Stihl MS660 Magnum Chainsaws
Stihl MS660 Magnum Chainsaws.
As the heading suggests, my eldest lad is possibly in the market for a pair of new Stihl MS 660 Magnum chainsaws.
(He's also thinking maybe 1 x 660 magnum for crowning and one 880 Mag for the mill - with a 4 ft or 6 foot bar depending on cost).
He also wants an alaskan mill.
His idea is to use one saw to fall, dock and crown the logs, and the other left set up in the mill, to slab them.
He has access to a couple small adjacent blocks with standing timber (some 30 + year old regrowth jarrah marri and some old growth but rough standing habitat type trees) on a couple of adjacent domestic blocks that the owner wants cleared. Lads a qualified faller. Local Shire won't allow access with a loader float and dozer to push the trees - coz the new cul-de-sac road in this subdivision would be damaged by the axle loadings and there's no where for the loader float to turn around.
So he will likely have to fall and mill the timber as he goes...then take a 950 wheel loader in and dig the stumps out and truck them away afterwards.
Time's not a big issue - something to keep him busy in winter when not on fire stand bye.
Owner of the block got a quote to remove the trees from an arborist (cherry picker and chip them onsite & stump grind) for $40K
Thus she's willing to pay the lad $20K plus keep all the timber...if he falls and mills onsite. He's a 950 loader op and has MC truck license etc so can dry hire a wheel loader without problem and truck anything like stumps in or out. He could even push most of the trees with the 950 wheel loader if it has a FOPS cab & forks.
So he is thinking 2 new Stihl MS 660's and Alaskan mill setup, should see him out. Couple standard 24 inch bars & 2 x 36 inch?
My question.
Is there a board / forum sponsor I should ask for a quote to supply these?
Anyone know where they could be bought at less than retail? (i.e. trade?).
I actually live across the road from a Stihl Dealer... and got a quote yesterday for 2 x standard saw with chain and bar, rec retail $1999, for $1800 each - plus ~ $450 or something for the alaskan mill and more again for the 2 x 36 inch bars and chains.
Just wondering if there's anyone who's is a sponsor of the forums & looks after members - that i should give the opportunity to quote?.
Anyone with experience have a better suggestion? I don;t think hes interested in gearing up with portable mill (lucas, Lewis saw, Wood Miser horizontal bandsaw or rail mill etc).
Open to suggestions.
He's just sold his 2nd hand 066 magnum and 034 AV so needs a couple new saws whether he goes ahead and mills or just keeps fire wooding in winter.
He's had second hand used saws - and now wants the reliability of new (his times valuable to him) and hes cashed up....
Anyone walked this particular rice paper trail have any wise words of wisdom to impart?
Cheers & TIA.