justin38506
ArboristSite Lurker
hi all! I need a help choosing what's the maximum size and brand off bar and ripping chain for my MS661 for milling lumber? thankx all for your help
thankx amillionI definitely wouldn't get over a 36" bar and you can easily find ripping chain by calling baileys. Fairly inexpensive compared to getting it from a dealer.
I've milled almost 30" diameter logs with my 660, but found out an aux oiler is very necessary to keep the chain sharper for more passes. Definitely take it slow though because you could burn it up. Sharpen the chain at least after 2 passes.
Also, I added foam pipe insulators to the bars of the mill to help with the vibrations on my hands. Obviously gloves will help with this also.
Good luck.
You can always mill smaller logs with a large bar, but you are causing more unnecessary strain on the power head. I personally downsize to a 24" bar for smaller logs but if all you have is a large bar that will work just fine.What about keeping a 36" bar on the ms661 but milling smaller stuff? I can't think of a reason it would be any more difficult to use the 36" bar to mill a 20" tree, now I can get behind the idea of not going over 30" milling, but yah... why not just leave the 36" on (and note, I am decidedly NOT a mechanic).
You can always mill smaller logs with a large bar, but you are causing more unnecessary strain on the power head. I personally downsize to a 24" bar for smaller logs but if all you have is a large bar that will work just fine.
The chain running across that extra amount of bar is just unnecessary and will make sharpening much more of a *****. It's your call how to go about it.
BOA
Just don't let someone walk into the other end.
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