Firewood saws?

[Stihl here]

Now I am just a homeowner that enjoys nice equipt, But I don't see why all the talk about big saws for cordwood. I have a stihl ms361 and an stihl 026 and I will tell you that for 3-4 cords of firewood that I gather from jobsites or whatever my 026 makes more sense. Do you guys lift 18'' to 24'' inch rounds up on the splitter or in your pickup? I wouldn't!!! I can see a bigger saw in a grapple pile in my yard but for the firewood scavenger I think 50cc make more sense. Firewood for me is max 16'' and I tend to shy from those not because I can't cut them but I dont want to load them on my pickup and then lift on to the splitter!!! My homeowner type firewood seems to be 4''-12'' which seems to handle best from my angle. Whats your thoughts?

 

[IchWarriorMkII]

I'll cut big trees, not afraid of em the least bit. I employ a timber carrier and a strong backed cousin to pack the rounds into a trailer. The trailer has either a low step or a fold down ramp which make loading quick, easy, and fast. We can roll the rounds out near the splitter, and use the timber carrier again to pick the rounds onto the splitter. Or, we can bust the rounds in half with a maul. Its not that difficult really... the trailer sure does get full faster with the big wood.

As far as saws go, I laugh at 50cc saws. Sorry, I tried 'em and didnt like em. At low elevations (6,000feet) they run okay, but still I won't pull anything bigger than 16" with em. A high elevations... I really don't use them for anything big knocking limbs off...

... which brings me to my next thought. Why on earth do I want to set down my falling saw after the tree tips over? Because as soon as I knock the limbs off, I need to buck it up. And there isn't a limbing saw in the world thats going to buck up a 24" doug fir at 9,000 feet. Well, maybe my 372xp... and it sure makes an awesome limbing saw, its got power to spare... and is all warmed up cause it just tipped this big ole tree over.

Now if I got my wish, and had a 395xp to drive whatever bar of my choosing, I can see having a smaller limbing saw. No one wants to swing a 20lb saw around blowing off little limbs. But I just have a lust for a big saw to pull a bar with extreme authority, its really not needed. A 70cc saw... its about perfect for all around firewooding. It will pull 24" bars with full comp well at my elevations, still light enough to allow for a tree to be limbed and an operator to not be fatigued.

Now, my cutting is probably a mile higher than you are. My saws run like arse because of it. No replacement for displacement. I also only get to cut dead and down trees, conifers, and that leads me to Douglas Fir. If I wanted to pick and choosey about the diameter the rounds are... I'd still be cutting firewood. Or rather, driving around the mountain looking for little dead trees.

Different strokes for different folks.

 

[Stihl 041S]

Loss at altitude

At bonneville, humidity being the same, about 5% loss per 1000 ft.

Some days the power loss at Bonneville(4500 ft el) would be the same as at 10,000 ft due to the dryness.

My .02

 

[sneno77]

Why on earth do I want to set down my falling saw after the tree tips over?

+1

I've never understood the idea of a limbing saw. Esp in the bigger wood. I enjoy the extra power of my 7900 for taking those limbs off quick and efficiently, plus the longer bar keeps me standing upright and saves the back a little...just my thoughts.

 

[ScottWojo]

066 Modified Monster.

My monster from the scrap yard is what I use with a 20" bar. If I get something I cant lift, I use the saw to split it.
I found it in the scrap yard and bought it for $5.00. Got a WHS cylinder an eBay gas tank, and a GB Bar. It zipps through the wood, and makes fast work of any job. Too much for firewood? perhaps. But I was using old Homelite C-5's before this saw and I am NEVER going back.

 

[outdoortype]

Occasional vs Pro

Stihl here, I know what your saying. The farm boss is regarded as a big saw around my area and we're blessed with tons Oak, Hickory, & Elm up to about 30". I just blasted through 20" Dead Oak with my 59cc saw and I felt it worked fine. It seems plenty powerful and extremely comfortable--that's what matters to me. I cut whatever blows over and I'm not shying away from free heat just because it's a big tree. I just take a maul and split the tree into managable sizes. But I'm just a firewood cutter so time & production aren't as critical.

 

[kevlar]

all i do is cut firewood with my saws,but my all round favorite is the 038mag but there is always something bigger in the truck!

