Buy a Stihl MS 250 or its equilavent, I cut brush out of fencerows all winter long. Good power,easy to handle and it dont break the bank when something happens to it.Buy a couple extra chains and get to work.
I have 80ac and fight cedars always. Trying to clear large amounts of cedars by hand is crazy, especially if you work out of town. First you have to cut your way in because limbs grow all the way to the ground. Once you do this you have to deal with sap resulting in a dull chain. If you are cutting flush, to the ground, the chain won’t last long before your get into dirt.
If you have a skid steer, rent a tree saw or clipper and a grapple.
Sure, for the big ones, you’ll need a real chainsaw.
For the 1”-3” stuff, I’d MUCH rather be using a bicycle-handled brush cutter (weedeater), with a circular saw style blade. For 4”-8” stuff, a pole saw, and then deal with any stump remnant using the chainsaw.
As mentioned earlier, the problem cutting cedars/junipers by hand, is that you have to FIGHT your way in, since they have branches down to the ground. Nasty/itchy work. Spend the money on some good goggles and some quality knee pads.
I like the Echo CS-310 with a 14 inch bar. Its light, powerful and I'd bet $200 it starts within 3 pulls next time I use it. The primer bulb and choke lever are easy to use as is the toggle on/off switch.
I have three Stills and like them just fine. Not a big fan of the controls.
The Echo has cleared cedars down low and cleared many a trail in complex multi tree scenarios. The MS290 would have been a better choice for those big trees but the Echo did just fine and I could cut longer without needing to take a break.
Echo 4910 is a great medium sized saw with plenty of power. Doesn't feel much heavier than the 310,325,3510 series. Was a steal at $289 when I bought mine last year but look to be around $350 now.
In 40 years of homeowner/farm use, I have never needed to take a saw to a shop for service. Redmax (pre-Husqvarna) Echo and even a few Craftsman picked up for free at garage sales. Only issues have been replacing fuel lines after 30 years and worn bars/sprockets.
I have a Stihl 260 and a 270 have had them for over 26 years I usually cut 7 full coreds to heat the house every winter for the past 15 year 2 houses and cutting a lot of trees on 330 acres....always have the 260 on the 4 wheeler or snowmobile if theres been a storm to cut any fallen trees.....
Heading out the door have a 60'+ maple that need cutting down and is leaning towards the house also has a bad rotten spot also a 60'+ white oak thats dyeing from a lighting strike and don't want it to fall on the tool shed....my Great father planted the trees back around 1846 it a shame to cut them down but safety is more important.....
The Echo Timberwolf with the 24” bar would be tough to beat
The Wolf is a good saw. Starts easier than any other saw I've owned.
But, I never run it anymore, but, rather grab my 26 year old Husky 55. The 55 is lighter and has more bottom-end grunt. Runs noticeably faster in the cut, too.
Husky 550XP is a 55 cube saw with the same horsepower as the 60 cube Echo, but at almost 1.5 pounds less weight. And the Husky will be a much faster revving, faster cutting saw.
My cousin has 7 quarter sections that I bowhunt on. His son runs cows on 5 of them and is enrolled in a program to cut down all the western red cedar. He has a skid steer but the wife and I are going to help with the fence lines, plum thickets, cutbanks, etc. There are thousands of them from 16 inches tall to 16 inch trunks.
Pretty easy cutting and not in a race for time, (2 year program) just want to stay in good graces. Don't think I need a pro saw, used his 271 Farm Boss when I helped out the neighbor last year and think I could get by with less. When this is done it wont get used much till we get a place of our own so looking at homeowner level saws like the 211 or 250 to keep the price down. I know those are all Stihl, just what I'm familiar with. Not ever going to need it to cut firewood all day or even drop trees bigger than 16 inch diameter.
I work out of town 4 days a week and can't reply here till Friday but can read the threads. Open to all thoughts and suggestions, brands and advice. Certainly can't be worse than just googling reviews.
Thanks in advance
Chainsaw? Too much work if the timber is of no value.
Why not just get a forestry mulcher for his skid steer?
Don't remember the model number, but my youngest bought a Stihl back during the 2021 "Deep Freeze". Cut up a cord of wood with it. Over the next two years, the saw has set up for months at a time. I've picked it up, gassed it, primed it and had it running with 3 or 4 pulls. NOTE: the kid runs nothing but the canned pre-mix!
I've never owned a chainsaw with more than a 16" bar. You can take down "HUGE" tree with a 16" bar if the saw is worth beans!
I like chainsaws even though I don’t cut down many trees. Maybe a pine tree or two every now and then. Pine trees in East Texas Lake Sam Rayburn Country are not in short supply. We have some big ones too. 291 Stihl is a good saw for non professional, I think it’s a 60cc saw. Also have a Echo, can’t recall the model, pretty sure it’s a 55cc saw. It’s a good saw too. Efco is a dang good saw but not many dealers. I bought a new Efco with a 14 inch bar on eBay a few years ago for cheap under 200 bucks shipped. It’s a good easy staring saw too.
I’d rather get a saw from a saw shop but an Echo can be bought from Home Depot if that’s all that’s around. Everything Echo I’ve ever bought has been good. Even if it did come from Home Depot.
With any sort of density at all, one should invest in some heavy equipment with a cutter. Someone should follow up though, as any remaining ground level limbs will sustain the plant.
Another good option for control is fire, if there are enough fine fuels to support a continuous burn.
Every year we get this question. My answer is dont make the first mistake . If you have that much cutting, get the pro saws cause they are lighter and a bit more power. Lighter is very likely safer , especially later in the day. More power means you will get a little more work down per hr. . I never could figure why so many are so bent on saving $200 on a home owner saw compared to a pro saw. The parts are likely better quality anyway . I have A Stihl 026. Feels like the Stihl 261 but the 261 has 15% more power. A Stihl 261 is $700 now days... But wait,, mine is 24 yrs. old . My 034 was may main saw for 25 yrs. Bought new 32 yrs. ago and been in the shop twice. Once under warranty. I have an Echo 620P... REAL grunty saw and powerfull. I think it is a bit too much for small cedar. I have an ECHO 501P . I think it would be perfect for your job. It runs about $525?. You can get the home owner saw ( 4910) Dont get the 490 , it has 17% less power. The Stihl 261 is a better saw than the Echo 501P despite it being $150 to $200 more than the Echo 501P. The reason is, the Stihl is more advanced with carburation and has a better bar that will last much longer than the Chinese Echo bar. My vote is a Stihl 261 AND an Echo 501P.. The reason is , you WILL get your bars stuck almost every day and will need another saw . Your total price will be about $1,200 . Or you could go with a smaller Stihl for 2" branches , and then you can switch bars cause both will be .325 chains. The saws will last most of your life . I have been hearing that Echo repair bills are higher than Stihl however, and Stihl is everywhere. Not that I care.
Last edited by ihookem; 01/02/24.
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