Saw size for milling

[Coletti]

I've done a far bit of beech and oak with 48" (42" cut) on a 66 and thinks its similar power output. Reckon you'll be fine, but if you were going to be doing weeks of it bigger saw would be the shizzle

It's rare I do any milling and usually just small stuff but I have to cut the stems up to get them out anyway so figured I may as well spend a bit more time and mill it to make a product instead of just fire wood. Seems a shame to see them go to waste as they were lovely trees, sadly the client wouldn't have it any other way but removal

Sounds like some cracking logs there!
 
Im sure more knowledgable folk will post soon. But I agree with you 2" or 2 1/4" seems to be what the market wants. 
 
Value would depend on the quality of course and if you bother seasoning them first? How long are they? 3m x 36" should see £200 a Slab Green. Rough Hewn here sells slabs so Im sure he'll have a more of an idea of value. 
 
Would be nice to see a pic of the logs. [emoji4]

At the minute the stems are around 4m but will have to be made shorter so we can lift them to get them out, I'll aim for around 3m hopefully and see how I go. I'll definitely be getting plenty of pictures as it'll be the first bit of big milling I've done

[Rough Hewn]

If you push the budget, get a stihl ms880.
The 660 is good at milling smaller diameter wood or softwoods, but the engineering will not cope with big hard wood.
I've seen a 660 blow it's engine on 30" cedar.
Milling over 30" oak is 880 territory, it's designed for heavy use.
For a 48" cut you'll need a 60" bar.
Turn your auxiliary oiler to max.
I dislike the 3120 purely for the front chain tensioner, you can't use it without taking the mill off.
Price is dependent on the clean grain or the burry character.
Got any photos?
[emoji106]

[Coletti]

If you push the budget, get a stihl ms880.
The 660 is good at milling smaller diameter wood or softwoods, but the engineering will not cope with big hard wood.
I've seen a 660 blow it's engine on 30" cedar.
Milling over 30" oak is 880 territory, it's designed for heavy use.
For a 48" cut you'll need a 60" bar.
Turn your auxiliary oiler to max.
I dislike the 3120 purely for the front chain tensioner, you can't use it without taking the mill off.
Price is dependent on the clean grain or the burry character.
Got any photos?
[emoji106]

No pics currently but I'm off for a measure up for stump grinding on monday so I'll get some of the stems then. If I get more milling work in future I'll certainly invest in a larger saw but my question was really weather the 390xp would cope with these 2 as a one off just to get me through. I'm thinking a 48" lo pro setup giving around a 42" cut maximum

[Rough Hewn]

As a one off I'd say you'd probably be fine.
The first issue with cutting 3m oak is you will run out of fuel and oil mid cut.
Be careful with the engine over heating. Cut half way through, take the saw out let it run on low revs for a minute to cool. Turn off, refuel and oil the finish the cut. Not ideal but that would work.
What thickness of slab?
If the grain is not clean and straight, you will have to cut a thicker slab.
With character oak I usually cut about 3" but with twisted or crazy grain I will cut slabs up to 6" thick.
Do you have a machine to move the slabs?
A 3m x 1m x 75mm slabs weighs in the 200kg region.

Have you bought a 48" bar?
What's the longest bar you have now?
I ask because you can trim each side by only a few inches, then slab up with a 36/42" bar.
[emoji106]

[trigger_andy]

8 minutes ago, Rough Hewn said:

Cut half way through, take the saw out let it run on low revs for a minute to cool. Turn off, refuel and oil the finish the cut. Not ideal but that would work.

When I run out of fuel with my 064 or my 088, or get low (obviously) I just fill it idling. ?  Is this bad practice?  Never had an issue yet but I assume it could be a fire hazard? 

 

I always allow my saws to idle for a good few minutes after each cut though. Been told its good practice, some think Im wasting my time.

[Coletti]

As a one off I'd say you'd probably be fine.
The first issue with cutting 3m oak is you will run out of fuel and oil mid cut.
Be careful with the engine over heating. Cut half way through, take the saw out let it run on low revs for a minute to cool. Turn off, refuel and oil the finish the cut. Not ideal but that would work.
What thickness of slab?
If the grain is not clean and straight, you will have to cut a thicker slab.
With character oak I usually cut about 3" but with twisted or crazy grain I will cut slabs up to 6" thick.
Do you have a machine to move the slabs?
A 3m x 1m x 75mm slabs weighs in the 200kg region.

Have you bought a 48" bar?
What's the longest bar you have now?
I ask because you can trim each side by only a few inches, then slab up with a 36/42" bar.
[emoji106]

I'll be investing in a panther mill setup for it so no I don't currently have a bar big enough for it, biggest I have is currently is 28". It will be man power alone to get them out as no access for anything else (they would have to be cut up to remove anyway so figured spending a bit more time to mill it I'd at least have something to sell to pay for the time spent extracting) so I'll gauge it as I do it weight wise but I can lift circa 100kg and the lad I'll have with me isn't a small lad so will see how it goes. Thanks for the heads up 're over heating, I've enough time so just steady away.

I'm not sure on thickness of slab, I was thinking 2 1/4" but I'll post some pics up of the stems on monday and see if you think any different

[trigger_andy]

25 minutes ago, Coletti said:

I'll be investing in a panther mill setup for it so no I don't currently have a bar big enough for it, biggest I have is currently is 28". It will be man power alone to get them out as no access for anything else (they would have to be cut up to remove anyway so figured spending a bit more time to mill it I'd at least have something to sell to pay for the time spent extracting) so I'll gauge it as I do it weight wise but I can lift circa 100kg and the lad I'll have with me isn't a small lad so will see how it goes. Thanks for the heads up 're over heating, I've enough time so just steady away.

I'm not sure on thickness of slab, I was thinking 2 1/4" but I'll post some pics up of the stems on monday and see if you think any different

What about a trolley of some kind? Unless access is so narrow you'd have to turn on its side? But even then??

[Coletti]

Maybe, I'll see what I can sort before the end of the month. Think the narrower boards will fit out okay but the bigger ones may need to be put on their side. Arb trolley may work I suppose

[trigger_andy]

1 minute ago, Coletti said:

Maybe, I'll see what I can sort before the end of the month. Think the narrower boards will fit out okay but the bigger ones may need to be put on their side. Arb trolley may work I suppose

Couple of Sack Barrels at the worse.  

[Coletti]

Maybe, I'll see what I can sort before the end of the month. Think the narrower boards will fit out okay but the bigger ones may need to be put on their side. Arb trolley may work I suppose