Help with specification of Alaskan Mill and Saw

[Crazy Cutter]

I'd also like to hear how those with 3120s get on with chainsaw milling whether they have found it a good milling saw or not.

 

I know of more than a few outfits round here who have gone over to the husky as their stihls have blown. One now has two huskys on a chainsaw mill having gone through two stihlsin a couple of years. I suppose its all hearsay really you don't know how people treat their saws?

[MattyF]

I use a 395 and I'm very impressed with it on a mill. Run a 36" bar and mill. Only had to rip a few of the larger trees to get the mill on.

 

Stihl or husky !! Lol , although I know stihl make good saws, for me personally over the last six years I have my huskys better performers and any new saw I have brought just seems to get better.... On the other hand the exact opposite appears to be happening with stihl gear, I have brought two items that have broken straight away and had to be returned to the factory or dealer... It's a long trip to my dealer, no offer of compensation for fuel or more importantly the job I could not finish that I had brought a specific tool for, then the complete arrogance from stihl about how great its products were when i rang up and complained that I still didn't have my gear back .....Screw them, there gear used to be good I have stuff that I'm still using that's ten years old but the quality is just not there any more and they honestly believe they are kings of the world. Lol

[Rob D]

I think when milling you have to be mindful of the saw. The main reason I think people may have problems is overheating the saw.

 

You need to idle the saw at periods down the log and after finishing a plank let it idle a couple of minutes to cool off.

 

Trouble is when you get tired you tend to force those last couple of planks out with a slightly dull chain and as soon as you're done switch the saw off.... My MS880 of 2 years still runs perfectly and idles well all down to be kinder to the saw.

 

I'd agree with the comments about Stihl though... they do come across as arrogant and above everyone/everything else....

[agg221]

I would agree with the comments on larger being better. The difference for me between an 066 and an 076 was significant, only about 15cc in it, but lower revs, higher torque made the difference. A MS880 would be my choice of modern saw.

 

One feature where Stihl scores for milling is the side chain tensioner. If you run a very long bar relative to the mill width (say a 47" Duromatic with a 36" mill) you can stick the mill far enough down the bar to still reach the tensioner, but it's a bit of a waste of money on the extra length, and drops the power a bit. I only do it because I picked up a cheap 47" bar and only have a 36" mill.

 

Alec