Second chainsaw - what to get?

Let me know when you want to run some different size saws so you can see the difference in sizes. i think you are about an hour from me.

 

Good advice. Thanks Backwoods Savage. What turned me on to wanting a second chainsaw was, 1. my saw was down for a few days until I redid the carb and 2. I made a bad judgment call and got my saw blade pinched (2nd time in 18 years of owning the saw). I began to think that I should have a backup for when/if I have trouble with my saw. Another option (which I will do regardless of owning a second saw) would be, don't make bad decisions (become more educated/knowledgeable), use the right accessories when needed (i.e. plastic wedges, etc.) and have spare parts on hand.

 

When i was on a two saw plan, i had a ms361 and a 192t. the 192 cut up the tops and the 361 everything else. My third saw ended up being a 261CM, which took over alot of the saw duties due to its light weight and power. Looking back a 241 might have been a better third saw as its not as close in size to the 361.

 

After more hours than I can count in the 20 years I've been running chainsaws, to me a 2 saw plan works best if you have a small 30-40ish cc saw for limbing and light bucking and a larger 60-70ish cc saw for medium to large bucking work.

While your 290 is a great saw it is kind of an in between size and weight saw at 56cc and 13 pounds. More of a 1 saw plan. Or if you wanted to keep that saw while adding others its size lends itself better to a 3 saw plan. One smaller and one larger.

I know it seems by our joking that we are trying to talk you into more saws but these are sound observations made after a collective thousands of hours spent harvesting firewood. Given what you've said about what you want to do a 3 saw plan seems like your best bet. I think getting a great small limbing saw first is excellent advice. Good luck in your search Dutch.

 

I had a couple of Poulands over the years that are gone now. My basic saw is an old Husqvarna 50. I use it for limbing and small stuff. I then bout a used Husqvarna 372xpw for the bigger stuff. it's a great say, and you can do lots with it. I run a 28" bar on it. Then two weeks ago, I bout a Holzfforma G660. Got a jimmy to have a big saw. Only have a half tank through it so far as my back has been hashed, but it seems like it will be good. I plan on getting a chainsaw mill at sometime so that is one of the reasons I got the G660, and since I'm sort of a Husqvarna guy, it lets me get used to the Stihl type saws. I have some others too, but don't run them a lot. I got that CAD everyone is talking about, though didn't know what to call it until now!

 

Be very careful about crossing the line of having only one saw! A husky 345 served me well for over a dozen years, till I got to thinking that a little bit bigger one would nice. While researching what to get, I found this group of seemingly eccentric folks. Bought a 562 which has proved to be an awesome machine. Then started hearing about the 372, so now I got one of those too. That makes a pretty fine 3 saw plan for my needs. But need has very little to do with it. Now I’m constantly on the lookout for the next saw score at auctions, pawn shops,garage sales, etc. CAD? Yeah, I got it

 

CAD........By the time you realize you have it, it's too late!

 

Not that I ever make mistakes but why when you pinch a bar, do you not just drop the bar and chain and throw on a spare bar??
or that could just be how I was taught.

 

Get your hands on a variety of saws
Everyone's different see what you like.
I primarily run around 70cc saws for about everything 266/268/372/2166 etc.
A couple pound's heavier than
My 257 husky
That i use for small job's.

 

Good advice. I did pull the power head off of the bar. I probably would have done that if I would've had a spare bar. That is something that I will need to remedy.

 

Something to also consider about chainsaws is that you can always up your chain sharpening game. Buy more chains, improve your hand filing skills, get a grinder etc. Don't matter what size of saw it is if the chain is dull it's worthless, and beyond that it's dangerous. And yes I have learned this through personal experience. Having at least one extra ready to go sharp chain makes cutting so much easier.

 

Because you need an excuse to buy another saw, c'mon Canadian border VT , get on the CAD bus here would ya.

 

Case in point, when scrounging wood, you see a similar post:


Some bigger pieces that could use knocked down a little. If you have a bigger saw, job is easy and quick.

But I guess it does depend on how you are getting your wood. I scour CL and FB for free stuff and it ends up being larger stuff that most don't have the means to mess with. A small 70 or large to mid 60cc is a class that really pays dividends to have.

 

Thanks PA Dutch for the post... and thanks to everyone else on here for all the sage advice. I am in an very similar situation.... I’m currently running only a single ms250 with 18” bar. I have been maxing out on some bigger wood from time to time and just came in to an opportunity to take some 28” -30” diameter logs . Considering pullling the trigger on a second saw and for the most part from what I’m reading here it seems like the consensus is to go for a 70cc class over a 60cc. Any recommendations on what bar length to go with when I pick up the second saw?

 

My vote wood be a 24-28". Get much longer and it can upset the balance of the saw, unless you dig deeper and get a lw version. My son has a well ported 65cc and a 24 on it is the bee's knee's.

 

Yep, I’d say 24! Unless.... you want something bigger, then go 28! Just start buying stuff and we’ll let you know when to stop

 

Welcome Road-side Oak .. Length of bar is personal choice.. I liked a 24. Because at my height it meant no bending over to limb! Great back saver!!

 

I'm at 3-4 chains per saw now when I go out. Then bring them home and hit them with the grinder. I can hand sharpen chains if I need to, but I'd rather not if I don't have to.

 

Guys, there are a lot of good older saws out there that have lots of life in them. Out here in our area, we see lots of older Echo saws for some reason. I buy them up, fix them up, and either usue or sell them. They are heavey, but in the wood it doesn't matter that much. And they are total tractors. Most of the ones I have were made in th '80's.