084 to ms660 on Alaskan sawmill

[DKindley]

I've been milling with my Alaskan sawmill for a while now. Almost have my barn built. I've been using my 084 to make cants then switching to the 046 to cut dimensional stuff. My sons about to start making a firewood shed for a senior project and I'm considering buying an ms660 because the 084 is awful heavy and awkward to learn on. Any opinions/ experience milling with the ms660??

[bkaimwood]

MS660 magnum rips, and is tough to beat with ANYTHING!!! No really, great saw...I own from a 192 to a 880...all good saws..the 192, 250, and 660 are shiners for usefull power to weight ratio... The 880 does speak for itself...:)

[DKindley]

I feel the same way about my 084's. They are serious powerhouses and will grunt through anything! I was just thinking it would make life a little easier on my son not to have to handle the beast at first. My 046 is a great saw but definitely underpowered on the mill. I can't lie I've always wanted a saw to fill the gap between my 084 and 046 and this seems like a good way to justify it 😀

[bkaimwood]

Now is the time for justifiable excuses.. It's for the boys safety...u can't ignore that...

[Downstream]

i have been milling for year and a half with my 660 and 36" bar before i bought my bandmill.  The setup worked very well and I was able cut up to 29" with no problem.  My neighbor has 880 in his setup and although power is nice I found the overall weight too cumbersome for me.  I certainly do not have a lumberjack body and prefer the handling of my setup better.  I would think 660 would be better for learning.

[terrifictimbersllc]

I know a guy who burned up a 660 twice using a Logosol, either Stihl or that company paid for the fix and also a new saw.

[footer]

if your son is of decent build and condition, he can handle the 084. My first saw was an 084 at about the same age. Got it the year I graduated High school, and used it as firewood saw. It was the only saw I had for many years, and cut a lot of firewood with it before buying an 026 for a small saw.

[DKindley]

I have to laugh to myself that you ask if he's of decent build😂. My wife and I have 4 boys, the oldest two are 16 and 17. Both are 6'03, the 17 year old is 230 about to play college ball next year. 16 year old is 265 and just got all American honors at D tackle. All four boys make firewood together in the summer for travel team costs. We made about 40 cords of madrone and at least that in lodgepole. Maybe I should just admit I'm trying to justify a new saw!

[DDobbs]

I have a MS650 I mill with 36" bar with ripping chain. I like it real well.

Dave

[footer]

I have to laugh to myself that you ask if he's of decent build😂. My wife and I have 4 boys, the oldest two are 16 and 17. Both are 6'03, the 17 year old is 230 about to play college ball next year. 16 year old is 265 and just got all American honors at D tackle. All four boys make firewood together in the summer for travel team costs. We made about 40 cords of madrone and at least that in lodgepole. Maybe I should just admit I'm trying to justify a new saw!

You only need to justify it to your wife! ;D I got a MS660 last year. My justification was me getting older and wanted something lighter than the 084 for myself, and the cost difference and weight between the 660 and 440 is small! Also, my old 026 and 034 were both worn out beyond cost effectively rebuilding, so I bought a MS261, and MS660, and kept the 084. Your boys are a lot bigger than I was back at that age. The first couple days sawing with it, I would get a little stiff, but after that, no problem. I always just looked at it like free workouts!

[TessiersFarm]

I don't think the 660 has anything to offer you don't already have.  I would stick with the 084.  According to the Stihl website the 660 is only 3 or 4 pounds lighter than the 084.  I've milled a lot of wood with my Alaskan and I find it is less physical with the bigger saw, the weight is only an issue at the ends, in the cut the wood carries the saw.  Hopefully I'm out of the Alaskan business, got a band saw about to go on line.  All that said if my wife gave me the thumbs up on a 660 I would get it!  Maybe that's why we were always broke when I ran the books 

Just my 2 cents!