Something I wonder About

mayhem · Dec 21, 2011

I try to educate myself about whats a good product before I buy one. Had a Craftsman 42cc rebadged Wild Thing that I got off the return rack for $125 and it cut wood faithfully for a good 14 years before it gave out on me. I had decided a few years earlier that I wanted a bigger saw anyway but the darn thing just kept right on chewing through the wood and I couldn't toss it aside.

Bought a Husky 359 this past spring. Great saw, since the craftsman met all of my needs this thing really is all the saw I should ever need for firewooding.

I like a good quality tool, you can feel it when you use it...I buy them when I can afford to do so, but sometimes you get stuck and the Homelite is all you can swing.

BrotherBart · Dec 22, 2011

I could get a chainsaw off of craiglist right now for $30 that plays music while I cut.

"Selling Panasonic Chainsaw, works, gas powered and comes with case. Call 703-xxx-xxx Talleen if interested. Cash only. "

Gary_602z · Dec 22, 2011

Didn't say if it was stereo or not though!

Gary

HittinSteel · Dec 22, 2011

I could get by with one saw, but when I see a good used deal I buy....... I know I'll always be able to get my money back and it's fun to have choices dependent on the cutting conditions.

smokinj · Dec 22, 2011

wkpoor said:
I read on here often about people dickering back and forth over a couple hundred dollars for a chainsaw or I only want one saw to do it all and it needs to cost 25 bucks. But they will spend 2-3K on the stove and 1-2K on the splitter. Isn't the saw just as important a piece to the puzzle?
Guess I'm an odd ball since the saws is where I've tied up most of the money in this burnin wood thing. I mean if your going to operate a top of the line stove whats with going to Sears for your saw?
I'll bet 7 out of 10 Woodstock or Hearthstone owners who cut their own wood do it with a 200.00 saw.

I have always thought that a good saw and you can cut your way out of any problems with a stove furnace boiler....

LLigetfa · Dec 22, 2011

HittinSteel said:
I could get by with one saw...

Well, truth be told, when I first started working as a sawhand, I borrowed my father's R17T. After my first paycheck I bought my own R17T and hung onto his for a while to have as a backup in case I needed it but never did. Later I bought the R420 and had my R17T as a backup but never needed it.

My father on the other hand was never very mechanically inclined, so he needed a backup more than I did. For a while, every time I went to visit him, I would bring my R17T for him to use and take his dead one back with me fix and return it. Eventually I just left both of them with him. I would never lend him my R420. Some folk should not own or even be allowed to use a chainsaw.

Flatbedford · Dec 22, 2011

I started cutting Firewood with a crappy Homelite that my father bought at Sears in 1988. It never worked that well. The chain tension wouldn't stay set and eventually the starting rope kept pulling out. I was akid and didn't really know how to take care of or fix the saw, but it was a POS. In '96 a huge Red Oak fell almost on my parent's house. Dad gave me some of the insurance money to buy a better saw to cut it up. I knew the better saw would be Stihl. The dealer recommended the 029 and i bought one with a 20 bar and chain for about 2 xs what we paid for the Homelite. I used that 029 until I got a killer deal on an 036 from a friend for $100! this summer. I sold the 029 for $260 with a few extra chains and a file kit. Good, high quality stuff is worth the extra bucks, but I will probably never buy brand new at full price. I have been happy with well shoppped high quality used stuff. The stove on the other hand is in the house and we see it every day and we rely on it to keep us comfortable. It is the most expensive appliance and piece of furniture we own. If I ever buy another stove I will go new and good. If I ever buy another saw, and I probably won't, it will be used.

Backwoods Savage · Dec 23, 2011

wkpoor said:
I read on here often about people dickering back and forth over a couple hundred dollars for a chainsaw or I only want one saw to do it all and it needs to cost 25 bucks. But they will spend 2-3K on the stove and 1-2K on the splitter. Isn't the saw just as important a piece to the puzzle?
Guess I'm an odd ball since the saws is where I've tied up most of the money in this burnin wood thing. I mean if your going to operate a top of the line stove whats with going to Sears for your saw?
I'll bet 7 out of 10 Woodstock or Hearthstone owners who cut their own wood do it with a 200.00 saw.

