Best all round thinning saw

[Big J]

Apologies for the daft question, but based on your experiences, what would you recommend as the best all round thinning saw for hardwood?

 

I'm going to be doing a lot of hardwood thinning this year, primarily up to about 18 inch trunk diameter (though most in the 6-12 inch range).

 

What's stood up best to the abuse of being chucked around and felling dozens of trees day in, day out?

 

Thanks in advance!

 

Jonathan

[Frankie Lawrence]

husky 357 18 inch bar

[burrell_]

stihl 441 mate 20inch bar

[Moley]

I use an MS361 15" bar and find it great for everything, plenty of torque and very reliable. I have used a 357 and it was good but I have a great stihl dealer nearby and its just my personal preference.

[hazzygawa]

ms200t in each hand.like edward scissor hands

[Bolt]

A pro saw from one of the main manufactures (Husky, Stihl, whatever) less than 50cc. 15" bar, Full chisel chain (that is sharp).

[Doug Blease]

I have experience of motor manual commercial Beech thinnings of that size and upwards. I used a 044 - 16 and 18 inch bar, (now 441) and ten years on she still fires up.

 

My colleague used a 372 18 inch bar.

 

Another guy (very high producer) used an 066 for the felling and large cross cuts. A 026 for snedding and smaller cross cuts. Sensible when you consider unnecessary wear and tear on small/big saws, chain wear, fuel economy and personal fatigue.

 

You will kill a saw under 50cc if your felling 18 inch Beech all day in my opinion. You need a bit of grunt.

[TimberCutterDartmoor]

What's with the big saws for hardwood thinnings???!

 

Nair erd nuttun like et boy!

 

Husky 242xp, oh woops can't get that anymore, 254, oh sorry discontinued years ago too. 346 man!

 

I got laughed out of the woods when I turned up on my first day back in the 90s with my 036 (eq to 361). Far too heavy; small and fast is the way to go.

 

346 or 357 or ported 260.

 

(or put a narrow kerf bar on the 26...)

[Bolt]

Apologies for the daft question, but based on your experiences, what would you recommend as the best all round thinning saw for hardwood?

 

I'm going to be doing a lot of hardwood thinning this year, primarily up to about 18 inch trunk diameter (though most in the 6-12 inch range).

 

What's stood up best to the abuse of being chucked around and felling dozens of trees day in, day out?

 

Thanks in advance!

 

Jonathan

 

I have experience of motor manual commercial Beech thinnings of that size and upwards. I used a 044 - 16 and 18 inch bar, (now 441) and ten years on she still fires up.

 

My colleague used a 372 18 inch bar.

 

Another guy (very high producer) used an 066 for the felling and large cross cuts. A 026 for snedding and smaller cross cuts. Sensible when you consider unnecessary wear and tear on small/big saws, chain wear, fuel economy and personal fatigue.

 

You will kill a saw under 50cc if your felling 18 inch Beech all day in my opinion. You need a bit of grunt.

 

6" to 12" with a bit upto 18"!

 

And you would do this with a 70+ cc saw? (things have changed since I was in commercial cutting)

 

Mind you, I only did softwoods:blushing:

[Bolt]

What's with the big saws for hardwood thinnings???!

 

Nair erd nuttun like et boy!

 

Husky 242xp, oh woops can't get that anymore, 254, oh sorry discontinued years ago too. 346 man!

 

I got laughed out of the woods when I turned up on my first day back in the 90s with my 036 (eq to 361). Far too heavy; small and fast is the way to go.

 

346 or 357 or ported 260.

 

(or put a narrow kerf bar on the 26...)

 

There you go, thats more like it. Stick with Devon logic:001_smile: