Stumping saw

[John Paul Sanborn]

What is the best setup for cappin big stumps where they are done on a weekly basis and money is an issue? 088 is out of the ballpark .

Power head, bar, chain, sproket...

 

[confused]

John,

If an 088 is out of the question then im assuming that an 066 is inside the park. Here is my humble opinion. I would go either 066 if mostly hard wood and hard cutting or 046/044 if softer woods for the stihl saws. i would try and get a bar that you can cut the stump off completely in one pass or if your really comfortable going around the stumps get a 24-28" for either saw and go nuts. I would run the stihl chains using semi chisel for the longer bars.

Now to prove that im not a partisian jerk. If i were to purchase a husky to stump i would look first at the 3120 but that might be somewhat pricey i have no idea though so i would look at it anyways. If that doesnt tickle your fancy then the 395XP or the 385XP/372XP will do the same job as the stihls for more than likely less money. Even with the Husky's i would still run a stihl chain because of the oilomatic groove that puts the oil where its needed and the stihl chains seem to be more resistant to wear.

Either saw will do the job the husky is probably cheaper. Here is the madsens website and both stihls and huskys all of which will take your right to the saws. Best of luck John and let us know which you decided on and for what reasons. Im sure HUSKYMAN and sonny will be chimming in sooner or later with there opinions. Both of whom are very familiar with both products and have more experience than myself. Finally, John i have a stihl 046 and have stumped oak, pine, maple(hard/soft), and sycamore. Now these stumps have been within 18-38" in diameter so if your stumps are bigger then i would buy a bigger saw. But, my saw flew through them and performed perfectly. Thats all i have to give you John best of luck.

www.madsens1.com/sub1.htm
www.stihlusa.com/chainsaws/
www.usa.husqvarna.com/node234.asp

 

[davefr]

If money is an issue, are you open to used?

I just listed this big guy on EBAY about 5 minutes ago:

http://cgi.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1302187521

 

[HUSKYMAN]

John didnt you say you had an 064 in a previous post? If you are going to trade the old girl in I will give you a new option: sell the 064 and buy an 066 from Madsen's saw shop and have it "powertuned." Powertuning means they disassemble the new saw, blueprint and balance the assembly, and modify the muffler making the saw run cooler. Madsen's has an excellent rep and powertuning only costs $80. I think they are at www.madsens1.com or www.madsen1.com.

 

[monkeypuzzle]

Hey Huskyman, just added the 385XP to my arsenal, I was going in with plans on the 372XP,but took the biggie value meal instead,why not huh, it's Xmas and this is the USA right.Can't wait to try it.

 

[John Paul Sanborn]

The 64 was at the CC I no longer work at. I have a buddy who needs to get a stumping saw. He has a 3172xp (?) and will be getting a bigger bar and full-skip full-chisle chain untill he can afford to pop for a bigger saw. He has been doing at least on removal a week lately mostly box elder and silver maple but some oak and hickory.

I liked the 64 with the full-skip on a 36 in bar.

Why the semi chisle vice full?

 

[confused]

Full vs Semi,

John it depends on the operator and the confidence of said person. A chainsaw friendly person should go full chisel and have a blast. vice versa.

The only thing that i have noticed between the two is the fact that on the longer bars a full chisel can create some vibration when starting into the tree/stump, what i mean is that the bar starts to wiggle back and forth until you get into a groove and then your all set. Just to let you know is all. Other wise you'll have to ask more experienced individuals for their opinions.

completely confused

 

[sonny]

Full chisel files- around $40.00 per dozen
semi chisel files- around $10.00 per dozen

 

[HUSKYMAN]

There is no 3172XP, it is either a 372xp or a 3120xp. 372 is 71 cc and the 3120 is 119cc so as you can see quite a difference in size. A 3120 can handle whatever bar you can put on it, a 372 maxes out at about 30 inches. semi chisel is better for dirty cutting i.e. stumps because it will not dull as fast, the will cut about 5-10% slower, which is an acceptable difference in my book

 

[John Paul Sanborn]

I worked for him today and, D'oh, it is a 372xp (hollow trees buck easy!).

Sooo a bigger saw with semi chissle, probibly full skip to reduce sharpening time (114 links!!), and sprocket change is probibly not needed.

He has Husky and has been thinking about a big Stihl, but I'm telling him he's got three of those Orange things already, so whay chage now?

 

[confused]

John,

Go 066 then he will never regret it. its a flame thrower of a saw.

 

[tundraotto]

id opt for the 395xp or the 385xp from husky for $900 and $740 respectively - (with 32 bars and chains) from madsens. if moneys the issue you need to be a die hard stihl fan to buy etc the 066....which is a good saw too im told - but EXPENSIVE and i would seriously doubt to be as good as the husky 395 (0.1hp more than the 066, ha!) madsens can also power tune the beast for some more hp for $80 - which is well worth the money!

 

[monkeypuzzle]

I used our new 385XP for the first time thursday.I removed a large Pecan and used it for the final cut, I'm happy with it.

 

[tundraotto]

you must be a rich man - or a man who really takes his stumping seriously - "385 and"used it for the final cut", i hope you got your near $800 worth! just curious - why didn't you notch it out with the 385 while you were at it - was this tree really close to something likely to cause property damage? is this why you went to the MAX!? Jealous of your saw though....

 

[monkeypuzzle]

869.73$.. damn sure better be happy right.It sat between houses with a fence and the gas meter 12 feet away so it was an automatic crane job.If I can't get a crane to a Pecan tree I'll probably choose not to do the job.I forgot to list them on my least favorite tree to climb list on a different thead a few months ago.Notching with a 385xp,man I hope not.

 

[tundraotto]

madsens, madsens, madsens

you paid too much for your awesome saw. for next time go to madsens1.com


Husky 385XP Pricing:

Combination List price Madsen's Price
Power Head Only $819.95 $687.00
With 32 inch bar and chain $889.95 $746.00
With 36 inch bar and chain $899.95 $755.00
Call for pricing on other bar and chain combinations. Power Tuning add $80.00

and best part - shipping is about $20 or maybe you can get some discount - beats paying SALES TAX (about $60 extra if you buyt from a store)

 

[sawracr]

Hey Monkey, I've got a 385 that I power tuned, the 066 is no contest ,dosn't have the transfer porting of the Husky. Jon

 

[HUSKYMAN]

Glad to hear you liked the 385XP. I would contact Walkers Saw shop and have them give you one of their ported mufflers. Will make the saw run cooler and it will not be taken apart. Just stay away from the Indian burial grounds with that thing, ok?

 

[sawracr]

Huskyman, I did my muffler, with a design a friend showed me, it works very well and doesn't look so cobby, could even fool the USFS. Three fallers from our area have converted, from the 066 and all are very happy.

 

[monkeypuzzle]

I called Madsens,they are out of those free mufflers Huskyman, I think you are right tundraotto,I paid too much.