 

[Ray Bennett]

Stihl here, I know what your saying. The farm boss is regarded as a big saw around my area and we're blessed with tons Oak, Hickory, & Elm up to about 30". I just blasted through 20" Dead Oak with my 59cc saw and I felt it worked fine. It seems plenty powerful and extremely comfortable--that's what matters to me. I cut whatever blows over and I'm not shying away from free heat just because it's a big tree. I just take a maul and split the tree into managable sizes. But I'm just a firewood cutter so time & production aren't as critical.

I was very happy with my 029 farmboss for years, Then I made the mistake of using some 70cc saws and the rest is history. If all you are going to do is your own fire wood (5 to 10)cord a year that 50cc class is great. I just warn ya never pick up a 460 or 660. I used to think my 029 ripped, and it did compared to my super XL. But once you sink a 660 into a 20 to 30 inch oak there is no going back ever!

And to stay on topic I prefer loading bigger logs, 20+ inches, Your truck can be loaded in no time compared to handling all the small stuff. Yes you have to split them latter but I love the way big chunks fill the wood stove and burn compared to small logs.

 

[joecool85]

And here I am cutting with a Wild Thing. Well, you gotta use what's given to you. Literally. Luckily I'm not heating my house with wood, I still live in an apartment and the wood I'm cutting is "junk wood" on my parent's land. I'm saving it for firewood since I'm planning on buying a house this coming summer. With any luck it'll have (or I can install cheaply) a wood boiler, and I'll have a head start on the firewood I have just under a full cord right now, which is about 1/3 of what I've cut. A good deal of what I cut was under 3" in diameter or dead and starting to rot.

btw, I should note that the Wild Thing cuts well in anything up to about 12" across, much past that and it slows down pretty bad. That said, I took down a 20" thick pine with it.

Back on topic, a 50cc saw w/18" bar should do well for most people cutting firewood. That's what I plan on buying as soon as I get a house. Till then I'll keep going with the free saw, and (soon I hope) my craftsman project saw.

 

[Dok]

I used to think my 026 was all the saw I would ever need, until I cut with my buddy who had a 044. Now I usually bring my 026 (or Husky 350) and the 440. Depending on the size of the wood I'm working on, I will usually only run one or the other. The 440 isn't heavy, you can cut for hours and limb with it. It is much faster cutting the larger diameter stuff and large diameter rounds fill the truck faster.

Stihl Here, you are right, you can live the rest of your life cutting with a 50cc saw and never miss it. It does the job and you don't NEED a larger saw. If you hang around here or actually try a pro 70cc saw you will probably WANT a three or five saw plan like the rest of us addicts.

 

[Sawin]

Cut for quite a while with a 034. Firewood and some logs to sell. Started getting old and purchased a MS 260 for the less weight. Often thought the same as "Stihl here", the original poster. Except the larger size trees, hard and softwood also got cut. Didn't need a bigger saw.

Now my son has the 034, and I have an MS 361 and a Dolmar 7900. Why? Cause I can

 

[bigjayfromwa]

I'm a firm believer that bigger is better, however for a firewood cutter and homeowner i wouldnt recommend running a big saw for firewood.

Since from my experience, i've seen that most guys are afraid of them from the size and power, so it shouldnt even be in his/her hands. So i go by if you have to use the sissy button to start it (compression release), then you shouldnt even bother. I would recommend a 361 24" bar square chisel full skip chain, then add a mild woods port job and be happy with a good, light, durable saw.

I use a nice 260pro as a camp saw and up fourwheeling, works great, cuts decent with a 20" bar, full skip square chisel chain. (i use full skip, cuz i hate filing!). So stick with a nice 50cc saw, you can run it all day long, it wont wear you out and it cuts just fine.

If you want to step up to my world than just grab a new 3120 or 880 pump it up, throw a 50" bar on it then ????? that it doesnt have enough power while you're cuttin eighty feet up!

 

[upandcommer]

the 50cc saws at my house are now relegated to the limbing saws. I cut firewood after a tree service and let me tell ya when they call it is because someone is not wanting the wood which means it is big or unsplittable between my buddy and I we have cut split and stacked probably 30 cords of just such wood starting this spring with a 30" pin oak and just picked up a 28" white pine the other day the bigger they are the harder they fall at first I had my brand new ms290. Which quickly was replaced by the poulan 245a (74cc 24" bar) now that again has been superseded by the jonsereds 920 with a 30" so you go ahead and cut them little sapling and take a week to make a cord I will cut the trunks that are 2-3 cords per tree and everyone is happy. Disclaimer before attempting anything in this size range for firewood you better have a monster splitter my buddy has a 14hp 22 gallon 5 inch ram unit that will split 20" hard maple sideways and ask for a workout. So when attempting to recreate this you better overbuild and then some.

