The perfect firewood saw

[zogger]

Zogger, you did want counter-rotating chains on that ideal saw, didn't you? Along with a rotating axis so you can trim the shrubs and not have to bend so much when falling? Ron

No, going the normal same way, and I was serious. I was thinking about the mechanics of moving oil and clearing chips. And I didn't add in the hollow bar with direct to the bar oil injection. Or an exhaust diverter to make a heated handle. I know it sounds funny, but I gave an honest legit answer, some options on a good "saw of the future". Of course I think electrical saws will do much better once the battery situation improves some more, which it will do with carbon nanotube batteries. The solenoid bar mount was like a little high speed active shock to tame chain flex, the "rolling" you get with a chain at high speed. You can hardly see it with your eyes, but look at some slow mo pics or vids of what really happens once a chain starts motivating, it's like waves, inefficient, and there is no absolute good bar/chain tension scheme that addresses it, the best we have now is a rough raw compromise.

I've never climbed in the box, so I don't have to think outside of it. Ceramic bearings are out there, there exist some fantastic new alloys, fuel injection and oil injection is old hat in other applications, small computers now are common, etc.

We had another thread before on "good old days" of saw design, and I am still of the opinion the best is to come. By a *wide* margin.

 

[TK]

No, going the normal same way, and I was serious. I was thinking about the mechanics of moving oil and clearing chips. And I didn't add in the hollow bar with direct to the bar oil injection. Or an exhaust diverter to make a heated handle. I know it sounds funny, but I gave an honest legit answer, some options on a good "saw of the future". Of course I think electrical saws will do much better once the battery situation improves some more, which it will do with carbon nanotube batteries. The solenoid bar mount was like a little high speed active shock to tame chain flex, the "rolling" you get with a chain at high speed. You can hardly see it with your eyes, but look at some slow mo pics or vids of what really happens once a chain starts motivating, it's like waves, inefficient, and there is no absolute good bar/chain tension scheme that addresses it, the best we have now is a rough raw compromise.

I've never climbed in the box, so I don't have to think outside of it. Ceramic bearings are out there, there exist some fantastic new alloys, fuel injection and oil injection is old hat in other applications, small computers now are common, etc.

We had another thread before on "good old days" of saw design, and I am still of the opinion the best is to come. By a *wide* margin.

That's how they cut. The cutters rock back and forth along their travel.

 

[AUSSIE1]

Sounds like your wanting an upscaled one of these...

MS 241 C-M - New, compact professional chain saw with M-Tronic

Which Matt did a thread on here...

http://www.arboristsite.com/chainsaw/182792.htm

 

[spike60]

Firewood all looks about the same after it's been cut and split, but how it starts out determines what saw I take along with me.

Tops and wood up to 12": A 346/2153 is all you need and you can go all day without getting tired. 254XP's and Jonny 2055's are also excellent choices here.

12" to 18" logs: My 372XT just makes me smile every time I run it. They are SO underated. People still call me up looking for the originals, but the XT has more power hands down. Runs with the XPW minus the "there must be a hole in the tank" fuel usage.

18" plus: If they're that big, I'm not lifting them up. They'll be getting halved or quartered. My favorite for this work is my Jonny 930 Super, with a close second going to my 288XP. When I feel like going retro, a Homelite 925 is a blast to run.

 

[joatmon]

Next question

Ec 7900.

 

[mdavlee]

After running the 576 at today I would say it's got to be close. The 562 if it's just a little smaller version of it then they'll have a real winner. I didn't mind the weight at all. It's real light compared to the 655.:msp_thumbup:

 

[MechanicMatt]

1) Bring back the 362XP with the small bar mount, and stuff in the 71cc or 74cc motor. My 362XP weighs 13 lbs even and has 4.6hp, but with the potential for at least another 1/2 hp with the larger jugs.


I have this exact thing and it makes a GREAT firewood maker!!

 

[Farmertim]

I am with Spike on this one. For stuff under 12 inches, I cannot envision a saw more suited to firewooding than the 346xp, after that the 372xp comes out. I don't have a larger saw, but the 372 does pretty well in 25"+ wood for the amount I get into it. I too am intrigued with the 372XT, but they are not selling them here in Canada yet, so I will be sticking to my 372xp original.

I guess in the case of the 372XT and the 560xp, we can stop blaming the epa for limiting saws potential. I do not think we can blame the epa that there is not a 60cc saw that is makng 5hp--a few have been close--we will see.

Spike--how much extra power does the 372xp have over the original. I would for sure have purchased one, but none were available at the time. I am still very happy with my original and will be using it for years--it just is nice to have a saw not weigh more, have more power and use less fuel: Awesome.

