Church Disaster Response Team Chainsaws Setup

[Saw_Squatch]

Right out the gate this is going to a bit of a different take than we get here on the forum but I think this would be an interesting thought experiment to bounce off the old interwebs so let me know what you guys think.

So the other day a church leader in my local church was talking about disaster response teams and mission trips and how generally unprepared people were for dealing with disasters when the time comes. We remembered going down to Joplin, MO right after the tornado hit and how most crews weren't able to do much with their 35cc homeowner saws in 28" Osage Orange.

Long story short we got talking what kind of tool setup we could have on standby ready for an emergency response crew made up of volunteers from church members in the conference to be able to grab and go to help with disaster relief.

What kind of combo of saws would you guys suggest for a crew like this of maybe 5-15 non professional people?
I'd like to keep things as interchangeable as possible so like all saws be Stihl, or echo, or Husqvarna, but different models in those brands. Maybe a 3 saw setup?
We'd make sure PPE was available but just remember we wouldn't necessarily have control over these volunteers experience levels so how big of saws are too big?

I'd love to hear what people think about this and see where this goes

 

[Saw_Squatch]

So for example I was thinking of making our max saw size around 60cc and probably keeping it in around the farm&home price range like a Stihl 391, echo 590, or a husky 460, something that can pull a 24" bar under $500? Maybe have 2 more saws progressively smaller like maybe a 50cc and a top-handle?

 

[dahmer]

Smart thinking on all saws being the same, reduces confusion, same as a firearm in a combat situation if yours quits and you need to grab another one. Everybody will have a different opinion but my choice would be all Echo 590, 60 cc, 20” bar. Draw back to that is stock Echo 20” bar is 70 dL, not 72 dL as most other 20” saws. You could swap out the bars with aftermarket to conform to the 72 dL which can be found most places.

 

[ammoaddict]

Personally, with inexperienced people I would stay with 50- 60cc saws. You can do a lot with those saws. If the wood gets too big for a 60cc saw, it's probably too big for inexperienced operators as well. Husqvarna, echo or Stihl would all do nicely.

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[ammoaddict]

So for example I was thinking of making our max saw size around 60cc and probably keeping it in around the farm&home price range like a Stihl 391, echo 590, or a husky 460, something that can pull a 24" bar under $500? Maybe have 2 more saws progressively smaller like maybe a 50cc and a top-handle?

I would stay away from top handle saws for amateurs. It's too tempting to use it onehanded and get hurt.

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[dahmer]

Congrats on having a response team at your church. I tried to start a wood cutting/splitting ministry. We have quite a few older members that can no longer cut enough wood for a years supply, they’re in their 80’s. I got zero support. I cut for myself and some of those couples to make sure they have enough for the winter so my scrounging is like scrambling trying to get enough wood for three families, but the LORD always provides. Called an ad today about removing an oak that came down in our last storm. All the limbs have been cut off and removed. All that’s left is a 45’ trunk 31” at the base that I can drive right up to, buck, load and leave. Going to get it tomorrow. By the way I should watch how I say “older”, I’m 64.

 

[dahmer]

I would stay away from top handle saws for amateurs. It's too tempting to use it onehanded and get hurt.

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DITTO!

 

[Thumper88]

I would probably do 3 identical saws instead of progressively smaller ones. That way you have complete parts interchangeability, control setups, etc. If it was me I’d do three MS291s with 20” bars and green dot chains. Big enough to cut most stuff, but no so big as to really overwhelm a volunteer who is less experienced. On that same note, I would also include canned fuel in the kits just to ensure they didn’t get straight gassed and that they had stabilized fuel in them at all times.


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[Clifford NC]

Hi, new guy here, I saw this topic and decided to join up! Going on a hurricane relief trip a few years ago is what got me interested in chainsaws. I mainly carried wood to the curb on that trip. After that trip I started sawing some and picking up chainsaws here and there (was given a few and fixed some craigslist saws.) There are always a lot of limbs and branches to cut up where a tornado or hurricane has come through. Several of the homeowner type saws come in handy here. And if one stops working, grab another! Also needed is a larger saw for large trunks. Echo CS-590 for larger stuff and Poulans for limbing...

 

[Lee H]

If your crew is made up of novice level guys and your talking about large trees like the 28" osage orange, This size wood
nor the saws to cut this size or close to it really isn't novice work. Someone could get hurt. Small trees and brush are a
different story. JMHO.

 

[Stevetheboatguy]

Personal opinion here. Having done a few volunteer clean ups. I would suggest simple simple simple. The people that often are involved have a huge desire to help, but many times do not have the proper know how. This causes confusion, danger and often more work. But on the flip side there is always one or two that will always know their stuff.

That being said. I would keep the saw plan simple and easy. Say two 455/460 ranchers with 18-20" bars and a 450 with a 16-18". All running the same pitch chain. I'd prefer .325 for the intended user's. It seems more controllable for a novice and they are usually cheaper. Figure once the chain is rocked just pitch it and put a new one on. Wouldn't bother sharpening. Seen some gnarly chains come back from storm cleanup. Yard trees, trees with car parts in them. Saws used to cut roof sections small enough for a dumpster. All kind of abuse in the name of helping their fellow man kind.


