Why buy a pro saw?

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M

MasterMech

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Ok folks,

I have issues. I know.

A property very close to me had several medium (18-24") sized Oak trees dropped (professionally, very close to the little house) on Thursday. I of course, wandered over there inquiring about the wood, business cards in hand of course. ;lol

The property owner (whom I have spoke to on the phone before, I cut up the blowdowns from Sandy in the front yard of the same property.) was over there with his Dad's 039 and I could tell from 500 yards off that the chain was beyond dull. I told him to take a break and I would see to his saw. (Threw the chain on the grinder quick and cleaned his air filter.) He said the wood was spoken for but if it fell through, he'd be giving me a call. The wood was promised to a girl I'd met before (also during Sandy ....) so I said if they didn't want to bother with the big stuff, I'd gladly take it and if they needed help with any of their equipment, I was local and ........

Saturday comes around and I hear a chainsaw wailing over on that side of the neighborhood. Me and my son took a stroll over that way and I noticed she was going after the logs with a brandy new Husky 455R. Good on her, but that chain sounds awfully dull! I didn't stop her and she left shortly thereafter.

Today I hear two saws screaming, so I'm real curious now. I could hear neither saw was doing much other than burning fuel and making noise. This is horrible to listen to. I'm sure many of you reading this can relate. ;) So after some brief consideration, I saddled up the aftermarket 460 (20", 8 pin rim) , donned the chaps, threw the cant hook and my fuel/oil into my little tractor cart and cruised on over there. She had reinforcements, 2 young guys (20's?) that looked fairly capable and a F350 dump truck. (gotta love a woman who comes to the job prepared.... ;lol) One was trying to "saw" (you know the motion) through a round with his MS290. The conversation went like this:

"How long?"

"Huh?"

"How long do you want the rounds?"

"Oh we're just cutting them small enough to lift."

"OK, easy 'nuff."

"You want to help us out?" (she asked, puzzled)

"I have an hour or so before I have to go. We'll see how much I can get through."

"Thanks!"

Little under an hour and a half later, I had 95% of everything over 12" (and there was quite a lot of it, best guess maybe 3 cords give or take?) turned into either rounds or chips. The MS290 was the first saw to get sidelined followed by the 455R. The guys loaded the truck and she took off to dump it. (about a 15-20 min round trip) It took all 3 of them to keep up with me and that 460. ::-) I rocked SIX chains in the process, changing them out like tissues. Ran through about 3+ tanks of fuel. I've never seen so much metal in trees before. A hose hanger, screws, nails, a 1/2" lag bolt. Jeeeeze. :rolleyes:<> So I will be grinding chain again soon, no biggie really.

I am getting two 4'-5' lengths for "test logs" so be on the lookout for more videos soon. >>
 
Wow. You sir are a better person than I am . I would just watch them from a distance and wait until they get fed up and leave. Then just wait for that phone call.
 
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Wow. You sir are a better person than I am . I would just watch them from a distance and wait until they get fed up and leave. Then just wait for that phone call.
I thought about that, would love another 4 cords of Oak to add to the stacks (or pile .... ;em) but honestly I have a big enough mess in the driveway at the moment and she is a nice person that really just wants to stay warm and isn't afraid to work for it. So how could I listen to that awful racket and let them suffer? Honestly, the noise was killing me. Was worth the 90 min to get rid of the noise. ;lol
 
See above. Nothing for firewood but I desperately need saw fodder for testing repairs and making videos..... Seems silly, right?

Not silly..seems generous. Some gas and 2 stroke oil and maybe a little wear and tear on the chains. I'm just surprised that she didn't offer up some wood. I think that's just customary to take care of those that helped you out.
 
I'm thinking of buying a 461 myself. I priced it out. $1039 with the 25" bar. I have the money for it, but it's hard to pull the trigger. :eek:
Run one and it it gets easier. I put a LOT more wood on the ground/in the truck per tankful than a MS290/455R. Even if they had a sharp chain. 461 is going to be just as fast, easier on fuel too. I'm going to be putting one of the 460's up for sale after Labor Day if your trigger finger isn't too itchy. >>
 
Run one and it it gets easier. I put a LOT more wood on the ground/in the truck per tankful than a MS290/455R. Even if they had a sharp chain. 461 is going to be just as fast, easier on fuel too. I'm going to be putting one of the 460's up for sale after Labor Day if your trigger finger isn't too itchy. >>

I never get too eager for anything. I learned a long time ago that hurried purchases result in buyer's remorse
 
Good neighbor.
 
Good neighbor . . . good karma.
 
You are a good man, Charlie Brown. Six chains zapped though, geeze.
 
Reading this reminds me of a few years ago when a monster wind storm came through here. After I determined no damage on the driveway, I went back up for breakfast. Shortly I heard saws running like a hive of bees. All obviously polishing, not cutting wood. About an hour of it was all I could stand. I had sharpened chains the day before based on the forecast.

I put Old Yaller in the back of the Suburban and went down to see what was going on. Two places over two huge oaks had fallen over the driveway and three guys with their dull toys were worrying the wood, not cutting it. I walked to the back of the Burb and pulled out Old Yaller and walked that way pulling the rope and firing it off. One of the kid's looked around when he heard it and said "Yes! A real chainsaw."

I bucked out the trees enough to clear the drive and just walked back to the truck. Heard those bees buzzing the rest of the day. ;lol

Two months later I got a phone call. A tree had fallen over the road into the development and the caller said "You don't know me but could you come down and cut this thing so folks can get in and out. These guys don't know what the hell they are doing and the tree isn't going anywhere lately.". Drove down, whacked it and left. Fools started lugging the wood to THEIR houses. :mad:
 
460 is the ticket........If you really want to see what it will do set-up two splitter crews. I am to old for that now but it can be done.
 
I never get too eager for anything. I learned a long time ago that hurried purchases result in buyer's remorse


MM is a stand up guy and if I were you, I would save a couple bucks and buy his saw. There is a complete build thread, along with cutting vids, and tuning vid. Don't get much better than that. Once you run a 460.... (Magnum, not a Husq 460 Rancher ;))

You never go back. This saw wakes up a part of your soul, that you never knew you had :)
 
I would have done the same, saw my neighbor in the spring cutting up blow downs in his yard with an electric saw, it was taking him all day so I grabbed my husky and offered to help. He ended up giving me all the wood since he doesn't burn. Turns out he having a huge oak dropped this fall and said I could have all I wanted to cut.
 
See it usually works out!
 
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