Mini chainsaw for trail clearing?

A bowsaw or folding handsaw are probably easier to cart around and don't required batteries...

A bowsaw or folding handsaw are probably easier to cart around and don’t required batteries…

Need something a bit more industrial for my feeble arms / size and frequency of obstruction.

Think of the baby robins! Folding handsaw and enjoy the fitness benefits while saving the planet

I have one - been working well for me - 6" version from Amazon.

before and after shots

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Edit - it's a bit heavy to carry on a ride, but I tend to go back and have a walk to clear obstructions on my local trails

been working well for me

I should say so! Thats some impressive chopping

Spoke to some tree surgeons years ago and they would use a Silky saw instead of a chainsaw when working high up. You can cut through some pretty thick stuff with a really good folding saw or even a regular 7tpi saw, which unlike a bow saw can cut all the way through.

Wow impressed! how long did it take and how many batterys?

It certainly would be possible to take it on a ride, but I wouldn't want to be taking it just on the off-chance.

If you were doing a dedicated/targeted trail clearance ride then it would be fine

Used to have one of the dual battery Makita ones. Was impressed.

The single battery pruning ones are easier to carry and probably up to the job.

I have two folding silky saws (pocketboy and gomboy), and a laplander as well

They work great, and easy to carry too

But if you're knowingly doing a decent amount of cutting a battery powered thing would be a helluva lot quicker and easier. I have a dewalt polesaw, not very portable and not a chainsaw but for a cutting session I'd be using that over a handsaw! (I use it for low down stuff, I just stand further back)

Silky BigBoy is one of the best value saws in their line up

The additional size means you cut more with less effort

It really is the Goldilocks of the range

Videos online showing silky’s to be as fast as chainsaws

@goby - that was 1 battery, it still had a little power, but could tell it was going flat. It took about 45mins. I made a few unnecessary cuts - if I had planned some of the cuts better it would have been quicker - I hadn't initially planned to do the main trunk - glad I did in end, but it was at limit of the saw due to the diameter.

Wow nice going so what model one do you have then? and how much was it? thanks

£46  https://amzn.eu/d/hj6htp6

I have only had it month so can't vouch for longevity

Many thanks for the link

I bought one last year. Was about £20 without batteries but it takes Makita batteries which I have, and are probably better quality than the cheap supplied ones. Great bit of kit. Cuts fast and cuts well. I have a few good folding saws but this is way faster and easier to use. It does get a bit warm and needs a five minute rest after repeated cuts but I can live with that.

I've just ordered one of these for use in the garden (only needed for a few high boughs to cut an apple tree down to size, so didn't want to invest in a pole saw). Dunno how good it'll be, but very portable.

https://www.charlies.co.uk/darlac-dp164-pocket-chainsaw.html

Get a silky!

I've borrowed a friends, its good for smaller stuff 4 inch or so but it kept cutting out due to overheating on larger stuff. Some more careful use and practise may get you through thicker stuff but yes, still a Silky for me.

Another +1 for a Silky, I've got a 420mm Sugoi like this and it makes very short work of most obstructions. Very satisfying too.

£46  https://amzn.eu/d/hj6htp6

I have only had it month so can’t vouch for longevity

@dawson thanks for that - time to hit Amazon up!

Took my little stihl out to clear some fallen trees a month back. Took less time to cut the trees than it did to fix the puncture on the way there
https://flic.kr/p/2pwYmpP

I have one of the pocket ones as above, about 20 quid. A chain with handles, works brilliant, easy to carry and I've cut branches 4-5" in no time with it

A curved blade will be more efficient than a straight one. 300mm+.

Would normally suggest a silky, but going against all that, quite happy with the find in one of the work pick ups of a Gerber machete/pruning saw cross. Using it proved the curved blade and trigger grip of a proper pruning saw is more efficient, but it has plenty of potential to cut yourself.

If you are getting a chainsaw just make sure the air ambulance has a nice big landing spot near by

If you are getting a chainsaw just make sure the air ambulance has a nice big landing spot near by

It could be a fun challenge to see if you can clear it before you need it.

Why not ask the landowner to get a real saw involved? If it is cheeky trails then you shouldn't be doing it so I assume you have permission.

Silky for the win! Now where's the best place to buy a replacement blade?

