The Forestry Forum

General Forestry => Sawmills and Milling => Topic started by: cleargrain on February 12, 2006, 12:07:38 AM

Title: bar damage from milling
Post by: cleargrain on February 12, 2006, 12:07:38 AM
Howdy,
Read a lot of good advice here, but now have a question of my own.  Been milling doug fir with an 075 (30" bar, OR .404 rip chain) for about 20 gallons worth of gas with no problems other than learning how to get more effecient at sharpening.  Just bought an older 066 for the increased chain spead and found that it cuts about twice as fast as the 075 if the cut is under 18"  However, the bar is taking a beating.  After about 3 tanks of gas the cutting edge of bar has ripples in it about where the edge of the cant is.  Any ideas about  what's going on here?  The guys at the local saw shop told me to quit milling with the 066.  Running a 32" bar in a 30" AK mill w/ an aux oiler and Oregon rip chain - .404 x 0.63.

Thanks, scott
Title: Re: bar damage from milling
Post by: Dan_Shade on February 12, 2006, 08:29:59 AM
sounds like it's not getting enough oil.  try putting the auxilliary oiler out on the tip.
Title: Re: bar damage from milling
Post by: Minnesota_boy on February 12, 2006, 08:36:40 AM
Check the tension of the chain frequently.  It doesn't have to be very loose to jump a bit where it exits the wood and that will make a ripple in the bar.
Title: Re: bar damage from milling
Post by: cleargrain on February 12, 2006, 12:49:59 PM
Thanks guys,
Chain tension was the only thing I had be able to come up with, but thought I was doing an ok job of keeping tabs on it.  Evidently I need to check it more frequently.  Both oilers (the saw and the auxilary on the tip) are producing the way they should.  The only way to get more oil an the bar at point would be to bore out the hole a little in the oiler bolt that goes through the bar at the tip.
Title: Re: bar damage from milling
Post by: leweee on February 12, 2006, 05:18:45 PM
Are you using full comp. or skip chain for milling ???
Title: Re: bar damage from milling
Post by: cleargrain on February 12, 2006, 06:41:57 PM
Leweee-
Using full comp rip chain from Oregon.  Tried a skip chain from Stihl that I changed the angle to 10 degrees on and wasn't impressed with the cut speed, also felt like I was getting a lot more vibration (even after I double-checked all the tooth lengths and depth gauge heights).
-scott
Title: Re: bar damage from milling
Post by: Shamus on February 13, 2006, 02:32:03 AM
The groove in the bar could also have spread out a bit and may need to be tightened. Also if the bar bends at all due to excess downward pressure on the saw while cutting, that will cause the bar to wear unevenly (speaking from experience on that one). Keep up the good work, and welcome to the forum!