Coppicing with a clearance saw

[Dorset Treeman]

The stihl scratcher blade on a decent brushcutter is ideal for that sort of work (similar to tct blade but proper rpm rating)

I wouldn't be doing it with a chainsaw.

Gives you a a good idea here of capabilities.

 

That's exactly the sort of thing I was hoping for. Blades are only £25-£30 so might give them a go. Do they last long?

[woodyguy]

When I tried it in dense coppice on my fs560 it was terrible. Yes I cut a huge amount in the first 20 secs. I then had fallen stems everywhere at all angles. Try clearing that with a 6ft many kg load strapped across your front. I soon gave up and used a chain saw and silky where suitable. If you've got one, try it. I love my fs560 and would use nothing else for brambles. For dense coppice stools it was worse than useless.

[wisecobandit]

That's exactly the sort of thing I was hoping for. Blades are only £25-£30 so might give them a go. Do they last long?

Don't buy the cheap brands as they wont last but the stihl one is good and you can tickle it with a flat file to keep a nice edge. They actually cut better after a file than when new ive found.

You would get your moneys worth out of it for the work they are capable of doing, saves your back and work at a good speed.

[Mark Bolam]

The stihl scratcher blade on a decent brushcutter is ideal for that sort of work (similar to tct blade but proper rpm rating)

I wouldn't be doing it with a chainsaw.

Gives you a a good idea here of capabilities.

 

That's a good vid mate..

I was a bit unimpressed at first with the speed, then realised the lad knew what he was doing, laying the stems where he wanted them like a mini harvester.

 

 

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[growforest]

I've done a lot of birch regen clearance with a big Stihl clearing saw, and they can be useful once you get the knack. You can direct the stems into a pile almost. Get a few blades and sharpen them a good bit before working, so they bite nicely. Maybe fell into piles and take second pass over stools to tidy. A well-fitting harness is also crucial, or you'll be walking round like Quazimodo.

[AlexB]

What about a bcs with a cutter bar?

[Dorset Treeman]

What about a bcs with a cutter bar?

 

 

Sorry but you'll have to explain what this is please mate.

[woodyguy]

That's a good idea if the area is really "clean" ie no raised stumps and pure coppice for cutting. You'd also need regularly spaced coppice for the wheels to pass comfortably.

[AlexB]

They're pretty nimble and can go over/around.

 

It's a two wheeled tractor with a reciprocating cutter bar. Like a giant hedge gutter.

[woodyguy]

I'll try it at the weekend to see. They're not actually very nimble at all as they're heavy and hard to reverse but with well laid out regular coppice I could see it working. Yes they will drive over a stool but the bar will be all over the place so you'd have to position and attack one stool at a time not just walk up and down. Interesting idea though.