A little feedback on what my impressions are.
1. the larger dawg is taking at least an inch extra off the bar. So effective cutting area is reduced to max. 17inch. Same situation with all saws wearing large dawgs and long bars.
2. in the videos presented he is cutting what seems to be some sort of pine or spruce, not exactly some type of hardwood.
3. in the first video he is using only approx. 2/3 of the bar during the cut
4. in the second video you can hear, as soon as a little pressure is exerted, that the rpm's fall imediately
What are the consequences of above.
1. If you prefer not bending a lot it is always easier to limb upright. Using the full length bar in any type of hard wood is going to be disappoiting at least. Simply put you cannot change a limbing saw to a felling saw by exchanging the carb, bar and sprocket.
2. Would like to see some hard wood cutting, to see a real perspective of the cutting capabilities
3. You can also put 20 or 22 inch bar onto your saw if you only use half it will always look good
4. All these wonderful videos are only possible with a very sharp chain, the right type of wood and letting the "weight" of the saw dictate the cutting speed. Press harder and the chain will stop. Just that simple and nothing in the world is going to change that fact. You can hear it too in my vid in the first few seconds (14-16).
And if you really paid 300$ for a 180 you sure have too much money to spend! For another ~40$ you could have got a pro type Dolmar 421 sent to your door with a saw case that whips the 180 into oblivion. And yes I have a 180 and 420. Or if you add another bill you could get a pro built echo 590 that will stomp both above into the ground with one step. I like my 180 but it is not and never will be any type of felling saw.
I like the sprocket set up, although on a homeowner saw I believe it to be more of a luxury.
Of course on the other hand if your needs are simply a little garden work and a little storm cleanup then you got a good saw. If you have firewood to cut as a main heat source then you got the wrong saw.
It's allways the perspective you think about.
7