 

[bluequill56]

I like the larger rounds. They usually split/stack straight, and there's lots of wood to be had that way. A lot less handling, too. You've got to cut a lot of little trees to get a cord. If the rounds are too big, I just flip 'em around and half or quarter them with the saw. It can get a tad messy with the long curly fries, but does make moving the big ones easier. Your 361 should do it OK, but a 70+ cc saw would do it a bit better. One of the many reasons to like a big saw......IMO. But it all boils down to what you like.

 

[Poley4]

I think it really depends on what you usually cut for firewood. Here I cut mostly oak and hickory, and especially on the larger oaks, there is a lot of wood in the limbs, so that is where the majority of the cutting time is spent. I personally can't see limbing with a 15lb or 20lb saw when a 10lb saw will get the job done almost as fast, and besides I am not racing or trying to impress anyone. Even though I enjoy cutting wood, it is still a job I have to get done and I want to get it done as efficiently as possible with the least amount of energy spent on my part. A 50cc saw to me is just a lot handier and a larger saw will just wear you out more by the end of the day.

 

[sawinredneck]

WELL............. I have run the 50cc saws, don't like the 260 much, tried the 346, thats a story in itself and Iwont buy another, LOVE my 350!! BUT, if I want to cut, I take the 046BB (80cc's now) and
CUT!!! I can cut the same amount of wood in half the time, yes I burn more gas, but it's done, and NOW!!! I like the idea of a 60cc saw for firewood, just can't find one I like yet.
If you have all day, 50cc's, want to go home, 60cc's, want to cut a lot and go home NOW? 70+cc's!!!!
Like the others said, don't run a 440/460, and you will never know what you are missing, run one, well, leave you're wallet at home!!!!!

 

[joatmon]

WELL............. I have run the 50cc saws, don't like the 260 much, tried the 346, thats a story in itself and Iwont buy another, LOVE my 350!! BUT, if I want to cut, I take the 046BB (80cc's now) and
CUT!!! I can cut the same amount of wood in half the time, yes I burn more gas, but it's done, and NOW!!! I like the idea of a 60cc saw for firewood, just can't find one I like yet.
If you have all day, 50cc's, want to go home, 60cc's, want to cut a lot and go home NOW? 70+cc's!!!!
Like the others said, don't run a 440/460, and you will never know what you are missing, run one, well, leave you're wallet at home!!!!!

SRN,

For the 1,423 rd time. Here's the saw YOU need. Get a 440. Yea, I know it's 70cc (70.7cc, so ST doesn't bust my chops), but you like them. Want the power of a 60cc saw? Well, just get Wojo to add some baffles to the muffler so it has it put out just under a horse less. There, you've got a nice saw you like with the power of a 60cc saw. Don't let the extra lb. worry you. You bif enough to handle it.

1. Go to bed.
2. Don't worry about this saw thing.
3. Spend Sunday thinking of a reason why I'm not in today excuse.
4. Go Monday AM and get a MS440.
5. Go home, rip off the muffler.
6. Send the muffler to Wojo.
7. Wait by the mailbox.
8. Install muffler.
9. Run saw.
10. Smile.
11. Worry not my friend about the naysayers.

Oh, and you're welcome,

Joat

 

[sawinredneck]

Actually leaning more and more towards the 7900 with a 20", GIT ER DONE!!!!!

 

[Poley4]

Actually leaning more and more towards the 7900 with a 20", GIT ER DONE!!!!!

Overkill for firewood saw if you plan on limbing with it! Do you really believe you can ever use all of that power on a 6" limb?

 

[sawinredneck]

Overkill for firewood saw if you plan on limbing with it! Do you really believe you can ever use all of that power on a 6" limb?

:hmm3grin2orange: :hmm3grin2orange: Believe it? Hell, it will be a cake walk with a 20" bar!!!! Try doing that with the 046BB and a 32" bar!!!!!!