RE: (ET) Rotary Inverter

[Lee Richardson <lrichard jbc edu>]

At 12:25 PM 10/04/2000 -0400, you wrote:
>I recently switched back to wood heat,and am thinking about buying a new
>chain saw. I like the idea of an electric and have used a small one in the
>past for small jobs, but am concerned about the longevity of these 
>devices.
>Do you have any thoughts about what to look for and what to avoid in my
>selection?
>
>Thanks, Hump
>


>From Lee:

To be honest, electrics don't hold up very well for major wood heat. If I
got a season's wood supply out of one (6-8 ricks) I figured I was ahead.
And they are terrible on larger stuff (12" or more), although with patience
you can cut bigger stuff. And they're slower, especially compared to a
medium size Stihl like the "Farm Boss". Buy the biggest you can get. Of
course the smaller gas models don't hold up too well either!

So why did I use them?
1.  Quiet (I hate noise)
2.  Easy to start (I hate more a cranky engine)
3.  No fumes(I don't like them either)
4.  They are cheaper than comparable gas models (compensates some for short
life)

Where are you?  What kind of wood are you cutting?  I cut mostly oak and
hickory.  Other kinds of wood would be easier on your saw.