Need a bigger saw

[Grant1994]

Alright so I need some opinions/advice here.... I live in southeast mass and Irene just tore apart my town. I am currently stuck on my street do to three trees down across the road with wires untangled in all of them. My other problem is the storm uprooted 4 oak trees in my yard with the smallest having a diameter of 18" and the biggest with a diameter of 3 feet! I currently have a stihl ms250 with a 16" bar... But it just won't cut through these big solid oaks. I looked at the stihl farm boss with a 20 inch bar... My question is will that be enough saw and is that the best bar to use with that saw? Thanks!!!

John

 

[MossflowerWoods]

Alright so I need some opinions/advice here.... I live in southeast mass and Irene just tore apart my town. I am currently stuck on my street do to three trees down across the road with wires untangled in all of them. My other problem is the storm uprooted 4 oak trees in my yard with the smallest having a diameter of 18" and the biggest with a diameter of 3 feet! I currently have a stihl ms250 with a 16" bar... But it just won't cut through these big solid oaks. I looked at the stihl farm boss with a 20 inch bar... My question is will that be enough saw and is that the best bar to use with that saw? Thanks!!!

John

John,

I'm fairly new to chainsaws, but I bought a Stihl 290 Farmboss with a 20" blade back in April. I had about 1/2 a log truck load of assorted sizes of trees the loggers had left behind. One was a 18" or more thick oak trunk. In one tank of gas I cut so much wood that I filled the back of my F-150 as high as the roof, and some of the longer bucked pieces were 8' or so and hanging off the back. I also cut that oak into 6 "chairs" (18" tall rounds) around my firepit, and almost as big of a load of firewood with the 2nd tank of gas.

This chainsaw is a beast.

I hear there is a NEW 291 that is maybe even better... I love my 20" Farmboss. My only complaint is it is a bit big for limbing and that slows me down.

I've read the FarmBoss is the best selling chainsaw in the world. I believe them.

Be well,
David

 

[jbooth]

Big trees may be a good reason for a new toy, but you might also be OK to just get a longer bar and a "skip" tooth chain. Having fewer teeth in the log will allow your present saw to hanle a longer bar. The smaller saw will cut slower than a bigger displacement saw with a "full" complement of teeth.

Sounds like you may have enough wood to warrant a new bigger saw. I'll bet there will be a big demand for saws in your area. Sorry to hear about your tree loss. One of those deals where when you have lemons, it's time to make lemonade.

 

[sharpanther]

I`ve always liked huskies best and if you can find a used saw, huskie brand in about the 360 range, it will retain it`s resale value and I`ve cut a lot of wood that size with a 360. If you use a small saw to cut the trees, even with a larger bar and a skiptooth chain it is taxing on the saw, and I`ve seen the small saws seize up. The right size saw is worth it especially if you can get it used in good shape. Most power shops sell good used equipment.

 

[dntfxr]

I like the big Husqys. I own both, but I like the smaller Stihls, the trim saws are great!

 

[creekbend]

I agree with the chance that chainsaws will be hard to find now due to IRENE, If you can't find what you are looking for now or want, perhaps you can use a neighbor's or a friend's chainsaw that has downed trees. Maybe you can reach an agreement to cut their trees or branches in return for the use of their equipment for cutting your trees. Maybe you both can do as a joint effort. This way you will have time to decide later on your choice--the chainsaw that you fill the happiest with and the one that you truly want. 4-four million people are presently without power in the entire Eastern Seaboard, thus insuring that chainsaws will be at a preminum and difficult to find or purchase.I experienced this firsthand while I lived and worked on the west coast of Florida, the same thing with generators. Just a thought. I hope this helps. Happy Tractoring.:tractor::tractor:

 

[Rio_Grande]

I just bought a Stihl 391 it comes with a 25 inch bar and is a flat out beast. Now when you are using the whole lenght of the bar it gets dicy mostly because it is cutting so hard and aggresive you really have to have a hold on it.

 

[Mark Page]

IMHO I wouldn't try it with less than a 26" bar. You'll have to make 2 passes
so pick up a couple felling wedges to keep your saw from binding.
You might want to wait until things settle down and have the pros come in with a 36" saw and cut it up. That tree should be worth a few bucks from your insurance company. Even at a buck a foot your looking at thousands. Find a local cabinet maker they would to to have that tree.

 

[DwightD123]

Having just lived through a similar experience at my farm I will tell you get a bigger saw. Get a new chain for your small one and and extra for the big one...you'll need both saws and you don't want to waste time trying to sharpen a chain unless you are well versed in that capacity.
You definitley will not want to tote around the big saw for limbing. It'll wear you out too fast.
The other advice I can give you is to buck the logs 6-8' whatever you can handle with the FEL and stack them for later cutting. It's too much work to log cut or even cut and split that much at once. You can create a nice bucked log pile that will be easy to work over in the upcoming months.
This helps clear the area faster making everything seem a little better.
Good luck, be patient and take your time...lot of chances for accidents with big trees.

