Chain Saws?

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GrizzlyGuy
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Chain Saws?

Postby GrizzlyGuy » Thu Jul 14, 2011 5:11 pm

So... what kind of chain saws is everyone running, and what bar size(s) did you go with for trail maintenance duty? I noticed that the downed trees on my new property are almost all less than 24" dia, so I'm thinking that an 18 or 20 inch bar on something like a Stihl Farm Boss or a Husqvarna 450 would be plenty good. Thoughts?
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Re: Chain Saws?

Postby hemingray » Thu Jul 14, 2011 8:00 pm

Husky.

I have a 345 with an 18" bar, and would replace it with another Husky in a second. It's 10 years old and just keeps on going and going. I was going to replace it awhile back, but decided to put in a new clutch and sprocket and call it good. I believe the 450 would be a good size/price point for you, I wish I had gone with that originally.

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Re: Chain Saws?

Postby Mr. Green » Thu Jul 14, 2011 10:53 pm

husqvarna and stihl have always been the best ive thought, i use my parents stihl and its 20 years old and runs great still. I went with a husqvarna though just liked them better. You will want at least a 18 inch bar id think. I have the step down from the 450 you posted 445 if you arent in a hurry id let ya borrow it to test it out if you want (i opted for a 18 inch bar). Either would work great for what you want to do, i just like the shop / people in chico that carries husqvarna and that was the main factor that swayed me away from stihl when i was looking at saw's.
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Re: Chain Saws?

Postby Ken » Fri Jul 15, 2011 2:43 pm

Stihl best....but I don't have one.

Cheapo Echo from HD....goes through chains like water. One day.
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Re: Chain Saws?

Postby Kodiak » Fri Jul 15, 2011 4:55 pm

i have done alot of sawing for gatherin firewood for my parents house. and we have had great luck with the Stihl we went with the pro model and it works awesome.
3 thinks to consider
1. we ended up buying 2 bars cause one time we didn't judge the lean of the tree quite right and it pinched the bar (whoops) so we just unbolted it and threw on the spare chain and cut below the bar on the opposite side and let her rip :)
2. any chain no matter how tough will be dull in a matter of seconds if it hits a rock/piece of metal etc. we always have a couple of chains sharpened up.
3 always refill the oil that lubes the chain and the fuel at the same time :)

i actually like chainsawing and its easier with 2 people anyways. so when you get your saw let me know and i will bring the atv up and we can fell some timber :)
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Re: Chain Saws?

Postby hemingray » Fri Jul 15, 2011 6:36 pm

Kodiak wrote:cause one time we didn't judge the lean of the tree quite right and it pinched the bar (whoops) so we just unbolted it and threw on the spare chain and cut below the bar on the opposite side and let her rip :)
Been there, done THAT one! :-) In my case it was a friend's saw so we used mine to finish the cut. Speaking of - if you're felling trees, get some wedges too.
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Re: Chain Saws?

Postby GrizzlyGuy » Fri Jul 15, 2011 10:16 pm

hemingray wrote:
Kodiak wrote:cause one time we didn't judge the lean of the tree quite right and it pinched the bar (whoops) so we just unbolted it and threw on the spare chain and cut below the bar on the opposite side and let her rip :)
Been there, done THAT one! :-) In my case it was a friend's saw so we used mine to finish the cut. Speaking of - if you're felling trees, get some wedges too.
:lol: ROFL!

I could SO easily see myself doing the same thing, but fortunately I don't plan to do any falling. Too dangerous, I'll leave that to the pros. Or one of you guys... :)

I will definitely get a filing kit plus an extra chain or two since most of the trees I need to saw on the property have been down a long time and are sitting right on the dirt/duff. Unless I can manage to cut them part way and then roll (winch?) them over to finish the cuts, I'm thinking that I'll manage to hit the dirt and dull a few chains in a hurry even if I'm careful.

Sounds like the 18" bar is what I'll go with, and I was already planning to get the head gear and a good pair of chainsaw boots with steel toes and kevlar layers. The boots will probably cost almost as much as the saw, but I kind of like my feet and toes, and it would be a beech to ski without them. I was reading about safety gear and the stuff they have today is a TON better than what even the professional loggers had back in the 70's.

