csmillingnoob
ArboristSite Operative
I'm only a weekend milling warrior. I had intended to get a 395 xp for my milling weekends but my dealer made me a great offer on a 390 demo head (plus service promises) and I happened to have spare cash in my pocket that day. I jumped. I hope my excited purchase doesn't bite me in the butt.
It is now past the break-in and I have put in about 32 (intermittent) hours of milling with it, mostly with a 32" bar and some with a 36". I have the oiler opened all the way and I use a nose oiler. The powerhead does its job with those bars and I'm comfortable that I'm not overloading the saw (though metal in the heart of a red oak last weekend caused some anxiety) However, I have opportunities to cut a lot of free 30-36" red oak, pecan and some Live Oak thanks to Hurricane Michael. The 36" bar won't get it if I want to keep cutting live edge.
I have a 42" that I warmed up (stretched) the chain on with one gentle 30"cut last weekend. As I said, I run the oiler wide open and drip lots of canola on the tip while I cut. Nevertheless, I am a bit concerned about making 36" cuts of these hardwoods with the 42".
Assuming I can make most cuts with the 36", am I safe running the 42" for a couple of center cuts each outing? Am I being a wuss about this or am I pushing too far?
Are there any modifications I can make to keep the powerhead cooler? (Yeah, my hand doesn't like the exhaust when I forget my glove). If muffler modification, should it be mild, medium or extreme?
Please don't tell me I should have saved up a bit more for the 395.
Hoping to hear a lot of "Shut Up Wuss."
It is now past the break-in and I have put in about 32 (intermittent) hours of milling with it, mostly with a 32" bar and some with a 36". I have the oiler opened all the way and I use a nose oiler. The powerhead does its job with those bars and I'm comfortable that I'm not overloading the saw (though metal in the heart of a red oak last weekend caused some anxiety) However, I have opportunities to cut a lot of free 30-36" red oak, pecan and some Live Oak thanks to Hurricane Michael. The 36" bar won't get it if I want to keep cutting live edge.
I have a 42" that I warmed up (stretched) the chain on with one gentle 30"cut last weekend. As I said, I run the oiler wide open and drip lots of canola on the tip while I cut. Nevertheless, I am a bit concerned about making 36" cuts of these hardwoods with the 42".
Assuming I can make most cuts with the 36", am I safe running the 42" for a couple of center cuts each outing? Am I being a wuss about this or am I pushing too far?
Are there any modifications I can make to keep the powerhead cooler? (Yeah, my hand doesn't like the exhaust when I forget my glove). If muffler modification, should it be mild, medium or extreme?
Please don't tell me I should have saved up a bit more for the 395.
Hoping to hear a lot of "Shut Up Wuss."