by "BaconSandwich is tasty." (baconsandwich)
Published 05/23/2017 at 22:08
by "BaconSandwich is tasty." (baconsandwich)
Published 05/23/2017 at 22:08
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STARS: 0
I’m considering the purchase of a chainsaw. I do woodworking for fun, and I recently had an arborist friend of mine give me several large logs (two ash, one birch). I’m in the process of building a band saw mill to mill them into planks, but failing that, I might have to go the chainsaw mill route. My next door neighbor also potentially wants me to build him a huge outdoor table using some rather large logs.
Any of you guys have much experience with chainsaws, and have any recommendations? My arborist friend recommended Echo. He also uses Stihl and Husqvarna chainsaws. Since he does it for a living, his equipment needs to be the good stuff, but I’m not sure I want to go that crazy. (I doubt I could even pull-start a 125 cc saw!).
Pictures of said logs:
(I’m sitting on the two logs I really wanted - roughly 20" in diameter, and not rotted. The three round pieces in front were extras - the firewood guy was already full, and so he couldn’t take them. I’ve already given two away as firewood, and might turn the third into and end table or something).
Birch log. Foot for scale.
"Agrajag" (Agrajag)
05/23/2017 at 22:31, STARS: 0
I’d go Husqy or Stihl and then with whatever one has the nearest service center to you.
What bar length do you need to use?
"McMike" (mcmike)
05/23/2017 at 22:37, STARS: 0
Pros love Stihl, Echo is for homeowners, and Husky falls somewhere in-between,
I have a Husqvarna Rancher 450, and I like it.
"wafflesnfalafel" (wafflesnfalafel1)
05/23/2017 at 22:42, STARS: 3
Stihls aren’t that much more expensive and worth every penny. Well built machine with good support. But regardless of brand - learn how to sharpen the chain and spend 5 minutes on it before cutting anything. And don’t put the chain in the dirt. And wear eye and leg protection. And stiff arm the front grip so if it bucks it won’t end up in your face.
"VincentMalamute-Kim" (VincentMalamute-Kim)
05/23/2017 at 22:57, STARS: 0
Have personal experience with Craftsman (Poulan made it for Craftsman) and Stihl. Go with Stihl if you want it to use it for a long time. Go with the cheapest if this is the only time you’re going to use it.
"415s30 W123TSXWaggoIIIIIIo ( •_•))°)" (415s30)
05/23/2017 at 22:58, STARS: 1
My dad has a really old Stihl that works great.
"FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com" (alphaass)
05/23/2017 at 23:07, STARS: 1
I like Stihl just because they are sold through independent dealers instead of the big box places, so you tend to get better after-sale support. That said, although I have a Stihl trimmer, my chainsaw is an old McCulloch that has been impossible to kill. I don’t think the McCulloch that made mine is really around any more - currently they are a subsidiary of Husqvarna.
"gmporschenut also a fan of hondas" (gmporschenut)
05/23/2017 at 23:35, STARS: 1
dad (contractor) always used Stihl.
also recommend chaps. used to think they looked stupid till my foot slipped on some leaves and the chaps saved my femur.
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"Autofixation" (Autofixation)
05/23/2017 at 23:38, STARS: 1
Having worked in the tree removal business, I certainly prefer Stihls and Echos over Husqvarnas. The largest saw I’ve worked with was a Stihl 066 that was 92 cc. before I put a big bore kit on it and took it up to 98cc.
The secret to pull starting a saw that big is that they have a compression release on the top of the cylinder that closes as the engines spins up.
Stihls are absolute monsters. Echos aren’t bad either. Stihls are more durable but Echos are cheaper. If you are going to be cutting logs that big you’ll probably need to use a 24"-36" bar. You could use a 32cc saw to do it, but it would take forever. Probably want to go with at least 50cc. Whatever you get, make sure that you keep up with maintenance. Echos really like premium fuel.
"bryan40oop" (bryan40oop)
05/24/2017 at 07:57, STARS: 0
stihl
"BaconSandwich is tasty." (baconsandwich)
05/24/2017 at 10:29, STARS: 0
You think a 32 cc would actually be able to cut something like that? I’m a pretty patient guy, so slow cutting isn’t a problem. A bigger chain saw would be nicer, but the bigger saws definitely seem to come with a bigger price.
"BaconSandwich is tasty." (baconsandwich)
05/24/2017 at 10:30, STARS: 0
I don’t doubt that chaps would be wise! Digging around on YouTube, I saw a video of a guy cutting barefoot, with no gloves, glasses, or any other protective equipment. Absolutely nuts!
"BaconSandwich is tasty." (baconsandwich)
05/24/2017 at 10:32, STARS: 0
Ideally at least 18", maybe bigger.
"BaconSandwich is tasty." (baconsandwich)
05/24/2017 at 10:32, STARS: 0
Learning to sharpen the chain totally makes sense - a dull tool is often more dangerous than a sharp tool.
