Thread: Mobile Slab Milling - Perth Hills

Originally Posted by dopplershift

Thanks sensei, that's extremely encouraging! I'll definitely be making and using an auxillary oiler... I haven't been impressed by the 660's oil output, even on the 25" bar it has currently.

Sounds like you're making your own semi and full-skip chain? Do you just use an angle-grinder and totally remove the relevant cutters?

Whaaaaaaat? There's wood that's harder than Jarrah!?? But seriously, what are you milling?

You're thinking of when its dry,

Jarrah does vary but everything I mill green is usually harder than Jarrah.

The order of green hardness is, Jarrah, Marri, Karri, Spotted Gum, Wandoo.

WA Blackbut is softer but I have never milled it.

Originally Posted by dopplershift

Thanks sensei, that's extremely encouraging! I'll definitely be making and using an auxillary oiler... I haven't been impressed by the 660's oil output, even on the 25" bar it has currently.

Have you adjusted the oil rate to max, the little screw at the base.

Originally Posted by dopplershift

..Sounds like you're making your own semi and full-skip chain? Do you just use an angle-grinder and totally remove the relevant cutters?

Yes

Originally Posted by dopplershift

...There's wood that's harder than Jarrah!?? But seriously, what are you milling?

Budgeroo (see Milling a big Budgeroo log) and Crows Ash (see Milled up the Crows Ash at the Mac farm) were the hardest I've done I think. Most of the outback Acacias are even harder but luckily, from a milling perspective, not so wide. The hardest I've done being Inland Rosewood (Acacia rhodoxylon)

Originally Posted by BobL

The order of green hardness is, Jarrah, Marri, Karri, Spotted Gum, Wandoo.

WA Blackbut is softer but I have never milled it.

I reckon that list is about right for dry hardness too, but with the last couple only based on experience of crosscutting them. I haven't tried to rip Spotted Gum or Wandoo.

My only experience with WA Blackbutt has been splitting it for firewood. I was given the leftovers after a big Blackbutt was felled and part of it milled. The rest was cut into firewood lengths by the feller. By the time i'd finishde splitting it I was wishing they'd offered it to someone else. It might be softer than Jarrah but I reckon it's tougher.

Thanks Neil, Bob and Kevin.... always good to learn something new! Any ideas where Tuart sits on the green or dry hardness scales?

And far-out Neil! Looks like you've got great access to some serious timber!

Have you adjusted the oil rate to max, the little screw at the base.

Yes, I have..... had to grind down a screwdriver to fit though . Don't know why Stihl made the recess around the screw so small, I think this kind of thing should be adjustable using the standard CS tool (screwdriver/tube-spanner combo thing). Anyway, it still seems to supply relatively little oil; only a small splatter gets flung off the bar tip.

I have read that the 660's were made with two kinds of oil pump; an "EPA-compliant" version and a high-output version. I presume that being an Aussie model, my saw has the high-output version, but I haven't been able to check for the tell-tale notch on the screw (screw-hole is full of sawdust/oil).

Oh well. The amount of oil seems sufficient for the 25" bar, in normal cross-cutting at least. And I'm expecting to use an aux oiler for all milling work anyway, so I guess I should be content.

Also, I got a nice lightweight aluminium ladder on Gumtree

Just a bit off the topic, is aluminium lighter than fibreglass. I consider to get a lightweight one for garden work, coz I got arm injury at work, now I am doing physio, I can't lift anything too heavy
ladamax platform ladder.jpg

Originally Posted by BobL

You're thinking of when its dry,

Jarrah does vary but everything I mill green is usually harder than Jarrah.

The order of green hardness is, Jarrah, Marri, Karri, Spotted Gum, Wandoo.

WA Blackbut is softer but I have never milled it.

More Photos required.

And Neil, your Eastern weeds are no comparison for the magnificent timber (albeit hard) we have here in God's Country
Cheers
Willy
Jarrahland

PS I reckon the Wandoo Burl I have been working on for years (i am still cutting burls of the same dead tree in a paddock in Wandering) is THE toughest timber, hardest on tools, heaviest and strongest wood I have worked with