The wood that I am cutting is the big stuff that he can't send to a mill. He cuts the trees, hauls them back to his yard and stacks them there. From there I cut them to 16", load them onto the loader, bring them to the splitter and split them up. We've done this on Saturdays and Sundays this last month and have cut and split a bunch of wood thus far. I hope to cut and split another 200 cord, sell it and roll the $$ over and get a processor and then really get the business going. I spoke to a guy at Cord King today for a processor and the one I like is $100K. Maybe next year, but until then, I need a saw that can get into it and get the job done
Hello and Welcome to AS. Good luck in the firewood business - it is all about efficiency and reliable equipment. I'm not going to get into the Stihl vs. Husqvarna war, 'cause I like them both. First - buy a saw from a good dealer nearby. You're using it as a moneymaking tool, so you need the fast availability of parts and quality service.
The 2-saw plan is the way to go. You will always have a spare handy if anything goes wrong. Then, you've got to look at the weight, power, vibration and cost. All the saws mentioned so far are good, but here's my personal take. I'm only talking about saws that I own and use regularly.
For the smaller one, you'll probably want something that will pull full-comp chisel chain through hardwood on an 18" or 20" bar with no problems. The Husqvarna 372XP and the Stihl MS460 will fill the bill. If the vibration is going to bother you when cutting 8-10 hours a day, I'd take a long look at the MS441. It's powerful, very smooth, and uses less fuel than the other two. Of the other two, the 372XP is lighter, but the 460 is built like a tank.
On the larger one, you're going to be using a 36" (maybe longer) and you want all the power you can get with a manageable weight and vibe. The 660, 390, and 395 are all good. The 660 vibrates like a jackhammer, but it's fun. For all-day use, I don't think you can beat the 390XP. It's almost 2 lb lighter than the 395 or the 660, and has adequate power to do the job. On that long bar, take a look at the Oregon Power-Match Reduced Weight models. They work great, and keep the saw from feeling nose-heavy. I'm 5'11" and 230, not exactly small. With your stature, the weight may not make a difference, but after a lot of cutting, the vibration certainly will.
Keep your chains sharp. Start each day with 3 sharpened chains for each saw - just switch 'em out when they start to feel sluggish. I like to hand file myself, but if your dealer sharpens for reasonable money, go that way.
In the end, it's down to personal choice. Stick with the pro saws in the top brands which have a good dealer nearby, and it's hard to go wrong.
Finally, I shouldn't have to say this, but will anyway. Set aside some money for PPE. A good helmet, safety glasses, ear protection, gloves, chaps, and steel-toe boots. It makes good sense. You can always buy another saw, but you've only got one body.
Good luck, have fun, and stay safe.
opcorn:
