Dougherty Turbo Saw Review

[Cataclysm]

Here's an idea of how big a tree you can cut. I took 3 cuts and a push with the grapple to lay this down. This Honey Locust was maybe 40' tall and heavy enough my 6500lb/55hp tractor didn't want to move it much. I did feed the saw in slowly but you could keep cutting steady all the way until it would bottom out.

 

[newbury]

Here's an idea of how big a tree you can cut. I took 3 cuts and a push with the grapple to lay this down. This Honey Locust was maybe 40' tall and heavy enough my 6500lb/55hp tractor didn't want to move it much. I did feed the saw in slowly but you could keep cutting steady all the way until it would bottom out.

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[Cataclysm]

I re-attached the pic's, sorry!

 

[Piston]

Great job with your review Cat! Thanks for taking the time to post photos and descriptions.
How much PTO hp do you have? I can see why this tree saw would really benefit from operating it with an HST tractor.

For what it's worth, I enjoy videos like you posted, rather than edited videos with music or too much talk in them. It's nice to see how much you can do with that saw in the 12 minute time period you posted.

 

[newbury]

I re-attached the pic's, sorry!

Thanks, with a vertical grapple you've got a feller buncher.

 

[Cataclysm]

Great job with your review Cat! Thanks for taking the time to post photos and descriptions.
How much PTO hp do you have? I can see why this tree saw would really benefit from operating it with an HST tractor.

For what it's worth, I enjoy videos like you posted, rather than edited videos with music or too much talk in them. It's nice to see how much you can do with that saw in the 12 minute time period you posted.

Thanks! I like giving back to the site! It sure has helped me alot! I have 47.3 PTO hp. I think a 25-30 hp tractor would run this saw just fine.

Yep, I agree the music on a lot of video's ruins it. I want to hear the engine/machine so I can tell what its doing. Most of the video's I watched before buying just showed cutting the perfect tree in the perfect setting. I thought this would be something different!

 

[Cataclysm]

Thanks, with a vertical grapple you've got a feller buncher.

I don't know if I'd want to grab a tall tree. It might take me for a ride. They do make a horizontal grapple version tho.

 

[lostcreekranch]

I don't know if I'd want to grab a tall tree. It might take me for a ride. They do make a horizontal grapple version tho.

Cat, if you were cutting down a perfectly vertical tree does blade start cutting before the push bar contact the tree trunk? Hope this question makes sense?

What is biggest diameter that will fit between guards around the blade?

Thanks.

 

[My Gym]

I own a Turbosaw with grapple but no rear hydraulics (Just chain up grapple) with a John Deere 3038E 30 HP at pto. I have cut hundreds of trees. I have had 2 fall towards the tractor and land on the hood and FEL . One broke the lens on the turn signal. On Large trees, I will cut about 1.5 foot above the ground with multiple directions of cut. I keep in consideration depth of cut lean of tree and wind just like felling a tree. The trunk is smaller than the spread out base of the tree trunk. Tree size is limited by the skid bars on the sides of the blade and depth of cut. On Large trees, I fell the tree with a chainsaw and then use the turbosaw as a stump grinder. The turbosaw works best on trees 8-10 inches or less. As a Stump grinder it will only cut to ground level.

 

[SandburRanch]

Handy fun piece of equipment. What's the next step for making those acres a hay field?

 

[Cataclysm]

Cat, if you were cutting down a perfectly vertical tree does blade start cutting before the push bar contact the tree trunk? Hope this question makes sense?

What is biggest diameter that will fit between guards around the blade?

Thanks.

Rick,

Yes, the blade starts cutting quite a bit before the push bar engages. The 4" to 6" trees can get cut before the push bar engages. I have had a couple fall on the cab, twist and get caught between the 3pt lift and push bar. No big deal thought. Just hook a standing tree with the cut trunk and it drags right off.

I will measure the radius. I'm guessing 10" to 12" perfectly round. I am surprised how big a tree this will cut.

 

[Cataclysm]

Handy fun piece of equipment. What's the next step for making those acres a hay field?

For this field killing the gophers and then run a disc over it this winter sometime to smooth it out. There is a pretty good stand of Bermuda under all the weeds.

 

[Cataclysm]

I own a Turbosaw with grapple but no rear hydraulics (Just chain up grapple) with a John Deere 3038E 30 HP at pto. I have cut hundreds of trees. I have had 2 fall towards the tractor and land on the hood and FEL . One broke the lens on the turn signal. On Large trees, I will cut about 1.5 foot above the ground with multiple directions of cut. I keep in consideration depth of cut lean of tree and wind just like felling a tree. The trunk is smaller than the spread out base of the tree trunk. Tree size is limited by the skid bars on the sides of the blade and depth of cut. On Large trees, I fell the tree with a chainsaw and then use the turbosaw as a stump grinder. The turbosaw works best on trees 8-10 inches or less. As a Stump grinder it will only cut to ground level.

Yes, taller trees can and will fall on the tractor. My cab lights get raked pretty good every once in a while.

I'm going to make a cab guard and put on this saw. I mis-judged the depth of cut on one and busted my cab top. It was near a creek and I only had one angle to cut at. I should have used the chain saw. Lesson learned.

 

[Cataclysm]

I just found that one of the teeth is missing on my saw. Bolt and all. Apparently its been missing for a while as the bolt hole is packed full of wood. I have been checking it regularly but all the sap from the cedars made the tooth root look just like the rest of the teeth.

I guess the thing to do when you get a new saw is check all the teeth bolts and maybe add a drop of lock-tite.

 

[SandburRanch]

For this field killing the gophers and then run a disc over it this winter sometime to smooth it out. There is a pretty good stand of Bermuda under all the weeds.

I hope your disc doesn't mind the stumps. I think mine would.

 

[Cataclysm]

I hope your disc doesn't mind the stumps. I think mine would.

Definitely a possibility. I am working a deal on an older disc to use just in case. Its pretty sandy soil so hopefully I can set the minimum depth to smooth everything out and not break pans.

 

[Xfaxman]

Thanks for the review. Very interesting.

I was surprised to see it is made in Oklahoma:

 

[lostcreekranch]

Just saw this in monthly Fastline Catalog.

TreeHog 40

They have hydraulic cutter wheel extension and hydraulic push bar so, you need at least 2 remotes.

They offer versions with 40” and 48” cutter wheels.

 

[KSCOHunter]

CAUTION. I purchased a turbo saw and was generally pleased with the results. To be fair, I was cutting large cedars and was probably pushing the limits of the saw. However, after about 30 hours, the saw was binding a lot and I tried to rotate the carbon blade tips. I heated the tips as instructed on the web site and found them essentially impossible to unscrew. The Dougherty rep said that they changed the design to include specially made lock screws to keep the tips from coming loose. News flash...They indeed do not come loose...ever. My advice is to assume you will get about 40 really good hours and then the saw will be a great boat anchor. I am going to do my best to return the saw. I know...good luck.

 

[beenthere]

Had no problem removing the screws on the teeth to rotate them 90 deg. Impact tool did the trick with ease.

Don't think mine will become a boat anchor..

I've also concluded that the TurboSaw works best with a hydraulic top arm. Helps to direct the tree using the push bar as the hyd top arm allows more "push" and also directional cutting through the stump. I think I'd feel like one hand tied behind my back if not for the hyd. top arm capability.

After a few hundred trees, mostly walnut and spruce, I am quite happy with my TurboSaw.