Will 50cc do it all?

I had a ten year span where a 50 was all I had to work with, so I learned to make due. A 20" stem is "big" firewood for me. I prefer 12-16" diameter and will cut the limbs down to ~2-1/2". The big wood is just so much more work than the smaller stuff IMO. I'm gunshy also...last 28" red oak I processed left me lying on the ground by the splitter trying to keep from vomiting, wondering if I was going to be able to get back up again. That was a bad day of firewooding.

 

That's also where a bigger chainsaw comes in is noodling. A full 18 inches of 261 in hardwood...I could bake a cake by the time I got through one round.
Half of the bigstuff I mill anyway.
Having to notch and fell bigger stuff can be challenging with a small bar too. You learn having your chain perfect is a must.
Same thing with bucking and having cuts line up!

 

RCBS, a bad day of firewooding is still better than a good day at work!

 

Most of the time I would agree, but that day I'd have rather been at work. I was debating whether to call the squad on cellphone or not. I was 2 solid months healing up. I got all the wood split. Went to set the splitter back down to horizontal and something let go in my back.

 

I have a 461 and a 441, I haven't used the 441 enough (I leave it at the in-laws farm) to have an opinion on which one I like better... next time I'm there I'm going to get both out and try them back to back and see if I can tell the difference. Thanks for your educated opinion Rope

 

Throw my back out once trying to roll over a large log (found out later a branch was lodged in the ground) was able to finish working that day, but I paid for it the next day when it locked up, and for the next couple of weeks while it healed. I work smarter now...

 

Yeah, my day was done in an instant. I did manage to climb up the side of the truck and get into it. Drove back to the house (splitter, tools, saws still laying out everywhere) and laid in bed for two days. Yep, a bit gunshy of the larger stuff these days. A man's got to know his limitations.

 

I got a cure for that...

Back Surgery=$50,000
vs
Log Trailer at $18,000.

 

That sounds like an average day for me. If you know you're going to wreck your back, take the Ibuprofen before you wreck it, not after.

 

If this were an everyday event for me, I'd go skydiving and purposely not pull the cord. There's wrecking your back and there's the debilitating injury to your back. I was eating 8-10 advill gels a day for weeks afterwards to stay upright at work. Let me emphasize this event a bit more. I seriously thought that I would need surgery to stand and walk again when it happened. I cried because of that thought at the time. The pain was so bad that I was fighting back vomiting. Only a super severe migraine headache has ever done that to me otherwise. My back is sore to some extent every day when I go to bed and when I wake up the next morning. Had sciatica for 7 months when I was in my early 20s. DDD since then. This incident was bar far the worst back pain of my life, and I've had plenty for a man my age. I tried to wear it completely out from the age of 16 -22...almost succeeded. Smarter not harder and no unnecessary lifting have been my mantra since.

 

I'm not sure I like your post, but the Truth hurts, doesn't it. Almost makes my back ache reading it.

 

Believe me not too much of an educated opinion... I can only tell you my experience based on handling the 3 saws at the dealer. Balance- for to aft and left to right...hands down the 441r c-m was the most comfortably balanced saw to me. The 461 did not have the wrap handle but the 441 and 661 did as they are r models. I felt both the 461 and 661 were both heavy to the left of centerline, and had to hold my left hand grip on the left of the centerline to keep the bar vertical. Seemed to me the 441r, I could hold the visual centerline of the powerhead, and maintain a ergonomic feel, like I was not trying to alter my grip to achieve balance and stance. 441r just felt better. The 441 and 461 both had 25 inch bars and the 661 had a 28. I was going to ask to put a 25 inch bar on the 661. Because I felt it did not have a good feel/balance in my hand, I did not waste the dealers or my time. This is my first 3/4 wrap bar, not sure if I like it or not, but the balance I love it. I have only bucked one small pile. And am happy with my purchase, she cuts straight down. She is a chip throwing monster, had to keep swiping the chips off the air intake. With the 441r I don't need to fight the balance for vertical cutting, with my other saws, I would have to hold the saw off centerline to maintain a better balance. Every ones mileage does vary this is just mine. I am 6'3" 245... however I am sure bone structure, injuries, muscle build...all plays a roll in what saw feels good/balance to each of us.

 

I have 3 go to saws. A 261 with a 16”bar a 441 with a 20”or 24” bar and a 661 with a 24” or 36” bar. I use them according to the size of wood and task at hand. If I had to pick one saw to use all the time it would be the 441cm. I find that saw is very good middle ground for comfort and performance.


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There are some weirdos in Tok. That's for sure.
I'm stuck on the 460s . now 461 .
Had so many of them and they have worked so well for me. Its hard to get away from.
Rather than a 660 or 661 . I would get another 390 Husky. Send it to Tennessee and have Mr Lee do his great work on it.
Any more. If I can't get it done with 90 cc . I'm prolly not going to get it done.
I wish Stihl would have made the 461 the size and shape of the 441R
That would be AWESOME !!

 

Yep I have a couple of 460's myself. Good saws.

 

Both of these balance just right with a bit of tip down.

 

The ONLY way a 3 cube or smaller saw works the way I want it to work is with a good to perfect bar and chain.
I've fell western hemlock that were 40" across the stump with an 024 Stihl with Oregon 3/8 full skip chisel ground chisel bit chain and a good Windsor bar. I've fell lots of timber and snags with 242 Husky's and a whole bunch of other 50 cc and smaller saws. But, I didn't do lots of bucking with them . Most of the times it was incidental to pre commercial tree thinning or tower loggin in Southeast Alaska.
031,032 ,028,026,260,270,024, 520+ 2049 Jonsreds, 116+119 Sachs Dolmar, 44, 242, 51,254,353, Husky's . And grew up running McCollough Super2-10 ,10-10,5-10 . 50 cc Partner's and Lombard's and the ubiquitous Homelite XL 12 and Super XL . There have been a bunch of others in there as well . I had a 50 cc Makita, ran a few Echo's some other Jonsreds . And probably a few I can't remember.
They all worked, as long as they had a good sharp not too hungry chain and a good bar. However when the wood gets very much over 12" dbh its not a very profitable way to make a living.

 

Truth...good thing we don't have the corner of that market...I would not have so many friends.

 

Rope; without a doubt , there are some seriously Strange people in the Copper Basin. !!!!!

 

I am wondering if the 3/4 wrap handle is what is balancing the saw so well? Of my 8 saws the only one I own with the 3/4 wrap is the best balance of all, hands down. In love with the 441r. She just feels right in the hand.