I vaguely remember reading something, probably a few years ago, that the ownership or use of a chainsaw in Thailand was either illegal, or that one needed a special permit to use one.

Anyone know if that's true?

Reason I ask: for a couple of days, I heard one ripping away behind some scrub trees in a field beyond my house. Annoying, but I didn't see anything fall, so basically I ignored it.

Yesterday, a small pickup truck actually drove into the area, and three guys, one using a chainsaw, finished filling their truck with gathered and cut wood.

It seemed from what I could see, that they were only taking fallen wood and not cutting anything live, so in itself, other than the noise, it really didn't bother me. But was it legal? Particularly using a chainsaw?

Out of curiosity, I pulled out my digital camera and took a few pictures of them. Haven't done anything with them, and I'm not sure if they saw me doing it, but they did leave shortly thereafter (truck full?) and there's been nothing today. Maybe they don't want any more wood? Maybe they're concerned about photos I might have taken?

Least it's quiet again. Comments or information welcome.

Oh deary me! Please find yourself a stimulating hobby before you land yourself in trouble.

Maybe some bird 'twitching' instead of the curtains.

Yup, they're regulated, - you need to get a permitt otherwise when you start it up some nosey neighbour will be on the blower and some or other official will come round and take it away from you.

Getting a permitt can be a bit tricky if you are living in certain areas - especialy if you live up North and/or next to a nature reserve.

Actually I believe the way the law is written is that only gasoline powered chainsaws require a license. Any electric saw does not require any such permit. So if you need to cut trees in the forest, simply get a generator and a saw and have at it.

(Google "electric chainsaw" if you have a pressing need.)

What I always found humorous was that chainsaws that could cut down 1 tree required a permit. On the other hand, there was no such licensing restriction for bulldozers that could level entire blocks of trees in one pass.

Go figure.

Not for me. I could damage myself if I tried using one of those. :-)

I was just being annoyed by the noise and began remembering restrictions about chainsaws.

In PMs, I've learned that one does need a very specific licence for a chainsaw that restricts the user and its use to a specific location. As gregb indicated, this is amusing as one needs the same permit for a single tree as an entire block.

Anyway, I got the information I wanted, and don't plan on doing anything whatsoever with it unless there is some damage being done to the area back of my house. Then I do want to ensure that the bush either stays as it is, or is legally being destroyed :-(

My neighbor brought a stile 025 & a husky from en gland Packed in a container. he brought 2 wood lathes & all types of wood working equipment & they let it pass as a hobby............No tea money even. He does use it for bucking up large rounds to usable sizes. I think the govn. is more concerned about the tree raping going on. In Bang Sare many people on farms own chainsaws.

You need a permit for one ???

Im shattered, i prefer to keep a chainsaw rather than a baseball bat at my front door, it gets the message across in so many more ways.