What’s your firewood saw?

I’ve collected Shindaiwa saws over the years, from their smallest to their largest, but I have cut most of my firewood with the 488 48cc saw with a 20” bar.
I like a smaller saw for limbing and there have been occasions when I reach for a bigger saw, but 48cc with a 20” bar has done me well.
If I were to only have one saw I might opt for a bit larger with 58cc just to have the extra power in the larger wood.

Not trying to start a brand bashing debate here but just curious to see when you go after firewood, what saw ends up in your hands most of the time?

 

I use my 261 the most because it’s conveniently located on my Kubota and most of my logs can be cut up with a 16” bar. My second most used saw is the 400’s.

 

As an all around saw to keep in the truck and easy to use all day I opt for my 50cc Jonsered 2150. It’s got enough grunt for the majority of what I cut. When needing a larger saw, my 61 or 372xp does the trick. Once my 288xp is rebuilt that’ll get thrown into the rotation for the bigger work.

 

I’ve got a couple 50 cc saws that do most of my cutting until I get into bigger stuff like the trunks. The bigger sticks get the Husqvarna 555 or the Husqvarna 371 XP. The 50 cc’s are a Dolmar 5105 and a Jonsered 2252.

 

If I could only have one saw...
XS Ported Stihl MS241 with 18" bar currently. That might change once my echo is ported. My first professional saw was a shindiawa 488. Good saw. Lol

 

I use two saws. I have an older Husqvarna 455 with a 20" bar and a newer RedMax GZ4350 with a 16" bar. If the Redmax can handle what I'm cutting it's my goto saw.


My name is Mike, and I'm a hoarder.
Lopi Endeavor

 

If I’m cutting up logs, it’s my Stihl 461 or 400. If I’m in the woods, either than 400 or 260.

 

I’ve got a couple stihl 026 16" & 20" saws that do most of my cutting until I get into bigger stuff like the trunks. The bigger sticks get the Stihl 039 25" bar or the Mcculloch Pro Mac 10-10 28" bar.

 

I had a Pro Mac with a 20 inch bar many years ago. I wish I hadn't sold it

 

Yes that 28" bar gives that saw all it wants, just have to watch how you are cutting. Probably should go to a ship tooth chain. I just dont use it very much.

 

Depends on the size wood I’m cutting but my go to is husky 390 with a 24” bar. 90cc. If wood is say 14” or so and under, I primarily use a Stihl 038 magnum.

 

I use the saw that starts.

 

Lol. That's definitely a plus.

I rotate through 2 stihls, 3 echos, 1 Makita, 2 Remington mighty mites and a 1972 poulan. The echo count is going up to 6 shortly. 2 are on my bench in process, one is on the way from the UK.

 

Of the 14 some saws I own, the ported ones get used primarily.
357&365sp see the most use


Jonsered 2150 for small stuff


Which is getting replaced by a 350 w/ the ported 346 p/c.


When the wood is large enough, the 394 does the job

 

Most of the wood I've burned was cut with my 290. Since I bought my 180 a few years ago, I only use the 290 if I have to.

 

My go to is the MS440. Love that saw. I cut quite a bit with the 562 and 361 this season but I still find I grab the 440.

 

On a typical day of cutting wood I’d go through 2 tanks with my 261 and one tank with either my 460, 461, or 660. I rotate my bigger saws depending how big the trees are. If I have to noodle anything my go to is the 660.

 

Of my 13 saws, I find myself reaching for the echos the most. Either 4910 or 620 depending on the size of the wood. I think I’m going to get 24”and 28” light bars to put on them. The 4910 only has an 18” and i absolutely detest bending over to buck logs on the ground. The 620 has a 24” but it is heavy. It will have plenty of power to pull the 28”…that saw is a beast. It will cut almost twice as fast as my ms360 since I gutted the muffler. Will out cut my buddie’s 562…but not quite as bad as the ms360, but he hasn’t done a muffler mod yet. I think it might be time to send the ms360 off for some extra sausage cause it shouldn’t get spanked that bad.

 

In dealing with storm damaged wood this winter, I was reaching for the 550XP with 18” bar quite often. The 372XP with 24” bar is usually on the other side of the tractor and gets used on larger trees. Bucking up firewood I use them both about the same, the two saws have been my only saws for 7 years. I need to get into the habit of grabbing the 592XP more often as it puts a smile on my face every time I run it.

 

Before I got bit by the CAD bug my 55 Husky with a 16” 3/8 full comp did everything I ever asked of it from 1996 until 2020. Having run a bunch of different saws (ported and non ported) If I could only have 1 saw to do it all, it would either be my XS 353/346 or my XS 357XPG.