Firewood Saws and Comparisons

So I am fairly new to these forums and I've searched and read a very large number of "which saw" and "comparison" threads. To start I'm looking to buy my first new saw for firewood purposes. I've borrowed and run an Echo CS-5000 for many years and for a 50cc saw it's done very well even cutting what should be left for much bigger saws.

I have a few saws in mind but open to many. I have money for one good saw, maybe two if I play my cards right. I'm unsure of what I will be cutting. In the last 2 years I've cut a minimum tree diameter of 6"-72" in Diameter. The larger is a bit uncommon but still more than possible in the future. And yes I had to borrow a beastly old homelite to noodle the 72" diameter. This wood will mainly be maple, oak, ash, maybe some poplar, though I don't care much for it.

As far as saws go I'm an open book. I've seriously been considering the Dolmar 7900 as my first saw. If I can swing the second I would like to buy the Husky 346xp. Than again, the 50cc saw has done 98% of everything I've asked it to do over the years. So, the Husky 346 might be all I need with a 20" bar. I've also looked at the Echo 600P, Husky 359, and the Husky 357xp. They are all good saws and I know many people that use them all. I can tell you this, the 357xp felt great in the hands with a 20" bar, better than the 600P and the 359.

So, do I buy the tank (7900) or run a straight 50cc class saw like the 346xp? If I can't buy the second saw for a while do I buy the 7900 and wait for a smaller 50 class saw? So many decisions and unsure of the right one. Thank you for your help. I would like to order a new saw within the next day or so. I have dealers locally for almost all brands of saws so service isn't a problem.

I'd get a brandy-new, pro-grade, 50cc saw and wait for a sweet deal on a big saw (that won't get used nearly as often).

Thats a wide range of diamaters 6"-72" if you like the 7900 that is the one you should get but if you are looking for other saw suggestions the 372xp is a good saw so is the 385xp Stihl 460 is also another good saw Ihave confidence in any of those 3 to get the job done. It might help to go to the diffrent dealerships and pick up try out some of the models that you like before you buy. just my 2 cents worth.

Really it's up to you, but you can run a bigger saw with a shorter bar and faster sprocket with a smile, then gear back down and go long bar in the big stuff. Can't do the reverse. Where in MI are you?

Look into the Stihl 441, lots o threads here, might even be one in the classifieds with a few video's.

cpr said:

Really it's up to you, but you can run a bigger saw with a shorter bar and faster sprocket with a smile, then gear back down and go long bar in the big stuff. Can't do the reverse. Where in MI are you?

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Holland, GR area.

Bow_Extreme said:

Holland, GR area.

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OK, several members that way. Maybe some will come out and let you try something out before you make up your mind. I'm a 3 hour ride for you, but you can run what I've got if you like.

Cutting firewood is all we do. If your just doing it for yourself, I would look at the Stihl 362, Efco 156/162, Husky 359 for a one saw does it all and does it well type scenario. The Stihl 361 is the best pure firewood saw I own. If your looking at a combo look at the 441/261 combo in the Stihl line up/ the 372/346 in Husky and I honestly can't tell you what compliments the 7900 in the Dolmar line.
Efco 162/152 would be good.

Imho owing both the 346 and 261 the 261 is a better pure firewood saw due to the wider power band. The 261 easily handles wood up to 24". I actually used mine falling some 20" ash trees this afternoon, no problem.

Find a brand where you have good support and selection, you have the right ideas looking at premium saws. If you get a chance to run a 362 you should take it as it is a saw that excels with 18-20" bars and will pull a 25" if you need it.

In all honesty even though we own the 660/460 and 044 ninety five percent of the time we could get by with a 60cc saw and prolly 80% of the time with a saw like the 261 as long as the chain is kept sharp.

As an enthusiast site, people tend to migrate to the bigger is better theory.
The general population in making the 290 stihl the number one saw in the world is closer to what is actually needed by most.

just pick one and start using it. You don't know what you want or why you might want it right now. We can't really help with that.

If you want one saw for everything the sweet spot is 70cc.

I went 26 years with one good pro saw in the 50-60cc class. Finally got a bigger saw this year. If you go with one saw, consider 60cc, and a couple of bars, one shorter, one longer.

However, if you can swing it, go with 2 saws, a good 50 that will be doing most of the work, and that big saw for the big wood. Good suggestions have already been given. Consider used on the big saw if the budget is tight.

New 50-60 cc and a "beastly Homelite" My vote.

pro 50cc saw is a worker, I dont have a 60cc saw anymore they just are kinda worthless to me, not enough power and plenty of weight. To me the 60 cc saw is a oddball, might as well go to 70cc that is the workhorse, then if you like dolmar , might as well make it a 80cc same weight but a powerhouse. I used to have all kind of 60 cc saws, and 346 s , 372, 385 ,390. But the more I have used my saws and found what I really need my fleet has gotten smaller but is the best its ever been now. 026 is my favorite 50cc saw , over a 346,5100 or any thing else. As for 7900 s they are the king super power, I have had a 385, 390 recently but they just dont have much if any advantage over the 7900, also had, 044,046, 064,066, all gone 7900 is the best.

