Small chainsaw for firewood

Gooday there Sprint and I recently brought a 009 Stihl with a 14 inch bar for much the same use as you envisage. I had a small McCulloch for many years but couldn't get parts for it in the end and then brought a cheap Chinese product from Big W. and it was useless. Most times I could not get it to start and after much asking and thinking it really only came down to two brands IMO, the Husqvarna and the Stihl and in the end went with the Stihl and am very happy with it. Regards and happy travelling

SPRINT-GTO,

Small chainsaw for fire wood. Sounds like a good swap.

I would go for the biggest small chainsaw that you are comfortable with.

Learn how to use it if you haven't already done a course.

Keep the chains sharp and always carry at least 2 sharp chains.

As for brands, I have had a Husqvarna Rancher 16". Use it for fire wood also clearing fallen trees in the Vic High Country.

Wayne

Gday,
This is what Ive got.....Not exactly small but a bloody good saw.
Its about equivilant to a farm boss yet has more guts and is more user friendly. eg quick release air filter, side chain adjuster, decompressor.....

ECHO
CS6702
Model No: CS6702

- Inertia chain brake
- Side adjust chain tensioner
- Automotive style air filter (larger surface area)
- Externally adjustable automatic oiler
- Clean air system pre-cleaned by flywheel
- 6 position antivibration cushions on rear handle
- Vibration reduced throttle trigger
- Automatic choke return
- Alloy crankcase
- Automatic disengage decompressor for easy starting
- Advancing ignition timing for peak power
- Clip on airfilter cover
- Manual oiler overide
- 5 Year Domestic Warranty
- 1 Year Commercial Warranty

Engine Type 2 - Cycle
Capacity 66.7cc
Power Output 4.25kw
Weight 6.2kg
Bar Lenght 20inch


Cheers

A compact saw for casual use is the Stihl MS192T. It's actually an arborist's saw but with a 30cm bar & a top handle is very easy to pack yet able to cut a fair log off a track if need be.
Next size up for occasional use would be the mini boss which has a 40cm bar, easy to use features yet light enough to handle comfortably.
Stihl is an excellent brand with a good dealer network that will give long trouble free service & have an extensive selection of saws in the range you are looking. Suggest you speak to a dealer to recommend the best model for your application.

Cheers Craig.................

Hi Sprint,
Get a stihl, you will only have to buy it once if you do.

I have had 5 over 25 years and have still got 3 of them. of the others 1 got stolen and the other I traded on a better model.

Learn how to mix the fuel yourself, use the right type of oil in the mix, keep it sharpened and last but by no means least, DONT LEND IT to anyone.
Cheers,
Bruce.

Hi Sprint-GTO, this is all you need, Talon 38cc petrol chain saw, pretty sure it was under $200. I've had one for two years now and for what you need it is great, local hardware store.
Cheers Bruce.

I went for the much cheaper yanky saw the poulon 38cc and its done heaps of work worn out two chains and it still starts and runs great. Never been serviced just dismantled and cleaned after every camping trip. I do about 4 to 6 a year the saw is over 5 yrs old. Best couple a hundred I ever spent.

Just an aside to this post, seasoned timber as I understand it, makes for the best firewood.
Using a chainsaw would kill the teeth in no time.

The other side of the coin, a good saw would drop through green timber like the proverbial 'hot knife', but who would try burning green timber.

Just wondering !!!

Cheers.....Lionel.

I'll put in a vote for a cheapie, bought a Talon for $160 nearly three years ago.

It does exactly what you require. Never had a problem with it.

Jim.

Gday Sprint...

I'll go a different direction....ryobi cordless!

I have one, was very skeptical when I got it but has done things it was definately not suposed to - like felling a tree the bar was only just the radius of the trunk...sure it has nothing on a petrol jobbie, but for a bit of fire wood, great for pruning jobs (very lightweight, can operate one hand and carry up a tree you are climbing....and can also take a fall from a few metres up!)

