Ancient One
ArboristSite Operative
Started my first milling a few weeks ago. Made all the mistakes. The 80 cc Pro Mac 800 was useless. Changed to my 076 Stihl, lots of improvement over the little Mac. On the 076, I used Carlton .404 milling chain, 36 inch bar. Maybe 15 minutes for a 10 foot log (Old Growth Fir), cut was 22 inches wide. Then the darn starter recoil spring broke!
I had a nice 895 Mac Gear Drive saw on the shelf that I bought from Sawfun on this site. Hmm. Why not?
Put on a 36 inch sprocket tip bar with new Archer .404 milling chain. Also put on the NOS handle bar I bought on ebay last year.
Set up in the 36 Alaskan. I also have the 56 Alaskan.
Winch close up.
Guide ladder set up.
Pulley end. Note the E Strut extensions. Lets me use the guide ladder on a 10 foot log and still have overhang on each end to support the saw at the start and finish of the cut. This is very important!
Starting end. Note the guide ladder overhang.
Rope anchor.
Ready to rumble! First cut for the slab on the ground was about 15 inches wide. Ha! 4 minutes! The winch makes it real easy to operate the mill. Fingertips on the winch handle, easy turning. Left hand on the throttle.
Don't have a photo of the second cut, about 20 inches wide. 6 minutes!
The gear reduction 103 cc mac 895 performed flawlessly. Easy to start with the compression release, large fuel and oil tank capacities, no bogging, wow, nice performance for a 55 year old saw.
And the Archer milling chain works great. Two cuts and still sharp. It is full comp .404x.063 with Archers milling (Or Ripping) grind. I bough a 100 foot reel of it last year.
I will do some more milling tomorrow. When the 090AV Stihl gets back from the saw shop (Carb problems) I will mount it in one of the Alaskan Mills and give it a try.
I had a nice 895 Mac Gear Drive saw on the shelf that I bought from Sawfun on this site. Hmm. Why not?
Put on a 36 inch sprocket tip bar with new Archer .404 milling chain. Also put on the NOS handle bar I bought on ebay last year.
Set up in the 36 Alaskan. I also have the 56 Alaskan.
Winch close up.
Guide ladder set up.
Pulley end. Note the E Strut extensions. Lets me use the guide ladder on a 10 foot log and still have overhang on each end to support the saw at the start and finish of the cut. This is very important!
Starting end. Note the guide ladder overhang.
Rope anchor.
Ready to rumble! First cut for the slab on the ground was about 15 inches wide. Ha! 4 minutes! The winch makes it real easy to operate the mill. Fingertips on the winch handle, easy turning. Left hand on the throttle.
Don't have a photo of the second cut, about 20 inches wide. 6 minutes!
The gear reduction 103 cc mac 895 performed flawlessly. Easy to start with the compression release, large fuel and oil tank capacities, no bogging, wow, nice performance for a 55 year old saw.
And the Archer milling chain works great. Two cuts and still sharp. It is full comp .404x.063 with Archers milling (Or Ripping) grind. I bough a 100 foot reel of it last year.
I will do some more milling tomorrow. When the 090AV Stihl gets back from the saw shop (Carb problems) I will mount it in one of the Alaskan Mills and give it a try.