Al Weber
ArboristSite Member
I have a RipSaw that I am using to mill hardwoods from my woodlot in NH. It is limited by its 14" capacity and for the most part, everything I have milled to date has been within that capacity. Now I have a felled rock maple with a base diameter of about 30" diameter that I would like to mill but I don't have the capability. The reason I don't have a CSM currently is cost of a larger chainsaw. I have a 029 Super Farmboss, a 019T, and a 036 on the RipSaw. I really do not want to buy a larger saw so I am thinking of buying an Alaskan, a 24 inch bar for my 029 and some ripping chain to allow me to get larger logs down to size for the RipSaw. I know the 029 is not an optimal saw for milling but my question is whether equipping it with a 24 inch bar and a ripping chain would be a waste of money and time. I am willing to put up with a slow milling operation for preparing the cants but if the 029 simply isn't large enough, then I don't want to do it. I can get a local mill to come to my site and I expect it would be fairly costly today given fuel costs, etc.
If it is reasonable to use the 029, what recommendations for a bar and chain would you have? The 029 currently is running an 18" bar and a 0.325 pitch drive. Is there 0.325 pitch rip chain available or will I have to change the sprocket?
If it is reasonable to use the 029, what recommendations for a bar and chain would you have? The 029 currently is running an 18" bar and a 0.325 pitch drive. Is there 0.325 pitch rip chain available or will I have to change the sprocket?