ProfessorGT
ArboristSite Lurker
Okay, while I am a "Newbie" at this milling "Hobby", I've decided my approach will be to start with an Alaskan Mini Mill plus a 36" Mark III Alaskan mill.
I've had a 605 with a 20" bar for about 10 years now and I love it. It's certainly not the saw I need for the Mini Mill (not enough power), but the 895 I have, well that one is a great powerhouse, and more than enough for the 36" Alaskan mill.
I'm looking for at least an 80cc Mac for the Mini Mill, and will put my 895 in the 36" mill. This will allow me to get started making lumber for my dream workshop, and then my plan is to build a ProCut mill to move the 895 into as things progress.
I know there must be some Salt-of-the-Earth "Macsters" out there, so let's hear from you guys on the following:
I've been told (just yesterday from a Granberg employee) that the Mac 895 is the type of saw the Alaskan Mills were designed for. He said to stay with the 404 chain size (but use ripping chain of course) as the gear reduction, coupled with the 103cc engine has all the grunt I'll ever need to cut like crazy with no problems.
Another fellow (Allan Cornes - the proprietor of ProCut) says he has no experience with the Macs, but was not sure the gear reduction unit would get proper lubrication working with the saw mounted in the mill on its side. He also recommended going to a 3/8 chain, but was not sure I'd be able to get a 3/8 drive sprocket to fit the saw.
Now I've been in the automotive business as a factory rep/field engineer/training instructor for 27 years, and I've seen my share of engineering shortcomings, but I'd be real surprised if the McCulloch engineers did not plan on making the saw able to run on its side, with respect to adequate gearbox lubrication. It just doesn't make good sense to me, but hey, it wouldn't be the first time I was wrong, if there was in fact some sort of inherent issue with these units.
So, is this 895 saw a good choice for a mobile Alaskan, or stationary ProCut style mill, or what?
What are all you die-hard McCulloch purists thinking on this one?
I've had a 605 with a 20" bar for about 10 years now and I love it. It's certainly not the saw I need for the Mini Mill (not enough power), but the 895 I have, well that one is a great powerhouse, and more than enough for the 36" Alaskan mill.
I'm looking for at least an 80cc Mac for the Mini Mill, and will put my 895 in the 36" mill. This will allow me to get started making lumber for my dream workshop, and then my plan is to build a ProCut mill to move the 895 into as things progress.
I know there must be some Salt-of-the-Earth "Macsters" out there, so let's hear from you guys on the following:
I've been told (just yesterday from a Granberg employee) that the Mac 895 is the type of saw the Alaskan Mills were designed for. He said to stay with the 404 chain size (but use ripping chain of course) as the gear reduction, coupled with the 103cc engine has all the grunt I'll ever need to cut like crazy with no problems.
Another fellow (Allan Cornes - the proprietor of ProCut) says he has no experience with the Macs, but was not sure the gear reduction unit would get proper lubrication working with the saw mounted in the mill on its side. He also recommended going to a 3/8 chain, but was not sure I'd be able to get a 3/8 drive sprocket to fit the saw.
Now I've been in the automotive business as a factory rep/field engineer/training instructor for 27 years, and I've seen my share of engineering shortcomings, but I'd be real surprised if the McCulloch engineers did not plan on making the saw able to run on its side, with respect to adequate gearbox lubrication. It just doesn't make good sense to me, but hey, it wouldn't be the first time I was wrong, if there was in fact some sort of inherent issue with these units.
So, is this 895 saw a good choice for a mobile Alaskan, or stationary ProCut style mill, or what?
What are all you die-hard McCulloch purists thinking on this one?