Dougherty Turbo Saw Review

[Cataclysm]

Here's the first run video. Bigger cedars towards the end.

 

[lostcreekranch]

Outstanding video! Do you ever get tired of looking backwards?

Thanks for sharing.

 

[haulnash]

Nice video!

 

[nybirdman]

Looks like a nice tool but wouldn't a "mulcher" have been quicker.You have to cut,gather and burn?

 

[rustyshakelford]

Looks like a nice tool but wouldn't a "mulcher" have been quicker.You have to cut,gather and burn?

Mulchers are a specialized piece of equipment that requires hi flow hyd, and cost a bunch. This is an economical solution that he can work on at his pace vs paying a couple hundred an hour and dealing with the chips

Brett

 

[rd_macgregor]

I liked how fast it was, though looking backwards so much might be a strain if there was a lot of clearing to do.
I was intrigued by the Marshall tree saw in that it was FEL-mounted, didn't throw debris, allowed for limb trimming and could (to a degree) actually pick up cut trees without having to add a grapple (some of the same features that make me consider a shear). Also, for taller trees than the little cedars, I think the more pointed push bar is better since it would tend to direct trees falling toward the operator off to one side or the other. I'd say the Turbo Saw is faster, though, which could make a big, big difference in a large, open field use like yours.

 

[Cataclysm]

Outstanding video! Do you ever get tired of looking backwards?

Thanks for sharing.

Thank you, sir! I thought at first the video would be too boring but then I thought it is long enough that you can get the idea of how the saw actually works and about how fast it is. So far its 2/1 ratio of stacking/cutting.

Yes, thirteen hours into the TS and I can feel my neck a bit. The saving grace is I have and do run tractors/equipment for a living so I am sort of used to looking back. I have to say that having the upper hand on cedars now is pretty satisfying.

I was out cutting again today and disturbed a huge nest of wasps. I would have been hit pretty hard had I been on an open station. Those wasps were all around the cab hitting the windows.

 

[Cataclysm]

Looks like a nice tool but wouldn't a "mulcher" have been quicker.You have to cut,gather and burn?

Yep, as stated above, a big skid steer with a mulcher/forestry head would be quicker and cost a ton more. Although I'm not sure about how the mulch would work if left in a hay field.

Plus I like being out working the land and I get another great piece of equipment.

 

[Cataclysm]

I liked how fast it was, though looking backwards so much might be a strain if there was a lot of clearing to do.
I was intrigued by the Marshall tree saw in that it was FEL-mounted, didn't throw debris, allowed for limb trimming and could (to a degree) actually pick up cut trees without having to add a grapple (some of the same features that make me consider a shear). Also, for taller trees than the little cedars, I think the more pointed push bar is better since it would tend to direct trees falling toward the operator off to one side or the other. I'd say the Turbo Saw is faster, though, which could make a big, big difference in a large, open field use like yours.

Great points! I considered the Brown Tree Saw, it has the pointed hoop on the saw to let the taller trees roll off and from the videos I saw that feature works pretty good. I have some locust trees to cut that are tall enough to maybe damage my tractor. I may add a pointed hoop to the TS when I get to those trees.

Another consideration was Beck's had a Turbo Saw in stock and is only 30 minutes away. The closest Brown saw that I could find was 3 hours away. Had the Brown been closer I would have looked it over and seriously considered it just for the pointed hoop alone.

 

[Cataclysm]

While I was out cutting today I learned another consideration with any tree saw similar to this one. It is possible to jam the blade with a wedge that is cut off a stump. Here's a pic of the jammed wedge.



Here's why I was cutting wedges off of the stump.



Some cedar's have multiple heavy branches that are right on the ground. When you back into this type cedar the heavy branches keep you from getting close enough to the stump. My solution is to cut the cedar up higher so you can now see the stump. Then start taking slices off until you can cut at ground level. One of the slices jammed in between the blade and housing. It's no big deal and was easy to pull out once I shut everything down.

I have also noticed that small saplings can get jammed in between the blade and housing at times. So I just clean those out every time I stop and clean the radiator out. No big deal but something to keep watch on.