 

[Grant1994]

Thanks guys... And yes generators are in very short supply around here we have a 17 year old one that kicked out on us earlier in the day but luckily after a trip to home depot, and pep boys I was able to get it going again. As to availability of the saw one of my friends owns a local dealership and has a few in stock and is going to set one aside in case I want it in the morning. I wish that I could borrow a saw but most of my neighbors are elderly or don't have a saw so I will be helping with cleanup throught most of my neighborhood. I've been contemplating getting a bigger saw for a while and now I finally have a real reason also this will allow me to cut my own wood for the wood stove. My plan Is to go to the dealership in the morning and get a feel for the saw(that is if I can get there) to get out earlier I had to walk down my street an have my friend pick me up at the end.

 

[peterc38]

If it's just a one shot deal, I'd consider renting a larger saw. If you are going to be in bigger hardwood all the time, thats 70cc territory IMO.

Since it ain't my money, I'd say a 372XP or MS440/460 would fit the bill :thumbsup:

 

[kdm0811]

I have a Stihl 310. I purchased a 36" bar for the saw and just recently finished cutting a 58" wide sycamore into firewood. Although the bar is about twice the normal length for the 310, I found that it had the power to cut well when the chain was properly sharpened.

 

[LD1]

If you are itching to get a new toy, and have an extra $800 or so lying around, I agree with the 70cc+ saw for what you describe. And at least a 24" bar, and a 28-32" perfered. But a 24" will do and is a good all around size on a 70cc saw.

There are pretty much 3 excellent saws to choose from, Husky 372xp, Stihl 440/460, and Dolmar 6400/7300/7900.

All are top notch.

Dont mess around with the smaller non-pro grade saws like some mentioned. No offense meant to anyone, but a MS290 or MS310 would NOT even be near the top of my list of saws to choose for what you describe.

The MS290 "FarmBoss" may indeed be the best selling saw in the world, but that doesnt make it a good saw. IMO, it is a terrible saw. Heavy and slow cutting. And by terrible, Again I dont meant to offend anyone. It IS a reliable saw and will cut wood. But when compared to others in its class and for similar money out of pocket, there is MUCH better options.

And I dont know how your neighbors are, or how you are, but I personally wouldnt loan MY chainsaw to ANYONE. It is just one of them things that, guys who run saws a lot, understand.

So IF you can still find some saws in your area, look at the models I mentioned. Anything under 60cc isnt going to be a big enough step-up over your MS250 to be worth the money.

 

[LD1]

I have a Stihl 310. I purchased a 36" bar for the saw and just recently finished cutting a 58" wide sycamore into firewood. Although the bar is about twice the normal length for the 310, I found that it had the power to cut well when the chain was properly sharpened.

That is probabally not reccomended to run that large of a bar on that small of a saw, but if it was just a one time shot and it worked:thumbsup:

But if you are specifically buying a saw to cut 36"+ wood, I doubt anyone would buy a 310 and put a 36" bar on it:confused2:

 

[xyz123]

:laughing: I put a 32" on a MS361 one time to TEST and make some softwood cuts to see if it could do it in a emergency. Ran full skip square chisel chain and it made the cuts in the softwoods. Like I said I would only do this IF had to case.
The oiler was very stingy and I dont think it would have lasted long in hardwoods cut after cut.
Just because something can do it, dont make it the right tool for the job.

 

[LBrown59]

Alright so I need some opinions/advice here.... I live in southeast mass and Irene just tore apart my town.
1*I am currently stuck on my street do to three trees down across the road with wires tangled up in all of them.
2*The storm uprooted 4 oak trees in my yard with the smallest having a diameter of 18" and the biggest with a diameter of 3 feet!

1*I don't think i'd go sawing into trees with wires still hanging in them.
2*Would be nice rite now if these trees were in the woods instead your yard wouldn't it. :laughing:

 

[Grant1994]

Unfortunately we talked to the company and they are estimating our power to be back in 3-4 days
However I thought it over and believe that I will use the saw enough with all the trees on my property that I can justify buying one. I decided to go with the ms290 with an 18 inch bar was able to pick it up today but no chance to use because wa to dark by the time I got home. Will update tomorrow on how she works!
Thanks!!
John

 

[Will_C]

To the OP- are you a "saw nut?" I am, and if I had your situation, it would be just the excuse to buy the Stihl 460 I've been oogling (although I saw the Husky 372 for $150 cheaper at the NYS Woodsmen Show.) Put a 24-25" bar on it, get a 20" bar as well, and be all set. If you would not get a thrill out of the purchase, I would try to borrow a saw or see if you could hire the work done. As others have posted, unless you move into a 70cc pro saw, I just don't se the value in buying another saw for your job.

Will

Will

 

[Grant1994]

Honestly I am in love with chain saws. I'm not to concerned about the money right now and the reason as to why I am working my way up in the size is because I am trying to build up my experience and skill before spending a ton of money on a pro saw that I don't have the experience to handle and end up hurting myself.

 

[Chilly807]

I doubt you'll have any regrets with the MS290. If you like the MS250, the 290 is like a bigger brother to it. I recently traded my old 023 for a set of disc harrows, I think I'll miss the old saw.

Most of us cut at a reasonable pace on an occasional basis. I have a smallish 242 Husky for limbing, and an 044 Stihl for bigger stuff. I got them both used as "project" saws, and neither has let me down yet.

In their day (mid-90's), both were considered "pro" saws, and were built accordingly. It's part of the reason they're both still running today. I suspect the previous owners used them a lot harder than I ever will.

Take your time and enjoy the job ahead, your 290 will get it done.

Sean