clearing saw???

[clueless]

hiya

 

i have a fair amount (probably 8 acres. (i know:thumbdown:)) of clearance to do in areas i cant get in with my tractor and flail. mainly bracken, bramble, fern, you know the usual stuff. i think i need to get myself a clearing saw (or big ass strimmer) as it looks like thats the most efficient way of getting progress in these areas.

 

i currently have a stihl fs45 which is perfectly adequate to do my garden, along the drive and the verge down on the road, but i dont think she will be up to heavy work. i did have a flail head on it for a few days last year and she could never get to full revs with it so i know its only a toy in terms of power. i have since binned the flail head based on recent press.

 

can anyone suggest what to get? with the stihls something like a fs450 springs to mind but would this be overkill? there are a fair few in the stihl range. also husq do a few also.

 

i would be stretched to buy one new but on the other hand i dont have much faith in buying second hand items like this - any advice? ebay etc? this is only my hobby by the way.

 

also, i saw something once that had details of all the different types of heads you could get (blades, saws, cord etc etc) and what they were good for. can anyone point me in the right direction for this also.

 

thanks guys.

 

i would be stretched to buy one new but on the other hand i dont reallyu

[ukminch]

Would a secondhand pedestrian flail mower not work quite well? I'd definitely recommend the FS400 for the job if not. A good amount of power, only problem is their quite heavy on fuel.

 

R

[clueless]

good thought but theres a lot of stone on the floor in places and the terrain varies so a flail wouldnt suit. plus i had one a few years ago and could never get on with it. i expect theyre a lot easier to use these days mind.

[burrell_]

fs 400,450 or the one i love using is the 480 great machine so so much power dont no about the husq side of things but any of the machines aboth are good clearing saws hope that helps mate

[TimberCutterDartmoor]

I love clearing saws! Even have an NPTC is clearing saw ops - doesn't exist any more I think.

 

Have tried a few and the Stihl FS450 is the minimum you should go for if using genuine clearing saw blades with either scratcher or chisel teeth.

 

I've heard good reports of the husky.

 

Personally I'm an Echo man when it comes to brushcutters and hedgecutters. Have a pair of the one pictured and love them.

[ukminch]

All my small strimmers for the grounds maintenance work are echo's. Brilliant machines, only thing is that the dealer network seems to be smaller that Husky or stihl when you do need bits. Not used bigger ones tho.

 

R

[clueless]

i found a good bit of detail on tools/heads on the stihl website

[Bob Slade]

if the land is fenced (stock proof) then find a pig farmer and let him put some pigs in there. pigs are the best demolition workers going and you dont have to do anything.

[clueless]

problem with pigs is that i would have to spend as much on electric fencing as i would on a brushcutter as i would have to contain them in blocks to concentrate their grazing. i keep pigs on the farm anyway so its no real bonus to me. plus the forestry dont like it i mean after all they did pay me a rather generous £1.12/m for fencing to keep stock out of the woods.

[david wood]

big vote for the stihl fs480 - got one at work and its soooo nice, goes through whatevers in front of it. Does like fuel though, just over a litre every 30 mins flat out.