What saw for conservation volunteer group

[Dalli]

Hi all, I'm a former local authority countryside officer, before I was made redundant I set up a number of local community based volunteer groups to manage sites in their area. I've continued to support some of these groups on a voluntary basis, doing chainsaw work, spraying, writing management plans etc. anyway to the point- we have a new volunteer with one of the groups who has his nptc tickets and I've found some funding to put more vols through their chainsaw course so we are now in the market to buy a new saw. We have a very limited budget of £200, I've suggested they go for a secondhand machine but they seem to be set on the idea of getting a mitox. As a compromise I'm thinking of recommending a husqy 135 based on other peoples reviews but I've never used one myself so any first hand info would be great. It will be used for about 2 hrs every other weekend (over winter) mainly cutting multi stemmed willow up to 10" in diameter and the odd stump. Would the 135 be ok for this or would you recomend another saw bearing in mind we have a very limited budget!

[Joe Newton]

The 135 should do what you need. Are you at good at maintenance? IMO the basic tickets aren't rough to maintain a saw well.

 

It will need to be kept clean, fed on good fuel and oil (don't mix large amounts if it only gets occasional use) and most of all kept properly sharp. Try any avoid the pants Husqy chain that they'll put on it. Get Stihl or Oregon.

 

That said, if your budget can stretch to a a Stihl 211 I'd definitely go for that instead, on a 14" bar

[Dalli]

The 135 should do what you need. Are you at good at maintenance? IMO the basic tickets aren't rough to maintain a saw well.

 

It will need to be kept clean, fed on good fuel and oil (don't mix large amounts if it only gets occasional use) and most of all kept properly sharp. Try any avoid the pants Husqy chain that they'll put on it. Get Stihl or Oregon.

 

That said, if your budget can stretch to a a Stihl 211 I'd definitely go for that instead, on a 14" bar

 

Thanks for the advise, I'm confident enough in my maintenance skills but I don't know these new volunteers from Adam, hence not letting them use my saws! As there will prob be 3 different users I'll make sure it's serviced fairly regularly and that they use aspen. Thanks again

[hedgesparrow]

could look at a efco. or a domar. mitox should do you ok can get a 38cc with 16inch bar oregon bar and chain for £176 friend uses them for coppicing on a daily basis and are ok for him and have a 2 year warranty on them so for your little use should last you a few years.

[Joe Newton]

Aspen is a good shout, get each volunteer bo buy their own chain, and you can be damn sure that they'll take better care of it than if you supply one!

[doobin]

MS181 with 12" 1.1mm bar. £220 and worth every penny. Local conservation group have three and love them.

 

Secondhand will only go wrong. Have new with warranty.

[Eddy_t]

135 and aspen is the best option, even better with a Stihl picco super chain!

[doobin]

Try any avoid the pants Husqy chain that they'll put on it. Get Stihl or Oregon.

 

In 1.1mm gauge Oregon chain is rubbish. All the cutters snap off. Stihl is the way forward, it's strong enough to run on an MS250 with no issues.

[Joe Newton]

In 1.1mm gauge Oregon chain is rubbish. All the cutters snap off. Stihl is the way forward, it's strong enough to run on an MS250 with no issues.

 

 

I've been running oregon on my 211 for a while, no complaints. It is my "abuse" saw too.

 

Not sure if I running 1.1 or 1.3mm though. It's stock with an oregon bar if that helps.

[doobin]

I've been running oregon on my 211 for a while, no complaints. It is my "abuse" saw too.

 

Not sure if I running 1.1 or 1.3mm though. It's stock with an oregon bar if that helps.

 

The oregon 1.1mm has bumper tie links. This is the type that I threw two unused chains away for as it was no good.