Monkey Puzzle advice

[West Highlander]

The background is that I am a regular domestic / farmer chainsaw user to produce wood for 6 fairly large woodburners across several properties. So I use a Stihl MS390 fairly heavily for a short time each year than occasionally for the rest of the year.

 

I need to remove a fairly large fallen monkey puzzle. I have Googled and everything I read seems to say 'run away', but the job needs done. The sharp needles etc we can cope with, what worries me is posts saying the sap will gum up my saw and is hard to remove.

Can anyone confirm if this is the case, as I do not want to damage my Stihl. Given the cost of a pro to do the job instead, I am contemplating buying a cheap crappy saw (e.g. £130 Hyundai with a 20 inch bar from B&Q) and just throwing it away afterwards.  
 

Edited April 20, 2023 by West Highlander
typo correction

[biggimmer]

don't underestimate the potency of the spikes! If they get you it feels like you have something left in there for days....I would be using welding gloves or similar to handle branches. I've only ever done a couple of dead ones so can't comment on the sap issue. I don't think you need to buy a cheap saw, you can get products for removing sap build up.

[Silverhooker]

I’ve a grand experience of 1 monkey puzzle, it wasn’t very big either. Sap was messy but cleaned off without to much bother. Think I used neat petrol but it was a while ago and my memory is hazy with the passing years ! Lol 😂 

[monkeybusiness]

Your saw will be fine - if you are worried just chuck a tank of fuel through it chopping up some other timber afterwards. 

[West Highlander]

22 minutes ago, biggimmer said:

don't underestimate the potency of the spikes! If they get you it feels like you have something left in there for days....I would be using welding gloves or similar to handle branches. I've only ever done a couple of dead ones so can't comment on the sap issue. I don't think you need to buy a cheap saw, you can get products for removing sap build up.

Welding gloves are exactly what the people (not me) handing the branches will be wearing.

[West Highlander]

Thanks for the replies, I was really concerned about the sap issue.

[Mr. Squirrel]

The sap won’t be an issue for your saw, don’t worry about it. I’ve only had to do one and I’ve never seen ropes so covered in sap, cleaned up really easily though in the washing machine, no problem at all. 

[ChrisNewport]

Saw will be fine. Stuff the welding gloves, use the £130 to buy everyone carrying branches a pair of Ripeur 2 gloves

[scbk]

1 hour ago, ChrisNewport said:

Saw will be fine. Stuff the welding gloves, use the £130 to buy everyone carrying branches a pair of Ripeur 2 gloves

Use the £130 to buy everyone beer!!

 

 

Worth thinking about what machinery you can use to shift the timber and brash, to save on manual handling.

[Steven P]

5 hours ago, Mr. Squirrel said:

The sap won’t be an issue for your saw, don’t worry about it. I’ve only had to do one and I’ve never seen ropes so covered in sap, cleaned up really easily though in the washing machine, no problem at all. 

 

Will the saw clean OK in the washing machine too?