Saw Purchace
Dad has been cutting firewood for over ten years now. The city hauls the big stuf out to his 10 acre playground. He's a Stihl kind of man. I'm not sure what size he's using, has an 18" bar. I purchaced a 075 for him four years ago, rebuilt it and put a 36" bar on it. I did ask him before buying the bar what lenth he needed. He's been happy with it although I've had to fix it one other time. Previous owner had plugged the gas cap vent with a set screw, saw was runing out of gas.
From the few times I've taked with him about his saw's, air filters clogging seems to be his main complaint. I've seen him carry 20 chains to be sharpened, not sure I'd be able to convince him away from whomever is doing his sharpening. There are three other retired friends that enjoy working with him out there, all hardcore Stihl guys.
I'd better explain a few things before asking the big question. Dad is not your average sort of retired man. He's always doing something, be it shingling a roof when it's over 100+ or building a garage, 160' X 80' metal building by himself for his friends. One never knows what all this guy has on his plate, usually always several jobs. He relaxes cutting & splitting firewood.....
I had been on second shift for 10+ years. Just starting to get back into life again.
Now for the question. I'd like to buy dad a new saw, gotta be a Stihl though. Reading about hot saws has me leaning towards setting him up with a hot saw. They cut Ash to Walnut. He's using the 075 exclusively with a 36" bar so somewhere in the 18" to 20" would be the requirements. Is the 044 a good choice for a hot-saw? How modified can we be without an expansion chamber sticking out? This must be a working-everyday saw.
Ryan