husky 395 or stihl 660 for milling with alaskan mill?

[evo]

The 395 is a superior milling saw in all ways beyond the front chain tensioner. My understanding is you can drill a whole in the mill to allow adjustment of chain while it is still attached. However I have yet to do so personally as my milling has been done with two dolmars on a double ended bar. Plan on upgrading to dual 3120s or 395s some day and I will find a way as my mill is permanently mounted to my milling bar for ease of chain swaps.

Genius!

 

[RogerM]

Great feedback...looks like 395xp for milling it is... The 661 is great for work. I aged myself a bit when i said 660... I'm surprised i didn't refer to it as 066...Does stihl still make an 084? First "big" saw I ran... Do have an 090 but more for just looking at. Side note.. new thread... gonna post pics of crazy old saws soon. This cemetery is 172yrs old... I managed to tuck away some vintage saws... tree guys today have it quite a bit easier i'd say.. Thanks everyone for the tips... I do have the "winch system" and it, in my opinion, was worth every penny.

 

[Mowerr]

I just read the article in this months TCIA mag and I've been thinking about getting it, if not for me then for my father in law but if I gift it then he needs a bigger saw so idk.
The article says your saw needs to be able to run at least a 20" bar and be above 50cc which had me surprised bc I'd never imagine milling anything with a saw that small.
So for those who use this mill, what's the smallest saw you would run with it?
The author showed a pic of him using a Stihl 271! Isn't that thing pretty close to 50?
He also recommends a steel bar but said a laminated one can work and either a very sharp chain or a ripping chain. For the sake of the saw and bc the steel bar and rip chain produce a better texture on the slab.

 

[Mowerr]

Wow 271 is only a 50cc farm boss

 

[colb]

You can mill with whatever saw you want. I think @treebing mills with a tophandle on occasion. That said, my ms661 goes on hickory duty pretty often and leaves me wishing for more power, and I fully expect that my ms880 will leave me feeling the same once I use it on something besides pine.

 

[evo]

I just read the article in this months TCIA mag and I've been thinking about getting it, if not for me then for my father in law but if I gift it then he needs a bigger saw so idk.
The article says your saw needs to be able to run at least a 20" bar and be above 50cc which had me surprised bc I'd never imagine milling anything with a saw that small.
So for those who use this mill, what's the smallest saw you would run with it?
The author showed a pic of him using a Stihl 271! Isn't that thing pretty close to 50?
He also recommends a steel bar but said a laminated one can work and either a very sharp chain or a ripping chain. For the sake of the saw and bc the steel bar and rip chain produce a better texture on the slab.

I’ve used a 361 for ripping some 12-16” logs in half for some benches. Nothing I’d want to use for anything more.

 

[Barc Buster]

Word on the street is Husky will be releasing a new 90+ cc 5 series saw. Fingers crossed for an updated 395

 

[Marshy]

I'm partial to Husqvarna, bias out of the gate so take my advice for what it's worth but, I think the air filtration alone is worth making the decision for the 395. I also think it will stomp out the 660.

Anyways, I do a fair bit of milling and a 42' bar will allow you to mill with a 36" mill. I use a 394xp with HD filter. I will rinse the flocked filter with gasoline every so often, maybe after every second chain I put on. I use a chain grinder to keep the chain sharp and angles consistent. Use a raker gauge as needed to keep all cutters pulling their fair share.

What more do you want to know? I could probably write a book on what I think I know lol. Seriously though, ask away and I will share what I do and what I think works.

 

[rico]

Word on the street is Husky will be releasing a new 90+ cc 5 series saw. Fingers crossed for an updated 395

It will be a very sad day if/when Husky decides to end their 3 series of saws...Simply some of the very best saws in history..I couldn't imagine life without my 395's and 372's...