PTO Gen, chainsaw, or ...

[bcarwell]

I have about 20 acres with about 10 oaks with oak wilt I need to cutdown. I have an adequate electric chainsaw for the job which I love (it ALWAYS starts). But no electricity where its needed, so a generator is a possibility. I'd like some help deciding from the following choices as its a close call I think:

1. Good gas chain saw maybe Stihl $350
Could use over long period for firewood, clearing, but not sure it would get enough use
for the cost relative to other more versatile choices and given I already have a decent
electric chainsaw I can use where there's power

2. Standalone 4KW generator, maybe $400-$500
Could use for other things I might need remote power for in projects
like drill, lights, pump, and emergency power.
But, like option 1, its another engine to deal with and keep running. And I've heard these
generators only have a 1000 hr. lifetime IF you can keep it running.

3. PTO Generator, maybe $900 (Northern Tools 4KW) - $1100
Could use for even more things than option 2. such as light MIG remote, etc.
Already have 24HP Kubota, so may be more reliable and cost effective solution over
the long haul than option 2., no extra engine to maintaine, etc. But do I want to
put engine hours on a $10,000 tractor for remote 110vac ? Nice for emergency power
like option 2., but unless we get invaded and are under siege, power outtage doesn't
seem a big reason for generators here. We have maybe one outtage a year lasting
8 hours at most, candles work fine, no hurricanes. But I definitely could see use of
remote 110VAC on 20 acres doing stuff other than just cutting down 10 trees.

Any suggestions ? Remember I can only have ONE. Ah me, tradeoffs, tradeoffs...

Thanks,

Bob

 

[EddieWalker]

Electric chain saws are ok for home owners who need a small amount of pruning, but pretty much worthless on a whole tree when you have acres of them. Until you buy a real chain saw, your either going to hurt yourself or burn up the electric one. Both are very likely and probable in a very short time.

You don't have to buy a Stihl, Echo or Husky for a decent chain saw. I have a Poulon Pro that is about half the price of those, and it works great. Starts right up, has lots of power and in my opinion, is a good saw. Do a search here on chainsaws and you'll be overwhelmed with choices and opinions. My view is from buying an expensive chainsaw and it not lasting. Now I have a cheap one and it's done allot more than the husky did and is still running strong.

Electricity and a generator is a seperate issue and worthy of a new discussion. You have to tell us what your needs and goals are for it. Are you just camping on the land? Are you going to build a house and live there? How much power do you need and what can you afford? Do you have a place to store it or are you bringing it back and forth?

Good luck,
Eddie

 

[bcarwell]

Eddie,
Thanks for taking the time to help.
Good point on the chainsaw. If honest I think my aversion to midrange chainsaws (not starting, etc.) probably came from my not taking care of them more than them not being top of the line. Having said that, my biggest beef with gas chainsaws is having to stop/start them as you move logs around and in position. Or not finding occasion to use it again for a couple months and sluggish start. BTW, my electric chainsaw is a Poulan and I've been very happy with it and cut some reasonably large cedars for 2 years.
I <DO> think I'll need temporary power at various places on the 20 acres so my objective was to kill two birds- see if I couldn't apply some of that new chain saw expense to just electric power I'm going to need anyway IF the electric chainsaw would do for the immediate problem of the oak wilt trees. But you have given me another perspective of a less expensive gas chainsaw which I guess I'd eventually need anyway (if for no other reason than inconvenience of always having to drag a generator out where I'm cutting wood every time).
As for the power issue/needs, there is already a house on there we're moving to shortly. 80% of the land is cleared like I want it, but there are clumps of growth, oak wilted trees I'll be clearing. Remote power needs are not that large and hard to anticipate but will definitely occur. Things like occasionally pumping to fill a tank from the river for burn fire suppression, running a table saw/drill/120VAC MIG remotely while making animal shelter, corral, weed whacker, etc. Nothing heavy duty like running a 200 amp stick welder. I can afford about $1K or so, and yes I have a barn to store it in so no need to travel w/ generator any distance. I saw on Ebay what looked to be some terrific used PTO Gens for $800 or so, but they're in Iowa.
Anyway for openers and immediacy of getting at the oak wilt I think I'll take your solution and quickly look for a medium expense gas chain saw and maybe tackle the power situation later. I can always use a gas chainsaw. I was just thinking Stihl/Husky and approaching $400 which as you suggest, may not be necessary.

 

[HappyCPE]

How about a power inverter? Northern Tool has them in various sizes and if I recall some were on sale. You could wire it into your tractor or truck and have electricity that way. This is something I'm thinking about, as soon as I find +/- $300 I don't need.

 

[daTeacha]

I'm biased, but I'd go with the good chainsaw. I've seen and used electric ones and they are nothing compared to any gas powered saw.

