saw for chainsaw milling

[herm0016]

anyone have a larger Chinese saw? looking at the holzforma 388 $240 with 28 bar and chain.

looking for something to do some chainsaw milling and not spend a ton.

also, will a ms261 handle a 24 in bar?

or better to go used? anyone have something in that size range for sale

i have a 251 with an 18 and that is my trimming and cutting saw. its done everything i have tried, including an over 3 foot dia silver maple stump. cut lots of smaller stuff. have the logs from the silver maple, and from a 16 in Norway to make something out of. in the future i expect we will loose one of our large locusts as well.

 

[ericm979]

A 24" bar is too much for a 261.

Milling is slow cutting and hard on the saw.

Milling chain will cut a little faster than regular cross cut chain.

People on other forums have reported good results from the blue assembled MS660 clones.

 

[Gale Hawkins]

A 24" bar is too much for a 261.

Milling is slow cutting and hard on the saw.

Milling chain will cut a little faster than regular cross cut chain.

People on other forums have reported good results from the blue assembled MS660 clones.

Had to look up that one. I would have to go with a used bandsaw mill because free handing a 660 sounds painful in my case.

https://www.dhgate.com/product/2pcs...VHL4jgvvYlKIbGbtPXtj6DiW9RpCHI_xoCwhEQAvD_BwE

 

[ericm979]

For milling with a saw that large (or any saw if you want consistent thickness lumber) you'd use something like an alaskan chainsaw mill.
How An Alaskan Saw Mill Works

Not free hand, but it's still work.

 

[herm0016]

Had to look up that one. I would have to go with a used bandsaw mill because free handing a 660 sounds painful in my case.

no ****. would never try that... yes with a chainsaw mill.... I did not think I needed to say that I was using a chainsaw mill when talking about chainsaw milling... my friend has the 261, but he cant seem to get it running right, and thinks a 24 on it would be ok. i thought otherwise. confirmed.

a used band saw mill will be more than 10x the price of a Chinese saw and the attachment I think. i guess that goes with the "what tractor do i need" threads.

 

[Gale Hawkins]

no ****. would never try that... yes with a chainsaw mill.... I did not think I needed to say that I was using a chainsaw mill when talking about chainsaw milling... my friend has the 261, but he cant seem to get it running right, and thinks a 24 on it would be ok. i thought otherwise. confirmed.

a used band saw mill will be more than 10x the price of a Chinese saw and the attachment I think. i guess that goes with the "what tractor do i need" threads.

There is a video of some perhaps southeast Asian location where a guy shows up bare footed with a huge chainsaw and free hands the lumber for a new home out of logs he cuts onsite. Actually the lumber looked OK considering.

 

[s219]

For an Alaskan rig, I consider 70cc the absolute smallest you should go, 75-80cc is better (or even bigger if you can swing it). The saw should have good airflow, also good chip discharge, and good oiling capacity.

 

[yomax4]

For an Alaskan rig, I consider 70cc the absolute smallest you should go, 75-80cc is better (or even bigger if you can swing it). The saw should have good airflow, also good chip discharge, and good oiling capacity.

I agree. I was out to mill some cherry boards. A friend picked up an Alaskan Mill at a sale. I have an 044 with 28" bar and bought the proper chain for milling. I wasn't worth all the trouble and slow cut time. Saw got hot, used a ton of fuel and was more valuable than the wood so I aborted the project.

 

[herm0016]

For an Alaskan rig, I consider 70cc the absolute smallest you should go, 75-80cc is better (or even bigger if you can swing it). The saw should have good airflow, also good chip discharge, and good oiling capacity.

Thanks. this is exactly the kind of advice i was looking for.

 

[Toyboy]

That's a strenuous job for an appropriate name brand saw. And you want to try it with a chinese clone?
Good luck.