Best 70 cc milling saw

[gink595]

My 7900 did fine freehand milling some 24" sugar maple with a 28" bar...I suspect it would have done even better with a mill attachment and something smooth to guide along.

I used mine last week that way on a 40" walnut, I had a 32" bar burried in it for about 10', the only time I stopped was to refuel, I don't want to do that to much I was getting a little nervous for running it that hard for that long, but it still blows 180 psi.

 

[BarkBuster20]

I hadn't thought of it, but I agree that the 038mag is also a good choice in this size segment.

i believe the 038 mag has great potential as a smaller milling saw.

 

[Meadow Beaver]

i believe the 038 mag has great potential as a smaller milling saw.

It should be ok, if you mod it there isn't much you can do for interchanging parts and the stock jugs suck fir porting.

 

[steve--]

Chainsaws in general are terrible for milling, and are very inefficient. A buddy of mine periodically uses his husky 3120xp for milling lumber, and even as big as it is (one of the most powerful saws made) the milling process puts a huge load on it, and it doesn't perform very well at all when compared to a band/circular saw mill.

If a person is serious about milling lumber, they should build, or buy a band or blade mill, and stay away from chains.

 

[blsnelling]

Sure the 038 mag is torquey, but it's not going to come close to outcutting a 7900.

 

[betterbuilt]

Chainsaws in general are terrible for milling, and are very inefficient. A buddy of mine periodically uses his husky 3120xp for milling lumber, and even as big as it is it is the milling process puts a huge load on it, and it doesn't perform very well at all when compared to a band/circular saw mill.

If a person is serious about milling lumber, they should build, or buy a band or blade mill, and stay away from chains.

True, But there aren't many Bandmills that can cut a slab bigger than 25inches. The chainsaw mill fills this void just fine.

 

[edisto]

I guess it depends what you are milling, but I woud have thought that 70cc and milling were mutually exclusive terms. 7900 is a strong saw I just rebuilt one myself, but they are a single ring piston design and milling is one of the hardest things on a chainsaw. If you could find a later model poulan 245 (Ithink the later ones had an auto oiler as well as the manual plunger), that might not be a bad idea. An 041 super (72cc's) might not be a bad Idea either. They are a pretty torquey (always a plus for milling) saw. An echo 8000.......oh wait that's just an 80cc saw that CUTS like a 70cc saw.

I agree. I've heard 80cc suggested as a minimum. I use an 076 now. I have an old Mac 380 to fix up (87cc), and that would be as small as I'd like to go for milling, but it is mostly hardwood around here.

Whoops...just realized how old this thread was.

 

[steve--]

True, But there aren't many Bandmills that can cut a slab bigger than 25inches. The chainsaw mill fills this void just fine.

Yeah, it gets the job done, it's just not the most efficient way to do it.

If a person is determined to use a chainsaw as a mill, their best bet is to get a custom made bar with a narrow kerf chain to reduce the load on the saw. A narrow bar and chain would work well for a mill application since both ends of the bar are secured.

 

[steve--]

I agree. I've heard 80cc suggested as a minimum. I use an 076 now. I have an old Mac 380 to fix up (87cc), and that would be as small as I'd like to go for milling, but it is mostly hardwood around here.

Whoops...just realized how old this thread was.

Yeah, but the age of the thread isn't important as long as the subject matter is still relevant.

 

[betterbuilt]

I'm building a 42 inch mill with .325 .063 chain. I hear it cuts 25% faster than 3/8.

Narrow kerf sound fine but scares me a little.

 

[betterbuilt]

Some of the guys in the milling section Have been testing the lo pro. They report stretching and breaking are problems over certain lengths.

 

[SawTroll]

iv given some thought to a dedicated 70cc class saw for milling.... could it possibly be a 038 mag? or 381 mag

How are you going to find a MS381 in the US?

 

[Wildman1024]

Homelite 925 would be my choice

 

[Stihl Crazy]

I would go with a Dolmar. 7900 first choice, 120si second choice. I mill 2x6 size logs max. Either will work. For bigger wood go for more cc's.

Efco 7200 or 8200 will do the job also.

 

[Trigger-Time]

Some of the guys in the milling section Have been testing the lo pro. They report stretching and breaking are problems over certain lengths.

I use Stihl .050 Picco on 20 inch and shorter bars.
I have had zero problems milling with this chain.
But have heard 24 inch bar is the max length for the .050 Picco chain.

As far as 70cc milling saw, I would go with an older long stroke saw.


TT

 

[betterbuilt]

I use Stihl .050 Picco on 20 inch and shorter bars.
I have had zero problems milling with this chain.
But have heard 24 inch bar is the max length for the .050 Picco chain.

As far as 70cc milling saw, I would go with an older long stroke saw.


TT

Yeah It's pretty small. most of the logs I do are 32inches+. I'm trying to run 325 .063 on a 42 inch bar. I've heard I'm fine if I stay smaller then 45inches. I found a 41 inch stihl bar but can't find a tip in 325. I just bought a 42 with a Oregon style tip and plan on using it. The stihl bar is just a lot wider and would probably last longer.