Husqvarna Chainsaw – Making Sawdust!

With my new “forestry” job, I concluded (several weeks ago) that I needed a chainsaw.

When I was young, our winter heat was exclusively from a wood burning stove. That was in Montana so plenty of heat was needed. That means that plenty of firewood was needed. Yep, I spent more time in the forest cutting firewood than I care to remember. Actually, cutting it isn’t so bad. It is hauling it to the truck/trailer, emptying from the truck/trailing, splitting it, and going outside at midnight when it is -30 F to haul more in.

Oh boy… sorry about that. I started reliving the horror and couldn’t stop…

Thru these summers, I developed a love/hate relationship with chainsaws. That was many years ago. When I went shopping for a new one, I found that much progress has been made in the last several decades! The biggest change is weight! A modern chainsaw is MUCH lighter than when I last used them. The automatic chain oiling is really neat too. The fuel tank cap doesn’t even leak!

I eventually picked the Husqvarna 450E Rancher. This is a 20 in. chainsaw with a 50cc engine. Plenty big and powerful for small lumber with which I’ll be dealing. Probably overkill.

I’ve put this thing to work over the last few weeks and what a great machine it is!

The light weight is a wonderful change – especially when holding it high, like when trimming branches. It starts quick and easy. Runs great and idles great. One of the old saws I had as a kid would not idle and that was a real nuisance.

Power? No shortage of it for the size lumber I was cutting (up to about 16″ diameter).

Once I get going with it, I found it hard to stop – about like sitting on the tractor. There is no shortage of trimming and downed lumber that needs cleaned up on the new Hacienda. A few days after this, my bum arm was fully aware that it received a work out – VERY SORE! But that is very good! It has had things far too easy for too long.

Time will tell, of course, but so far I am happy with this chainsaw.