Thank you all for your input and ideas.
After reading through some other posts as well I decided I wanted to keep the spark arrester screen in since I don't cut that much and I doubt its restricting the airflow (unless it were to get clogged) and it should keep any bugs or other debris away from the cylinder that could work the way into the muffler from the new front hole. I also decided to keep the baffles in to still muffle the noise some but I opened up the 12 original holes to 7/32" and added 4 - 3/8" holes on the bottom to allow for easier air movement to the original exhaust outlets and to the new 1/2" exhaust outlet I put in the front.
I thought about the side exhaust so that when I am cutting there would be no blockage from the wood etc, but there is plastic there and I had read some other posts where the side exhaust led to melted plastic. If I had access to a welder and some pipe I could direct them forward with a small welded tube but I didn't have that option.
Now after I get a new primer bulb I can fire it up and see what the results are. Thanks again!