best chainsaw for alaskan mill?

[Big J]

The Alaskan isn't fuel efficient in any guise really. Cutting at 2 inches thick, you will use about 1 litre per 5 cubic foot of timber in hardwood (my experience). If fuel efficiency is your goal, get a diesel powered bandmill. Despite having 4 times the power of the 088, the Woodmizer will cut about 10-12 cubic foot per litre of diesel. In addition to that, there are no oil costs and the red diesel is half the price. So it works out about 5-6 times cheaper once you've taken into account the 2 stroke oil. Then factor in the fact that you are losing 7.5mm more kerf on each cut and the number stack up against the chainsaw.

 

However, as a foothold for sawmilling, halving large logs and those rare and wonderful beasts of logs, the Alaskan is invaluable.

[Bob Slade]

i have got an ms880 and 3x 076's, it depends on what i an milling and how wide the stick is, but in this weather i use the 076 more because they are not such a pigs ear to start.

down side is they use a bit more fuel

[agg221]

Adding to the question: I will be using my alaskan mill quite a bit and I am remote so fuel efficiency is a big concern. Would you still go with the 880?

 

Yes.

 

It's the 'using it quite a bit' aspect. Unless your average log diameter is around 18in or less, anything smaller is going to become the rate limiting step to how much you mill, and do so very quickly.

 

I milled quite a lot of oak at around 2ft dia using an 064 and then an 066, typically straight stuff at around 20ft length. A cut would take up to about 25mins once I got to the middle, meaning a refuel, so either dragging saw right out or filling on its side, which means you can't fill right up so you need a second refuel. This meant an all-in time per board of over half an hour. I was typically cutting 2in thickness, so getting about 8 boards per tree. What with setting up time etc, a tree like that would take a day, and I would be done in by the end of it.

 

Using the 076 (well, until yesterday ) I could make the same cut in about 7mins, on a single tank of fuel. That means producing way more per day, and being less shattered at the end of it. Rate of cut is very much not linear with cc's for some reason.

 

Alec

[burrell_]

what happened to the 076 alec

[agg221]

what happened to the 076 alec

 

Stolen, along with the 090 and the Alaskan.

[Rob D]

Stolen, along with the 090 and the Alaskan.

 

Gutted Alec - what a nightmare mate - any chance of an insurance payout?

[burrell_]

sorry to here alec

what scum people that do that need shooting

[agg221]

Gutted Alec - what a nightmare mate - any chance of an insurance payout?

 

Maybe - we'll see what they say when the forms turn up. Meantime, if you spot either an 090 or 076 for sale do let me know. I've got detailed photos of both, and they've got long bars on (076 has ripping chain too) so they won't exactly make convenient firewood saws and I reckon they'll be back on the market pretty soon.

 

One of the thieves wore size 6 Reebok trainers, both wore gloves, so there isn't much to go on, but apparently there's been a bit of a spate of it round here lately.

 

Alec

[burrell_]

keep my eyes and ears open as i ent to far away

i have some white van men trying to sell me stihl chainsaws out the back of a van last week in godmanchester

[spudulike]

keep my eyes and ears open as i ent to far away

i have some white van men trying to sell me stihl chainsaws out the back of a van last week in godmanchester

 

Sorry Martin - I won't do it again:blushing::lol: