Chainsaws

[dave mountain]

No 545/550 are both in the 5,5kg area which makes them all-round saws not lightweight delimbing saws.



135 weighs something like 4,7 kg so for a light limbing saw that's getting a bit heavy..
I would look at a 435 instead since they only weigh 4,2 kg.
The lightest pro model is the 543 at 4,5 kg.
Really the best light delimbing saws is going to be battery saws from now on...

540xp is 3.9kg and 1.8kw
550xp is 5.3kg and 3.0kw
135 is 4.7kg and 1.6kw so worst of both worlds.
435 is 4.2kg and 1.6kw so marginally better as you say. Pro saws still miles better, and much better made.
Depends if they mean delimbing up a tree or on the ground. Up a tree I would choose a t540xp, though I used to use a 435 because I was being tight, and I would not recommend it, they are very slow compared to a 540xp or ms200. On the ground I use a 560xp, but a 550xp would suffice.

 

[Frankzy]

540xp is 3.9kg and 1.8kw
550xp is 5.3kg and 3.0kw
135 is 4.7kg and 1.6kw so worst of both worlds.
435 is 4.2kg and 1.6kw so marginally better as you say. Pro saws still miles better, and much better made.
Depends if they mean delimbing up a tree or on the ground. Up a tree I would choose a t540xp, though I used to use a 435 because I was being tight, and I would not recommend it, they are very slow compared to a 540xp or ms200. On the ground I use a 560xp, but a 550xp would suffice.

The only 540xp I know of is the 540i XP battery saw and the T540XP which is an arborist saw. I already wrote that battery ones are probably the best in this segment while the top handle is obviously not an option..
Of course the pro saws are better made but they are all heavy which defeats the whole purpose of bringing a saw dedicated to delimbing.
Once you start to reach 4,5 kg in a delimbing saw you might as well only use a 550 for everything.

I've had a lot of hassle with the small hobby Stihl's so they're not a great alternative either really. However, their lightest pro saw, ms 201, only weighs 4 kg which probably makes it the absolute best dedicated petrol delimbing saw.

 

[C.J]

I wouldn’t class them as lightweight. I already have a bigger one.

What's your other saw ?

 

[dave mountain]

The only 540xp I know of is the 540i XP battery saw and the T540XP which is an arborist saw. I already wrote that battery ones are probably the best in this segment while the top handle is obviously not an option..
Of course the pro saws are better made but they are all heavy which defeats the whole purpose of bringing a saw dedicated to delimbing.
Once you start to reach 4,5 kg in a delimbing saw you might as well only use a 550 for everything.

I've had a lot of hassle with the small hobby Stihl's so they're not a great alternative either really. However, their lightest pro saw, ms 201, only weighs 4 kg which probably makes it the absolute best dedicated petrol delimbing saw.

I meant the T540xp thought that was obvious. For some reason the ms201 is hated among the climbing boys, the most popular top handles are the ms200 (obviously not available any more) and 540xp by far.

I don't do climbing any more, I use a 560xp for pretty much everything and the 288, 395 for bigger stuff. Don't see the point of anything smaller than 550 or 560 unless you are climbing, which presumably is the popular professional opinion otherwise they would make smaller models.

 

[Frankzy]

I meant the T540xp thought that was obvious. For some reason the ms201 is hated among the climbing boys, the most popular top handles are the ms200 (obviously not available any more) and 540xp by far.

I don't do climbing any more, I use a 560xp for pretty much everything and the 288, 395 for bigger stuff. Don't see the point of anything smaller than 550 or 560 unless you are climbing, which presumably is the popular professional opinion otherwise they would make smaller models.

Haha think you've missed a letter, he's asking for limbing saws, not climbing saws

We use 550/560xpg's to fell with and 339xp's to delimb with, it makes a world's difference at the end of the day to delimb with a 4kg saw vs a 5,5kg one.
There's definitely a point to bringing a dedicated delimbing saw next to the big ones.

 

[dave mountain]

Haha think you've missed a letter, he's asking for limbing saws, not climbing saws

We use 550/560xpg's to fell with and 339xp's to delimb with, it makes a world's difference at the end of the day to delimb with a 4kg saw vs a 5,5kg one.
There's definitely a point to bringing a dedicated delimbing saw next to the big ones.

Limbing can be up a tree or on the ground, and tbh I know plenty of people that use top handles on the ground too. I'm guessing you are in a lot of sitka spruce or similar with small limbs, so that setup makes sense for you. For me it's usually hardwood with limbs upto 18" thick so limbing with a smaller saw is pretty pointless. Different strokes for different folks.

 

[Bullring]

What's your other saw ?

Older ms 361 but at 5.8kg it’s a lump to just cut smaller stuff.