It is apparent you don't like Woodstock or Hearthstone stoves....

wkpoor, you've come on here many times and give the impression that the only thing important is owning a big saw and like to run down others who do not have a large saw and did not pay big dollars for one. This is pure bull. Many folks have no need for a large saw and there are also many folks who should not have a large saw in their hands! Some of us have run the big saws but have also run little saws. No difference except in size. For analogy, why would someone use a cannon for hunting deer when a bow and arrow will do the trick very nicely if used correctly.

As for myself, yes, I've run the big saws when logging. I've also run sawmills. But I am not going to put someone else down because they choose to run a small chain saw. Perhaps their needs is for a small saw. Case in point: A man owns, say, 10 acres of woods. This is all young woods and the largest tree on the place is perhaps an 18" diameter tree. Does he really need a $1,000 chain saw? Some get by with a little 20 ton splitter while others need a 40 ton. I met a man today that has one that is about a 5 ton splitter. Different folks have different needs. You seem to need the big stuff so go buy it. It does not bother us in the least so pleas do not let it bother you if others don't want or need that big saw. And yes, I also own a Woodstock stove and am very happy with it.

lanternman · Dec 23, 2011

Backwoods Savage said:
wkpoor said:

I read on here often about people dickering back and forth over a couple hundred dollars for a chainsaw or I only want one saw to do it all and it needs to cost 25 bucks. But they will spend 2-3K on the stove and 1-2K on the splitter. Isn't the saw just as important a piece to the puzzle?
Guess I'm an odd ball since the saws is where I've tied up most of the money in this burnin wood thing. I mean if your going to operate a top of the line stove whats with going to Sears for your saw?
I'll bet 7 out of 10 Woodstock or Hearthstone owners who cut their own wood do it with a 200.00 saw.

Click to expand...

It is apparent you don't like Woodstock or Hearthstone stoves....

wkpoor, you've come on here many times and give the impression that the only thing important is owning a big saw and like to run down others who do not have a large saw and did not pay big dollars for one. This is pure bull. Many folks have no need for a large saw and there are also many folks who should not have a large saw in their hands! Some of us have run the big saws but have also run little saws. No difference except in size. For analogy, why would someone use a cannon for hunting deer when a bow and arrow will do the trick very nicely if used correctly.

As for myself, yes, I've run the big saws when logging. I've also run sawmills. But I am not going to put someone else down because they choose to run a small chain saw. Perhaps their needs is for a small saw. Case in point: A man owns, say, 10 acres of woods. This is all young woods and the largest tree on the place is perhaps an 18" diameter tree. Does he really need a $1,000 chain saw? Some get by with a little 20 ton splitter while others need a 40 ton. I met a man today that has one that is about a 5 ton splitter. Different folks have different needs. You seem to need the big stuff so go buy it. It does not bother us in the least so pleas do not let it bother you if others don't want or need that big saw. And yes, I also own a Woodstock stove and am very happy with it.

i agree. i have 2 saws: a poulan 2250 16in 36cc and a 12in craftsman electric. i cut plenty with the poulan and its never gave me any trouble. i dont use the craftsman that much, but its ok. i didnt pay more than $200 combined for them. the poulan was new for 150 and the electric craftsman was a $15 yard sale find. of course my stove cost me only $30 too... its in my shed so what does it matter anyway? it suits my needs so what more can i ask for?

wkpoor · Dec 23, 2011

Backwoods Savage said:
wkpoor said:

I read on here often about people dickering back and forth over a couple hundred dollars for a chainsaw or I only want one saw to do it all and it needs to cost 25 bucks. But they will spend 2-3K on the stove and 1-2K on the splitter. Isn't the saw just as important a piece to the puzzle?
Guess I'm an odd ball since the saws is where I've tied up most of the money in this burnin wood thing. I mean if your going to operate a top of the line stove whats with going to Sears for your saw?
I'll bet 7 out of 10 Woodstock or Hearthstone owners who cut their own wood do it with a 200.00 saw.

Click to expand...

It is apparent you don't like Woodstock or Hearthstone stoves....

wkpoor, you've come on here many times and give the impression that the only thing important is owning a big saw and like to run down others who do not have a large saw and did not pay big dollars for one. This is pure bull. Many folks have no need for a large saw and there are also many folks who should not have a large saw in their hands! Some of us have run the big saws but have also run little saws. No difference except in size. For analogy, why would someone use a cannon for hunting deer when a bow and arrow will do the trick very nicely if used correctly.

