Chainsaw milling, and economical option...!

**robutacion** · 23rd January 2009, 12:52 AM

Hi everyone,

The first difficulty for anyone that wants to start milling with a chainsaw, is the chainsaw power needed, then is the size of the bar, these are normally the most expensive items to buy before anything else. Some people use normal chains others use proper skip milling chains that can be quite costly if factory made, then is the issue of the mill frame, make one or save you lots of trouble and buy a proper one? (unless you are as good as BobL).
How much would one need to buy a new complete chainsaw mill set-up , or just a bigger chainsaw with a bigger bar? Until recently, I can say, lots of money, I know because I've been trying to get a set-up myself for some time.
What I know is, I've got a complete chainsaw mill set-up with a 105cc machine, 36"bar (it will be 42", soon), a 44" GB mill and 5 chains, for about half of what I've been quoted by Stihl and/or Husky! Now, this can maybe not be the "biggest diamond in the mine", but it is certainly good enough for me.
Anyone can get a similar deal, just read the info below. I have initially posted this information elsewhere so, I'm not typing it again, I'm just going to copy and past it!

"On the other hand, there is also a good opportunity for you to buy some new equipment (chainsaw) and decent bar, for a price you could only dream of, some time ago. What I'm talking about is the 2 Chinese Sthil copies of the Sthil 090 with 105cc (I got one) and a 72cc (about the Stihl MS440), which I will have one soon also. I manage to convince the Chinese manufacturer Director to sell "sample/demo" single machines, instead of the requested (sea container full, sort of thing). I made things a little more "official" when I requested a friend of mine, in her recent trip to China (her birth country) to visit the factory on my behalf and convince them that not everyone in Australia is rich...! and my request was not a "bogus" attempt to rip-them-off.

Anyway, to cut a long story short, I can get one of those machines to anyone directly from China in about 5 working days for a price that you would find hard to believe but, I don't want to start any business so I looked for someone I could pass on the opportunity. Recently I become aware that my mate Laurie (Sawchain), has purchase a large number of bars (1,800 apparently of all sizes and types) from GB, putting him in a very good position to improve the deal even more by, getting the machines (chainsaws) without the factory limited sizes bars and chains, and provide his own bars and chains more appropriate in size and type for the work intended with the new machine (longer bars for milling, etc.).

These are very look a like, very much a copy of the Stihl models, made in China, the interesting thing is that appart from the "stickers" you wouldn't tell them appart, so a question could be asked, I believe, how many chainsaws are about, that could have been made in the same place but with the Stihl stickers on them? Was not that long ago that I've heard that Stihl was no longer made in Germany but in China. I am in no way shape or form, saying that these machines are exactly the same as the original Sthil, as I believe they are not but, what I can tell you is that, not every component of these Chinese machines are made in China either, as the clutch/sprocket assembly of my new 105cc chainsaw, is engraved, made in Italy !

In resume, I offered the opportunity with the chainsaws to Laurie (sawchain), as he is in the business and he will be in a better position to offer complete packages for people that want only a bigger chainsaw & bar or for so many of us that are realising that slab trees and utilise this wonderful resource (timber) is not that difficult and or expensive as before. Sawchain, can easy set you up with a big chainsaw, big bar, proper skip chains and a proper GB milling frame (I have one also, 44"), to suit any size you want, for a fraction of the price so, the only thing you need, appart from making same rails (first cut), is some logs, and that is not as difficult to get as you would thing. Just simply ask people around...!

Send sawchain a PM, an email or a call, and ask him about the 2 Chinese chainsaw models he now can get, and select a decent bar for it for a fraction of the normal price.

Now, take note: I do not receive any commission from any sales form either the Chinese manufacturer or sawchain, this initiative is my own doing but not for personal gain only, everyone here can take advantage of the opportunity while it lasts, and maybe like myself, get a complete proper chainsaw mill set up, that I could never afford otherwise.

Make good use of it...! "

Cheers

RBTCO

**BobL** · 23rd January 2009, 01:04 AM

Milling places the biggest load on any CS no matter how big the saw, and milling Aussie hardwoods places an even greater load on saws. Do you have or know of any testimonials about the extended use of chinese 090s specifically used in milling Aussie Hardwoods? I'd be reluctant to recommend buying such a saw for milling without knowing it had been used to successfully mill at least a couple of hundred Aussie hardwood logs

**robutacion** · 23rd January 2009, 09:33 AM

Originally Posted by BobL

Milling places the biggest load on any CS no matter how big the saw, and milling Aussie hardwoods places an even greater load on saws. Do you have or know of any testimonials about the extended use of chinese 090s specifically used in milling Aussie Hardwoods? I'd be reluctant to recommend buying such a saw for milling without knowing it had been used to successfully mill at least a couple of hundred Aussie hardwood logs

I understand your point BobL, but at the same time I don't know how that sort of information is possible, when these machines (from this manufacturer) are only now entering the country. On the other hand is the economics factor, and the end use for every person, which is quite different. Very simply, paying over $2.500 for a large size Stihl or Husky + another $500 for a long bar + $100 a chain + the mill frame at about $600 minimum, can be a good investment for a full time miller, but certainly not so good for people that don't do it for a living. Indeed lots of people would only use the chainsaw mill set-up a few times a year, a lot more commonly would be for them to use the chainsaw (part of the mill set-up) by itself and possibly with a smaller bar. I can't see much the 105cc couldn't cut with a 42" bar on the mill or a 24" bar for cross cutting. The same would go for the 72cc, using the same principal.