Steven

 

[sawmikaze]

I'm not sure if it's coincidental but myself along with all the guys that I work with or have worked with have some type of battle wound from a chainsaw. And those wounds came from smaller wood/branches and smaller saws. People get comfortable with smaller saws and smaller wood and do things they wouldn't with a bigger saw in bigger wood.

 

[Saw_Squatch]

Smart thinking on all saws being the same, reduces confusion, same as a firearm in a combat situation if yours quits and you need to grab another one. Everybody will have a different opinion but my choice would be all Echo 590, 60 cc, 20” bar. Draw back to that is stock Echo 20” bar is 70 dL, not 72 dL as most other 20” saws. You could swap out the bars with aftermarket to conform to the 72 dL which can be found most places.

So maybe have the same saw with a few bar options things like that. I definitely don't trust people to file or take care of chain so maybe have a few bars with a few loops a piece would keep them cutting when they jack up the chains

 

[Saw_Squatch]

I would stay away from top handle saws for amateurs. It's too tempting to use it onehanded and get hurt.

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Guess I hadn't thought about that, good call. Maybe have a pole saw instead or something

 

[Saw_Squatch]

I would probably do 3 identical saws instead of progressively smaller ones. That way you have complete parts interchangeability, control setups, etc. If it was me I’d do three MS291s with 20” bars and green dot chains. Big enough to cut most stuff, but no so big as to really overwhelm a volunteer who is less experienced. On that same note, I would also include canned fuel in the kits just to ensure they didn’t get straight gassed and that they had stabilized fuel in them at all times.


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I'd definitely keep them stored with can gas, these saws could be used to cut 3 cords one day and then sit for 6 months afterwards. The having canned gas 24/7 is a good call though.

 

[Saw_Squatch]

Congrats on having a response team at your church. I tried to start a wood cutting/splitting ministry. We have quite a few older members that can no longer cut enough wood for a years supply, they’re in their 80’s. I got zero support. I cut for myself and some of those couples to make sure they have enough for the winter so my scrounging is like scrambling trying to get enough wood for three families, but the LORD always provides. Called an ad today about removing an oak that came down in our last storm. All the limbs have been cut off and removed. All that’s left is a 45’ trunk 31” at the base that I can drive right up to, buck, load and leave. Going to get it tomorrow. By the way I should watch how I say “older”, I’m 64.

Ministries tend to do that, everyone thinks their good ideas until it's their weekend lol

 

[Saw_Squatch]

If your crew is made up of novice level guys and your talking about large trees like the 28" osage orange, This size wood
nor the saws to cut this size or close to it really isn't novice work. Someone could get hurt. Small trees and brush are a
different story. JMHO.

Definitely not something an average weekend warrior should attempt even with the right equipment and luckily in that situation the locals who knew what they were doing took over, that was more of an illustration of how in over their heads some of these volunteer groups can get without good planning and equipment.

 

[Ryan Browne]

If I were you I'd try to spend some time on the phone with @Philbert if he's so willing. This kinda scenario is right in his wheelhouse. I rode with him to the Iowa gtg last year and was very intrigued by all the strategies they use to safely manage equipment and volunteers in disaster relief situations.

 

[Saw_Squatch]

I'm not sure if it's coincidental but myself along with all the guys that I work with or have worked with have some type of battle wound from a chainsaw. And those wounds came from smaller wood/branches and smaller saws. People get comfortable with smaller saws and smaller wood and do things they wouldn't with a bigger saw in bigger wood.

I've seen it first hand on the private side of things, but I became a lot more aware when I got into government sawyering. There's no way I would send anymore regardless of their experience out without good chaps, steel toe boots, a hard hat, eyes and ear pro anymore, too much liability otherwise

 

[Saw_Squatch]

Personal opinion here. Having done a few volunteer clean ups. I would suggest simple simple simple. The people that often are involved have a huge desire to help, but many times do not have the proper know how. This causes confusion, danger and often more work. But on the flip side there is always one or two that will always know their stuff.

That being said. I would keep the saw plan simple and easy. Say two 455/460 ranchers with 18-20" bars and a 450 with a 16-18". All running the same pitch chain. I'd prefer .325 for the intended user's. It seems more controllable for a novice and they are usually cheaper. Figure once the chain is rocked just pitch it and put a new one on. Wouldn't bother sharpening. Seen some gnarly chains come back from storm cleanup. Yard trees, trees with car parts in them. Saws used to cut roof sections small enough for a dumpster. All kind of abuse in the name of helping their fellow man kind.


Steven

seconded on the chains it wasn't until fairly recently in life that I learned about filing chain, Evey guy I ever worked with and every farmer I knew brought 3 loops into the woods, swapped then when they rocked them, and dropped the chains off at the saw shop for grinding.