It sounds like you’ve got a bit of experience working with chain saws!
"Pickup_man" (zekeh)
05/24/2017 at 11:36, STARS: 1
I sold chainsaws through high school and college as part of my job. Personally I’ll likely only buy Stihl because I have so much experience with them (even went to several dealer training seminars). Stihl makes a quality saw, and are usually competitive with price. I’ve also heard really good things about Echo, but there’s just not many places around here that sell them so I never hear about them. We’re solidly in Stihl country. Husqvarna’s professional saws are very good, but the non-professional ones are cheaper consumer quality saws. They’re still better than something like a Poulan and will be fine for anyone who needs one for occasional use. At the end of the day I recommend Stihl, but have nothing bad to say about Echo.
"Autofixation" (Autofixation)
05/24/2017 at 22:40, STARS: 1
Ok, well barely.
You just need to find the price/displacement ratio that best fits you. I’m still sticking with a minimum of around 50cc. if you’re going to be cutting stuff that big.
"Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo" (rustyvandura)
06/13/2017 at 15:28, STARS: 1
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"Lumpy44, Proprietor Of Fine Gif" (lumpy44)
06/14/2017 at 10:14, STARS: 0
You woodwork too!?!?
"BaconSandwich is tasty." (baconsandwich)
06/14/2017 at 17:08, STARS: 0
I do! I probably don’t do as much as I should (with either cars or woodworking), but it is nice to make some sawdust on occasion. You do woodworking as well?!
I didn’t know you did woodworking as well. We should definitely get together. :P Apparently the chainsaw I ordered came in today (I went for an 18" Worx electric one). I need to go pick up some sheet metal to start making my own Logosol.
"Lumpy44, Proprietor Of Fine Gif" (lumpy44)
06/14/2017 at 21:51, STARS: 0
I sure try too, my woodworking was mostly just stuff I wanted in the new house that I either couldn’t afford for find what I wanted.
Been thinking of trying to build an Alaskan mill for my chainsaw or something similar too!
"BaconSandwich is tasty." (baconsandwich)
06/14/2017 at 22:12, STARS: 0
Oh man, we need to talk! I’m hoping to build my own Logosol style mill:
https://1drv.ms/i/s!AoYGbs0V-qwJhv8EEa_6oKUye-Bwcw
They seem pretty straightforward. First cut or so with the chainsaw seems to have gone well:
https://1drv.ms/i/s!AoYGbs0V-qwJh4QdqSuRHUBay30OWg
"Lumpy44, Proprietor Of Fine Gif" (lumpy44)
06/15/2017 at 10:58, STARS: 0
That one work on a slider?
That with your new one electric one?
Got a couple logs I want to mill up!
"BaconSandwich is tasty." (baconsandwich)
06/15/2017 at 20:26, STARS: 0
Yeah, it works on a slider. Like this:
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It seems pretty straightforward.
The slab I cut yesterday was with the electric chainsaw. It was off of a big round piece that had a rotted middle - I was just eyeballing it to keep it straight.
You have logs? Sweet! Where’d you manage to get them from? I got mine from an arborist friend of mine. Two ash and one birch. A few years back he gave me some spruce slabs that I turned into a dining room table. I’m hoping that I can get the saw working as a mill, and then process more logs.
"Lumpy44, Proprietor Of Fine Gif" (lumpy44)
06/19/2017 at 11:39, STARS: 0
I just have a couple I found around town, one is a tree crotch that is probably no good and the other are just shorter pieces from firewood. Probably not really even worth milling.
Ya I sort of remember something about you planing a bunch of boards.
I had some plans on building some sort of rolling mill for my saw but don’t have the cash or welder around to get it going, something like this was the plan.
"BaconSandwich is tasty." (baconsandwich)
06/19/2017 at 14:42, STARS: 0
Eh, you never know when a piece of wood will turn out to be good or not. I like the idea of a mill like that, but my logs are too big to lift. As it was, we had a fun time even just getting them out of the back of the truck. At least if I can get a few cuts off of them before having to move them again, they’ll be a bit lighter.
I was pretty lucky with the spruce planks that I got for my dining room table. The guy I got them from had already milled them, so I only needed to plane them. Even then, I had to borrow a planer (and a garage :P ) to get the job done. At least now I’ve got my own garage.
"Lumpy44, Proprietor Of Fine Gif" (lumpy44)
06/19/2017 at 15:55, STARS: 0
Ya that’s a good point, been looking at getting an Alaskan mill too but seem extra expensive for what you get.
Ya being from the mountains of BC the soft woods are pretty plentiful out there just need the mill to go and start buckin!
"BaconSandwich is tasty." (baconsandwich)
06/19/2017 at 18:37, STARS: 0
I agree that they seem overly expensive for what they are. Hence me making my own. :P
We really should try getting together some time.