Saw Suggestions

[RON58]

I want to make up a chainsaw mill attachment. Need a saw thats capable to use 30" bar. Can't spend a lot of money so looking for older saw that runs.Whats a good one to look for?

 

[Mad Professor]

Something > 90cc.

066, 056M stihls

390xp, 395xp husky

088 or 3120 would be even better

 

[blsnelling]

You're not going to get a saw powerful enough to run a 30" mill for cheap. The two simply don't go together. New, you're looking at a MS660 or equivalent. Used, you might look at a 045/056/051/075/076. You're still going to pay good money for a good running saw that's 20 years old.

 

[brages]

How about a Shindaiwa 757..?

Or one of those big old Sachs-Dolmars? quick:http://cgi.ebay.com/Sachs-Dolmar-Ch...ryZ20538QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem


Can you use picco chain on it to reduce the power requirement?

 

[parrisw]

You can use smaller chain, I wouldn't go smaller then 325 though. You'll probably have to make up the bar yourself though, like put a 325 tip on a 3/8 bar, they usually don't come that big with a 325 tip. Some good deals to be had on big used saws. I use a 394xp for milling, and I only paid $295 about 4 years ago for it.

 

[Wet1]

I don't think I'd recommend .325 chain on a 30"+ 90cc+ saw.

 

[parrisw]

I don't think I'd recommend .325 chain on a 30"+ 90cc+ saw.

I use 3/8 for milling, but some people use 325 on big saws for milling. Smaller cut, less waste, takes less power.

 

[BobL]

If you look in the Milling forum you'll see a number of guys running 325 on bigger saws. The very experienced Aggiewoodbutcher runs 325 out to a 42" bar. If you are chasing a narrow kerf you will do better with LP 3/8 chain. I use LP 3/8 050 on my small mill (20" bar, 50 cc Homelite 340) and it rips a 16" log almost as fast as my 076 with standard 3/8, and it uses a lot less fuel.

 

[RON58]

Is using a saw for milling any harder on it than regular sawing say fire wood and cutting down? I guess I could pick up a decent big saw. I just don't want to mess up a saw at first while learning to do this. I'll be sawing probable all pine by the way.

 

[heimannm]

Milling normally involves fairly long runs at wide open throttle and so is much harder on the saw. Unless you are feller cutting very large trees, milling is about as demanding as it gets.

Mark

 

[brages]

394xp Husqvarna in the Trading Post, $350: http://www.arboristsite.com/pp-classifieds/showproduct.php?product=2134&cat=6

 

[Taxmantoo]

Would this be enough saw, or a bit too small?