Picking a saw for CSM

[TxWoodworker]

Hey guys,

First post here, so take it easy.

I am a woodworker by hobby and have been buying my wood rough sawn and dried til now. I have gotten into green woodworking lately and came across a 30" dia white oak that I had to have. I got it bucked into 6' lengths and quartered with wedges. I will use a a lot of it for green woodworking, but have realized that I won't be able to use it all while it is still green, so I want to mill a good portion of it. I have limited space and need a chainsaw for lots of other reasons, so I figured this would be a good time to finally get into chain saw milling (I've had the itch for years). I need a little guidance on choosing a saw.

I've read up on forums and it sounds to me like 90 cc is really a minimum if you want to not go at a snails pace - which sounds like it means I need to go for the 395xp or a 660. I just wanted to get some input from you all on which of those is a good choice, if there are other choices for me, and where to get the best saws used. Just to try to help you answer the questions accurately, here are some basics on my situation:

- I will probably use the saw 3 to 4 times/year mostly for milling, but probably a little bucking
- I am in North Texas so will likely be milling mainly oak, pecan, maybe some sycamore, and a few odds and ends
- I don't plan on milling anything much bigger than 24", but will honestly probably hover more in the 12" range the majority of of the time.
- I am halfway decent at figuring things out, so used is probably my best option as I hope to do a lot of my own tuning and maintenance.
- budget is around $600 for the saw, bar, chain (I will probably weld up my own mill)

Thanks in advance for the input guys!!!

[Magicman]

Hello TxWoodworker.  Welcome to the Forestry Forum and thanks for the very nice introduction.   8)

[Seavee]

Welcome to the forum  Txwoodworker

[Saga Dan]

Txwoodworker,

Be careful with what you are planning on doing.  It is a slippery slope to slide down.  Like I have mentioned on here before.  I started with a few neighborhood logs that I wanted to mill.  I purchased a XP346 and a Granberg mini mill.  It did work but it was slow.  Moved up to a XP395 and a 36" Granberg CSM.  Much Much better and faster.  Then onto a Logosol M8.  Still used the XP395.  Faster yet with easier setup...  Then after all of the money spent purchased the Woodmizer to really make things fun. 

So long story short.  I would go with the largest saw you can.  Hold on, this becomes more fun with more and better stuff....

Also Welcome to the forum.

[Greyhound]

What he said.  Bigger is definitely better when milling

[BUGGUTZ]

Welcome, I do a fair bit of chainsaw milling. I started with a Shindaiwa 757. Its about a 73cc (IIRC) saw and I run a 32" bar with a custom mill attachment. I also run a 372xp modded. Its a 72cc and use the same mill setup. I have no issues with either saw in hardwood. I cut up to 28" slabs. I file a standard chain to 10 deg. It works well for me.

I know some diehard Husky guys and have been told that the 394 will out pull a 395 if you can find one. We have one at work with 3' and 4' bars.

[Upper]

Welcome TX,I was in your shoes 6 months ago.I went with a Stihl 661.Now 6 months later I have a pile of lumber,most cut by my Woodmizer LT35HD..........They told me...............Upper

[TxWoodworker]

Thanks for all the input guys. I'm definitely aware that a bandsaw mill is the "best" way to go, but I just don't have any room for one, nor do I have the cash. I do have a BIG powermatic bandsaw that can do some resawing, but a chainsaw seems pretty necessary for harvesting wood no matter if you have a CSM or a bandsaw mill. I figured this is a good place to start.

[PineHill4488]

Howdy! Neighbor!

Welcome to Forestry Forum.

By your first post, we have a similar story In the search for wood to feed our soul. I went with a new 660 and a 36" Alaskan mill, am quite happy with the choice. Haven't been underpowered for anything I've pushed it into.
The 34" dead and still solid red oak cut last October took awhile to cut each 10' slab but patience and letting the saw work eventually ruled the day.

Greg