Chainsaw For Working in UK Forestry Advice

[Jamie Jones]

What chainsaws are people using for working on forestry timber felling in the UK?

The reason for asking is because, although I am qualified for doing that line of work, I am only just going to be getting some real world experience. I am hoping that once I have some experience, it will possibly be going to add to my winter income stream when the other elements of my work quieten down. (I am located in Wales and would guess that is where I would be doing some of this sort of work)

So I am after some advice as to what combination of cc chain saws & bar lengths  tend to be the main stay for normal daily work  (For both Husky & Stihl)..
IE 60cc or 70cc (and what bar length you use on them) for the main saw and how often are you using 90cc or bigger?

All advice is welcome

[htb]

You can do a lot with 560/562 and 18/20". 500i good but thirsty.

[Rough Hewn]

Softwood or hardwood?
First thinning or final crop?
Who’s your local dealer?
[emoji106]

[Jamie Jones]

18 minutes ago, Rough Hewn said:

Softwood or hardwood?
First thinning or final crop?
Who’s your local dealer?

Thanks for your reply... The answer is I don't know and guess that it will be a mix of all... Soft & and some hard wood. Along with some thinning, but I guess that more often it would be final crop clearance.
 

[Jamie Jones]

1 hour ago, htb said:

You can do a lot with 560/562 and 18/20". 500i good but thirsty.

Thanks for your reply...   What would you advise out of the 560 (on .325 chain) or 562 (on 3/8" chain)..  and what bar length would you go for out of the 18" or 20" bar? (I am tall, so would a 20" be better when sending?)..

And what is your thoughts on a 560/562 60cc Chainsaw over a 572 70cc chainsaw? Would the 572 be far more than you would need, or is the extra weight an issue?

[spuddog0507]

Hi for me doing a few clear fell jobs and forestry edge trees, its a 261 with 15" bar for limbing out and a 461 with either 20" or "25" bar for the main fell but depending on tree size, some days i may never use the 461, but i think if i was going to buy some new saws i would be on a 261 and either a 462 or 500i but i would probably lean towards the 462, as i have used one a fair bit and it just felt right for me, 500i if i was on big edge trees and hardwoods it would be a 500i, ,,

[Rough Hewn]

Thanks for your reply... The answer is I don't know and guess that it will be a mix of all... Soft & and some hard wood. Along with some thinning, but I guess that more often it would be final crop clearance.
 

One or two saws?
IF I only had one saw I’d probably get a 70cc ish.
I ran Stihl ms440 with a 25” 3/8 bar for many years.
My two main felling saws now are
Stihl ms261 15-18”
Ms461 20-30” often a 25”

There’s no point lugging a 461/661/500i around if you’re cutting 10” stuff.
And a 261 won’t really be much use in 20-30” trees.
A 462 would probably be ideal. As it’s light enough with power to run 28” if needed.
[emoji106]

[Pete Mctree]

The new Stihl 400 is impressing a lot of people, as is the slightly bigger 462. 

[doobin]

8 hours ago, spuddog0507 said:

Hi for me doing a few clear fell jobs and forestry edge trees, its a 261 with 15" bar for limbing out and a 461 with either 20" or "25" bar for the main fell but depending on tree size, some days i may never use the 461, but i think if i was going to buy some new saws i would be on a 261 and either a 462 or 500i but i would probably lean towards the 462, as i have used one a fair bit and it just felt right for me, 500i if i was on big edge trees and hardwoods it would be a 500i, ,,

Pretty much the same as above, except I run an Echo cs501sx with 16” picco bar and an Ms462 with bars from 20 to 36. 
 

A lot of jobs I too never touch the bigger saw, but when you need it you need it. 
 

You’ll always need a backup saw when doing forestry so you might as well have a light saw for limbing and smaller fells. Save your back, you only get one! 

[Stubby]

I think you do need 2 saws . 50cc and 70cc , or , 60cc and 80cc .