[robpm]

I agree with the Pro saw. My friend has the Farm Boss and my 044 runs circles around it. I have had the 044 for about 14 years and it still runs like when it was new and I go through 6 cords of hardwood per winter and help others with all of theirs. So go with a Pro model if you can afford it. You will never be sorry.

If you want to cut the wood after it has been run through the dirt think again. I would rather cut them down and cut them into logs and have them picked up and stacked and not drug through the dirt if I was going to cut it up for firewood. Dirt will kill a chain in a moment and then I don't care how Pro your saw is you are not going to cut much wood without sharpening it or getting a new chain.

Here is a stack that we cut up. My friend has his Farm Boss. another friend is holding my 044. There is one video here of going through 1 cut. This stuff was all very big. I have another friend who is an aborist and this was right after a storm so he had more big oak than he knew what to do with. So he dropped it on me. I am still burning this wood.

The nice thing is that this was all clean wood, no dirt. He cut it down and moved it with his truck with its cherry picker. I cut 90% of this pile and used the same chain all the way through it.

https://plus.google.com/photos/116078893095334358419/albums/5702439476105965137

 

[ElWood]

ElWood, I'm up in southern Genesee county, sounds like we may be near the same neighborhood.

My dream saw would be the 362 w/ a 20" bar. I run a 261 with an 18" bar as its the next sweet spot on the power to weight ratio down the Stihl $ scale. The 261 is awesome on the ash trees I deal with and super light but a big oak or beech makes you know its not in the big leagues. Anyway, below is my land clearing project. Behind me are ~6+ acres already hand cleared - in front another 2 or 3 to go... all looking like what you see in the picture. :cray:

View attachment 14965

In an earlier experience where heavy equipment was available and the grades weren't so steep, we cut the trees down and removed the good wood (trunks) by hand and left the stumps and the tops. The excavator cut the stumps out and the dozer piled them and the tops for burning. The trunks were bucked and handled separately. It was more time consuming than a big push with heavy machinery alone but we didn't waste much good wood. No approach w/ heavy machinery (other than my tractor) is a reasonable approach for my current project for a number of reasons...

Good luck with your project and saw purchase!:good2:
Matt

Matt,

We are neighbors! I'm down in Livingston County not far from you. I started clearing some of the area myself with my grapple and brush hog. As I moved forward it started really getting thick and began became too much for my machine. Here are a few before and after pics.

It looks like your property is similar to mine. I thought about hand clearing a little at a time but I think I'm going to have the heavy equipment take a big bite out of the area and then I'll come in after with my tractor and grapple.

I'm leaning toward the 362 saw. I'm also thinking about getting one of the specialty chains and bars for dirty wood. I wonder if these chains and bars make much of a difference.

 

[Johndeere3720]

I have owned a 290 farm boss in my firewood operation, until disaster struck (forgot to tighten the spark plug, blew it sideways through compression and the threads got into the cylinder, now it is no good). So since it lacked the power I plan to get a 362 also, just saving up for it now as they want $720 for one at the local saw shop with a 30" bar (for the douglas fir we have around here 30" is perfect). My vote is on the 362, commercial grade will mean it will last you a long time under home owner use, even with big projects on the line.

 

[MattF]

It looks like your property is similar to mine. I thought about hand clearing a little at a time but I think I'm going to have the heavy equipment take a big bite out of the area and then I'll come in after with my tractor and grapple.

I'm leaning toward the 362 saw. I'm also thinking about getting one of the specialty chains and bars for dirty wood. I wonder if these chains and bars make much of a difference.

Heh..heh... Those pictures looks strangely familiar .:laugh: We normally refer to our lot as having only "upward potential".

The specialty chains, are your refering to the carbide tooth models? They'll work in crud quite a bit longer but the dirt is still hard on your drive sprocket/bar and the dirt will still wear the chain causing it to need tightening frequently. Dirt is baaad news for saws.

My ash trees have flakey bark we strip if the exterior is dirty. A machete or bark stripping tool is normally on the tractor for such instances (poison ivy removal being the most common use). That may be an option as well.

BTW, thats going to be a beatuful piece of land when you can see the lay of it better. :thumbup1gif:

Matt

 

[ElWood]

Heh..heh... Those pictures looks strangely familiar .:laugh: We normally refer to our lot as having only "upward potential".

The specialty chains, are your refering to the carbide tooth models? They'll work in crud quite a bit longer but the dirt is still hard on your drive sprocket/bar and the dirt will still wear the chain causing it to need tightening frequently. Dirt is baaad news for saws.

My ash trees have flakey bark we strip if the exterior is dirty. A machete or bark stripping tool is normally on the tractor for such instances (poison ivy removal being the most common use). That may be an option as well.

BTW, thats going to be a beatuful piece of land when you can see the lay of it better. :thumbup1gif:

Matt

"Upward Potential". Haha! The specialty chain is the Oilomatic Stihl Picco Duro 3 (PD3). There is also a specialty bar, the Duromatic E. Both are supposed to be good for dirty logs. I asked my dealer about them and he didn't know what I was talking about... Do you have any experience with either of these? I should probably just try to avoid dirt altogether. Maybe I'll power wash the dirty ones before cutting. Haha. I do like the idea of a bark scraper or machete.

I would clear a little at a time but I have a guy with a dozer who is looking for work and gave me a great deal. I'm also putting in a pond this summer that I went to get started on so I'll have to take my chances with the heavy equipment.

He is where the pond is going. I'm clearing where the trees are.

 

[RRMCCABE]

Elwood,

You might consider this saw instead.

 

[ElWood]

elwood,

you might consider this saw instead.

View attachment 15036

ha ha ha ha!!!!