As for myself, yes, I've run the big saws when logging. I've also run sawmills. But I am not going to put someone else down because they choose to run a small chain saw. Perhaps their needs is for a small saw. Case in point: A man owns, say, 10 acres of woods. This is all young woods and the largest tree on the place is perhaps an 18" diameter tree. Does he really need a $1,000 chain saw? Some get by with a little 20 ton splitter while others need a 40 ton. I met a man today that has one that is about a 5 ton splitter. Different folks have different needs. You seem to need the big stuff so go buy it. It does not bother us in the least so pleas do not let it bother you if others don't want or need that big saw. And yes, I also own a Woodstock stove and am very happy with it.

Totally miss understood here again. 1st off I have absolutely nothing against any stove of any kind especially the holy grail of stoves the Woodstock. Just wondering why someone would be savvy enough to want a Woodstock for its efficiency and performance and then go cut the wood with a 30yr old saw.

lanternman · Dec 23, 2011

i guess you do have a point there.
i second the "nothing against any stove" thing too

BrotherBart · Dec 23, 2011

" Just wondering why someone would be savvy enough to want a Woodstock for its efficiency and performance and then go cut the wood with a 30yr old saw."

Oh I don't know. Makes about as much sense as somebody leaving a brand new EPA stove in their shed for two years and continuing to burn a thirty year old stove in their house. ;-)

jebatty · Dec 23, 2011

Lots of emotion rises up in all these posts. We all love our chainsaws. When I look at the cutting practices of my neighbors and myself, a few things rise to the top, regardless of the chainsaw they have. First is that the neighbors cut occasionally, some for the stove or fireplace, or taking down a dead tree, etc. Second they usually struggle, which I think is more related to a dull chain than the chainsaw they are using. Third, they use little or no safety gear. Argh!

I did the same thing for about 7years with a "trusty" Craftsman, my first chainsaw. When it blew a valve I replaced it with a small Stihl with about the same engine size. I also learned how to sharpen my own chains, met with a local logger to talk about chainsaw use, tried the logger's chainsaw and then immediately saw the advantage of an adequately powered and sized chainsaw with a very sharp chain. That resulted in me buying a Husky 372XP in 2002. I cut about 10 cords of stove wood each year, plus trees for about 5000 board feet of lumber each year. I use the Stihl for trimming branches, the Husky does all the major work. Couldn't be happier or safer: helmet with face screen, ear protectors, full wrap chaps, steel toe boots, chainsaw safety training class, sharp chains, and never cut to the point of being fatigued.

Blessed Holiday season to all!

LLigetfa · Dec 23, 2011

wkpoor said:
Just wondering why someone would be savvy enough to want a Woodstock for its efficiency and performance and then go cut the wood with a 30yr old saw.

My saw is just a means to an end. It is not a pleasure craft like a fast boat, a snow machine, or a sports car. The end is to enjoy the fire without burning more wood or working much harder than necessary. I see no point in putting it into landfill as long as it still runs well, even if it is more than 30 years old.

BTW, I don't own woodburning paraphernalia such as IR thermometer or moisture meter, nor do I own a fast boat, a snow machine, or a sports car. I'm way to frugal to squander money on such frivolity. If owning and/or using them brings you pleasure, what the hay! Whatever floats your boat.

woodmiser · Dec 23, 2011

I have a Stihl m260 that's OK but a little lacking in power. Recently found a brand new Dolmar 7900 on CL for $500. It was a steal. I put a 28" bar on it. I don't like using the Stihl anymore.

But then you can't expect the little Stihl to handle this wood...

LLigetfa · Dec 23, 2011

woodmiser said:
Recently found a brand new Dolmar 7900 on CL for $500. It was a steal.

I wish there were steals like that around here. This place is even too far away from a craigslist area.

JustWood · Dec 23, 2011

jebatty said:
Lots of emotion rises up in all these posts. We all love our chainsaws. When I look at the cutting practices of my neighbors and myself, a few things rise to the top, regardless of the chainsaw they have. First is that the neighbors cut occasionally, some for the stove or fireplace, or taking down a dead tree, etc. Second they usually struggle, which I think is more related to a dull chain than the chainsaw they are using. Third, they use little or no safety gear. Argh!

