I brought home a nice load of elm last night on my flatbed trailer. There are three more loads where it came from. The picture is slightly deceiving. There is actually quite a bit of wood in the pile. There are several large pieces in the 28"-30" range. There is also a lot of stuff in the 10"-20" range and some around 20-26", a good variety.
For the last three firewood seasons I have been using an Echo CS400. It's not the most powerful saw but it gets the job done. Sometimes it takes longer than I want it to. It does good in 10"-16" rounds but anything bigger really drags it down. I actually cut everything in the picture with the CS400, including the big stuff. Still have more of it to buck up, though. I usually stay away from anything over 20" only because it takes the Echo so long to get through it. I feel if I had a saw with more power I could go after some of the larger wood.
I would like to buy a saw that has more power. I dont think I need anything bigger then a 18" bar. I have been thinking about the MS 290 Farm Boss for a while but also like the MS 261 CM. I called the local Stihl dealer today. He is running a special on the MS 290 Farm Boss until the end of the year for $389 plus tax with a 18" bar. The MS 261 CM is $619 plus tax. He said you just can't beat the MS 290 Farm Boss for power to price ratio. The only thing I use a chainsaw for is cutting wood for the wood stove. The Echo has done a fine job the last couple years but I would like to have something with more power. I want to cut more wood in the same amount of time I spend now.
I know the 261 is a pro saw so it is a lighter saw. The dealer told me that the 290 will do all the work that the 261 will do but it's just a little bit heavier. But I won't be using it all day everyday. It is only going to be used as my personal firewood saw. What are your thoughts on the two saws? It is a $230 price difference. I also considered the MS 391 which is $579. As the dealer told me you can't beat the Farm Boss for it's price to power ratio. He told me he sells 2-3 MS 290's per week.
Thanks
For the last three firewood seasons I have been using an Echo CS400. It's not the most powerful saw but it gets the job done. Sometimes it takes longer than I want it to. It does good in 10"-16" rounds but anything bigger really drags it down. I actually cut everything in the picture with the CS400, including the big stuff. Still have more of it to buck up, though. I usually stay away from anything over 20" only because it takes the Echo so long to get through it. I feel if I had a saw with more power I could go after some of the larger wood.
I would like to buy a saw that has more power. I dont think I need anything bigger then a 18" bar. I have been thinking about the MS 290 Farm Boss for a while but also like the MS 261 CM. I called the local Stihl dealer today. He is running a special on the MS 290 Farm Boss until the end of the year for $389 plus tax with a 18" bar. The MS 261 CM is $619 plus tax. He said you just can't beat the MS 290 Farm Boss for power to price ratio. The only thing I use a chainsaw for is cutting wood for the wood stove. The Echo has done a fine job the last couple years but I would like to have something with more power. I want to cut more wood in the same amount of time I spend now.
I know the 261 is a pro saw so it is a lighter saw. The dealer told me that the 290 will do all the work that the 261 will do but it's just a little bit heavier. But I won't be using it all day everyday. It is only going to be used as my personal firewood saw. What are your thoughts on the two saws? It is a $230 price difference. I also considered the MS 391 which is $579. As the dealer told me you can't beat the Farm Boss for it's price to power ratio. He told me he sells 2-3 MS 290's per week.
Thanks
Check out the sweet 262 nmurph is selling on the trade n post. 
