best saw for milling

[Wood Troll]

Which saw do I go for? I'm looking at getting a bigger Alaskan mill to take a 3 foot bar. Which saw do I get? I'm told the MS880 is unreliable and too much of a monster and the MS661 is over complicated when it goes wrong. I've been recommended the Husky 395, anyone use one of these?

Edited April 19, 2015 by Wood Troll
grammer

[detritus21]

880 is a beast. I wouldn't say they are unreliable. We milled some 31inch beech with no problems with an 880 the other day. They are a tried and tested beast

[Big Beech]

I milled some 3ft beech The other week and I used my 070. I would not of wanted to cut it with anything smaller ie a 660. More poke the better. It was hard going!!

The other week I did some 42" oak and dragged out the 090 and again I wouldn't of wanted for anything smaller.

I do recall a member having issues with his 880 with the bearings melting and I went along and finished off for him

Get the biggest saw available if 3ft will be a regular occurrence

Edited April 19, 2015 by Big Beech

[Big J]

I've done hundreds of hours of milling with 088s/880s. Never anything more than consumables failing. Excellent saw. Crap air filter though.

[harvey b davison]

Have a look at the chainsaw photo thread. Shavey put one up recently of an efco, looked ideal for milling.

[agg221]

For a 3ft bar you definitely want over 100cc or it will be very slow going.

 

Do you want new or old? If new, the MS880 is probably the best option (some people like the Husqvarna 3120 but it less popular for this in general).

 

If old, the 070 and 076 are good options - good parts availability. The 084 has some obsolete parts and I wouldn't go for an 090 unless you want to go for a bigger mill as you get very little increase in cutting speed on 3ft but it is a lot more thirsty.

 

The MS660 is excellent for up to 18" width (25" bar) - not noticeably slower cutting and a lot more economical on fuel. You can always break down the log with the big saw and bar, then swap over for taking boards.

 

Alec

[Tony Croft aka hamadryad]

I've done hundreds of hours of milling with 088s/880s. Never anything more than consumables failing. Excellent saw. Crap air filter though.

 

so true, upgraded to a KandN:thumbup1:

[brisbane trees]

If you are considering a Stihl 880, why not also consider a Husqvarna 3120xp? Do you have them there? I'm in Australia and I'd say they're favoured here over the big Stihl chainsaws.

 

I don't know about for milling in particular, but we use the Huskies on tree removals.

[tommer9]

whoever told you the 880 was unreliable was chatting tripe. Its the only saw i would consider for large milling, bar none. Mine has been used since 1997 for tonnes of milling and heaps of tree surgery, and until last year nothing went wrong at all. Last year i had to have a carb kit and this year some new clutch springs. The 3120 is not built for it IMO.

[tommer9]

I've done hundreds of hours of milling with 088s/880s. Never anything more than consumables failing. Excellent saw. Crap air filter though.

 

Says it all.