RE: (ET)was Rotary Inverter now wood heat...

[Tim Chapin <tchapin umich edu>]

I have heated completely with wood for 10+ years now.  We are talking
between 10-12 face cords a heating season.  It wasn't until 4 years ago 
that
I even got a chainsaw (great deal at a garage sale).  In the area (Ann 
Arbor
MI) people are begging you to take hard woods that a tree service cut down
and diced up.  All I really need is a good trailer and a wood splitter.  I
havn't fallen a tree in 10 years and I only use the chainsaw 1 to 2 times a
year if I get something to long to fit in the stove.  Currently I have 3+
year supply with a person begging me to get another 5 face cord of cut
hardwood out of his yard.   My advise to anyone wanting to heat with wood,
get a good trailer and splitter and put an add in the local paper.  You 
will
get more cut up free wood than you will know what to do with.
If you want a chainsaw, get a good electric because you won't need it very 
much.

At 12:52 PM 10/4/00 -0400, you wrote:
>
>
>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.
>
>
>