Smithgor

Sounds like from both a financial and aesthetics/durability point of view the ash would be better converted to firewood. I'll source some decent posts out there. Really appreciate your guidance, everyone. Think you've saved me cash and a load of time.

Hi, thanks for the really comprehensive answer, Alec. Posts will be used for a fairly substantial pergola so they just need to stay in position for a fair few years and get covered in climbers. Dont even need to be particularly accurate or square. I suppose I'm expecting it to cost some money but I do have to shift this tree, and even making the remainder into firewood will necessitate a new saw and yield me a fair bit of firewood, worth a few bob. Another option I've thought of, having seen another post on here, is to use an Alaskan MiniMill, maybe with a 20" or 25" bar - lower cost, less accurate probably, but than that is not an issue. the 25" bar would be ideal for sawing the trunk into sections as well.

Might be interested, though looks a bit large for my purposes. I've just posted in the hope of getting advice on milling a large tree into posts. Is it still available? Whereabouts?

I've been impressed with the quality of info and professionalism of users on this forum. Hopefully, therefore, someone can help me with an 'opportunity' that has presented itself. I've been chainsawing small stuff for years at my place in N France but have just taken down a fairly large ash tree that had a potentially dangerous lean on it. I need to deal with the trunk - about 24" dia and pretty straight over about 20+ ft. - which it well over the capability of my 14" Husky. I also have a need for a load of wooden posts so want to convert the trunk of the ash into 6" square(ish) posts about 10 ft long. The tree is fairly inaccessible to transport and in the absence of a local guy with the right kit I've been considering the options. My take on 'the right kit' would be a Stihl 660 with a 36" bar and a mill set up to cut 6" slices, rather than planks. Is this the right starting point? These dont seem to be readily hireable in the UK (West Yorks) or does someone know different? Another option I'm considering is buying the saw, new or used, + ripping chain, etc to sell on after doing the job - the 2nd hand value of the 660 seems high so hopefully I'd not lose (much) money. I have access to steel fabrication kit and reckon I could build a solid mill. Alternatively, again I could buy one commercially and it sell on I suppose. Am I being realistic? I was planning to stack the 6" slices until next year before ripping them longitudinally with the Husky to make the square section posts - thinking being that I'd have a better chance of the posts being straight(er) at the end of the processing. Am I right? As I say, any thoughts by those of you in the know would be gratefully received.