First chainsaw experience, considering purchasing one - next steps?

This sounds like a super cool event! It's on my radar!

 

Thanks for letting me know about these classes - what a great thing!

 

Take class if can free chaps and helmet

 

Thanks everyone for the great advice! Sorry for my slow response. After I put up my original post, the week got very busy and this is the first chance I've had to respond, but I had been following along with each post here. The busy-ness of my week included, amongst other things, scoring almost a cord of 3 year seasoned, cut, split and stacked oak and an 1/8 cord of some unidentified green wood for $80 total and three trips not too far from my home in the minivan! So, at this point, I'm at about three cords of seasoned wood, another cord and a half of semi-seasoned and green, and another cord or so of rounds waiting to be split - working my way towards a three year plan!

A few follow up questions:

I read somewhere that once you get above an 18 inch saw (20 and above) they become much more challenging to work wth as someone new to chainsaws. Is this true? If so, I'm thinking maybe an 18 is good for my first saw.

One of my concerns is that I probably will use the saw pretty infrequently as I simply don't have that much space to store wood (I'd have a lot more space if my yard wasn't on a hill, but as it is I'm trying to keep my stashes on the little bit of level land I have). Ideally, my three year plan would be about 9 cords, so I'll have three cords a year (I'm getting a Woodstock Ideal Steel in a couple weeks and from what I hear I won't be able to put more than three cords a year through that (if I remember correctly, I think Canadian border VT told me that!). Once I get this going, I'll only be looking at getting three cords a year to keep the plan going. Is it bad for the saw to use it so infrequently (in terms of it sitting around with gas and oil in it getting stale)? I didn't know that there existed premixed fuel for chainsaws until now - this seems like a great idea for someone using a chainsaw infrequently as it means I don't have to have gas sitting around my basement getting old.

Thanks again everyone!

 

Okay there is a difference between the engine size and the bar size. The engine size is measured in cc's. The bar size is measured in inches. A lot of homeowners saws put the biggest bar you can possibly fit on the saw because it's they somehow think it's bigger.
If you are only going to use the saw infrequently. I would recommend getting a can of true fuel.

 

Yes, what I had heard was that a bar size of over 18 inches was harder to control, at least for a newbie. Not sure about the engine size. What are your thoughts on both of these for a newbie who would be using infrequently?

 

Bar size isn't hard to control IMO, sounds like a 16" bar on a 50cc head is where I'd steer you. How far out of the city are you? I'm about an hour south. You come block some wood for me and try out some sizes.... win, win

 

cnice_37 great offer!!

 

Oh I'm a true Beantowner, right in the city, but on the southern edge - Roslindale. Thanks for the great offer! Do I get to take some rounds home with me?

 

You could try renting a saw at the Home Depot just to try it. About $40

They have Makita (Dolmar) saws for sale or rent. (Around here, everyone refers to them as Dolkita because they are one and the same.) Very good saws! And occasionally HD sells off the rental units in excellent condition for a fair price.

 

Not really harder to control, just more to keep track of and a little heavier. I got by for many years with 50cc (18" bar) being the largest saw I owned. It is still my preferred size for a "tractor saw" that can nearly 'do it all'.

 

I'm doubting a battery saw will last more than a couple years cutting 3 cords per year.

I've pushed 4+ cords through my IS so far this heating season. Partly because it's a cellar dweller.

 

No, but you can split and stack too if you'd like! Honestly if a weekend lines up swing south, I have 50,71,85cc and a bunch of bars.

 

For the OP

Here is a spec sheet to compare Stihl saw models.
It shows CC's
HP
Weight
Recommended bar lengths
And any included features

https://m.stihlusa.com/WebContent/CMSFileLibrary/downloads/Chain-Saw-Comparison-Chart.pdf



You can put in what you want to do with the saw and Stihl will recommend a model for your needs, here.
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&sou...GBIUQFgg5MAI&usg=AOvVaw1LfGdDx8in5GQeKIGron6o


I would think the other brands would have a similar chart

 

The main detraction against a battery powered saw I could see is the good scrounges are going to come after a storm - power will be out and you'll be hearing everyone else's gas saws running while you're on the side lines with a dead battery. A poorly maintained gas saw could leave you in the same situation.
I've become a convert of using only ethanol free gas(and mixed oil in 2-strokes) in all my outdoor power equipment. It's a few extra dimes a gallon and you have to go a little different direction to get it, but you'll spend way more $ and time fixing carburetors and fuel lines plus down time from 10% ethanol fuel.

Now that you're buying a gas saw....
The second thing you need to do is send it to be ported

 

Hahaha! Easy there big fella, let the poor guy get used to a saw before you send him out on a porting mission.
My 2 cents is similar to most, 50cc class saw & 18" bar will make a lot of firewood for a long time if cared for. If you can, ethanol free gas for sure, long term storage in between uses, just dump the gas out & run it dry, they'll keep fine that way. As has been stated, safety & proper use is the answer to successful chain saw work. Welcome to the forum BeantownBurner ! Consider cnice_37 's offer. Great way to learn before spending.

 

So do I 4.25 cord this year, but some very knowledgeable IS owners have questioned how I do it. Do I shovel out hot coals? Do I forget to engage cat? No to both, they were serious and could not believe I put more than 3 through it. Been burning pretty steady 10/15 still burning as its 39 and rainy but STT is only about 450.

 

Total sarcasm from me - that seemed to be the main answer for any new chainsaw here a few years ago...
Pro saw and port - otherwise the saw won't cut wood right?

 

32cc and a 12" bar will take care of a 16" at the butt tree without too much effort , finesse and a sharp chain is all you need .
Lots of good saws in the sub 50cc class from most of the majors but I find that most bars that come on them are just too long for the cc's .
If you choose to go cordless and want the convenience of other cordless tools Makita uses 1 battery platform for their complete lineup .