I did the same thing for about 7years with a "trusty" Craftsman, my first chainsaw. When it blew a valve I replaced it with a small Stihl with about the same engine size. I also learned how to sharpen my own chains, met with a local logger to talk about chainsaw use, tried the logger's chainsaw and then immediately saw the advantage of an adequately powered and sized chainsaw with a very sharp chain. That resulted in me buying a Husky 372XP in 2002. I cut about 10 cords of stove wood each year, plus trees for about 5000 board feet of lumber each year. I use the Stihl for trimming branches, the Husky does all the major work. Couldn't be happier or safer: helmet with face screen, ear protectors, full wrap chaps, steel toe boots, chainsaw safety training class, sharp chains, and never cut to the point of being fatigued.

Blessed Holiday season to all!

OP:I don't question what one wants to cut wood with . Could care less.
I wood be willing to bet that a very high percentage of people wood be buying a top of the line saw if they did visit and pick a loggers brain and run one of his saws.

CTYank · Dec 23, 2011

wkpoor said:
I read on here often about people dickering back and forth over a couple hundred dollars for a chainsaw or I only want one saw to do it all and it needs to cost 25 bucks. But they will spend 2-3K on the stove and 1-2K on the splitter. Isn't the saw just as important a piece to the puzzle?
Guess I'm an odd ball since the saws is where I've tied up most of the money in this burnin wood thing. I mean if your going to operate a top of the line stove whats with going to Sears for your saw?
I'll bet 7 out of 10 Woodstock or Hearthstone owners who cut their own wood do it with a 200.00 saw.

Maybe you don't understand that others see things differently, as is their right in this democracy. People here in the US of A are into very different degrees/types of snobbery, something you seem to be very fond of.
Your whole schema of resource allocation I happen to find irrelevant and immaterial. Never did like accountants, either.
Should anyone ask, on shopping for a chainsaw, I'd advise about avoiding BigBox marketeering, and what might constitute real value.
Then I'd STFU.

For myself, I'd smile looking at my little Echo saw from the late '70s, ready to go anytime, and smile thinking at all the $$ I didn't spend. If you understood Yankees, you'd understand that they value cash NOT spent. And don't like people sniffing in their affairs.

Backwoods Savage · Dec 23, 2011

wkpoor said:
Backwoods Savage said:

wkpoor said:

I read on here often about people dickering back and forth over a couple hundred dollars for a chainsaw or I only want one saw to do it all and it needs to cost 25 bucks. But they will spend 2-3K on the stove and 1-2K on the splitter. Isn't the saw just as important a piece to the puzzle?
Guess I'm an odd ball since the saws is where I've tied up most of the money in this burnin wood thing. I mean if your going to operate a top of the line stove whats with going to Sears for your saw?
I'll bet 7 out of 10 Woodstock or Hearthstone owners who cut their own wood do it with a 200.00 saw.

Click to expand...

It is apparent you don't like Woodstock or Hearthstone stoves....

wkpoor, you've come on here many times and give the impression that the only thing important is owning a big saw and like to run down others who do not have a large saw and did not pay big dollars for one. This is pure bull. Many folks have no need for a large saw and there are also many folks who should not have a large saw in their hands! Some of us have run the big saws but have also run little saws. No difference except in size. For analogy, why would someone use a cannon for hunting deer when a bow and arrow will do the trick very nicely if used correctly.

As for myself, yes, I've run the big saws when logging. I've also run sawmills. But I am not going to put someone else down because they choose to run a small chain saw. Perhaps their needs is for a small saw. Case in point: A man owns, say, 10 acres of woods. This is all young woods and the largest tree on the place is perhaps an 18" diameter tree. Does he really need a $1,000 chain saw? Some get by with a little 20 ton splitter while others need a 40 ton. I met a man today that has one that is about a 5 ton splitter. Different folks have different needs. You seem to need the big stuff so go buy it. It does not bother us in the least so pleas do not let it bother you if others don't want or need that big saw. And yes, I also own a Woodstock stove and am very happy with it.

Click to expand...