I've had the little Stihl battery saw for over two years now, along with 4 batteries for it. It's ideal for stuff up to about 3-4", and squeezes into the back pack so isn't noticeable when riding with it, however I only take it if I know I've got a fair bit to cut.

From all accounts the cheap ones are just as functional.

However, for something to carry just in case, a decent folding hand saw is far more practical. I mostly use the Stihl pruning saws (just checked, and PR16 is the model), as they're not that expensive, and a decent known quality. The cheap ones can vary from rubbish, to pretty good, but having tried many, most fall into pretty rubbish. Either too course so they snag too much, too fine so they don't cut that quickly, or just blunt really quickly.

For bigger stuff, Silky BigBoy 2000 will fit in most back packs, and make pretty light work of stuff up ~9". I have done 12"+, but it's pushing the limits. Bigger than that, and a Katanaboy will make light work of some surprisingly big stuff, but you're not going to be carrying it stealthily.

Only used a real "mini chainsaw" briefly, MC has a good one... Loved it for brashing, you can work so fast, and it really changes how you work. (with a manual saw I pretty much always end up trying to do as few cuts as possible and end up with big awkward pieces or getting spiked by a million sticks). I didn't do any bigger stuff but for up to a couple of inches it was awesome. Deals incredibly well with loose, springy branches too (unlike a normal saw where you're always fighting the bounce) or with arms length stuff. I want one now.

I use a cheap reciprocating saw myself for small stuff, not because it's great but because I already own it, and it's almost as good for small stuff (maybe better for flush brashing?). Not much good for bigger cuts, and hard work for springy branches. Possibly safer? And no risk of jamming the whole tool if the kerf closes (ie, you **** up), because you can always just release the blade. Being able to abuse the blades is a bonus if you're cutting roots or similar. I feel like overall these are just more suited to cheap tools and unskilled operators tbh, I have definite doubts about whether I should be allowed a little chainsaw, and they're obviously more complicated machines to make and live with compared with a little reciprocator with a throwaway cheap blade, no servicing or cleaning required.

For manual saws, a bigger handsaw is so much better than the tiny folders, and doesn't have to be expensive. I have a couple and I've used some really nice ones, but mostly I use this:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Silverline-868611-Pruning-Sheath-Blade/dp/B000LFVT5Y/ref=sr_1_4?crid=3GFQ2PYMSJU0&keywords=silverline%2Btree%2Bsaw&qid=1707414402&s=diy&sprefix=silverline%2Btree%2Bsaw%2Cdiy%2C86&sr=1-4&th=1

It's a surprisingly good cutter of various woods- not Silky good, but good enough. Doesn't need a lot of pressure so you can cut with fairly low effort, doesn't foul up with wet pulpier woods like some blades will, and while it's obviously longer than a wee laplander or something it still fit easily in a camelback and isn't really so different to carry. I've had 3 of these, because I don't look after them, one ended up in the bin because of neglect and there's one embedded hopelessly in a tree in the pentlands 🙂 So that's a bonus too. Just yesterday I forgot to pack it and ended up clearing some freshly fallen birch with my laplander and what a pain in teh cock, by comparison.

(it took me ages to work out that I just don't like the bigger folders with the large handles, I find them awkward, ymmv)

@Marko I used these guys recently, but no ones sell then cheap..

https://www.sorbus-intl.co.uk/product-category/gardening-landscaping/pruning/replacement-blades/

Obviously a +1 for the silky from me, had my Gomtaro over 10 years, it’s a phenomenally good saw & easily fits in my pack. Those mini chainsaws look fun, also vaguely dangerous

@Z1ppy

Thanks. Yikes more inflation. I think the complete saw was less than the price of a new blade. I'd like to say my Silky is only  a couple of years old, but more likely 4 years at least.

Ok, so was skeptical, but had some (much bigger than 4-6") hardwood rounds to get through and the bow saw was struggling. For £46 thought worth a punt and it has flown through the lot (I used makita 5ah batteries while the new ones are charing). This will be coming scavenging with me.

For £46 thought worth a punt and it has flown through the lot (I used makita 5ah batteries while the new ones are charing).

I'm thinking about getting another but I'd like it to be Makita compatible. Can you post a link to what you have? Or is the one that dawson posted Makita compatible, too?

Yep - it's the one that @dawson posted. Even if it just gets me through this pile of wood it's £46 well spent.

I was going the get he Worx one but they don't seem to supply spare chains