Wow, many good points of view. I would expect no less from the crew here on AS. I will take these all into consideration. My head tells me I need two saws to get every job done. I'm going to check out the Stihl 361/362 saws as I honestly haven't given Stihl much thought. Other than this I'm thinking 346xp and the PS7900. But buying both come at a price so maybe one before the other. I do however give much credit to the Pro 50cc saw purchase and hold out for a big used saw like the homelite. Thank you for the thoughts and if you would like keep them coming!!

along the same lines of what everyone else has said. If you were to swing one good saw for everything, make it the Husky 357 or the Stihl 362 with a 20". Both saws cut like crazy and can handle as big a wood as you want. For a two saw setup, I am looking for a new 50cc class saw myself, but for the big saw, don't rule out the Jonsered 2186. I have had that saw for 3 years now with 32" bar and I don't have one complaint about it. I even strap a 36" bar to an Alaskan Mill to that saw making boards.

Having just got a 441, I would go with a 70 CC saw. Not as heavy as you may think, but cuts awesome. What you gain in weight, you make up for with cutting speed. I have been using it for everything. limbing, felling, general trimming.
take a look at one.

Brian VT said:

I'd get a brandy-new, pro-grade, 50cc saw and wait for a sweet deal on a big saw (that won't get used nearly as often).

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what cc size would you recommend as a big saw?

most of the guys here on AS love 70cc saws for firewood cutting such as 046/460 and 372xp. i do most of my cutting with a husky 350 (52cc) 18" b/c. put (2) 20"+ beech trees on the ground and cut one up. it may take a bit longer to cut but i dont like the added weight of 70cc saws. my opinion and my thoughts. i really like my 350 with a 20" b/c does a really good job.

It depends entirely on how you cut firewood. A 260 with a 14" bar can be a good firewood saw for some people, but I can build a perfectly good case for an 090 with a 36" bar.

Starting with the smallest.

1) 260 - if you tend to have to deal with small to midsized trees that are blow overs, then a 260 will do you fine. You can limb all day with one, build a big stack of wood, and haul it away. It will quite happily cut a 12" trunk, may take a bit of time, but you'll spend far more time limbing and clearing anyway.

2) 460 (or similar) - if you have access to a load of large trunks, then the 460 will cheerfully pull a 25" bar and make big cookies all day. The only downside of the 460 class is weight - if you spend a lot of time limbing, it will be heavy after a days's work.

3) 075/090/880. A friend drops off sectioned trunks near your wood pile. They are about 3 feet long and 12 - 18" in diameter. You build a big saw horse, load it to the brim, then cut 10 trunks at once with a 36" bar. Massively productive.

Yes, I'm in the last category, and can say with a straight face that I've cut more firewood with an 075 than any other saw. I keep a 460 to hand for the awkward bits that wont fit in the sawhorse.

Bow_Extreme said:

Wow, many good points of view. I would expect no less from the crew here on AS. I will take these all into consideration. My head tells me I need two saws to get every job done. I'm going to check out the Stihl 361/362 saws as I honestly haven't given Stihl much thought. Other than this I'm thinking 346xp and the PS7900. But buying both come at a price so maybe one before the other. I do however give much credit to the Pro 50cc saw purchase and hold out for a big used saw like the homelite. Thank you for the thoughts and if you would like keep them coming!!

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(Side note...) That just seems weird to me....



CAD aside, I think you need to make up your mind if you want/need a one saw plan or two saw plan. If one saw go for a 60cc and I recommend the MS362. If two saw plan get a 50cc and 70cc saw, again I recommend Stihl with MS261 and MS441... It really depends on how much cutting you plan to do and if the saw purchase/purchases is for a "need" or for fun/recreation. If you got by in the past "borrowing" a 50cc saw, I think a one 60cc saw plan would suite you fine.

buy the 7900 first. it is small enough that it can be used to limb if needed. yes, it's heavy for that, but it's doable. you can cut 72" trees with a 50cc saw. the 7900 is stronger and lighter than the 441, stronger a 460, as strong as a 385 and nearly two pounds lighter, and is a hp stronger than a 372/440 for a few ounces more.

the 346 is the perfect 50cc saw to me, but the 261 might be slightly better, if only in the power, not the handling. i haven't seen a 261 weighed, but given manufacturers propensity to minimize the products weights, i am guessing the 261 is probably .75-1lb heavier than the 346. either of those will make you happy as would a 5105.

any perceived differences in the handling bw a 357 and 359 is strictly in your head. they use the same bottom end, save the two small crank stuffers in the 357 and two more mm of metal in the cylinder.