Thread: Chainsaw Mill and MS361

Milling 20 inch wood with a 361 is a joke... My 066 is geting close to max at 20 inch....

Might be o.k. for 10-12 inch, but ... and a 440 will also struggle at 20 inches...

Originally Posted by OmegaRed

If you read my previous post about getting a Husky 455 as a gift, this is a sort of continuation.

I was looking at the MS390 but I would like to do some small log lumber milling (vs normally cutting into turning blanks) so I was looking at the 361 as the next step up, but only if I can do the kind of milling I expect to do int he near future.

Expectations are that I would be using a Granberg Alaskan mill.
No logs over 24"; most of what I've encountered a could be slabbed with a
20" bar. I wouldn't expect to mill more than a 1/2 to a dozen 6'-7' logs in a year. Mostly hardwood.

How would the 361 fair in these conditions? Would it be disappointing enough that I would need an even bigger saw? If that's the case then I'll likely stick with the 390 or keep the Husky and forget about milling for now. Or will the performance be acceptable enough for the small amount I plan to do.

Basically I am trying to justify the 361 to myself by stepping up to it because it will empower milling.

Thanks
bob

Step up to at least a 70 cc saw, ie Husky 372XP.......best there is.

Originally Posted by Lakeside53

Milling 20 inch wood with a 361 is a joke... My 066 is geting close to max at 20 inch....

Might be o.k. for 10-12 inch, but ...

+1
361 won't last 5 minutes. Bucking 2 footers with a 20" bar is pushing it. I wouldn't put mine on mill, that's fo sho.

I'm new to milling but everything I've read suggests that trying to mill 20'' hardwood with a 361 (or similar sized < 70 cc saw) isn't a great idea. You may want to ask the folks here for their thoughts. If you were to do it, I'd stick to short milling lengths as the saw will cut rather slowly and the longer you run it, the higher the chances of overheating it. A logosol or similar attachment would allow you to narrow the cant quicker than a Alaskan style mill so you might be able to avoid burying all 16'' of your 20'' bar for an extended period of time.

I only use my 036 for firewood and go to a 038M for big firewood.

My 066 with picco chain goes fast with a 16" bar milling and does alright with a 25" in hardwood. I could not imagine using my 036 on the mill unless I was just edging boards.

The 361 is an improvement, but was made to do what the 036 did.

If you are milling bigger is better and even a 16" X 12' cut with my 066 makes me wonder if I need a 088.............anybody got a good used one.......

Jred 2171 slabbing 20" pine is slow going but making 2x10's is fast , i wouldn't do it with my 361 (just not enough saw to be practical).
Haven't tried the 066 yet .