 

[Bullring]

Limbing can be up a tree or on the ground, and tbh I know plenty of people that use top handles on the ground too. I'm guessing you are in a lot of sitka spruce or similar with small limbs, so that setup makes sense for you. For me it's usually hardwood with limbs upto 18" thick so limbing with a smaller saw is pretty pointless. Different strokes for different folks.

No when I meant limbing I meant smaller stuff usually on the ground, not 18 inch thick though, twigs to you.

 

[dave mountain]

No when I meant limbing I meant smaller stuff usually on the ground, not 18 inch thick though, twigs to you.

Id advise to stick with pro grade saws, you really do get what you pay for with chainsaws. I've not used a 361 but I find my 560 so much more comfortable to use than any of the smaller saws I've had, I think it's because of the antivibration, the longer handle and better overall ergonomics and balance, I don't ever find it heavy. If you buy a new cheaper saw it won't have as good antivibration and the ergonomics won't be as sorted as a pro saw, which could make it seem heavier and fatigue you more, possibly more than your current saw, especially as the job will be taking you longer.

 

[C.J]

Older ms 361 but at 5.8kg it’s a lump to just cut smaller stuff.

Do you have any power tool batteries that you could put in a cordless chainsaw ?

 

[Bullring]

Do you have any power tool batteries that you could put in a cordless chainsaw ?

I do but I don’t see batteries lasting long in a chainsaw.

 

[Frankzy]

Limbing can be up a tree or on the ground, and tbh I know plenty of people that use top handles on the ground too. I'm guessing you are in a lot of sitka spruce or similar with small limbs, so that setup makes sense for you. For me it's usually hardwood with limbs upto 18" thick so limbing with a smaller saw is pretty pointless. Different strokes for different folks.

Might be a language thing, directly translated we call what an arborist does "sectioning" not delimbing, so to my mind limbing always happens on the ground.
Yes we usually only work in production forests so there's no oversized branches.. Or rather when there are we just delimb with the 550's.

Using a tophandle as if they were just another regular old chainsaw is fantastically dangerous and just because others do so doesn't make it any less dumb!!

It's people using them in situations they were never intended for that is going to make buying a tophandle restricted to only those with an arborist license...

 

[Lincs Lass]

Might be a language thing, directly translated we call what an arborist does "sectioning" not delimbing, so to my mind limbing always happens on the ground.
Yes we usually only work in production forests so there's no oversized branches.. Or rather when there are we just delimb with the 550's.

Using a tophandle as if they were just another regular old chainsaw is fantastically dangerous and just because others do so doesn't make it any less dumb!!

It's people using them in situations they were never intended for that is going to make buying a tophandle restricted to only those with an arborist license...

Only have to look on ebay how many top handles there are,,anybody can buy one from there ,doesn't matter if they have or not have the qualifications .

 

[Kidds]

It's people using them in situations they were never intended for that is going to make buying a tophandle restricted to only those with an arborist license...

Don't know how widespread it is but local store won't sell a top handle unless you show your ticket.
Not a bad thing anyway imo.

 

[Lincs Lass]

Don't know how widespread it is but local store won't sell a top handle unless you show your ticket.
Not a bad thing anyway imo.

Same here ,,neither husky or stihl dealers will sell one without the paperwork

 

[dave mountain]

Only have to look on ebay how many top handles there are,,anybody can buy one from there ,doesn't matter if they have or not have the qualifications .

i think it only husky/stihl policy rather than law
this is a reputable seller, albeit of crap chainsaws: https://www.toolstation.com/search?q=top handle chainsaw

 

[Lincs Lass]

i think it only husky/stihl policy rather than law
this is a reputable seller, albeit of crap chainsaws: https://www.toolstation.com/search?q=top handle chainsaw

Even battery TH saws are easy to buy ,,any of the major cordless brands can be bought online and no questions

 

[dave mountain]

i can see the reason but personally im not in favour of regulating the sale of top handles. if people want to act idiots with them then thats up to them, not the nanny state. if they regulate top handles the next step will be needing to show CS30 to be able to buy any chainsaw, and i wonder how many farmers bother to do that in the first place, let alone keep it up to date.

 

[Kidds]

Maybe they are self regulating the sale of top handles in the hope it prevents a blanket ruling to restrict all chainsaws.

 

[ollie989898]

Only have to look on ebay how many top handles there are,,anybody can buy one from there ,doesn't matter if they have or not have the qualifications .

Fudged if I would even touch a top handled saw- I don't have the training for one. Wouldn't even try to use one. Would climb a tree or use a ladder on a small tree and use regular saw if I had to do it. Otherwise pruning saw from ground level would be safer IMV.