Best bar for milling with ms261

[philipkolterman]

I would like to try chainsaw milling with my stock MS261. All pine. Small trees 10 to 16 inches at the largest. I have the stock 20" sthil rollomatic E bar. I notice that some of the mills indicate that a laminate bar will not hold up so I was thinking of getting a new bar for the ripping chain. Anyone have a recommended bar? I notice that there are not a lot of 20" 3003 mount .063 gauge .325 pitch bars on the market.

I'd also be interested in any ripping chain recommendations?

Thanks for the help.

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[Stihl99]

Welcome
IMHO and paying attention to these guys when they talk about milling the 261 is too small for that work

 

[EchoRomeoCharlie]

My recommendation would be to not mill with a 261.

Find an older, 70cc saw on craigslist and let 'er eat.

 

[blsnelling]

Not a wise choice for milling, especially if it's the MTronic version. You need to run a saw very rich when milling.

 

[merc_man]

As said already too small will just ruin the poor little saw. I use my 038 mag if not too big a log but i also have a 066 for bigger logs. Its a very addictive hobby so might as well hite the bullet and get a bigger saw.

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[user 122190]

Sounds like the wrong tool for the job.

Try this. Think of the muscles and the gorgeous women that will swoon at your appearance and beg to feel the biceps and pectorals.

 

[GeorgiaVol]

If you just HAD to use that saw, I imagine your best choice would be a narrow kerf bar with a razor sharp chain and to go slow.

 

[Mad Professor]

Not sure if stihl has the bars here but a 0.325 0.050 NK bar/chain, or a 3/8 0.050 picco/lopro.

But like they said ^, 261 is too small to mill much with

 

[monkfish]

I'm just getting started, and my experience is limited to the first three logs I've milled, so take that for what it's worth... I also searched around this site to see if my saw was up to the task. And then I went ahead anyway.

For reference, I have a MS261-CM, the stock 20" bar and RM chain, and the Granberg Small Log Mill. Also tried the Archer ripping chain from Amazon. Cutting spruce, 14-16" diameter or so.

• First log I cut was from a dead tree, and I cut from the top section that was mostly rotten. Great log for just figuring things out, but it cut way too easily and made a poor representation of typical. Too bad they all aren't that easy!
• Second log was decent wood. Slowed down a lot - about 1 foot per minute. Bogs down easily, saw and chain both running very hot, but I made it through it going slowly and giving the saw a break several times during each cut and a long break after.
• By time I finished the third log... I went home and ordered a MS660.

It was enough to get me excited about chainsaw milling, especially after finishing my first 2x4s and a couple of 6x6's.

If you gotta do it to convince yourself that it is worth spending more money on a setup more dedicated to milling... I know the 261 will do it at least three times.

Good luck!

 

[philipkolterman]

Thanks all for the feedback!

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[user 122190]

• 
  
• By time I finished the third log... I went home and ordered a MS660

Lol. Says it all and best.

 

[sbhooper]

If you are going to use a small saw, watch some videos on free-hand milling. You can cut some good boards if you have a steady hand. I tried it with my 261 one time and cut out a pretty good 5x5 piece of red cedar.. If you were going to use it for something nice, it would take some smoothing out, but the saw and the method work well.

 

[Stihl a grasshopper]

Sounds like the wrong tool for the job.

Try this. Think of the muscles and the gorgeous women that will swoon at your appearance and beg to feel the biceps and pectorals.

I have used one of these, and I was impressed with how fast they can cut! It did also impress the ladies…