Equipment advice for 50cc

[Sukpad]

First post. Sorry if this was covered a million times but I didn't see much about using equipment as small as my stuff.

I'm very new to milling and I have a Husqvarna 550xp for my largest power saw. I played around with my 550 with a 20" bar and a Husqvarna semi chisle chain. Using a Granberg small mill. Made a live edge shelf out of somes shell bark hickory. I am happy with the results but I know I can do better.

There just isn't much info as I searched for things like .325 ripping chain or milling with small saws.

I'm tempted to covert the 550 to 3/8 and spend the money on a good 24" bar and maybe get a skipchain to make the 550. It handles a 20" bar just fine for me but it's just a thought.

I don't have a ton of money but what chain can a .325 run and besides home owner bars what's the best? Or should I convert to 3/8?

 

[Brian72]

I think the .325 would suit your situation better. Smaller cutters so it requires a little less power than 3/8. I don't know if you can get .325 skip. I run Stihl RS chain for milling. Just keep it sharp and it does great. Your saw is a bit small and Hickory is hard as hell so just don't expect miracles. I'm not trying to be a jerk so don't take it wrong. Milling just requires more power than regular cutting. For occasional projects, it'll work but if you plan on doing a lot of milling, you'll want a bigger saw.

Sent from my Moto E (4) using Tapatalk

 

[Sukpad]

Yeah I understand the power concern. I won't think twice about dropping and bucking a 30" hickory with a 550 but milling a 16" log I get it. It definitely isn't a fast process milling with this saw.

I work for a power line clearance crew in New England so I have more free wood than I could ever need. Definitely plan on milling lots but untill I can afford a 70+ cc saw this is what I got. Maybe I'll buy a few loops and a sugihara 20" .325... And a planner... Probably best to keep to 20" unless I can find a skip tooth in .325 not that there are many bar options bigger anyway

 

[cuinrearview]

A 20" in bar in normal cutting conditions is at the limit of that saw IMO. Good way to ruin a nice saw quick. You could easily sell that and trade up to a nice used 70cc or bigger unit, which would be much better suited to what you are looking to do. If you burn up the 550 you have nothing...

 

[Sukpad]

A 20" in bar in normal cutting conditions is at the limit of that saw IMO. Good way to ruin a nice saw quick. You could easily sell that and trade up to a nice used 70cc or bigger unit, which would be much better suited to what you are looking to do. If you burn up the 550 you have nothing...

Good point. I actually need the 550 for my side hustle that I occasionally do. I probably should just wait till I can get a bigger saw. I would hate to run a bigger saw all day up in the tree if I lost my 550

 

[Brian72]

Maybe look into one of these clone saws for about $300. Basically a 660 knockoff. Guys seem to be impressed for the price. As cuinrearview said, why risk busting up a good saw that just isn't up to the task.

Sent from my Moto E (4) using Tapatalk

 

[Brian72]

Maybe look into one of these clone saws for about $300. Basically a 660 knockoff. Guys seem to be impressed for the price. As cuinrearview said, why risk busting up a good saw that just isn't up to the task.

Sent from my Moto E (4) using Tapatalk

Forgot to add pic

Sent from my Moto E (4) using Tapatalk

 

[cuinrearview]

Don't waste your time with the Chinese junk. The guys that like them are OK with constantly swapping bad parts out. If you want to work on a saw find a burned up OEM saw and re-build it. You can have mechanically new all OEM for the same $$.

 

[Sukpad]

Don't waste your time with the Chinese junk. The guys that like them are OK with constantly swapping bad parts out. If you want to work on a saw find a burned up OEM saw and re-build it. You can have mechanically new all OEM for the same $$.

I have a Chinese pit bike and I imagine the saws are about the same... Lol... I have parts 550s and 372s at my job so I might be best off just nabbing a 372 down the road. I would love to get me a 572 but I bet they will be $$$$$.

 

[cuinrearview]

I have a Chinese pit bike and I imagine the saws are about the same... Lol... I have parts 550s and 372s at my job so I might be best off just nabbing a 372 down the road. I would love to get me a 572 but I bet they will be $$$$$.

Ex-tree service 372s are perfect for rebuilding. If your company ever wants to sell off any, or the 550s for that matter, drop me a PM.

 

[Sukpad]

Ex-tree service 372s are perfect for rebuilding. If your company ever wants to sell off any, or the 550s for that matter, drop me a PM.

LoL I wish. They use them for parts until there's nothing left. I work for asplundh