Thread: Size Chainsaw for Firewood?

Originally Posted by rick130

OK, I wasn't going to get into the brand stuff, but I'm damned if I'd pay $1200 for a consumer grade POS 64cc saw

A Makita DCS6401 would run rings around an MS391, it's three times the saw, built to pro specs, almost half the price and built in Germany by Dolmar who have been making petrol powered chainsaws longer than Stihl (Fact, and have been owned by Makita since 1991)

For an extra $150 or so you can have a 73cc DCS7301 that runs alongside the Husky 372XP and creams the MS440 Stihl, with anti-vibe the equal of the Husky and miles ahead of the Stihl.
For another 150-200 you can have the DCS7901 which is yes, 79cc and blows the doors off an MS460 and easily beats the old MS064 (I've run them side by side, and I modified the muffler and re-tuned the 064)

The new MS441 is a really good saw, but are stupidly priced.
The MS361 has really poor air filtration, it isn't suitable for Australian timber/conditions, particularly firewood use, but I'm not sure about the new MS362.

Stihls are so ridiculously overpriced in this country it's almost immoral.

Is anyone else using a Makita?
They seem like great value and aren't double the US price like Stihls.
Can get the Makita 6401 for $765 in Aus.
What is after sales service like? Parts etc?

ebay cheapy with 18" bar, has worked fine for the past 2/3 years for firewood duties.

I use an old husky rancher 50 for fire wood its perfect i have about 30 saws to choose from and the husky is it .anything much bigger and you will be working harder then you need to. And of course there too expensive in Australia. And the dealers on both sides of the fence are lacking I make all my own chains and can't buy rolls of chain off the shelf at any dealers here very disappointing. Also don't fall in to the trap of the dealer saying chains are cheaper for stihl then a husky or vice versa my mate got sucked in by that was set to buy a husky and talked in to the bigger stihl . I laughed my guts out when he told me

Originally Posted by vogue

Is anyone else using a Makita?
They seem like great value and aren't double the US price like Stihls.
Can get the Makita 6401 for $765 in Aus.
What is after sales service like? Parts etc?

YEP.
Except mine is the original manufacturer before Makita took over,stihl() the same saw.
I agree with Ricks comments.It is excells in anti vibration and has better power than same CC saws.

Mine is the Dolmar 116si.Have a google,there is an identical Makita.

Be aware that all the major brands have handyman and professional versions,wich explains the varience in cost for the same size saw.

Both my big Huskie and the Dolmar are professional quality machines,I used to cut a bit of firewood to earn extra coin,would reccomend either saw and would buy the same again.The only issues I have had with the Dolmar are the front engine mounts split,easy to change and not too expensive.The only issue with the Husky,keeping PULP 2 Stroke up to it Its a thirsty BEAST.
Andrew

Most all of the old school Dolly/Makita's have been replaced by new versions Andrew, and all the new ones use spring AV which is bloody unreal.

Originally Posted by vogue

Is anyone else using a Makita?
They seem like great value and aren't double the US price like Stihls.
Can get the Makita 6401 for $765 in Aus.
What is after sales service like? Parts etc?

Yep, I use them and a mate in SA has a brace of them for professional falling.

Spares aren't an issue, Makita Oz has stocks of most everything although some prices are crazy, like the HD filter option for the 64/73/7900 is triple the US price
Other bits are cheaper than the equivalent part for a Husky, so go figure.

Easy fix is buy from the US, ten days tops.

I have a good dealer I use there on the US east coast for consumables, e.g. clutch springs, on-off switches, chain catchers, rubbing blocks, etc, and he often has the parts despatched the same day and I've had stuff turn up in under a week.

I use a McCulloch Chain Saw-40cm works great .it was about $200

I can see the health and saftey lovers getting into these pics
At least he is wearing steel capped boots
Andrew