kendalltristan
ArboristSite Lurker
Hello, I'm Kendall from Hendersonville, North Carolina. Professionally I work as a software developer, but I try to get out in the woods to do volunteer trail maintenance at least once or twice each month (sometimes quite a bit more). I have a B chainsaw certification and feel confident working in fairly complex situations. I'll go for C when I feel more confident about the instruction/evaluation side of things. I'm also crosscut certified. Most of the tree work I do is limited to bucking blowdowns and I don't really ever have a need to fell anything.
The trails I maintain are steep and technical. As such, choosing the right tool for the job is often more a function of how much effort it'd take to get the tool and PPE to the work site than it is of how much work there is to do once there. I prefer battery chainsaws over gas due to size, weight, reduced noise, and the lack of a spillage risk, but, often as not, I'll leave the chainsaw and chaps in the car and carry a Silky Katanaboy instead.
I've started to become a little bit of an axe nerd. I've restored and rehung a couple of old heads I picked up at yard sales, which I've since given away. I also like a lot of the newer stuff that I've tried and my current number one is a Tuatahi camp axe on a 24" Hoffman handle. I also have a Hults Bruk Agdor that's fabulous to use, as well as some Council Tool stuff.
I mostly came here to get recommendations for a new battery saw. I've been using this Ryobi for the past ~3 years and, while it does a pretty good job for what I need, a lot of new stuff has come out in that time. If I can get something that'll give me a marked improvement in regards to either weight, power, or runtime without adversely affecting the other variables, I'm all ears. Doubly so if the rest of the product ecosystem looks to be good. For example, the Ryobi hedge trimmer I have is pretty weak, so I'd be happy to move to another brand with better hedge trimmers.
It's important to me to have an 18" bar. I never feel like I have quite enough reach with a 16" and, while I don't mind a 20", I don't find it necessary either. I was looking at the Husqvarna 350i and the Stihl MSA 220 (the MSA 300 is too heavy and too expensive). I'm happy to consider other options as well. Input is greatly appreciated, and if I need to post this in another forum for better visibility, just let me know. Thanks!
The trails I maintain are steep and technical. As such, choosing the right tool for the job is often more a function of how much effort it'd take to get the tool and PPE to the work site than it is of how much work there is to do once there. I prefer battery chainsaws over gas due to size, weight, reduced noise, and the lack of a spillage risk, but, often as not, I'll leave the chainsaw and chaps in the car and carry a Silky Katanaboy instead.
I've started to become a little bit of an axe nerd. I've restored and rehung a couple of old heads I picked up at yard sales, which I've since given away. I also like a lot of the newer stuff that I've tried and my current number one is a Tuatahi camp axe on a 24" Hoffman handle. I also have a Hults Bruk Agdor that's fabulous to use, as well as some Council Tool stuff.
I mostly came here to get recommendations for a new battery saw. I've been using this Ryobi for the past ~3 years and, while it does a pretty good job for what I need, a lot of new stuff has come out in that time. If I can get something that'll give me a marked improvement in regards to either weight, power, or runtime without adversely affecting the other variables, I'm all ears. Doubly so if the rest of the product ecosystem looks to be good. For example, the Ryobi hedge trimmer I have is pretty weak, so I'd be happy to move to another brand with better hedge trimmers.
It's important to me to have an 18" bar. I never feel like I have quite enough reach with a 16" and, while I don't mind a 20", I don't find it necessary either. I was looking at the Husqvarna 350i and the Stihl MSA 220 (the MSA 300 is too heavy and too expensive). I'm happy to consider other options as well. Input is greatly appreciated, and if I need to post this in another forum for better visibility, just let me know. Thanks!