Hi Everyone. Complete newbie here with some questions. I've done a bunch of reading through past threads, etc... but please forgive the inevitable missed items that I really should have already figured out!
I've recently moved into a house with a nice wood stove and am trying to heat mostly with wood. And I am lucky enough to have several sites where I can cut a good bit of wood - primarily trees that are already either cut or blown down at this point. Since I'd much rather work for my wood than buy it, it's time for me to buy and learn how to use a chainsaw.
Preliminary research from reading here, talking to friends in the area who have saws and advice from my local dealers has me looking for something in the 50cc range with most likely an 18" bar as a good starting point. Overall, I'm looking for something that will be good as a first saw (never used one at this point) but that will also be versatile and well enough built to last. I'd much rather buy the right tool the first time than waste my $$ on a piece of junk. That said, I'm not looking for something crazy & overkill either. When I use it, I expect to be working pretty hard for most of a day, but I'll still only use it a few times a year (~4-5cord/year). Fortunately, I have a couple friends who are quite good and have offered to help teach me. And don't worry, I already have a set of good chaps on order and won't even think of going near one without a helmet, steel toe boots (already have), etc... I've become rather attached to my limbs and would prefer to keep them intact!
I've also pretty much decided on Husqvarna as there is a dealer right around the corner from my house that seems like they'll be quite good. They've suggested the 455 which overall seems like it's likely a good fit for my needs. I know it's not the favorite around here, but overall seems like it's probably a good fit in the price/reliability/ease of use, etc... equation. That said, they've also mentioned the new 455 autotune might be a good option. And at that price, it looks to me like the 545 might be a possibility as well.
So, I guess the biggest question is whether or not the "autotune" feature is worth the extra $$ for an occasional user like myself? If so, once I've stepped up a bit in price, would I be better off going with the 545? Seems like it might be a little higher quality and a couple pounds lighter, but also a little less power.
Thoughts?
Other things I should be thinking about?
Any other "getting started with a chainsaw" advice that you want to throw out?
Thanks!
I've recently moved into a house with a nice wood stove and am trying to heat mostly with wood. And I am lucky enough to have several sites where I can cut a good bit of wood - primarily trees that are already either cut or blown down at this point. Since I'd much rather work for my wood than buy it, it's time for me to buy and learn how to use a chainsaw.
Preliminary research from reading here, talking to friends in the area who have saws and advice from my local dealers has me looking for something in the 50cc range with most likely an 18" bar as a good starting point. Overall, I'm looking for something that will be good as a first saw (never used one at this point) but that will also be versatile and well enough built to last. I'd much rather buy the right tool the first time than waste my $$ on a piece of junk. That said, I'm not looking for something crazy & overkill either. When I use it, I expect to be working pretty hard for most of a day, but I'll still only use it a few times a year (~4-5cord/year). Fortunately, I have a couple friends who are quite good and have offered to help teach me. And don't worry, I already have a set of good chaps on order and won't even think of going near one without a helmet, steel toe boots (already have), etc... I've become rather attached to my limbs and would prefer to keep them intact!
I've also pretty much decided on Husqvarna as there is a dealer right around the corner from my house that seems like they'll be quite good. They've suggested the 455 which overall seems like it's likely a good fit for my needs. I know it's not the favorite around here, but overall seems like it's probably a good fit in the price/reliability/ease of use, etc... equation. That said, they've also mentioned the new 455 autotune might be a good option. And at that price, it looks to me like the 545 might be a possibility as well.
So, I guess the biggest question is whether or not the "autotune" feature is worth the extra $$ for an occasional user like myself? If so, once I've stepped up a bit in price, would I be better off going with the 545? Seems like it might be a little higher quality and a couple pounds lighter, but also a little less power.
Thoughts?
Other things I should be thinking about?
Any other "getting started with a chainsaw" advice that you want to throw out?
Thanks!