How about chaps, anyone use those? I watched a video where they took a saw at full RPM, slapped it down on the chaps, and the sprocket jammed and the chain stopped before it even cut through to the other side.
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Re: Chain Saws?

Postby hemingray » Sat Jul 16, 2011 9:13 am

I've been using the saws for 30 years or so, off and on and in the last 10 years more frequently. Since I'm more of an occasional user, I don't have chaps or safety shoes because to me the risk is less than if i were to be using the saw all day long and very frequently (i.e.; the cost isn't risk-justified to me) But if you are new to it, and/or if you are going to be doing a lot of bucking, the risk is higher (especially with the dead wood on the ground and big logs) for kickback and other stuff, so more safety gear is probably warranted. If I were doing a lot of clearing on the property here, I would definitely opt for more safety stuff.

FWIW, I use a Dremel tool for sharpening. It's fast and easy - I really like it.

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Re: Chain Saws?

Postby GrizzlyGuy » Mon Jul 18, 2011 11:14 am

Wow, 30 years of sawing experience. I grew up in a logging town and barely used one. In high school a bunch of us cut firewood for gas money, but I mostly manned the splitting maul, loaded the trucks, and stacked.

Maybe I ought to put the whole chain saw thing on hold indefinitely and just throw an ATVObsession trail building party. You guys can have fun running your saws, and I can drive my nifty new ATV trailer around to pick up what ya'll cut. :)
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Re: Chain Saws?

Postby hemingray » Mon Jul 18, 2011 1:56 pm

Used to help my dad, did a little here and there over the years, but only had a "real" saw when we moved to the foothills. Grew up thinking McCulloch was "real". :-)

But yeah - you could have a power tool party. We can cut down all your trees, then rip up the ground everywhere taking all the shrubs out and leaving large piles of wood with a 4x5 tarp on it. We'll throw around rusty cables and make waterbars the size of Cincinnati. We'll call it "managing your forest resources". Yeah, that's the ticket!
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Re: Chain Saws?

Postby EigerMike » Mon Jul 18, 2011 5:00 pm

Im IN!!!!!!!!!!
hemingray wrote:FWIW, I use a Dremel tool for sharpening. It's fast and easy - I really like it.
that is what i use ,cant beat them!


i would have no problem helping out! and bring my 2 huskys 353 with 20in bar /365 special with 28in bar :D
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Re: Chain Saws?

Postby GrizzlyGuy » Mon Jul 18, 2011 10:11 pm

hemingray wrote:But yeah - you could have a power tool party. We can cut down all your trees, then rip up the ground everywhere taking all the shrubs out and leaving large piles of wood with a 4x5 tarp on it. We'll throw around rusty cables and make waterbars the size of Cincinnati. We'll call it "managing your forest resources". Yeah, that's the ticket!
LOL, rusty cables and waterbars are strictly prohibited. The property is practically flat, but even if there is some runoff... it will ruin someone else's parade since we're on top of the ridge. :p
EigerMike wrote:Im IN!!!!!!!!!!
hemingray wrote:i would have no problem helping out! and bring my 2 huskys 353 with 20in bar /365 special with 28in bar :D
A 28 inch bar? OK Mike, you get an extra beer allotment and tunnel-cutting duty: \:D/

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Re: Chain Saws?

Postby avejoe » Tue Jul 19, 2011 8:55 pm

I use a husky for wood cutting and echos for juggling. I find echos to be well balanced providing a consistent rotation.

If any of you ATVObsession regulars ever need/want pine firewood lemme know. I have access to lots.

Yeah, I know it's not oak, madrone, or one of the snobby firewoods, but it burns good and it's free.
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Re: Chain Saws?

Postby Ken » Fri Jul 22, 2011 1:31 am

Juggling...lol.

Sounds like perfect camping firewood. Let me talk to Lori.
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Re: Chain Saws?

Postby Kendo » Fri Jul 22, 2011 8:57 am

I've got a Husky 51 with an 18" and 20" bar. As everyone has said though, either Husky or Stihl you cannot go wrong with.

Mike - I am jealous of your 365. Had we kept the woodstove I was looking at something in that size. When you're cutting cords of firewood, a 20" bar is just about at it's limit. A 28 would have been sweet.
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