Hey Gang,
Been researching here for some time... but this is my first post.
I have been running saws for years for my own fire wood & for a few local grading & excavating companies. When I worked for others, I just fired up their whatever "pro" saw and went to work. My own saws- I have ran the hound out of a couple of 455 Ranchers.
Yeah a bit on the heavy side coupled with a bit on the weak side but the least headache to own/operate of all the various saws I have exposure to. Can;t say enough about them- they are in their job as reliable and headache free as an anvil in it's job.
However I need more saw now. Time to step up. What saw for me??? I'm thinking a good used 036 pro. Whatta ya think? Here are my parameters:
I have a TOTAL budget of $500, for the saw to be in top shape, good bar a few chains, etc. can spend no more than $500 by the time the saw is in the woods ready to work. I can not go one cent over that.
I'm cutting small to medium diameter (relative terms around here I imagine) [rarely bigger than 20" diameter] hard and soft wood. Mostly on the smaller side and now where I moved to mostly soft wood. I need/use fire every or nearly everyday, (see my profile) so I need fire wood year round. Fire wood, and clearing jeep trails will be the role of this saw.
My 455 Rancher is easily an adequate saw except I'm a BIG LAD. I guess with my torso size and weight of my arms- I tend to be really heavy handed on a saw compared to a regular sized 'Jack. Like I said my 455 Rancher is fine for the job but unless I actually think "lift a little" when the saw is in the cut or I bog the saw. I have to be mindful to hold the weight of my arms up instead of letting them rest on the saw handles. I'm tired of this and have a little money.
Per my research my 455 is about 3.5 hp with a chain speed on 60ish f/s. I run a 20" bar almost exclusively.
I have a list of about 10 saws between Huskies and Stihl's that are true pro saws, up around 4.5 hp. I don't want a saw that is over 13lbs flat as I hike with my saw a good bit here and there.
So what would you guys recommend within my parameters?
< or = $500
13 lbs or lighter
max power I can get in the above limits.
I'm looking at a 036 pro that looks like it's in nice shape for $300, bar is so-so, needs a few chains.
Also, I have built a few truck motors. I can rebuild the top end of a saw if need be.....
Thanks so much. This site is a treasure. Any body have a deal on a saw please let me know.
-Umbra
Thanks.
Been researching here for some time... but this is my first post.
I have been running saws for years for my own fire wood & for a few local grading & excavating companies. When I worked for others, I just fired up their whatever "pro" saw and went to work. My own saws- I have ran the hound out of a couple of 455 Ranchers.
Yeah a bit on the heavy side coupled with a bit on the weak side but the least headache to own/operate of all the various saws I have exposure to. Can;t say enough about them- they are in their job as reliable and headache free as an anvil in it's job.
However I need more saw now. Time to step up. What saw for me??? I'm thinking a good used 036 pro. Whatta ya think? Here are my parameters:
I have a TOTAL budget of $500, for the saw to be in top shape, good bar a few chains, etc. can spend no more than $500 by the time the saw is in the woods ready to work. I can not go one cent over that.
I'm cutting small to medium diameter (relative terms around here I imagine) [rarely bigger than 20" diameter] hard and soft wood. Mostly on the smaller side and now where I moved to mostly soft wood. I need/use fire every or nearly everyday, (see my profile) so I need fire wood year round. Fire wood, and clearing jeep trails will be the role of this saw.
My 455 Rancher is easily an adequate saw except I'm a BIG LAD. I guess with my torso size and weight of my arms- I tend to be really heavy handed on a saw compared to a regular sized 'Jack. Like I said my 455 Rancher is fine for the job but unless I actually think "lift a little" when the saw is in the cut or I bog the saw. I have to be mindful to hold the weight of my arms up instead of letting them rest on the saw handles. I'm tired of this and have a little money.
Per my research my 455 is about 3.5 hp with a chain speed on 60ish f/s. I run a 20" bar almost exclusively.
I have a list of about 10 saws between Huskies and Stihl's that are true pro saws, up around 4.5 hp. I don't want a saw that is over 13lbs flat as I hike with my saw a good bit here and there.
So what would you guys recommend within my parameters?
< or = $500
13 lbs or lighter
max power I can get in the above limits.
I'm looking at a 036 pro that looks like it's in nice shape for $300, bar is so-so, needs a few chains.
Also, I have built a few truck motors. I can rebuild the top end of a saw if need be.....
Thanks so much. This site is a treasure. Any body have a deal on a saw please let me know.
-Umbra
Thanks.