It would be unrealistic to think that any of these machines would outperform or even match the durability and toughness of "SOME" of the more expensive brands, and that is the reason why you paying so much less. A lot of people can be doing (afford) some milling on decent size logs with a total investment of $1,500 or less, when at a full price of $3,500, only a few could ever manage it. This way, is like turning with a Nova, instead of a Vicmark, at least one can afford to "turn"/"mill"...!

PS: I've got an old saying that I often use, and this matter is very worth of it, goes like this... " A little bit of something, is a lot more than plenty of nothing...!"

Cheers

RBTCO

**BobL** · 23rd January 2009, 09:52 AM

I agree with your milling economics and I guess someone has to go first with these things. What about on the other site? Anyone have any comments about these saws there?

**bobsreturn2003** · 23rd January 2009, 12:52 PM

2 guys locally bought chinese chainsaws of ebay . one never worked no spark and 2 months later still waiting for parts , other still runs fairly well . but compared with shindaiwa or husky , not in the same league. its hard to afford good gear ,but even harder to buy twice . i got a deal on a husky on ebay ,new one ,and the shindaiwa bars fit . so every chain and bar fits every saw . o makes it cheaper in one way . stihl bars are different so be warned ,if you are starting out to try to get all the bars and chains to interchange . and get quality, and you will be smiling long after its paid for . cheers bob

**Sawchain** · 24th January 2009, 12:46 PM

Originally Posted by BobL

I agree with your milling economics and I guess someone has to go first with these things. What about on the other site? Anyone have any comments about these saws there?

As far as the Chinese saws go there is a lot of crap out there, though I have had a small 50cc Wun Hung Lo as I call it for 2 1/2 years now - just a light weight saw that I can take up into the tops of trees, I figured if it lasted 12 months it would have paid for itself and I could afford to throw it away - Guess what it's still going strong and very reliable, only thing I did was to change the bar from a 20" 3/8std to a 16" 3/8LP and I cut firewood commercially using it sometimes to cut timber as big in dia as the bar is in length.

I was also given a Chinese copy of a MS380 72cc and told to test it until destruction - that was two years ago and it is still going strong, though the compression from new did not seem as good as a genuine Stihl, It also has a genuine Bing German carby same as the 380, also all the parts are interchangeable with the Stihl. I have even done what i do not recommend and used a 34" solid nose bar on it in the mill running 3 skip chain - very slow but it worked.

The big saw George is talking about is actually a copy of the 070 ( 105cc ) with all parts interchanging with the genuine article, these have been around for a while and one of my commercial firewood cutter customers has been using the 070 copy for nearly two years now without any problems, He blocks up into firewood sized pieces about 70 - 80 ton of wood a week of some fairly large timber.

I realise that milling is the hardest thing you can do with a chainsaw, I do it myself, and so far have milled nothing under abt 750mm wide. I should also mention that I stuffed a not very old 395XP Husky just using it for crosscut on big timber ( I melted the piston ( and yes the oil was 25:1 using a synthetic racing oil ), my other 2 Stihls which were running on the same batch of mix survived, Regardles to say my opinion of Husky's is not very high.

Hope that answers some questions Bob.

Cheers .... Laurie

**IanW** · 29th January 2009, 10:02 AM

Been reading this thread with great interest.

I've had an old 070 for some years which I use with skip chain for a 'Ripper' slabbing rail and in a home-made Alaskan style frame. The saw was my dad's - must be close to 30 years old and done a power of work in its day. Needless to say, it's getting a bit tired, & seems to give some sort of trouble every time I take it out, lately. I put an electronic points-replacer in it a couple of years ago, which was the best thing ever, until the lead to the primary on the coil broke off in midcut a couple of weekends ago. Wish I'd known about the interchangeability of parts - a new 'genuine' coil cost me $192

.

I'm currently having trouble with the carby & governor & was thinking of doing a rebuild, but wondering if it might not be cheaper (& a heck of a lot easier!) to buy a new Wun Hung Lo instead? I only use it a couple of times a year, & apart from worn drive gear, the fuel tank connector is a bit leaky.

I'm PM'ing you Laurie, to see what the deal is ....

Cheers,

**texx** · 29th January 2009, 08:47 PM

yeah that would be best , buy a new one . oh and send me the old one

**IanW** · 29th January 2009, 08:56 PM

Originally Posted by texx

yeah that would be best , buy a new one . oh and send me the old

If you'd been here last week, Texx, and able to catch 20Kg of flying metal, yer could've had it for sure.

But once I cooled down a bit, I got stubborn - the damn thing can run like a charm when it chooses, & I'm determined to figure it out!!!

So you'll have to wait a bit longer.

Thread: Chainsaw milling, and economical option...!

Thread Tools

Search Thread

Chainsaw milling, and economical option...!

Similar Threads

Chainsaw milling near Penrith

Economical car for Barry

chainsaw mill & a good big chainsaw

Best 1st saw option TS or SCM

Economical shelving material

Tags for this Thread

Posting Permissions