Which bar for MS461?

[Dan.masterman]

Hi guys.

Im looking to get my first mill soon as got a walnut that is coming down in a few weeks and just recently got access to a woodland that is due for thin. I have a 461 which I run a 25" bar on for my tree work. Been doing some reading on the low pro bar and chains saying they can run bigger bars so am going to dive down that route but trying to work out which bar length to get as I want to be able to cut widest boards possible. Can a 461 handle the 36" low pro set up without trashing the saw long term or is 30" the way to go? 

And do you guys hand sharpen whilst you mill or is that electric chain sharpener worth its salt?

 

Any advice would be sound,

 

ta

[CDMR]

I run a 661 with a 36" lo-pro bar and it can struggle on a full width cut in harder wood so I would think you may struggle with a 461 and about a bhp less. Hopefully someone who has tried it will be along.

 

Personally I hand sharpen but I don't mill every day or on a day rate otherwise I might have been tempted to the darkside. If you are mainly working in woodland and away from the boundary your risk of hitting metal should be a bit lower which works wonders for chain longevity.

[billpierce]

It's stick with 25''. You'll hammer your saw with a 30 or 36 of saw. My 660 is slow enough with a 30.

I hand sharpen. Not tried an electric. You will get very fast at hand sharpening if your not already!

[Dan.masterman]

Cheers for your feedback, much appreciated. Think I'll start on a 25 and see how she goes. I'm reading between the lines but pretty sure you guys are encouraging me to get a 66 though, I think your right!

 

[Marula]

My 461 has a 25" bar on it and it runs perfectly.

[Dan.masterman]

Is that the low profile? How wide a slab can you get with a 25??

[billpierce]

Is that the low profile? How wide a slab can you get with a 25??

Around 20" slabs

[billpierce]

My 461 has a 25" bar on it and it runs perfectly.

Milling?

[Dan.masterman]

thats pretty reasonable, got this feeling the stem is gonna be bigger than 20 and don't want to squander a walnut milling opportunity but I'll have to see if the custy can keep the stem long enough for me to get a 66 on site!

 

do any of you run a hand winch off the mill? Any good??

[stihlmadasever]

You could run a larger bar 30 for example with a half or full skip chain.

The cutting will be slower but it will put less strain on the engine.

Edited October 26, 2017 by stihlmadasever