reliable chain saws? thinking of ordering 10 cords of 8 ft logs...

First I'm going to say get a Stilh. ms250 will handle what your doing. If this the stuff from craigslist your getting a deal.

About a 3 hours to cut the wood and 1.5 hours a cord to slit with splitter.

Sounds like you're getting a good deal!!

Right now you can get a factory refurbed(Lowes returns after bieng used once) Husky 455 with full warranty from some dealers for around 300 bucks.
They are no hot rod, and are a bit heavy for the power they make, but are darn reliable, and affordable.

No flies on the MS250 either, it's just more suited to limbing and light bucking with the .325 chain, and you're gonna be bucking like a mad man.
A good used 60cc pro saw would be the best option if you could find one that didn't bust the budget. Check around for good used Husky 359,357's and Stihl 361's, and even 371/372xp saws if they are in the budget. If you get down in these parts near South Haven, I know where there is a recently rebuilt(Professional job with OEM parts) Dolmar 6100 that would go for 300 bucks, just PM if you're angling that way.

Biggest thing is gonna be having 2-3 spare loops of good chain on hand LOL!!
Nothing worse than getting into a rythm and finding wire and having to stop cutting and start filing.

Good luck to ya!!

Nothing worse than getting into a rythm and finding wire and having to stop cutting and start filing.

Heck, Filing is my breaktime

70cc class saws are the way to turn a pile of logs into firewood. Husqvarna, Stihl, Jonsered and Dolmar all have good saws in this class. I'm not sure about the economics of your business plan though.

Almost anything would make it through that pile at least once. The trick is if you're going to keep on keeping on speed and comfort come to mind. I'm very happy with my MS250 now that I went to a full-chisel chain. When bucking a log however, I'd love a 20" bar instead of the 16" on it now, and more speed and a bigger tank but its more than enough for my 5 acres. But, I only cut 2-3 cord/year. After 2 years its about broken in, or should I say the operator is getting better.

A chainsaw is the least of your expenses. How are you going to deliver the wood? From what I understand from tree-guys, firewood is the worst money in the entire racket, but the easiest to get started.

MS250 is a small saw to be cutting 10 cords a year with. Don't get me wrong, it will do it, but a saw with a bit more power will be less tiring to use. I'd suggest at least MS290 for that kind of use.

Mill_Heat you must be on some good stuff if you can cut and split 10 cords in 4.5hrs!

No offense everyone, but the 250's a terrible suggestion for straight bucking. I know, I've got one--it holds its own for limbing and bucking here and there, but I'd step to a 60cc saw or larger in a heartbeat.

If your goal is to bang this out as economically as possible, hit up a Home Dept for one of their rental 6401's. That's the best sauce for the buck. If you want to invest in a saw because you'll be doing this type of thing every year or so, lay the money down for a Stihl 361 or 362 or similar Husky with 20" bar.

S

I have the 455, and it's a pretty decent saw, but a little heavy for continuous bucking. I took the safety chain off. It's crap.
Find something in the 60cc and up range, lightest one you can find and put chisel chain on it.
20" bar is good, unless your getting into bigger logs.
I've had 2, 20 cord loads delivered, and wish I had a lighter, more powerful saw to work 'em.
My brother has an older Jonsered 2165, pretty nice saw, with about 4.5 hp.
If I had it to do over again, I wouldn't cheap out. You'll have this thing for a LONG time, unless you find you don't like cutting wood or you blow it up. :ahhh:

I have the Stihl 310 & 390, both have been great saws for me.



Zap

064 or 066 8 pin rim & 20" full comp chain. A C

10 cords? I cut 10 cords per year for firewood plus fell trees and cut logs for about 5000 bd ft of lumber each year. Been using my Husky 372XP which I bought new in 2002, keep the air cleaner clean, original spark plug, replaced the bar once because I switched from a 20" to an 18" bar, keep the bar edges filed, and rotate 15 chains which I sharpen myself. Just add gas and oil -- reliable, perfect, never stalls, never adjusted anything else. A great saw.

Dont take much to cut log lengths! ms 250 and up where ever your pocket worth you can always get your money back on a well maintained saw......

just a quick point to make:

If it's green oak, you'll probably want to make sure you're using that winter 2012-13... may even want to avoid selling it for a year so as not to creosote up anybody's chimney/flue or at least be clear with the buyer's that it's not "seasoned" wood (unlike the idiot who took me for a ride this fall... oh well, lesson learned by the newbie)

crossout said:

thinkxingu said:

No offense everyone, but the 250's a terrible suggestion for straight bucking. I know, I've got one--it holds its own for limbing and bucking here and there, but I'd step to a 60cc saw or larger in a heartbeat.

If your goal is to bang this out as economically as possible, hit up a Home Dept for one of their rental 6401's. That's the best sauce for the buck. If you want to invest in a saw because you'll be doing this type of thing every year or so, lay the money down for a Stihl 361 or 362 or similar Husky with 20" bar.

S

Click to expand...

i did not think about the rental... lol good idea!

Click to expand...

Crossout,

If you stop into the Home depot rental dept. ask them if they have any of thier rental 6401's for sale, or if you can get on the list. Every couple of months they sell them off after they are checked over.Usually for a couple hundred bucks. Good and solid saw that should last decades, and easily hot rodded with a 7900 top end.

Check with Husky dealers. They buy the 455 Ranchers from Home Depot or Lowes whenever homeowners bring them back. Most have a 20" bar on them and sell for $300.

A good used 372XP with a 20" bar would be my choice.

I have a 29 yr old husqvarna (new in 1982), still cutting. (few hundred cords & misc cutting)
May get a newer model but not to replace it, It is still cutting, new ones have some good features & are lighter weight.
Stihl or Husq, seem to be the top saws.

Sounds like my Dad. His McCulloch 610 Pro Mac, bought new in late 70s or early 80s. Still going strong.

He was starting to worry it would go out on him after he broke the throttle linkage and ended up having to make something cause no one could get the parts anymore (this was 2000, before internet came around) He bought another one "just in case" and it's been sitting on the shelf for the last 10 years.

I think my 290 could pretty much outcut both those 610s put together, but he likes it too much to give it up.

372 XP fast,light had one till some S.*.* stole it got a 288 XP lite from CL little bigger but heaver and faster the 372 is the one to get just keep it under lock&key; last forever.

We run a packaged firwood business during the summer in this area and have had very good luck Husqvarna with the 18 inch blade. We go though a few 100 cords a year. We do not sharpen chains though we just put them in a pile and have the machine take care of it every year. Chains have gone up in cost quite a bit last few years.