1st saw for woodland work

[Jobe]

I'd go for the 346xpg with a 13" bar. It is so fantastic i have one myself. I use to use it for charcoal thinnings. Its done so big trees too about 30" across too so its good all rounder. The 357 is a bit bigger but i doubt you'll need the extra grunt. Go for the 346 and you won't be disapointed. Worth saving up the extra to get it.

 

How did you find charcoal production mate? Was it a full time venture or just a sideline type thing?

 

I find when we are working with small stuff its alot harder work as aposed to larger firewood sized stuff. Especially carrying it out the wood, small stuff is a pain and falls everywhere!

[THE88MAN]

If budget is an issue (usually is for me) you could do worse than a 353,i've had a couple and they're the most reliable husky i've had,they take some stick and don't rattle themselves to bits

[Chris Sheppard]

If budget is an issue (usually is for me) you could do worse than a 353,i've had a couple and they're the most reliable husky i've had,they take some stick and don't rattle themselves to bits

 

That's what I've still got - used to work it's nuts off on thinnings and even had a tree roll across the crank, nipping it on the conrod (a gentle tap with a big chisel sorted it) and it's just kept going. very light and very, very flickable for snedding. From what I can gather it's just a 346 with a little less poke?

[Adam]

either a 346xp or a 260 , both run on 13" bars will be excellent saws. and having used both i would get the stihl but that just because i prefere stihl saws. but the husky is a very good little saw and flies with a 13" bar on it.

[Brushcutter]

How did you find charcoal production mate? Was it a full time venture or just a sideline type thing?

 

I find when we are working with small stuff its alot harder work as aposed to larger firewood sized stuff. Especially carrying it out the wood, small stuff is a pain and falls everywhere!

 

It was a sideline thing. The thing was that we got more money for the wood as fire wood than more making charcoal. I didn't really do anything below 2" or so for charcoal. Even at that size it was really at the bottom as sacrifical wood or at the top to convert or part convert to burn next time. The tiny stuff we always tried to make artists charcoal with.

 

 

As for making it, it was great fun. Was good to set light to it about 8 or 9 in the morning and by 8 ish it was done. We only used oil drum size kilns but had 3 or 4 going at a time. Its well worth making yourself a grading sive if you don't have one.

[Jobe]

Making it is good fun. We usually make the floor of the kiln with brash, that way your not losing any decent timber when it burns away.

 

We grade the charcoal with a riddle, simular to a potato one but foot operated.

 

Upto yet we have been burning well seasoned birch and the burn times have been about 12 hours, we will be burning green stuff soon so I dread to think how long the burns are gonna be!

[Stereo]

I have a big Husky with an 18" bar and it's a fantastic saw. I forget the model number but it's about 2 years old and has the easy chain adjust thing and easy start. I love it to bits but the saw I use for most of my work is a Stihl MS180 with a 12" bar. It's super light, will go all day and with a sharp chain can fill a Hilux in half an hour. Lugging a heavy saw around all day is not only tiring but also dangerous if you are not physically up to it. You don't want tired arms with these things.

 

So, my advice would be to go for a saw that is as light as possible. If it's your only saw then maybe a 14 or 15" bar would be wise. I used to have a little Husky with a 15" bar but found it struggled with big stuff and was too big for logging off etc. I decided to get a really nice big saw for the tough stuff and a second saw which was as light as possible for day to day stuff. I find a 12" bar is perfectly adequate for 90% of what I do. The only downside really is the side of the fuel tank but then that adds weight as well.

[THE88MAN]

I have a big Husky with an 18" bar and it's a fantastic saw. I forget the model number but it's about 2 years old and has the easy chain adjust thing and easy start. I love it to bits but the saw I use for most of my work is a Stihl MS180 with a 12" bar. It's super light, will go all day and with a sharp chain can fill a Hilux in half an hour. Lugging a heavy saw around all day is not only tiring but also dangerous if you are not physically up to it. You don't want tired arms with these things.

 

So, my advice would be to go for a saw that is as light as possible. If it's your only saw then maybe a 14 or 15" bar would be wise. I used to have a little Husky with a 15" bar but found it struggled with big stuff and was too big for logging off etc. I decided to get a really nice big saw for the tough stuff and a second saw which was as light as possible for day to day stuff. I find a 12" bar is perfectly adequate for 90% of what I do. The only downside really is the side of the fuel tank but then that adds weight as well.

 

If you can fill a hilux with a 12" 180 in half an hour i'll give you the money myself (a les dennis joke),either that or your selling very green,very soft wood,lime maybe

[Petemate390xp]

346 all the way..

[Stereo]

If you can fill a hilux with a 12" 180 in half an hour i'll give you the money myself (a les dennis joke),either that or your selling very green,very soft wood,lime maybe

 

I don't sell it, I burn it. Got a few acres and am in the process of regenerating ancient coppice and planting new. Hence, most of the stuff we burn is 4-6" so it's nice easy work. I cut a lot of Alder which granted is easy work but we also have a few old fallen beeches and oaks which is when the big guns are needed.