You know whats funny, Many members here have absolutely NO problems taking pot shots at a brand new member who just comes to ask some advice from (supposedly) more knowledgable members, but when the new guy stands his ground and slings a bit of mud back, most of the big boys get all offended and start firing off even more slams and cheap shots.
Go ahead and send my mail under the bridge!, replace my avatar with a rat figure, and give me the dreaded red dot of a member rating (or better yet....pink!), but don't come crying to me come christmas time when that autographed 8x10 scented glossy of yours truly does'nt show up!.
Now, back to chain saw selections for a brief moment (if thats even possible!).
So far, amongst the thick mud lies some pretty good information. Not knowing much about saws other than using my little 021 (a lot), I have learned the following:
1). Compatibility.
Many people have said to choose the right saw for the job. Big rounds need s big saw. Pruning trees needs a little (and lighter ) saw. Felling trees needs a big and powerful saw etc.
While it would be nice to have a "universal" saw, it would end up being too big and heavy for the trimming and pruning, and probably not big enough for the big stuff. That kind of reminds me of an enduro motorcycle...aka *bastard*!. It's knobby tires and dirt bike design make it handle like crap on the road, and its heavier weight, sluggish handling and intermediate suspension make it not so great in the dirt; so basically, it can do everything...poorly!!. This is not what I want.
Since I already have the light weight/smaller Stihl 021, it seems that I have that end of the spectrum coverd. What I need now is something to handle felling dead standing trees (they are not too big) and fallen logs on the ground. Basically, a very capable firewood saw.
Since the trees around here do not get to large around (due to the nearly 8000 elevation), I probably don't need the 4-foot giant sequoia..sp? bar like my good friend Rod has. Actually, most of the Ponderosa pines around here don't get much bigger than 12-14'' around max.
We do have some oak trees, but again, they are very small in diam. I will need a saw with as much power as I need but don't want the extra weight of an "overkill" saw. I have very, very bad joints and am not looking for extra strain on them.
2.) Chain selection and sharpening.
For whatever reason, my chains seem to last me a very long time. I try to keep the bar very clean, well oiled, and keep the tip out of the dirt always.
I have been able to cut wood all weekend long on the same chain and even though after 2-3 days of cutting, the saw seems to still cut good.
I just figure after a 2 or 3 day weekend, I will just put on a new chain (only a few minutes) and be done with it. I pay $13 for a brand new home depot chain and only a few bucks for a gallon of universal bar oil (again at the depot).
I am willing to learn how to sharpen my chain, but don't know the best way to do it. As I've said before, I do have the little round file and have sharpened the chain a few times using it but without great results. Is there a preferred method to chain sharpening? or is that considered a "baiting" question asked only by trolls?. I must be a troll you know as thats what everyone here calls me. Thats okay, I don't mind. It's nice and cool under the bridge this time of year!.
Anyway, it seems that so far, the vast majority of serious responses are pointing me towards the Stihl ms361 or the Husky 372 xp. While I agree that some occasional homeowners have no business using pro grade tools, I will be using this saw very often.
We plan on heating a 4000 sf home with wood and don't have much more to offer than crappy pine and aspen. I may be going through 2-3 times more wood than if I were burning oak but pine is all we have.
I am not sure if the Stihl ms 361 is "overkill" or not. I just don't know. I have no problem with the power, I just am not wanting extra weight; especially if the weight is due to power that I am not using.
I fully agree with everyone who suggested I learn to sharpen my chains. As I've said before, they always have been sharp, but I would still like to learn how to properly sharpen one anyway as sooner or later I'm sure I will hit rocks, dirt, whatever. Maybe the local saw shop will show me if I ask; or maybe they will just laugh at me, call me a troll, and throw mud at me...who knows!, its worth a try!.
Thanks for all the serious responses so far. Even though I have been whipped, beaten, and called names, I am somehow still learning a lot. I guess that makes it all worth it.