Milling English walnut

[muzzleloader]

Greetings, I recently purchased a Stihl MS290 Farmboss and a Panther chainsaw mill for slabbing up some english walnut. The farmboss came with a 20" bar and chain. When the saw is attached to the mill the max width I can cut is around 15". I would like to know if a 24" or 25" bar is doable on the MS290 ? If so where can you go to get the bar and chain. Any advice would be much appreciated........Thanks

 

[rarefish383]

Welcome to the site. I almost always check Ebay now for parts like that. Or you can support one of the site sponsors. I've delt with Baileys and they were very nice, Joe.

 

[BlueRider]

The bar you have is about max for milling with that saw. I'm sure it would cut with a longer bar but it won't do it for long and it will be pretty slow in the cut. I have an 039magnumII which is a 72Cc saw and it is most comfortable at 20" or less even though I have a 32" bar for it and have burried that when crosss cutting.

There is no substitute for cc's when milling. keep the bar you have, you will want that saw for trimming up the ends, and look for a bigger saw to handle a larger bar. We get a lot of 24" and over stuff here (you are an hour south of me) so you might want to keep an eye out for something in the 90+cc range.

 

[BlueRider]

I forgot to add that english walnut around here is particularly susceptable to bugs to the poijnt that in over 15 years of milling I have yet to come across any without bugs. If the trunk has a lot of dammage from powder post beatles I would recomend passing on it and keeping an eye out for some claro or bastagone. I know that might not be what you want to hear but if you are patient you will come across some good stuff without bugs.

 

[muzzleloader]

I forgot to add that english walnut around here is particularly susceptable to bugs to the poijnt that in over 15 years of milling I have yet to come across any without bugs. If the trunk has a lot of dammage from powder post beatles I would recomend passing on it and keeping an eye out for some claro or bastagone. I know that might not be what you want to hear but if you are patient you will come across some good stuff without bugs.

Thank you bluerider for your reply. I have almost finished milling the 30 logs I have been working on the past couple of months. Most of the logs were 20" to 30" in diameter with some very nice heartwood. You are totaly right, there is no substitute for raw power. I am a newbie to cs milling and will be looking for some more cc's, possibly an MS440. With the exception of one log, all were bug free. The one that was infected was the powder post beatle and I am taking precautions to prevent them from spreading. They can do a lot of damage quickly. Thanks again for your help and happy milling in Paso Robles

 

[BlueRider]

Thank you bluerider for your reply. I have almost finished milling the 30 logs I have been working on the past couple of months. Most of the logs were 20" to 30" in diameter with some very nice heartwood. You are totaly right, there is no substitute for raw power. I am a newbie to cs milling and will be looking for some more cc's, possibly an MS440. With the exception of one log, all were bug free. The one that was infected was the powder post beatle and I am taking precautions to prevent them from spreading. They can do a lot of damage quickly. Thanks again for your help and happy milling in Paso Robles

Glad it worked out for you and that the wood ended up being bug free. English walnut can have some nice grain and its buttery texture is nice to carve.

The ms440 is a good saw but if you want to do more milling yu might want to look for a 660. I have one of the cheap bailey's replaement piston and cylinders on my 038MII and it has helld up will. with that in mind I would not hesitate to pick up an older 066 and when it needs it ut a big bore kit on it. Money wise it wouuld still come in cheaper than a new ms440 and you would have way more power for milling.

Might have to hook up with you and swap some english for some claro.

There is going to be a furniture/woodworking show at the SLO art musem in Nov. I'll have a couple of claro walnut chairs there. The artists reception will be Dec 9 from 3-5 come by and say hi.