I've run Stihls for most of my life. I cut 10-20 chords of firewood and I sometimes clear laneways and building/septic sites for houses. I'm semi-retired and currently build houses in rural Atlantic Canada.
I'm 68 years, not a big man, still quite lean for someone my age. Not as powerful as I used to be, but can still cut wood for 5-6 hrs a day when I pace myself right - generally generally fell, limb and buck about 1.5 chords one day and haul and split it the next. My lungs are damaged, I have a battery-powered, forced-air respirator that I wear as a backpack when I use a chainsaw or any dusty/smoky equipment. It weighs 11 pounds.
We have about 20 acres of mixed forest. 10 acres of small wood needs to be thinned with about half of the trees in that plot needing to be removed and turned into firewood over the next 3-4 years. Another 5 acres is fairly mature. I need to remove a stand of 60-70 spruce that are 50-70 years old, 60-70 feet tall 16-30" at the stump (most are 20-25"). I'm turning those trees into lumber. I want to begin falling them in a week or two. Once they are down, 24-30" trees are going to be a rarity on this property. We also have another 5 acres that is very mixed with small and big wood. I do take down the odd 20-30" hardwood (mostly maple and birch), but most trees I deal with are smaller and are either blowdowns or just weak/dying trees.
I have an old 034 that I generally use a 16" bar in, but have a 20" for felling bigger trees. My backup saw is an ms170 that I use for limbing and pruning. I used to have a 261 that I really liked, but I gave that away to the young apprentice that I let go when COVID hit (as per my doctor's orders). I'm looking for a saw that will let me manage the trees on my land for the next ten years. My 034 just doesn't have enough guts to do the work I am asking of it. I want my new saw to be stronger than the 261 used to be because I want firewood to go faster. I'm not cutting really big wood, so I don't need to haul a big bar around. We have a good stihl/husky dealer in my neighbourhood. I will buy either of those saws, but no other. I really like working with the trees in our forest/woods. I don't want to give it up before I absolutely have to.
Many thanks to all knowledgeable pros with good advice.
I'm 68 years, not a big man, still quite lean for someone my age. Not as powerful as I used to be, but can still cut wood for 5-6 hrs a day when I pace myself right - generally generally fell, limb and buck about 1.5 chords one day and haul and split it the next. My lungs are damaged, I have a battery-powered, forced-air respirator that I wear as a backpack when I use a chainsaw or any dusty/smoky equipment. It weighs 11 pounds.
We have about 20 acres of mixed forest. 10 acres of small wood needs to be thinned with about half of the trees in that plot needing to be removed and turned into firewood over the next 3-4 years. Another 5 acres is fairly mature. I need to remove a stand of 60-70 spruce that are 50-70 years old, 60-70 feet tall 16-30" at the stump (most are 20-25"). I'm turning those trees into lumber. I want to begin falling them in a week or two. Once they are down, 24-30" trees are going to be a rarity on this property. We also have another 5 acres that is very mixed with small and big wood. I do take down the odd 20-30" hardwood (mostly maple and birch), but most trees I deal with are smaller and are either blowdowns or just weak/dying trees.
I have an old 034 that I generally use a 16" bar in, but have a 20" for felling bigger trees. My backup saw is an ms170 that I use for limbing and pruning. I used to have a 261 that I really liked, but I gave that away to the young apprentice that I let go when COVID hit (as per my doctor's orders). I'm looking for a saw that will let me manage the trees on my land for the next ten years. My 034 just doesn't have enough guts to do the work I am asking of it. I want my new saw to be stronger than the 261 used to be because I want firewood to go faster. I'm not cutting really big wood, so I don't need to haul a big bar around. We have a good stihl/husky dealer in my neighbourhood. I will buy either of those saws, but no other. I really like working with the trees in our forest/woods. I don't want to give it up before I absolutely have to.
Many thanks to all knowledgeable pros with good advice.
