Best small chainsaw for UK?

[Niftyprose]

Hi guys, my first post here. I'd better spell out that I'm a civilian, looking for advice from specialists. Hope the topic's of interest. 

 

I grew up in the country, where I saw my dad fell full-grown beech trees with a 60s Remington monster many times. I haven't needed a chainsaw of my own 'til recently and have been cutting up my firewood with a plug-in Titan cheapie from Screwfix for a few years. (It does the job, but...)

 

I've now been given access to a patch of part-cleared scrubland, which will easily supply all the fuel I need for the next few years. The problem is access: getting in to the wood is a scramble, and I'll have to lug any tools I'm using several hundred yards, so small is good. OTOH, some of the wood I'm cutting goes up to 5"/12cm or more.

 

What I need is a small chainsaw, very robust, likely petrol-powered although I could be sold on a rechargable. I've been looking seriously at that Chinese model with the 10" bar and 26cc engine (it's sold under various brands over here, ParkerBrand being the most familiar). It's cheap, but there are mixed reports on its reliability and the vendors don't seem to publish a recommendation on its capacity -- how big a branch could it handle? I don't mind paying more if that will save hassle.

 

I figure some of you guys will keep a small saw for awkward jobs and I'd like to know which models you favour.

 

Best, NP 

[manco]

stihl ms201 12". or 261 16" at a push

or husqvarna 540xp or 550xp.

depends which dealer is closer for service etc.

 

 

[openspaceman]

1 hour ago, Niftyprose said:

 

I've now been given access to a patch of part-cleared scrubland, which will easily supply all the fuel I need for the next few years. The problem is access: getting in to the wood is a scramble, and I'll have to lug any tools I'm using several hundred yards, so small is good. OTOH, some of the wood I'm cutting goes up to 5"/12cm or more.

How do you plan on getting it out? Generally it is easier to get poles out than logs, then for these small sizes a branch logger may suit. I still have to get to try one myself.

[Niftyprose]

Thx guys. My plan is to cut to 3ft lengths in situ then carry it out. It will be resawn&chopped in the back garden before going on an open fire, so I figure a chainsaw is the best option. (Wouldn't rule out the branch logger under other circumstances.) The Stihl 12" looks great but I hadn't realized how much it would cost!

[Vedhoggar]

Visit local Stihl dealer and have a look at the MS 241 with 14” bar. Can’t advise on Husqvana saws as don’t use them these days. 

[Decro]

May I make a couple of observations.

You mention not appreciating the cost of chainsaws - have you factored in the cost of protective clothing?

You will certainly need it if looking at the likes of the Chinese 10in, 26cc saws which are top handled and not suitable for ground work.

[Vedhoggar]

You should be able to extract 2-3m lengths of firewood with a portable winch + skid cone/choker chain  in bundles along skid trails. 

[Muddy42]

You can buy a stihl MS162 for £140 or so.  It should be fine for wood that small.  Please buy protective clothing too.  Carrying out even small firewood will be brutal, and probably the reason why it was only "part cleared". 

 

Can you find a quad and trailer or rent a large power barrow?

 

Finally you mention chopping and putting on the fire in the same sentence.  Please please ensure wood dries to <20% moisture on the inside.  In the UK this normally means it needs to be split, stacked in the sun and wind for minimum of a dry summer but realistically a year is required. If you're cutting it now, the sap is in full force and you are probably too late to burn this winter.

[Niftyprose]

Thanks guys, esp. Muddy42, who has the instantly-recognizable tone of one who has given good advice to a lot of idiots over the years.

 

(Muddy, I grew up with a Rayburn solid fuel stove as our only heat source and we used to dry wood for two years on rotation in a big shed. These days I lay it down in early summer for winter burning. I miss that shed, but I use a ventilated store, stick to fast-drying woods and cut pretty small. Also I wear safety glasses, protective trousers and gauntlets, honest. I'll omit checking off on all the other points you and Decro raise but I'm 60, in pretty good shape, and long past the age of risk-taking.)

 

 

Back to the original matter. I'm aware of Stihl's dominance in the chainsaw market, and I've long used Stihl strimmers and a Viking (Stihl-managed) lawnmower. I posted here because I guessed that higher-end specialist models would be available, but you're right -- given my likely usage an MS1* looks like a better fit than an MS2*.

 

NP

 

[spudulike]

If you purchase a Stihl or Husqvarna, you get the benefit that these manufacturers will continue to support these machines for 10 years after the model has been discontinued and, because they sell larger numbers, the Chinese tend to copy parts leading to more non OEM parts being available.

The re-sell price of these machines is higher than the no brand models and the machines tend to be designed properly and function as you would expect.

Try something like the Stihl MS181, it won't set the world alight but it will do what is needed, it will be reliable, it will retain a high residual resell price and you will be able to get parts relatively easily.