wiz 066

[twoodward15]

Anybody know how an old homolite wiz 66 (with the gear reduction of some kind I think) would do with a sawmill attachment?  I'm thinking about using one of those alaskan mills if this saw will be enough.  I guess my main concern is chain speed.  It doesn't spin real fast but has all kinds of power.  The saw isn't mine yet.  I have a close friend that would give it to me if I wanted it.  he has never used it.  I've used it a few times.  Someone gave it to him and he just tore it down and got it cleaned up and running.  It has a 30 inch bar, but that should be plenty for anything I'll ever cut. 

[Kevin]

77cc is pretty decent for moderate size stuff.
You'll lose 4" in bar length with the Alaskan.

[twoodward15]

I'd probably only be cutting up to about 16 inches anyway.  I guess my main concern was more about the chain speed than anything.  He and I were testing it in a tree that I cut down and I buried the entire bar in a red oak and pushed about as hard as I would ever want to and it didn't bog down a bit.  Chain turns slow but has ungodly power it seemed.

[Kevin]

What sprocket is on the drive side?
I'm pretty sure there were  three gear options available for that saw.

[StihlDoc]

Yes it will work, but it will be like using a tractor as your primary means of transportation. It will get you to your destination but it will be heavy, slow and will waste a lot of fuel. If you want something just to play with, it will suffice. If you want to put it to some serious hobby use, suggest you get get a modern saw.

[twoodward15]

Thanks stihl doc.  That's what I was wondering.  I think I'll move on and wait for a more modern saw to find its' way to me!

[DonE911]

I have to agree.... I've been doing alot of milling, and I have a Wiz ( needs repair now ), but would not use it milling unless it was a huge tree with a very long bar.  The grunt would probably compensate for the slow speed in that case.  I use a pair of 066's for milling and often wish for more speed, which seems directly related to the rpm's though the wood.   I have a logosol sawmill, so I am not down on the ground with the log and don't have to push the saw through the log either, but if I was I'd think the wiz's weight would but a huge negative also.