I need to try that Sizwill sometime.
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Chain Saws
- Thread starter Inukshuk
- Start date
Inukshuk
Rising Sun Member
I did it safely and it all worked. "controversial" notch photo deleted. Sheesh! Flamesuit on
LOL.
Believe me I’ve done worse over the years. And I’ve been really happy to have two saws an a few occasions.
Inukshuk
Rising Sun Member
Ok, flamesuit off. The bottom of the notch was flat and top angled. Photos doesn't show it well.
My backcut was a bit too low, not below the notch but nearly even. Could have been a bit higher. Tree was straight. No wind.
Tree was starting to rot.
And man, the fatwood on this thing is amazing.
My backcut was a bit too low, not below the notch but nearly even. Could have been a bit higher. Tree was straight. No wind.
Tree was starting to rot.
And man, the fatwood on this thing is amazing.
Forgot about this thread. This summer my old MS181 16" homeowner Stihl bit the saw dust. Little carb motors aren't a fan of the thin air at 9,700ft I guess. I've got two acres of pine I'm trying to maintain plus hardwoods I pick up in Denver for firewood. Well it just couldn't take it any more. Worked great for years around the property in Arvada and lasted almost 2 summers up here.
Upgraded to a pro saw. The MS261CM with a 20" bar. This thing rips through pine like butter. Hardly breaks a sweat with rock elm. Very glad I skipped the Farm and Ranch saws and jumped right to the professional.
Upgraded to a pro saw. The MS261CM with a 20" bar. This thing rips through pine like butter. Hardly breaks a sweat with rock elm. Very glad I skipped the Farm and Ranch saws and jumped right to the professional.
DouglasVB
Rising Sun Member
Here's a tree my dad and his friend cut down last fall. It had died a few years ago and was leaning toward the driveway. We paced it out at about 150 feet tall. They were aiming for the post to the left of where the tree ended up.
because the tree is on the top side of the photo I’m assuming that the top side of the photo is also your notch. It’s about 2/3 of the tree’s diameter which is a really deep notch. You should be aiming for 1/3 of the diameter then make a larger back cut. Level with or little above the notch is kind of a personal preference thing.
Did the tree break early on you? Looks kind of like you were not done with the back cut and it also looks a little rotten like you said.
SteveH
Hard Core 4+
@TacoDane - A local store has the 261 (non-CM) and the 311 in stock. The 311 has more cubic inches and horsepower, and is cheaper, but weighs 13.67#, vs the 261 that weighs a lot less at 10.8#. The 261 costs $60 more ($629). The 311 was strongly recommended by my local Stihl dealer as 'the one that never comes back to the shop for service'. The 261 is from the 'professional series' - is that worth the extra money and lesser engine size/HP?
Did you look at a 311 or have thoughts on it?
Did you look at a 311 or have thoughts on it?
I'd choose the 261 for the better anti-vibration system and lower total weight over the 0.2 HP.
rover67
Rising Sun Member
Ditto I’d pick the 261. In fact I want one as my second saw to the MS-400.
I did look at the 311at a passing. But the lighter weight of the 261 keeps fatigue down. The Stihl Pro Saws are in a whole world of their own. I do not regret spending the extra at all. I can tell that extra 3 lbs would be felt after a few hours. With probably no gain from 0.2hp.
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I don't know that it's worth it's own thread. Anybody got recommendations on the best bang for the buck log splitter? I rented this 28ton splitter. It got through the task of this pine but struggled when it came to some elm. So I'm guessing I'll want one rated for about 35 ton.
SteveH
Hard Core 4+
Dry (seasoned) cottonwood (and likely Elm) are the worst. If you are going to do a lot of that kind of wood, you will need a very powerful splitter. I split virtually all pine, so any splitter can do that. I found that green cottonwood splits ok (not great), but seasoned is just plain evil. I would simply avoid Elm, unless that's not a possibility. What about those kinetic splitters - I have seen them for less $$ than hydraulic, but I never seen anyone splitting a miserable wood with one. Until I see one blast through nasty wood, I will remain skeptical.
FJCDan
Rising Sun Member
Before I put a gas insert in my fireplace I used to burn a lot of elm( 2 large elms in front yard, one gone the other will be in less than two weeks) I rented a Home Depot splitter for a day, that elm was horrible to split. Very stringy even when well seasoned. Burns great lots of heat. Bigger the better. now when i want a a fire I just hit the remote and it heats very well.
DaveInDenver
Rising Sun Ham Guru
We had a dead cottonwood taken down at the old house and I kept some of it. Besides being a PITA to split it has a funky smell, like cigars.
SteveH
Hard Core 4+
Back to the saw discussion - I picked up a 261 today. Cuts well, great throttle response, much fun to use. It felt vastly lighter than the 311 - just as you all said it would. Last one in stock at a hardware store in Woodland Park.
Hope it lasts me 20 years like my Husqvarna 55 Rancher did!
Hope it lasts me 20 years like my Husqvarna 55 Rancher did!
Attachments
Yeah cottonwood isn't good for much. Stinks when you split, not good to woodwork with. I won't burn it in the fireplace because of the smell. Just the wood burning stove where we can't smell it inside.
I need hardwoods at night. I only feed the fire once after bed. A full firebox of pine burns in a mere couple hrs.
I get about 6 hours out of Douglas fir or ponderosa in both our stoves. But do buy a cord of cedar for night time. Generally split it 50/50 with the pines.
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CoMtnGoat
Rock Stacker
- Joined
- Jan 17, 2022
- Messages
- 28
I have a DeWalt 12" that I upgraded to a 16" bar...cost $150 and is great for the occasional slice and chop....additionally, I can put it in my vehicle for camping/off-roading trips with no fear or gas or oil leakage (I bring a small bottle of vegetable oil for bar lube.) Works on the same 20v or 60v DeWalt batteries that my cordless drill, impact driver, jigsaw, blower, and trimmer use so I can always throw an extra battery in the bag)
Stihl and Husqvarna are amazing...but you are looking at over $300-$400+ for those. Again, they are amazing and if I could justify it, I would have bought one of those but...I rarely use mine (maybe 2x per year.) I already had some DeWalt stuff so it was an easy choice to get a DeWalt chainsaw. (https://www.amazon.com/DEWALT-DCCS620B-Compact-Cordless-Chainsaw/dp/B073FTGBZY)
Stihl and Husqvarna are amazing...but you are looking at over $300-$400+ for those. Again, they are amazing and if I could justify it, I would have bought one of those but...I rarely use mine (maybe 2x per year.) I already had some DeWalt stuff so it was an easy choice to get a DeWalt chainsaw. (https://www.amazon.com/DEWALT-DCCS620B-Compact-Cordless-Chainsaw/dp/B073FTGBZY)