I own a stock MS 441. I am interested in a job out west that requires a saw that can push a minimum of 32 in. and up to 48 in. I was curious as to what kind of power my saw had a few weeks ago so i threw a 32 in. bar on it. I had the whole bar buried in maple and it had no problem. I would assume that the conifers out west would be easier to cut then the hardwoods here. Am I trying to get away with too small of a saw?
western bar sizes?
- Thread starter 65x55BPD
- Start date
Help Support Arborist Forum:
That sounds like they're thinking more along the lines of a 660.
Yep, if you want any kind of performance, a 32" bar is about max for softwoods even with 7 tooth sp. in a 441 size saw.
Erick
Addicted to ArboristSite
Sounds like a MS660 to me too.
I've never run one but can't see a 441 pulling 48" in anything short of dry balsa, but then I'm pretty surprised it pulled 32" in maple (without working it to death anyway)
I've never run one but can't see a 441 pulling 48" in anything short of dry balsa, but then I'm pretty surprised it pulled 32" in maple (without working it to death anyway)
tek9tim
ArboristSite Guru
A 44 with a 32" bar will pull fine in softwood. Gotta keep the chain sharp, though. Depends on what you mean by "job", whether you mean employment or a piece of work. If you mean employment, it'd be perfectly fine if you wanted to start out with your 441, and get a 660 after you get a couple paychecks. Hell, I wouldn't buy a saw for the job without seeing what you're really cutting.
Griffbm3
ArboristSite Guru
I thought they wanted 2 powerheads
I think the employer you were looking at wants 5 years of experience and 2 powerheads able to pull those size bars. I know some people from FEMA who have dealt with that company and really like them. Good Luck, I imagine you are busy enough in metro SL with disaster removals right now though, right?
I tried to pull a 28" with a 441 through some old school maple and would have really wanted a 660, besides that, none of the trees were on FIRE... So I wasn't in a hurry. Good Luck with your search, I would keep the 441 and get a 660 and go get the job.
Jason
I think the employer you were looking at wants 5 years of experience and 2 powerheads able to pull those size bars. I know some people from FEMA who have dealt with that company and really like them. Good Luck, I imagine you are busy enough in metro SL with disaster removals right now though, right?
I tried to pull a 28" with a 441 through some old school maple and would have really wanted a 660, besides that, none of the trees were on FIRE... So I wasn't in a hurry. Good Luck with your search, I would keep the 441 and get a 660 and go get the job.
Jason
