Thinking about restructuring the wood cutting fleet

[Del_]

I've been thinking of restructuring my wood cutting fleet.....


.......but first I've got to get my saws, mauls, axes, wedges, chains and files in a database.

 

[muddstopper]

I dont ever see me downsizing my fleet of saws. I'll always have a 50cc and a 70cc saw, they are all I need for no more wood than what I cut. I might upsize to a 90cc saw because I have been thinking about a chainsaw mill. so my fleet wont downsize, but it might grow a little bit. I might have a pretty good scrounge scored within walking distance from my house, some good size white and red oak, but nothing My 365 wont handle. Be a bunch of junk wood there, Jack pine, little populars and a few timber size white pines. Nothing really worth trying to market so I will make it all into firewood.

 

[Jules083]

I bring a 55 Rancher and a 346XP with me every time I go cut. Add a Stihl 021 if I'll be doing a bunch of small stuff. Otherwise my 031 is reserved for when I feel like playing with it. Need to get my 041 running. Have a 372xp that needs a top end, haven't messed with it in a while. Put a new piston/ring in last year and somehow managed to break the ring when I was sliding the cylinder on, not sure what that was about. Got annoyed and haven't touched it since.

 

[svk]

It's nice to have a few extras so I can have one at each place plus keep the starting lineup wherever I'll be cutting. But two saws is really all a guy needs.

 

[DSW]

I got down to 5 and was really proud of myself. This week my small saw that never acts up, won't start. My 026 clutch locked up 5 minutes after. Luckily my trusty CS8000 kept me going. I am 3 years ahead on firewood but I've got a small area I'm clearing and I hate to not finish a job because of equipment. I was also carving the sides of a slab bench, had to use the big saw with the two foot bar and sure enough I botched a spot. I guess I could have tried the 076 with the three foot bar.

 

[babybart]

It's nice to have a few extras so I can have one at each place plus keep the starting lineup wherever I'll be cutting. But two saws is really all a guy needs.

BLASPHEMOUS SPEAK!!!!!!

 

[svk]

Except for trail cleanup I really wouldn't even need to pick up a saw for the next 2 years and not have to worry about wood. But we know that isn't going to happen lol.

 

[babybart]

I dont ever see me downsizing my fleet of saws. I'll always have a 50cc and a 70cc saw, they are all I need for no more wood than what I cut. I might upsize to a 90cc saw because I have been thinking about a chainsaw mill. so my fleet wont downsize, but it might grow a little bit. I might have a pretty good scrounge scored within walking distance from my house, some good size white and red oak, but nothing My 365 wont handle. Be a bunch of junk wood there, Jack pine, little populars and a few timber size white pines. Nothing really worth trying to market so I will make it all into firewood.

That was my reasoning too! I bought a 394xp ported by Joe Stanley and I mill with it but oh my, a 32" bar with cross cut chisel chain.... SO MUCH FUN!!!! Redneck Chainsaw Massacre!!! @ELECT6845

 

[muddstopper]

I dont know about just two saws being all one needs. I use two sizes for most of my firewood needs, but I carry 4 saws with me. One of the three 55's has a 18in bar, everything else a 20in and I have a 24in if I need it for the 365. I use 3/8 chisel on everything.

 

[tpence2177]

I dont know about just two saws being all one needs. I use two sizes for most of my firewood needs, but I carry 4 saws with me. One of the three 55's has a 18in bar, everything else a 20in and I have a 24in if I need it for the 365. I use 3/8 chisel on everything.

How well does your 55 pull with 3/8? Thinking about swapping mine just so I can get a cheap 16" bars.

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[muddstopper]

How well does your 55 pull with 3/8? Thinking about swapping mine just so I can get a cheap 16" bars.

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In red oak, and a sharp 20in chain you have to push it to bog it down. Whiteoak its easier to bog, in soft pines, it wont slow down. But a 20in bar with 3/8 chain is about all a 55 wants. With a 16in bar, I would think a 55 would really cut with a 3/8 chain.

 

[tpence2177]

Thanks can't really find anything with .325 16" for cheap so I may make the swap. My echo is 3/8 so it would make keeping up with files easier as well.

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[Jeffkrib]

SVK you said it 'two saws is all a guy really needs' LOL .....let's see you practice what you preach. The cold hard reality is yes you are correct. It does however require extreme restraint. Kind of like putting your arm into a tank full of mosquitoes, getting 100 bites and not being allowed to scratch for an hour. Most just cave in and scratch

 

[olyman]

It's nice to have a few extras so I can have one at each place plus keep the starting lineup wherever I'll be cutting. But two saws is really all a guy needs.

mmmm. next time you cut on a crooked tree,, and stick two saws,, call me.. ill be laughing.. its happened to me three times at least...

 

[lindnova]

Except for trail cleanup I really wouldn't even need to pick up a saw for the next 2 years and not have to worry about wood. But we know that isn't going to happen lol.

Yeah me too - about 20 cords in reserve not counting the 11 cords stacked by the furnace. Someday I may not be able to cut for a year and want to stay ahead. Just don't want my wood going to rot. I built a roof-only shed this fall to keep some of the premier wood good for a while - sick of tarps. After deer hunting the last two weeks I found a big silver maple across a trail, a nice bur oak branch down further down that same trail and more barkless easy access elms than I know what to do with. Got it narrowed down to the maple, oak and 2 oldest and nicest elms as a goal to get before Christmas or too much snow.

My wife thinks I am nuts. She actually asked me if she could turn up the thermostat to 68° I said what do you think all this wood is for if not to keep you warm?

I like my three saw plan right now. I would like a 90cc for milling as it is awful hard on the 461. Don't use the 260 much anymore, but it is my go to saw for cleaning brush and trails. The 461 makes up for extra weight in speed over the 362 that does mostly limbing these days. Maybe trade the 362 for a 661....naw just add a 661.