model reccomendations?
How about good shops (or shops to avoid) in the Lowell MA area? I’d also be interested in shops in southern NH - we get up to the Nashua / Manchester area fairly often… When is a good time to buy a saw (i.e. when are the dealers most likely to be A: Hungry, and B: Loaded down with used saws and / or last years models?
Other good places to purchase a decent used saw?
Thanks,
Gooserider