1st post. New 357XP w/pics & vid

[MGoBlue]

Hi all from the Gettysburg PA area. I've been lurking the forum, figured it was time for my first post. I've been heating w/ wood for 3 seasons now. I started w/ a Husqvarna 450e.

My father was always a loyal Husky guy and it just trickled down to me. The 450 was great for the "free" apple wood I had access to. Fast forward two years and apple wood is just too much work. Now I'm into big oaks:

So I put the 450 on Craigslist and sold it to offset the cost of a new 357XP:

And my first saw which was a gift years ago (w/ a new 14" oregon b/c) which I use to limb:

I took some pics today and thought I'd share:

 

[Stihl-Pioneer]

Welcome aboard,

You got yourself a nice saw there. I myself just picked up stihl's version of that saw a MS361. I am a stihl guy because I have a great dealer 3 miles from me, or I probably have a husky or 2 (that may still happen cad sucks). Good luck with it. New member and saw rep coming.

 

[Knuckles]

Very nice. I almost bought one. Actually had it in my hands, until the salesman told me the price, then I quickly put it down:msp_sad:

Keep us posted on how you like it.

 

[sunfish]

Great firewood saw!

I bought my 357xp used last summer and absolutely love it. I'd rather use one of my 346xp, but I bring out the 357 for the big stuff and have not been disappointed.
:msp_smile:

 

[sunfish]

And welcome to the site!

 

[PineFever]

Great Pics!
Welcome to AS.
New Saw Rep as well.

 

[sunfish]

Actually the new 357 is better than the older ones. They took care of the carb and carb boot/clamp problems. And unlike most new models, no primer bulb on this one. Worth the price, IMO.

 

[Beefie]

Nice saw, and you Get a A+ for posting with pics for your first post. Welcome to AS , hope you stick around , might learn something from these guys or we might learn something from you.


Beefie

 

[JJay03]

Looks like a nice saw I almost got one also but decided to go with the stihl.

 

[GA_Boy]

Definitely a nice saw. Congrats.

Where's that vid?

 

[MGoBlue]

Sorry bout that. I wasn't allowed to post more than 10 pics/vids on my 1st one and the thread had to be approved by a mod.
Carry on:
YouTube - ‪Cutting wet oak w/ my Husqvarna 357XP‬‏
YouTube - ‪Cutting wet oak w/ new Husqvarna 357XP‬‏

I came here to learn a few tips indeed. Feel free to critique:

This tree wouldn't fall the way I thought it would, so I notched the other side and she fell. Very scary couple of days... I left it overnight hoping the wind would give it a push but it didn't happen.

Thanks for the welcomes. I'm sure I will learn alot from this board.

 

[dancan]

Welcome , great bunch of pics !
Did you use any wedges on the last tree ?

 

[MGoBlue]

I bought 2 after she fell. Lesson learned.

 

[dancan]

Wedges , ropes , felling levers all are good tools to get wood on the ground .
Sometimes it pays just to drop the tree in the direction it wants to go if the lean is to much or the crown is too heavy on one side .
Learn to pick your battles , always look up and make sure you have an escape route .

 

[firefighter33]

Welcome! Nice to see someone thats in my area!!

 

[REJ2]

Welcome to A.S., nice choice of weapon you got there, you'll fit in just fine!

 

[Longwood]

Congrats on the new saw. I'm very impressed with how it pulls that 20" bar in Oak. Thanks for posting the pics and videos, now you got me thinking I wouldn't mind having a 357xp. :chainsawguy:
If you don't already have some, think about getting some kelvar chaps.


Labonville Regular Chainsaw Chaps & Parts - Labonville Inc.

 

[Anthony_Va.]

I do like the 357xp saws. You may end up with a nice 372xp sometime.

This is an awesome first thread. cutting a new cut over top another cut like you did in that last pic is very dangerous. I have tried it twice and bent a bar in half one time and bout got my leg broke another. They can easily kick out at you and it happens fast. I was like you and did'nt have wedges and comealongs. Now I do. Wedges are your best friend while felling trees. You can manipulate a tree quite a bit with a couple good wedges. The Oak have lots of big heavy limbs hanging over your head. Keep ya eyes up man!

Welcome to the site! Rep comin. Good job bud.

 

[GM_DaddyMac]

Nice saw and great pics and video.

New saw rep and member name rep sent -- M Go Blue!

 

[MGoBlue]

That tree was dangerous. I'm soaking up all opinions and critiques, believe me. All the orchards I cut in had the trees bulldozed, so my only instruction felling has been the internet. Unfortunately this woods is very overgrown and the trees are tight way up high. I can't seem to get the trees falling quick enough to drop the whole way.

The 357 is runnin awesome. I didn't want to go up in weight, so it seemed to be the one for me, + the cost of the big guns :msp_ohmy: was way out of my league.