My old saw is an old McCulloch. Note that says old McColluch. I wouldn't own a new one. The old one still runs fine but it's hard to get parts for it. While looking for a chainbrake band at the store that used to sell and service them until they went downhill, the guy showed me a Stihl 290. He said if I would buy it and run two tanks of fuel through it and then still preferred the old McCulloch he'd take it back at full price. He also said that after those two tanks I'd only use the McColluch if I got the Stihl stuck in a tree or log. He was right on both counts.

I've used the Stihl to clean up after logging operations on 14 acres of thickly wooded hardwood, making I don't know how much firewood in the process. I've replaced the bar and sprocket once and have worn out about 6 or 7 chains. I have done nothing else to the saw in several years.

 

[bcarwell]

How about a power inverter? Northern Tool has them in various sizes and if I recall some were on sale. You could wire it into your tractor or truck and have electricity that way. This is something I'm thinking about, as soon as I find +/- $300 I don't need.

I thought about a power inverter and even checked the draw of the electric chain saw and surge, and its possible. My hesitation there is: I have always wondered what those things do to your truck electric system/alternator. Does anyone know what a semi-continuous load of a 14 inch electric chain saw on a truck alternator would do to it or the wiring ? Could be an expensive repair/experiment. On the other hand, as you suggested, could be a quick, fairly inexpensive solution at least to me getting those unsightly oak wilt trees down quickly...

Bob

 

[jinman]

I thought about a power inverter and even checked the draw of the electric chain saw and surge, and its possible. My hesitation there is: I have always wondered what those things do to your truck electric system/alternator. Does anyone know what a semi-continuous load of a 14 inch electric chain saw on a truck alternator would do to it or the wiring ? Could be an expensive repair/experiment. On the other hand, as you suggested, could be a quick, fairly inexpensive solution at least to me getting those unsightly oak wilt trees down quickly...

Bob, 5 amps of inverted power at 120 volts is 10 times that amount of 12-volt DC, so you will draw 50 amps. I'd bet your chainsaw can draw 10 amps under some conditions, so that makes it up near 100 amps off your vehicle's DC power system. I'd say the chances of that working are slim. I'm not say it won't work, but I don't think you'd be happy with it.

Also, how big are these trees? ...how much heavy cutting? I have one of the Northern Tools 1000W generators they sell for $199. If I already had a 14" electric chainsaw, I might just get a little generator like this. If your chainsaw blade is sharp and you don't get it into a bind, this generator will be all you need. I've run one of those Remington polesaw cutters off mine and it works fine. Of course, I think they only pull around 9 amps maximum.

Here's a link...
Northern Tools 1000 Watt Generator

 

[Highbeam]

I'm on my second or third Poulan chain saw. I will glady buy another when I lose, break, or wear this one out. The 16" bar version is about 130$ at walmart. Do NOT buy a camoflauge colored saw, get the flourescent one.

It is one thing if you are in a relatively controlled environment cutting firewood from a stack of logs but it is quite another thing if you throw the saw in your tractor bucket along with some chain and go out and clear land. I am in the clearing land category and often set the saw down on a stump so that I can clear with the tractor. Setting the saw down is the problem.

I ran one of the saws over with a bulldozer and dropped a tree on another. The only other failure I have had was the pull rope breaking and the handles breaking when trying to get the saw unstuck. The engines always start well and run with plenty of power. I can bend a bar back well enough to get it working.

If I had done any of these dumb things with a nice Stihl saw then I would be very unhappy.

Oh to answer your question, I think it would be foolish for an owner of 20 acres with woods to NOT have a gas powered chainsaw.

 

[Champy]

I would approach this question from another perspective: Everything you own is going to breakdown or need repairs eventually - right? Do you really want to burn up useful hours (and fuel) running your $20k tractor to power a $200 chainsaw? Every hour of duty cycle time on a tractor or generator is spent getting closer to a failure or breakdown of some kind.

If you do experience a breakdown when cutting up trees, would you rather have to repair (or replace) your $20k tractor; your $1200 generator; or a $200 chainsaw? At some labor rates and parts prices, you'd have been further ahead to buy the wood already cut; stacked; and delivered!

Buy a regular gas powered chainsaw; treat it right or abuse it.....replacing it or fixing it is still way cheaper than fixing the other equipment so you can run an electric chainsaw.

My 2 cents........

 

[Egon]

What amperage does your Poulan electric saw draw?

The inverter idea may work for low amp tools but it should be running with a deep cycle battery which you will not have on the tractor. The inverters are also quite expensive as soon as you get into a decent amperage/watt range.

It's always nice to have a generator on hand.

Myself, I'd go for a gas chainsaw in your price range. Much easier to move around and no cord to tangle up in the bushes, trip over or cut through.

The Electric may also be much slower and not have all the safety features one gets with the new gas saws.

In any case all the different methods will work soooo?????