First (cheap) Milling Saw for occasional use

[KarlP]

 

[TimberMcPherson]

I have an 066 thats has been used in milling, forestry and is now an arborist saw. find one second hand, worth the $ IMHO. I havent worked with the 395 but have heard great things about them.

Timber

 

[chainsawworld]

i am running an 064 on this alaskian mill and it does just dandy. look for a larger saw with side tension and you should be fine.
marty

 

[Stumper]

I've got a clean and tight John Deere 80EV that I'm about to put up for sale. 78.7ccs- doesn't turn the Rpm the newer saws do but keeps a churnin' very well. That would be a cheap option. I'm not a miller so I don't know what is your best choice.

 

[HUSKYMAN]

Find a good used Husky 288 or 394, Jonsered 910,920, or 930, Stihl 066 or 064 or 056 Magnum, Homelite 650 or 750, or a Stihl 084 and any will serve you well

 

[eyolf]

I've got a 395xp Husky, and other than the muffler, it is stone stock. I think it mills just fine, but as you are finding out, they ain't cheap.

Were I to do over, I'd probably scrounge around for something cheaper. I enjoy milling, but I can tell it will easily wear my expensive chain saw out more quickly than felling and bucking would...why not go with one of the Solo's for a little less money? I bet they last as long!

I'm starting to plan my next adventure: a homemade band mill. Figure that 20% of your wood goes to waste as sawdust when chain saw milling...

 

[Oregon_Rob]

No Cheap hobbies

So far I have tried a lot of things and have yet to find a cheap hobbie. Chainsaw milling isn't cheap, but it is rewarding and it does provide builiding material that I wouldn't have been able to afford otherwise, (would have gone with less expensive options).
Here are the rewards from my latest project, a wind fall cedar that I traded for a small pick up load of firewood.

 

[max2cam]

Solo 690

I bought a "refurbished" Solo 690 this summer for hobby milling. A big heavy powerful and (hopefully) tough 90cc saw for about $480 delivered. This is a discontinued model so I cannot predict future availability of parts.

Actually it was not refurbished (with new parts etc.) but was a slightly used demo saw that was tuned and shipped out with a new 24" Oregon bar and chain. The people at Solo helped me sqaure away a few details (wrong size sprocket & bent clutch hub). I haven't used it for any major milling yet -- that's a winter activity -- but ripping a couple beams for my house it did the job just fine. It starts easy with the compression release (almost typed valve lifter!) runs perfect and sounds like a dirt bike.

Just put on a true ripping chain I got from Cutter's, but haven't tried it yet. But I have my sights set on a BIG dying red pine down by the river and I'll be tackling that baby probably after deer season sometime.

http://www.atthecreation.com/

 

[max2cam]

PS

KarlP,

Go easy testing that 353 for milling.

I stuck a small Stihl and was well on my way to wrecking a Jons 2050 trying to mill with them!

Ain't milling fun?

http://www.atthecreation.com/

 

[max2cam]

Originally posted by eyolf

I'm starting to plan my next adventure: a homemade band mill. Figure that 20% of your wood goes to waste as sawdust when chain saw milling...

Yeah, but then you can use the sawdust in your composting toilet....

 

[max2cam]

Here's the specs on these "reconditioned" Solos. The guy selling them will swear up and down they are factory "reconditioned/refurbished" but the guys at Solo HQ tell a slightly different story and the saws are shipped from Solo HQ in VA -- at least mine was.

If you don't mind not having a dealer within about a thousand miles, these are a SUPER deal IMO.
====================


SOLO 690 CHAINSAW $800.00 * The 690 delivers a whopping 7.4 hp. This lighweight and powerful 90 cc engine can make easy work out of virtually any job.

* Engine: SOLO 2-cycle - Nikasil coated cylinders

* Displacement: 90 cc

* Power: 7.4 hp

* Capacity: Fuel 30 oz

* Electronic Ignition

* Chain Pitch: 3/8"/.404"

* Automatic Chain Brake

* Multi-Point Anti-Vibration

* Adjustable Oiler

* Cylinder Treatment

* Primer - automatic half throttle

* Weight: 17.4 lbs

* Warranty: 2 years

SPECIAL DEAL Factory reconditioned 690 units - same specifications, like new warranty $449.00 *

------------------------------------------------------------------------

SOLO 694 CHAINSAW $729.99 * The 694 delivers 6.75 hp. This lighweight and powerful 90 cc engine can make easy work out of virtually any job. 28" bar and chain.

* Engine: SOLO 2-cycle - Nikasil coated cylinders

* Displacement: 90 cc

* Power: 6.7 hp

* Tank Capacity: 1.0 Fuel 0.4 Oil (liters)

* Electronic Ignition


* Chain Pitch: 3/8 inch

* Automatic Chain Brake

*
Multi-Point Anti-Vibration

* Adjustable Oiler

* Cylinder Treatment


* All prices plus shipping and handling
Prices and specifications subject to change at any time

http://www.allwebdiscounts.com/lg_solo_04.php3#694

 

[Jacob J.]

The Poulan 505 is a great timber falling and firewood getting saw, but it only has a single-ring piston like the Jonsered 2083. I think a dual ring piston would be better for milling for longevity. I may be wrong.

 

[rupedoggy]

It's my understanding that the Poulan Pro 505 is about 83 cc and not 98 cc. Mike