Is milling hard on saws?

[Paddy1000111]

Just now, topchippyles said:

Your arse hopping about with all these saws and the simple fact is the 880/881 are the best and really the only option apart from the biggest of the huskies to be able to mill the slabs your looking at.

Oh yea, 100% if I am milling it will HAVE to be a 881. I was just saying that my origional plan was to get a 661 that I would occasionally mill maybe 30" stuff at a push. Not sure where all this other saw stuff came into the equation. Probably me saying that I would have to use the 881 for felling big stuff where I was going to get a 661 because of budget. 

[AndrewS]

Firstly the winch - much easier and smoother than pushing the saw, the pricey rail system is superb and the synchronised rise/fall is way better than the chewing gum u-bolts on the columns of the Alaskan.

 The Alaskan works well, but if you’re planning to do a lot of milling I don’t think you’d regret the extra investment in a Panther.

[topchippyles]

1 minute ago, Paddy1000111 said:

Oh yea, 100% if I am milling it will HAVE to be a 881. I was just saying that my origional plan was to get a 661 that I would occasionally mill maybe 30" stuff at a push. Not sure where all this other saw stuff came into the equation. Probably me saying that I would have to use the 881 for felling big stuff where I was going to get a 661 because of budget. 

661 will mill perfectly fine just not the size stuff your looking at doing 

[Paddy1000111]

2 minutes ago, AndrewS said:

Firstly the winch - much easier and smoother than pushing the saw, the pricey rail system is superb and the synchronised rise/fall is way better than the chewing gum u-bolts on the columns of the Alaskan.

 The Alaskan works well, but if you’re planning to do a lot of milling I don’t think you’d regret the extra investment in a Panther.

You know what, I would have made a cock up there. I didn't look at the mechanisms! I saw the grips on the rod in the centre of the alaskan and assumed it had the synchro rise/fall but they're just there for show! Panther kit it is! 

[topchippyles]

5 minutes ago, AndrewS said:

Firstly the winch - much easier and smoother than pushing the saw, the pricey rail system is superb and the synchronised rise/fall is way better than the chewing gum u-bolts on the columns of the Alaskan.

 The Alaskan works well, but if you’re planning to do a lot of milling I don’t think you’d regret the extra investment in a Panther.

Spot on andrew and Rob D has the full selection.Paddy1000111 i suggest you look at a few of rob D milling videos before committing to anything as he really does know the best setups to use. Get nearly all my stuff from him to be fair.

Edited December 18, 2020 by topchippyles

[Paddy1000111]

1 minute ago, topchippyles said:

Spot on andrew and Rob D has the full selection.Paddy1000111 i suggest you look at a few of rob D milling videos before committing to anything 

I'll have a look for sure. It looks like the bars are out of stock until feb 21 anyway so I have some breathing/research room luckily. Apparently the company is happy to wait if I am serious about buying the mill and doing the work which is good. They seem genuine to be fair, I explained I haven't got any experience and they are willing to work with me so it will be an interesting side step! 

[Moose McAlpine]

10 minutes ago, Paddy1000111 said:

Probably me saying that I would have to use the 881 for felling big stuff. 

 

It'd have to be massive stuff! We felled a big beech the other day and using an 880 it was just so heavy and awkward. Used a 661 instead and even that knackered my arms! They get heavy real quick.

[Paddy1000111]

1 minute ago, Moose McAlpine said:

 

It'd have to be massive stuff! We felled a big beech the other day and using an 880 it was just so heavy and awkward. Used a 661 instead and even that knackered my arms! They get heavy real quick.

Well it's a budget thing. Buy a 661 for occasional large work and not mill or buy a 881 and milling and occasional large work. Hopefully the 881 being more ergonomic etc etc will make the stuff easier. If not, I'll get a gym membership  

[topchippyles]

4 minutes ago, Paddy1000111 said:

I'll have a look for sure. It looks like the bars are out of stock until feb 21 anyway so I have some breathing/research room luckily. Apparently the company is happy to wait if I am serious about buying the mill and doing the work which is good. They seem genuine to be fair, I explained I haven't got any experience and they are willing to work with me so it will be an interesting side step! 

If you were a little closer could  have had a day milling and shown how i go about it. Works well for me 

[Moose McAlpine]

2 minutes ago, Paddy1000111 said:

Well it's a budget thing. Buy a 661 for occasional large work and not mill or buy a 881 and milling and occasional large work. Hopefully the 881 being more ergonomic etc etc will make the stuff easier. If not, I'll get a gym membership  

 

Yeah, if milling is the priority then go straight to the 881. Can be had for about 1200 i think, which i didn't think was bad for what it is.

 

If you're handling it every day you won't need a gym membership!