Need a 2nd, bigger more powerful Saw, 20" +

[sidekickdmr]

I am a forest owner, managing my 13 acres of dense ancient woodland, rather than a professional as such. 

 

However it is needing a LOT of work and upkeep, so I'm out there most days, so pretty demanding on my equipment. 

 

I currently only have a Husqvarna 435, which is a small 15" hobby saw, and struggling with the amount of work I'm throwing at it, and knackering me in the process (takes about 2-3 mins sawing to get through one 20cm beech trunk the other day.)

 

Therefore I'm after a bigger saw, to handle the bigger cuts, we are not talking much felling, mostly dealing with the stuff that has, or will fall, and some general clearance. 

 

Oak, ash, beech and fir mostly, but some monsters, trunk of an ash that came down a month or two back must be 1.5-2M wide. 

 

Im looking at the Stihl MS441c-m 70.7CC 25" at the moment, seems to tick most boxes, apart from the £900 cost, or perhaps the MS391 20" or Husky 365 20" if i want to save a couple of hundred £££

 

Thoughts on the best saw for my situation?

 

Thanks 

 

Kieran

[Steve Bullman]

Whats the biggest you are going to be cutting?  The 441 is a lot of saw.

 

 

[Mark Bolam]

If you are taking 2/3 minutes to get through a 20cm trunk you need to have a look at your sharpening.

[sidekickdmr]

Biggest I will be cutting, I guess that ash trunk at about 2m, however I'm happy to get a 20" bar and leave the occasional bigger stuff to the pros, if that means a more suitable saw for 90% of the jobs. 

 

I would say, on average, this saw will be attacking 20-80cm trunks/branches, smaller I would use the 235, bigger happy to leave or get the pros. 

 

In regards to my sharpening, I do take my time and do it as well as I can, but that day, with the long cutting times for the hard beech, it was a brand new official husky chain that very morning. 

[Rough Hewn]

No1 learn to sharpen a chain from a professional.

No2, a 2m dbh tree is not for novices. Even 12"dbh or smaller trees will maim and kill.

No3 yes. Get a professional in.

No4 a larger 70cc is a beast. A dangerous one.
Get a professional in with one instead.

No5 Don't buy a new saw.
Spend your money on a cs30&cs31 course.
You will live longer.

After you've done all the above, then consider getting a bigger saw.

Stay safe.
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[sidekickdmr]

I've done my groundworking chainsaw course, got certificate etc, learnt how to sharpen and maintain from the pros and as I said above, wont be doing any felling, esp nothing remotely large. 

 

I do get the pros in a lot for the stuff I cant do (had a team of 4 here for 2 days just last week) but thats part of the issue, they come in and fell a tree, or make a fallen tree safe, then leave me with a mountain of wood to process, most of which big stuff my saw cant manage.

 

It's not a case of considering a bigger saw, my 435 is just underpowered, I need a bigger saw for processing larger logs. 

[Rough Hewn]

I've done my groundworking chainsaw course, got certificate etc, learnt how to sharpen and maintain from the pros and as I said above, wont be doing any felling, esp nothing remotely large. 
 
I do get the pros in a lot for the stuff I cant do (had a team of 4 here for 2 days just last week) but thats part of the issue, they come in and fell a tree, or make a fallen tree safe, then leave me with a mountain of wood to process, most of which big stuff my saw cant manage.
 
It's not a case of considering a bigger saw, my 435 is just underpowered, I need a bigger saw for processing larger logs. 

Good stuff.
Then you'd probably need a stihl ms461 or 462 with a 3/8 chain and 25" bar.
Just be aware it's nothing like a 40/50cc saw.
Make sure your ppe is up to standard.
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[treevolution]

Where about are you based.

 

I have a ms361 that I'm looking to sell.

 

Will come with as 20 inch bar but will need a chain.

 

Thanks

 

 

[nepia]

Take a look at the Echo 620SX.  It's 'only' 60cc but you're not going to spend all day logging with a 70cc saw unless you're Schwarzenegger in his prime.

The Echo will take a 20" bar but you don't need that; 18" will be ideal.  

And it's a cracking saw costing around £250 less than that £900 price tag you mentioned.

[nepia]

...or a secondhand 361 ?