Milling Oak, MS661, first time

Milling oak with a 36" Alaskan MK3 mill. With a 36" bar the maximum cut Is about 27". I could remove the felling dogs to get the supports closer to the powerhead for more clearance and get out to about 29".
Going to pick up an MS880 for the several big milling jobs I will have coming up. Good ripping chain makes a HUGE difference in the finish of the boards.
Thanks all new subscribers and leave a comment. Have a good night and a pleasant tomorrow!

[@leebrech9616]

I have same set up and no problems cutting. Take dogs off saw and you'll get a 29'' width. Use wedges to keep pressure of bar and slow down on cutting. I put wedge in cut after 1' in I put a wedge in the end of my log. After about 30'' in, put wedges 1 on each side and continue. Don't put any wieght on power head actually give a little pick up on it while pulling trottle and the 661 will cut just about anything. If you don't operate saw properly you will have same issues with 880. I have both 661 and 880 and they are beast. Good luck all looks great.

[@dennisdye2330]

im buying the 661

[@AsonofGod1986]

Looks fun, I’ve been milling oak with my 72cc saw and it works just fine with both ripping and full chisel but I do like the finish of the rip chain better. One thing I learned about using wedges is that you only want to put them in by hand, if you wack them in there you actually mess up your cut. Other than that have fun! God bless!

[@garyj5943]

What saw are you using. Im going to buy a saw for milling some eastern red cedar mostly and some oak. I was hoping i could get a 70cc saw to work for milling and still be useful for felling and bucking too.

[@nicolaisvlog8701]

I have an 880 what a saw 👌

[@1narow486]

cool vid. im heading to find your 880 vid now. you completely sold me on the ripping chain.

[@markheintz1878]

Granberg says the 36 will cut up to 32 inch slabs. I just got my 36 and need to mount it up and see what it really is. I already know I need a bigger saw and longer rails. I have a monster Ash tree to get home and sliced up. It will take at least 6ft to get thru the crotch section.

[@BlaiseBrogan]

Nice work mate.

[@safetyfirstintexas]

have you considered cutting with the top of the bar? and having the shavings eject opposite the controlls and operator vs using the bottom.of the bar and running it all thru the sprocket clutch and onto operator pathway.

[@markheintz1878]

Saws are designed to pull a chain, not push it, but your logic makes sense in theory.

[@ricksadler797]

Pretty work 🙂

[@relyk90]

Thank you! I thought about removing the felling dogs.... I measured everything out and it would only gain me about 2 inches.... still 2 inches short to cut slabs and keep live edges unfortunately... thank you!!!

[@ledenhimeganidleshitz144]

Make your own chain! Double the number of scoring teeth. This decreases the need for a big saw but it will cut a bit slower. If you don't mill much it will save the big cash layout.

[@hamedizzy5137]

You should be fine with 661. Make sure you keep your chain sharp.

[@Fun4GA]

I have the same set up. Note worthy is that at the end of the cut, the Stihl 661 has to idle down while it's computer resets. Otherwise, it won't restart for an hour or so. Knowing that, I have no problems with my saw. The mill will get an exhaust deflector modification in the future so I don't have to breath it for hours on end.

[@volkerpetersen2268]

I cannot see anything wrong with your setup. Good size of cuttings, good overall cutting speed. GB offers a 42" bar for the 661 in 1,3mm LP 3/8 chain. The narrow chain does make a difference, and you can use normal Stihl PM narrow chain from the big endless role. Cost half as much as the granberg ripping chain, while producing OK finish. I run the 42" bar on the Dolmar PS9000, and it gives an exact 100cm cutting width, if you max out and clamp on top of the rivets from the star. BUT, if you have an 880....that's even better ofc. 90ccm saw is pretty maxed out at 75cm in oak. Nice vid, like to see more!

[@lucfournier3939]

congratulations on your mill may be you can remove the dogs on your power heads to get wider boards

[@blainstenberg2806]

you could also turn the logs .and get a double edged guide bar and use 2 saws 880 +660 or 660+461 and use a 60 inch bar

[@drewdouglas4883]

That would make a nice table top

[@jeffreystanley4958]

I got the same set up. If you take the grab teeth off the saw you’ll get 2 more inches of cut

[@TheWoodsman661]

Granberg says the 36 inch mill can make 32 inch wide cuts with a 36 inch bar. What's goin on for y'all to only be able to cut 28 inch wide slabs?

[@relyk90]

Ammo Test how do you file your chains. Granberg style with scoring cutters or just plain 10 degrees

[@GoodDayFarm]

If I thought I could sell the slabs, I might get into milling. Some of the big wood I get seems a shame to burn... I burned a bunch of 36" walnut last year... :O Plus, I need an excuse to get an 880 or 090.... :D You need a wedge banger! Better call Billy Ray! ;) Did you get the 880? Take care!

[@relyk90]

Good Day Farm yep I picked up the 880! 42" bar and a couple ripping chains. .404 is massive chain!!!!! Sunday I'm going to pull the log down into a little flat and roll it up onto some 4x4's or other logs laying around to get it off the ground and come up with a game plan for the milling cuts..... Just picked up some latex primer so I can seal the end grain to hopefully prevent checking

[@GoodDayFarm]

Kyler Monares Sweet! I can't wait to see the 880 in action!

[@guitstikkustoms4448]

I mill white oak with my Echo 590 60cc saw all day using just a regular cross cut chain, I have been thinking about getting a granberg chain tho. Looks good brother.

[@relyk90]

Joel Farris I think the difference between two different style ripping chains is no where near the difference between a cross cut and ripping chain.

[@guitstikkustoms4448]

Yep, I do know that ANY ripping chain will be better than the crosscut chain I am using.

[@relyk90]

Joel Farris I sent you a message

[@guitstikkustoms4448]

Trying to find it GAHH.

[@guitstikkustoms4448]

I just sent you an email.

[@shauncatlett6066]

Dumb question, but what is the difference between a ripping chain and a full or half skip chain?

[@4gclipseGT]

ripping chain just means the cutting edge is filed at a 15 degrees instead of the typical 20-25.

[@4gclipseGT]

and the cutting teeth are not as offset to allow a smoother finish

[@247lumpy]

Granberg claims a 4" loss off the bar length, how did you manage to lose 9"? Looks like a 32" bar

[@johnmckenzie3614]

Bill Hier mills not up against dogs

[@davelaird614]

Get some water running on the tip of the bar and it will cut faster .and don't lug the saw you need chane speed.

[@tucanman9775]

you take the teeth off dude but you need longer rails to take advantage of 3 inches

[@UP-Victory]

Подсобник оператора молоцец. Звание Мужик стальные яйца.

[@douglasalves6026]

um dos maiores motosserra do Brasil eu um ms661 Sthill não adianta eu tenho sthil

[@johnmine5609]

cut slab turn 90 degrees cut another slab.... rotate 90 cut another slab

[@ariclange7051]

Your chain is not set up for ripping add more hook