DSChamber
ArboristSite Lurker
Hi guys and gals... I am a new member to the board (great board by the way, lots of information) and I need some advice on which saw I should get.
I will be cutting firewood for my own personal use... and I usually only burn about 3 or 4 cords per year. For years I would just help the father-in-law cut and haul the wood but this year I am going to cut it myself (with his help and use of his four wheeler Honda Foreman). I can use a chainsaw and feel comfortable using one. I have been using a chainsaw off and on since I was 16 when I used to cut a couple of cords of pulpwood each winter for a local mill for beer money ). I have used the FIL's Stihl MS250 and have no problem using it. I got a Homelite UT10580 (what a piece of junk) that I have been using for a few years around the house but I wouldn't use that to cut firewood because it wouldn't last a day I figure plus I would have to have a tanker truck full of bar oil following me through the woods because this saw uses an extreme amount of bar oil (not sure why).
Most of the wood we are cutting in is anywhere between 6-14", and it is usually spruce, var, some juniper, and on rare occasion birch..occasionally we come across big wood which could have a butt of 18" -24" or bigger, but we normally leave those, just too much handling for firewood and the fact that we are not supposed to cut them as per the local forestry laws concerning firewood.
Anyway...I have my choice down to either a Stihl MS230 or a Husqvarna 440e series. From everything I have read and spoke to, I think all I need is a 40 cc saw.
Looking at them on paper they stack up pretty evenly and there is a dealer/service depot for both saws within 10 minutes of my house. I called both and of course both had great things to say about their respective saws and good stuff about their competitor's saw.
I can get the Husky for $399 with a 16" bar, an extra chain, carrying case, and a ball cap (lol)... comes with a 2 years manufacturers warranty and if I buy a case of oil ($8) I get an additional 1 years warranty.
I can get the Stihl for $349 with a 16" bar, an extra chain, carrying case, and a ball cap (lol)... comes with a 1 year manufacturers warranty and if I buy a case of oil ($12) I get an additional 1 years warranty.
I was leaning towards the Husky until I saw that the 440e has that "tooless" chain tensioner and the bar is held on with what looks like one big plastic wheel thingy through the side cover. My Homelite has the same "feature" and I have to say I think it's junk and I can never keep a proper tension on the chain due the wheel backing off...now maybe the Husky has a better system (I would hope so considering it's reputation) but it does have me apprehensive. The Stihl looks to be bolted on with two bolts like you would traditionally see so that kind of has me leaning in that direction.
Can I get some real world feedback for both saws to help me make up my mind....
The STIHL
Specs: STIHL Canada - Products
The Husqvarna
Specs: HUSQVARNA 440 e-series - Allround saws
I will be cutting firewood for my own personal use... and I usually only burn about 3 or 4 cords per year. For years I would just help the father-in-law cut and haul the wood but this year I am going to cut it myself (with his help and use of his four wheeler Honda Foreman). I can use a chainsaw and feel comfortable using one. I have been using a chainsaw off and on since I was 16 when I used to cut a couple of cords of pulpwood each winter for a local mill for beer money ). I have used the FIL's Stihl MS250 and have no problem using it. I got a Homelite UT10580 (what a piece of junk) that I have been using for a few years around the house but I wouldn't use that to cut firewood because it wouldn't last a day I figure plus I would have to have a tanker truck full of bar oil following me through the woods because this saw uses an extreme amount of bar oil (not sure why).
Most of the wood we are cutting in is anywhere between 6-14", and it is usually spruce, var, some juniper, and on rare occasion birch..occasionally we come across big wood which could have a butt of 18" -24" or bigger, but we normally leave those, just too much handling for firewood and the fact that we are not supposed to cut them as per the local forestry laws concerning firewood.
Anyway...I have my choice down to either a Stihl MS230 or a Husqvarna 440e series. From everything I have read and spoke to, I think all I need is a 40 cc saw.
Looking at them on paper they stack up pretty evenly and there is a dealer/service depot for both saws within 10 minutes of my house. I called both and of course both had great things to say about their respective saws and good stuff about their competitor's saw.
I can get the Husky for $399 with a 16" bar, an extra chain, carrying case, and a ball cap (lol)... comes with a 2 years manufacturers warranty and if I buy a case of oil ($8) I get an additional 1 years warranty.
I can get the Stihl for $349 with a 16" bar, an extra chain, carrying case, and a ball cap (lol)... comes with a 1 year manufacturers warranty and if I buy a case of oil ($12) I get an additional 1 years warranty.
I was leaning towards the Husky until I saw that the 440e has that "tooless" chain tensioner and the bar is held on with what looks like one big plastic wheel thingy through the side cover. My Homelite has the same "feature" and I have to say I think it's junk and I can never keep a proper tension on the chain due the wheel backing off...now maybe the Husky has a better system (I would hope so considering it's reputation) but it does have me apprehensive. The Stihl looks to be bolted on with two bolts like you would traditionally see so that kind of has me leaning in that direction.
Can I get some real world feedback for both saws to help me make up my mind....
The STIHL
Specs: STIHL Canada - Products
The Husqvarna
Specs: HUSQVARNA 440 e-series - Allround saws