Tim

 

[NORMZILLA44]

Hate to sound like a broken record, but man the 372-044 are a dream for firewood. And about the weight of a 20 in saw, so close.

 

[TK]

I am with Spike on this one. For stuff under 12 inches, I cannot envision a saw more suited to firewooding than the 346xp, after that the 372xp comes out. I don't have a larger saw, but the 372 does pretty well in 25"+ wood for the amount I get into it. I too am intrigued with the 372XT, but they are not selling them here in Canada yet, so I will be sticking to my 372xp original.

I guess in the case of the 372XT and the 560xp, we can stop blaming the epa for limiting saws potential. I do not think we can blame the epa that there is not a 60cc saw that is makng 5hp--a few have been close--we will see.

Spike--how much extra power does the 372xp have over the original. I would for sure have purchased one, but none were available at the time. I am still very happy with my original and will be using it for years--it just is nice to have a saw not weigh more, have more power and use less fuel: Awesome.

Tim

Was previously rated at 5.2hp. I would say this is a significant gain in power.

 

[cheeves]

Hate to sound like a broken record, but man the 372-044 are a dream for firewood. And about the weight of a 20 in saw, so close.

Norm, I was looking up som specs. You know i'm a fan of Efco. There 7200 is 70.8 cc with 5.4 HP. The 441 Stihl is 70.7 cc with 5.5 HP. I can get a 7200 Efco at Pat's Small Engine for under $600. Seriously!! And with a 5yr. warranty. Also the 156 Efco is an excellent firewood saw. I got a yard full of wood to attest to it. Not to take anything from Stihl because I love them but the cost.....

 

[Sagetown]

Norm, I was looking up som specs. You know i'm a fan of Efco. There 7200 is 70.8 cc with 5.4 HP. The 441 Stihl is 70.7 cc with 5.5 HP. I can get a 7200 Efco at Pat's Small Engine for under $600. Seriously!! And with a 5yr. warranty. Also the 156 Efco is an excellent firewood saw. I got a yard full of wood to attest to it. Not to take anything from Stihl because I love them but the cost.....

Efco! Seem's like I read somewhere they make, or made, the John Deere saws.
$600 for a new saw with the quality of a JD is a good investment.

 

[TK]

Efco! Seem's like I read somewhere they make, or made, the John Deere saws.
$600 for a new saw with the quality of a JD is a good investment.

JD is not responsible for anything being made with quality outside of their tractors and implements. They only make tractors and accessories, everything else is outsourced with their rather expensive sticker placed on it. On the rare occasion, they have outsourced a couple of quality pieces of equipment. For the most part though, it goes to the lowest bidder.

 

[TN-ELK]

Hate to sound like a broken record, but man the 372-044 are a dream for firewood. And about the weight of a 20 in saw, so close.

I agree......044-372 (good woods port makes a nice bonus):msp_biggrin: with a 20" and maybe either 24" or 28" bars. This would take care of 99% of what I run into. Any wood bigger than that... and my back ain't touch-n it.

 

[sunfish]

I bet more firewood is cut with the ms290 and 455 Rancher, than any other saws. :msp_biggrin:

 

[deye223]

any thing with the power of a ms660 and the weight of a 460 and holds 10,000 or 11,000 rpm buried in wood has got too be perfect

 

[Sagetown]

JD is not responsible for anything being made with quality outside of their tractors and implements. They only make tractors and accessories, everything else is outsourced with their rather expensive sticker placed on it. On the rare occasion, they have outsourced a couple of quality pieces of equipment. For the most part though, it goes to the lowest bidder.

I was referring to the quality of this JD saw. If, indeed, EFCO makes them, an EFCO 70cc saw for $600 would be a good investment. Those who are curious of the saw in the background. It is a 50cc Pioneer, Mod#2073.

 

[OhioGregg]

Like Spike said earlier, I use different saws, depending on the tree I'm working on. My favorite by far, is a 64cc Poulan 4000. If I'm into bigger wood, then I use either a 5200 Poulan or 385xp Husky. Both 85cc. :msp_thumbsup:
I generally leave the tops for a wood scrounging friend of mine with his Wild Things.

Gregg,

 

[homelitejim]

I find that when the terrain is steep or really uneven I tend to grab this saw, it is light but still has the power to bury a 20 inch bar out here in the PNW.

If the trees get fat at the bottom I like a good 70-80 cc saw with a longer bar.

For the true giants I tend to reach for over 90cc.

 

[blsnelling]

any thing with the power of a ms660 and the weight of a 460 and holds 10,000 or 11,000 rpm buried in wood has got too be perfect

Go 440/460 hybrid