Which bar and chain?

[blainep3]

Just purchased a 044 powerhead for my 24 in GB mill.
Read everything I could find about chains/bars.
Now more confused than ever!

I will only be milling Ponderosa Pine on mine and my neighbors property for trim boards and ceiling planks for my home. I figured I would need to plane them down for smoothness, but I am beginning to think with the right chain I might be able to forgo that step if I get the right chain. I am thinking a full or semi-skip modified chisel at 10 deg or less. Or should I just buy the GB ripping chain or a standard crosscut chain?

Thanks

 

[smokinj]

Looks like you want a 26 inch bar to max that mill out. Ripping chain this is what I use. http://www.baileysonline.com/search.asp?SKW=30RP&catID=11830



3/8 .50

 

[mtngun]

The mill clamps consume about 6" of bar, so you'd need a 30" bar to cut a 24" log.

 

[blainep3]

I thought I could use a smaller bar, but not a bigger one than 24 in. Won't the end guard keep me from using a longer bar?

 

[BobL]

Just purchased a 044 powerhead for my 24 in GB mill.
Read everything I could find about chains/bars.
Now more confused than ever!

I will only be milling Ponderosa Pine on mine and my neighbors property for trim boards and ceiling planks for my home. I figured I would need to plane them down for smoothness, but I am beginning to think with the right chain I might be able to forgo that step if I get the right chain. I am thinking a full or semi-skip modified chisel at 10 deg or less. Or should I just buy the GB ripping chain or a standard crosscut chain?

Thanks

It's not just the chain.
With care and a bit of skill this is what is possible with a CS mill.

To achieve this I
- Slope the log and use minimal pushing - let the saw/mill cut as much as possible under it's own weight.
- Use a smoother trigger finger
- Ease into cuts
- Avoid see-sawing the saw/mill horizontally down the log - hold it at a constant angle across the log.
- Use log rails for every cut.
If you get washboard - angle the saw/mill across the log.

 

[blainep3]

Thanks everyone, and bobl, I did read your post on the sticky thread about this same thing. Really appreciate the help.

 

[smokinj]

I thought I could use a smaller bar, but not a bigger one than 24 in. Won't the end guard keep me from using a longer bar?

The mill your looking at says max bar 26 inch. 24 will work just not max out....

 

[mtngun]

I thought I could use a smaller bar, but not a bigger one than 24 in. Won't the end guard keep me from using a longer bar?

If the bar is too long for the mill, some bar will stick out between the powerhead and the mill.

30" is too long for an 044, anyhow. 28" more like it. You'd be able to mill about 21" - 22" wide.

 

[smokinj]

If the bar is too long for the mill, some bar will stick out between the powerhead and the mill.

30" is too long for an 044, anyhow. 28" more like it. You'd be able to mill about 21" - 22" wide.

I dont think the rails on that mill can handle 28 inch bar? I Could be wrong.

 

[gemniii]

I dont think the rails on that mill can handle 28 inch bar? I Could be wrong.

One could put a 60" bar on the mill, you'd just have about 34" sticking out on the powerhead side. 26" is the minimum bar for the maximum cut, and that is probably with the dogs off. 28" would probably do OK, but what else does he want to cut with it?
My 660's w/ a 24" bar and an 8 pin rim cut FAST, and with a 42" bar and 7 pin rim cut wide. But as you can see from my sig I'm addicted to bars.
If the OP opens up the muffler, keeps a SHARP chain, tunes properly, etc. I think he could put an easy 22" in the cut on green Ponderosa Pine (janka hardness of 460).

I'd recommend a 42" bar on a 660 with a DP muffler and a 36" mark III

 

[blainep3]

Based on all of the great input, I think I'll opt for a 28 in bar with a reg chain at first, keep it sharp and gradually file down to a 10 deg or less angle and monitor the results. Then get a ripping chain and see the difference. At this point I am not concerned about speed, but surely I will be in the near future as the initial fun and novelty wears off. Am I thinking wrong?

 

[mtngun]

I think I'll opt for a 28 in bar with a reg chain at first, keep it sharp and gradually file down to a 10 deg or less angle and monitor the results.

No disadvantage to ripping chain, nor does it cost more.