They also have a 12v charger, and numerous other tools off the same battery size (finally!). I have the drill, recipro saw, chain saw and fluro light. the fluro and chainsaw always come camping. no petrol, no oil, no mixing fuel, no noise etc etc.....I think it is a great piece of gear, and any that I have camped with chuckle when I get it out, but cut 3 or 4 5 inch logs in half for the campfire and they have a second look!

Cheers ANdrew

Sthil 390. Also have an Echo 550 which I have had for over 25 years and it's still going strong. Both had 20" bars but changed the Echo over to a 16 last year which suits it better, and its the one I take camping. Good power, small bar, sharp chain.

Just remember this, You get what you pay for and you can't use them in a National Park.

Cheers Steve.

Sprint ,

Just got a sthil copy off ebay for $170 + 50 postage 22" bar and 62cc sure beats a 34cc talon for $2-300

I didnt want a small underpowered saw , but also didnt want to pay big bucks for something I would only use to cut firewood, One of the guys I work with got one , after seeing how good it was for the money all the guys are bidding on them .

The guy that sells them is in Oz + you can get spares , also comes with U.S. chain ,

Just dont be over eager cause there are heaps there , dearest I have seen went for $260.

Hope this helps you out.

Glenn.

While the subject is in the air -- I have a Ryobi 16" petrol saw (5 years old) and a mate of mine has a Talon 16" petrol saw (12 months old.)
They are dam near identical apart from the plastic colour and the decals.
Are they the same ????????
Did Talon buy them out or something?? Does anyone know?

use to make a livin cutting fence posts & felling used all top brands stihl husky solo rex go the stihl you wil only buy it once as stated the 009 comes in two motor sizes 30 something cc & 40 something go the bigger one for grunt everything else on em is the same last one i had came from me dads farm it was bought in 1985 and died last year roller bearings sucked up tranfer ports just worn out after 22 years of hard farm work live and dead wood on a side note you can still cut dead wood successfully just clear all dirt off outside sand/silica is hellishly abrasive i can cut a trailer load of dead myall with one chain before sharpening learn to use saw sharpening file in a jig and just give it a couple strokes 3-5 each tooth equally on all each side shouild be all it takes and learn the push/ pull characteristics of any rotating machinery to avoid injury. good luck

Sprint - GTO

Back in 1988 I bought a little Stihl 010AV just to cut a up a few trees that had to be cut down to build my house and because I thought one would be a handy thing to have.

Two years later my employer transferred me to the Snowy
Mountains for five years and I cut 15 tons of wood each year with the poor little thing. Some logs were so big that its 14 inch bar would not reach into the centre. I used to think any second it was going to clap out and I would have to buy a larger one like the Farm Boss.

It has not had a lot of use since then but has accounted for a few dead trees around the neighbourhood and a huge Stringy Bark a couple of weeks ago that was blown over in the big storm that hit Sydney in the middle of last year.

Despite all of this it is still running perfectly and is now going out on some 4b trips.

In the last couple of years I have been stripping many worn out chain saws, lawnmowers and line trimmers that have been donated to a local church by a large mower/chainsaw shop. The church sells the aluminium to raise money for its missions. I have been given all the lower price brands that are sold by Bunnings, Kmart etc plus plenty of Briggs and Stratton engines and even a few Hondas but never anything from Stihl or Husky.

If my little one ever gives up, it will be replaced by another Stihl.

Just a few tips if you buy one: apart from the obvious safety precautions you must take, make sure you know how to sharpen a chain by hand in the bush. I have lost count of the number of 4b drivers I have seen trying to cut through a fallen tree with a chain so blunt it would not cut any better if it had a V8 hooked up to it. All you need is a bit of knowledge and a small round file. Any chainsaw shop will sell you the correct size one for your chain. I used to touch mine up after every second tank full and it made the world of difference.

If each tooth on the chain is not finished like a little razor sharp wood chisel, you are going to find it tough going for yourself you will and shorten the life of your engine considerably.

Another thing is don't cut through charcoal on a burnt tree because it will take the edge off your chain. Also clean any dirt off wood that has been lying on the ground. I used to cut dirty bark away with an axe before putting the saw through it or rub a log with no bark with a wire brush.

Brian