Totally miss understood here again. 1st off I have absolutely nothing against any stove of any kind especially the holy grail of stoves the Woodstock. Just wondering why someone would be savvy enough to want a Woodstock for its efficiency and performance and then go cut the wood with a 30yr old saw.

wkpoor, I don't mean to mis-understand at all. What I was trying to get across is something you seem to have missed because of what you wrote in the last sentence. The way I look at it is that most folks use a chain saw for one thing and that is the end result; firewood cut to length. Does it really matter what they cut it with? We had an old man who lived a short distance from us and he burned wood all his life. He also never even owned a chain saw! That's right; he cut all his wood with a crosscut and a bow saw. He got the results he wanted and needed and saved a lot of dollars in the meantime.

As an analogy, let's suppose someone stopped in at a hardware store and wanted to buy some drill bits. Question: what did he want? Answer: he did not want bits, he wanted holes. He just happened to want the bits to get the holes made quickly. What I am trying to say is that people buy things for a reason and whether a thing they buy is small, large, new or old does not matter so long as they get what they really need in the end.

No offense taken. Just trying to sort things out.

thinkxingu · Dec 23, 2011

wkpoor, I know exactly what you're trying to say. I sold one of the first plasma televisions produced, a Pioneer 50" for $26K, and when I delivered it the guy was gonna put it on an old broken wooden rack with a book (1984) holding one end up. A friend of mine bought a Hearthstone Heritage a couple years back and refuses to listen to how to run it--the chimney sweep said he was on the verge of CO2 poisoning/chimney fire because of the creosote blockage.

It is also strange to me that people invest crazy money into some things but not others, especially if the percentages are minimal, but it doesn't bother me. It bothers the absolute crap out of me, however, when people expect me to help out or fix their mistakes when they could have been prevented by not being so cheap.

S

wkpoor · Dec 26, 2011

BrotherBart said:
" Just wondering why someone would be savvy enough to want a Woodstock for its efficiency and performance and then go cut the wood with a 30yr old saw."

Oh I don't know. Makes about as much sense as somebody leaving a brand new EPA stove in their shed for two years and continuing to burn a thirty year old stove in their house. ;-)

That was pure ignorance on my part and I will own up to it no problem. Didn't even know there was such a thing as EPA stove when I bought it. Not like it said in big bold letters on it somewhere that it was EPA compliant. I had to open it up and look in to see the tubes. Meanwhile if you remember I didn't buy it for the house. I bought it for the summer kitchen.

wkpoor · Dec 26, 2011

woodmiser said:
I have a Stihl m260 that's OK but a little lacking in power. Recently found a brand new Dolmar 7900 on CL for $500. It was a steal. I put a 28" bar on it. I don't like using the Stihl anymore.

But then you can't expect the little Stihl to handle this wood...

When I 1st started buying Dolmar I could get the 7900 power head only for 549.00. I think I bought 7 of them all total for people I knew that wanted them. Should have bought 7 more to sell later on but quickly thought about how I couldn't sell them with a warranty so that idea went out the door. I was getting them at cost from a local arborist that was a dealer. He just needed to sell a certain # to keep his dealership. The dealership was just so the business could buy saws at cost. Basically win win for everybody. I could get 5100s for 349.00 then too. Those days are gone. Prices went sky high and his volume went up enough he didn't need to hand out deals anymore.

SolarAndWood · Dec 26, 2011

wkpoor said:
I was getting them at cost

Now we get down to the root of it. If I didn't have to pay retail for new good stuff, I would own a lot more of it and not spend nearly as much time keeping decades old equipment running :lol:

wkpoor · Dec 28, 2011

SolarAndWood said:
wkpoor said:

I was getting them at cost

Click to expand...

Now we get down to the root of it. If I didn't have to pay retail for new good stuff, I would own a lot more of it and not spend nearly as much time keeping decades old equipment running :lol:

I've told people on here several times I've made screamin deals on screamin saws just knowing where to look. Great place to find good saws is on arborstsite.com for sale ads. All those Dolmars I bought at cost where passed on to others. I kept none of them. Most of what I own was bought cheaper yet. Probably best deal I ever had was the screamin little 357XP I got for 175.00 race ported. Cut firewood one whole winter with it. I've never bought one single saw at a box store.

sebring · Dec 28, 2011

A sharpened junk saw should cut just as good as any new sharpened saw.

Something I wonder About

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