Is 272xp enough saw for milling

[Diabel]

I did use the search button but did not find what i needed.

I have more than enough firewood css for several seasons. Lots of my hemlocks are approaching their end of life days. I just gave away bunch of very straight hemlocks to my neighbor for milling in good faith. I have several more that should come down soon in order to salvage the wood. I plan to build wood shed next summer. I priced out the lumber to run me around 3k. And most importantly, i need a new (in the woods) hobby. Hence the question in the tittle. Plus, i do not believe my ms360 can do the job. I would not want to kill that saw. Also, i painfully must admit that my saw addiction/disease is in full progress.....

I can pick up a rebuilt 272xp with 30” bar for 350cad. I will offer 300.
There is also a 372xp with 20” bar for 350cad but the guy has no history on the saw other than “it runs good”

Any comments always appreciated.

 

[Nealm66]

I’d say no, I’ve used my 372 once I have a cant or even doubled up 6”cants and it zips right along but the outside rips are a bear. Stay with an outside clutch model if possible, my 385 gets hot and won’t even spin the chain. I got rid of my 395 cus every time I shut it of I couldn’t get it started, think the coil was getting hot. I use my 880 for the outside and slabbing. If I was trying to do it on a budget, I might look around for an old 56 magnum. My mill is down at my neighbors and he used his 272 and it will do the job but it’s not good for anything over I’d say 12” range

 

[Nealm66]

I’ll see if I can find some more pics

 

[Diabel]

Hm. These trees are 20-30 inches across. Nice pics btw. Thanks

 

[Nealm66]

Call madsens in chehalis Washington and ask for mike or bob and see if they have anything on the used rack. If going to try a 56, see if they can get parts if needed. An 075 might not be bad either. Mike or bob will steer you right either way . They’re guy that does they’re mods is pretty knowledgeable as well but he doesn’t work at the shop

 

[Nealm66]

The 880 size saws are tough to re start while on the mill

 

[Diabel]

It appears that any type of milling is tough on chainsaws no matter what size. Is it due to the continuous and prolonged high rev?

 

[Nealm66]

it’s more of a lugging along, new saws aren’t really made for it. Like a diesel vs gas. We ran the old 56’s and 075’s and they were geared for it. Some of the undercuts would almost burn a tank. Low power but geared different. The 395 did really well but maybe I just had a bad coil. Not sure your condition but they can be a bit tough to start if you don’t know the technique

 

[Nealm66]

Mike or bob have forgot more than I will ever want to know about saws. They’re super busy but always spot on info. Mike is preferred, he will remember you calling 10 years from now. Crazy smart guy and been in the business longer than I have

 

[Nealm66]

You can tell them Neal directed you, bob will probably poke some fun about it

 

[Nealm66]

Hope not discouraging, it’s very rewarding for the effort. My neighbors have re boarded 3 big hay trailers and just got the boards cut for a 25’ gooseneck. You can’t buy lumber like they made and the portable mills don’t like to stretch out for long . Once I showed them a few tricks they have produced some beautiful lumber.

 

[Nealm66]

Whoops! Not sure how that happened

 

[Diabel]

Nice!
So, the 272 is too small. I am in no rush, will keep looking. I think the 056mag will be a hard find. Did a quick search and nothing came up. As for the 880s people are asking crazy coin.....

 

[SpaceBus]

I've used my Husky 460 on smaller spruce and fir logs, but it was very slow. My 395xp is the primary mill saw, but I killed the coil a few months back and had to use the 460 while I waited for a new coil. Now I have it tuned a bit more rich and run 32-ish:1 premix. If I'm going to be sawing a lot of stuff I'll bring out my cordless compressor and blow out the clutch cover after every pass. I think this will help my coil and everything else last longer.

 

[Nealm66]

I’ll keep my eye open here on Craigslist. Madsens might have one of those old boat anchors around and they would ship. There’s a ton of saw shops you could check in my area and just pay the shipping. If madsens don’t have something, try castle rock stihl or harbor saw. There’s still a bunch of those old things around here. Just not sure about parts. There might be an 84 or 86 stihl would be good too. I can’t tell the difference between the power of the three even though on paper there’s supposed to be

 

[Nealm66]

Ha ha, there’s an 075 on Craigslist here but the dingle berry wants 1500 for it. It’s about a $200 item in my opinion if everything is tip top

 

[Diabel]

Ha ha, there’s an 075 on Craigslist here but the dingle berry wants 1500 for it. It’s about a $200 item in my opinion if everything is tip top

Yes, stupid prices for bid saws

 

[EbS-P]

I have had good luck with my holtzforma/farmer tec G660 so far. 25 tanks through it I’m guessing. If it’s a tool you need to get a project done then it’s just gonna sit and not be used much it might be worth it. I’m milling 28-32” poplar. Gonna see if can pull a 52” next week or so as I want Live edge slabs on the butt log. I guessing it’s 38”.
To be honest if you weren’t cutting more than 20” and with a ripping chain and were careful on you filing and kept the rakers just a tad higher than normal and didn’t push it too hard you could get by. But it’s just a guess.

 

[Sean McGillicuddy]

You might find some good info here.. https://www.arboristsite.com/community/forums/milling-saw-mills.62/

 

[Nealm66]

I have wondered about those saws, can you get parts for them?

 

[brenndatomu]

I have wondered about those saws, can you get parts for them?

Yes, here...and plenty of other places too.

Small Engine Parts: Chainsaw Parts & Small Engine Repair Parts

I built one of those from a kit (box o parts) a few years back...no major issues with it so far.

 

[EbS-P]

I have wondered about those saws, can you get parts for them?

If you are talking about the G660 everything is interchangeable with OEM MS660. My chain tensioner and a bar mounting lug stripped and aftermarket parts were available from amazon. It made me a nice table and counter and if it blows up tomorrow it did what it needed to do and if it cuts up the rest of that tree I could come out money ahead. If you can’t justify a pro 90 +cc saw but can justify 4-500$ it get you in the game. And you have the possibility of becoming a chainsaw mechanic if something goes south.

 

[brenndatomu]

My chain tensioner

That's the only issue I had...tensioner was "stripped", but threads looked fine...I bought a Stihl replacement, only about 1% better...ended up having to shim the adjuster, now its fine...likely that's all the original tensioner would have needed since it looked fine.

 

[Diabel]

If you are talking about the G660 everything is interchangeable with OEM MS660. My chain tensioner and a bar mounting lug stripped and aftermarket parts were available from amazon. It made me a nice table and counter and if it blows up tomorrow it did what it needed to do and if it cuts up the rest of that tree I could come out money ahead. If you can’t justify a pro 90 +cc saw but can justify 4-500$ it get you in the game. And you have the possibility of becoming a chainsaw mechanic if something goes south.

Very interesting. Regardless what i get, i need enough saw to mill me enough wood to build a 10x20 woodshed. After that the saw would be shelved for no idea how long. I have plenty of firewood saw power. If i can get the G660 for 440cad from fleebay that is not bad. Not sure if i can find a 054, 056 etc for that price. I just went through some of the reviews on the G660 1/2 good 1/2 bad (real bad). But that has to be taken with a grain of salt.....

 

[Nealm66]

I have no idea how the g66 is but I would think a 660 would do fine. We used them in the last old growth unit I cut on, can’t remember what year but it was up in the Tacoma watershed, and no issues. There was a lot of 6 and 7’ trees which is kind of a similar type workout on the motors. Not sure why the inside clutch has issues on my 385 but the shoes are very different so maybe the stihls don’t have the problem