I'd like your opinion/suggestion on buying a saw.

I don't underestimate local dealer knowledge and service. I have NEVER heard of a MS361?

 

You bet you are! You don't have to make a living doing it, just love what you are doing!

 

20 cords is a full time job to me for home burning !! I bust my butt for ten, your up around amazing !!

 

I've ran 65-71 cc saws as my firewood saws for years. I've always hated smaller saws because they didn't have the snot to cut the mustard in a timely fashion. My dolmar 5100 changed my view of 50cc saws. I then traded that after running a 550xp husqvarna. The 545 is the same saw for all intensive discussion purposes. It will have more power than you 290 and is a couple pounds lighter. They can be had for 400ish. They are light like a 40cx saw and have the power of a mid 60cc saw. You and your back will not be disappointed.

Then down the road sell the 290 for 350 bucks and look for a husky 365. That is the same saw as the 372xp with restrictors on the transfers that can be removed in 5 minutes.

Anyways, seriously look into the husqvarna 545. You will not be disappointed.

 

I will cut 20 cord this winter. I hope. Sell 10 next fall. Last winter I cut about 10-12 cord. But then cut more during the spring/summer and sold some of the earlier cut/split/stacked stuff in the fall. I sold about 7 cord in the fall I guess.

 

are you talking face or full cords ??

 

Ya. If I go lighter I need to stay powerful enough to get some serious cutting done. Tough to decide. Maybe trade my Farm Boss and my 009 in on a pro Stihl or a pro Echo. I have though about that before. But I like having two saws. One for back up. In case of mechanical problem. Or if I ever get my saw caught in a tree. Not that I have ever done that.

 

Full. I burned through somewhere around 27-30 face cord (9-10 full) last year. Sold about 6-7 full between September and middle of November this fall I guess. And packed about 7-8 cord under my porch. Somewhere around there. I am still going to drop some standing dead Pine soon, some of which I will burn this year. I have lots of them on the property.

 

Please don't get caught up in the "pro" vs. "home owner" rhetoric. Pro saws generally designed for 4-8 hrs/day usage and have metal cases and very favorable power:weight ratios. They can generally be rebuilt for less $$$ than a new or homeowner/rancher saw. In contrast, homeowner/farm/ranch saws have plastic cases. These are perfectly acceptable for their intended (sporadic) uses. It may very well be cheaper to use and destroy several plastic cased saws than to buy and/or wreck a single "Pro" saw. In summary, most "non-pro" user will be better serve by plastic cased homeowner/farm/ranch saws. If you are in it for the long run and will be using your saws on a daily/weekly use, then consider going with a 'Pro" metal cased saw.

 

Wow good for you !! I can only give away/sell only so much and it's not allot, Granted the last couple years I have a great wood sourse.

 

I love my Echo CS 590. It was right at $400 brand new.

 

Used 346XP, lightweight & lots of power, about $300 to $350.00. Another real sleeper bargain is the Husky 353. This is a pro saw all the way for about $200.00 used.

 

Mike this guy is nailing 20 cords per year, his saw is seeing work. I'm going to guess over 100 hours per year, that's allot for a home owners saw.

 

Looked on the Walmart site for chainsaws,?

My store, free shipping for some.
Some refurbished saws too.
460 for $408
http://www.walmart.com/ip/HUSQVARNA...c-3.2Hp-Gas-Engine-2-Cycle-Chain-Saw/39403853

Refurbished on Amazon
http://www.amazon.com/s?ie=UTF8&page=1&rh=n:2972638011,k:Husqvarna Refurbished Chainsaw

 

I'm not sure you do but , if you want to buy a saw off Amazon let me know, PM me and I will get you 2 day free shipping

 

We pick on the farm boss chainsaws for being a homeowner grade. But, in all actuality, when it comes to longevity, in durability, they will last just as long as any Pro saw. Very very durable.
I service several for neighbors that have over 1000 hours on them.
Usually, something else will kill a saw before wear will..

 

Whatever it is, it needs to be ported.






MasterMech has good advice. Spend just a little more on the 545 or 2252 now and you are likely selling your 290 with $$ towards the bigger saw.

 

Before I got my 372, I was cutting 25-30 cord every year with a ms210, an 028, and an 018..
Keep em clean, blow em off, feed em good fuel, and use sharp chain..

 

I bet that upped your productivity with the bigger saws.