what size chainsaw to keep near the bandsaw

[Gadrock]

I have almost completed my restoration of a newly aquired older LT40. And now as all the associated other tools are being assembled a big question emerges.

So ...what size chainsaw do most people keep near their sawmill...just to handle those everyday close at hand things?

David Gaddis


Carry on

[dgdrls]

Jonsered  2145  18" bar

I mill with a Lucas

DGDrls

[bandmiller2]

If you have power a good electric chainsaw is very handy, if not any saw you have, I wouldn't buy one special. Frank C.

[Magicman]

I have an old Stihl 028 upfitted with an 18" bar and 7/32 chain.

wwsjr had a Stihl 170 that we used while sawing the Goodwill project.  It did an excellent job and is less than $200.

[lyle niemi]

small saw cuts small wood, big saw cuts all wood..lol

[highleadtimber16]

I use my little Stihl 192 16" bar (I suggest a 12" bar) everyday at the mill. I have my stihl 461 in the truck for the bigger stuff.

[Dave Shepard]

Electric can be really handy, especially if you are making a lot of cuts. When I cut the 47' logs on my mill, it was so hot the gas powered saw wouldn't start the second time. Because the logs were longer than the mill, I had to cut every slab and board. It was really nice to just pull the trigger and not have to start the saw.

[wetdog]

Anything is good as long as its small, light, cranks good, and not too expensive to replace as some of them get ran over by tractors or get logs rolled on them. Mine is an old Husky 55.

[Ocklawahaboy]

Since I mostly saw for fun, out of my disposable income, my one saw is a 20" husky.  I use every inch of it at the mill, on a regular basis. 

[backwoods sawyer]

I take two saw with me if I am not splitting a big log, a 034 stil with a 32" bar, but my go to saw is a little 20" easy start husky, when climbing around a big log on the mill a lighter saw helps withe the balance and usualy will do any thing you need.

In the production mill all we used were stil 24" electric chainsaws (good for cutting a stuck cant out of any of the five edgers) and a pole saw for jam ups on the decline chain(got used a lot), plenty of power and they start the first time you pull the trigger,

keep extra chains on hand as trimming a guide path on over sized logs the chain will catch some metal sooner or later.

[POSTON WIDEHEAD]

Stihl 170
Husquvarna 365 skip tooth 24" bar

[Ianab]

Think it depends what you are going to be cutting. If it's 12-18" logs, then no need to have a big saw on hand. You might want to end trim, or lop off some stray limbs etc. Something nice and light, 40-60 cc would be fine. It it's got a sharp chain, and starts reliably, it will do the job.

Larger logs? You will want something with a big more grunt if you are going to quarter or whittle down oversize logs to fit the mill.

[mmartone]

I'm not braggin but... I like my 372xp with the 32" bar and skip chain, it can reach whatever. I have bigger and smaller saws but I just like that one.

[scully]

I usually have 3 saws 18"20"24-32" bars ,I use the small one most of the time but the bigger ones come in handy ! I had to rip a 46" dia. cherry log once to get it on my LT40 . If you are going for 1 saw I would get one that can drive a 20" bar . It may be a bit big sometimes but IMHO will pay off big the times you need it .

[Gadrock]

What I was seeking is your fav saw to have near the mill.

It kind of was a question on what size most other wanted close by at the mill...not bunking, limbing, felling etc

carry on

[ladylake]

A Echo CS400, most important it starts great, also it's light cuts great, handles nice, just over $200 from fleebay. The only downside is they need to be tuned before running them as most are set too lean. Steve

[Peter Drouin]

I think we all use what we have mine is a Dolmar 79 with a 24" bar. Sometimes you have to cut the log down and a big saw works well.

[bandmiller2]

The ends of many logs have imbedded dirt and grit from dragging and handling, I commonly trim the ends to eliminate same. I use an 18" bar but a 20" would be better, also handy for butt swell. Frank C.

[Chuck White]

I only own one chainsaw and it does it all "for me" around the mill.

I have a Stihl 021 with a 12" bar.

It's reliable, starts easy and it's light-weight!

[WDH]

Makita electric.  So nice not to have to put gas in it and so nice not to have to crank it. 

[Sixacresand]

Husquvarna 4??, 18".  Cranks with 2 pulls, idles if I take my finger off the throttle, not too heavy.  I had thoughts of installing a inverter on the mill so I could power a electric chainsaw and/or a leaf blower for cleanup.  The GaMtnMan sent me plans on how to wire a second battery to a Lt40.  That may might be a good time to install the inverter. 

[stanwelch]

Stihl 026  18" bar.
  I saw alone on my MANUAL LT15 and keep the saw on a low table at knuckle high
Very handy to cut slabs to smaller size for easier handling

[schmism]

Id say one of the old "farmboss" saws would be a good choice.  usually around an 029 / MS290 which is a 54CC engine

FYI

021 - 35CC
026 - 48cc (likely listed as a "pro" saw)
029 - 54CC

my 039 ins kinda an oddball at 64CC  and i run an old 010av with it at 37cc 

i run a 12" bar on my 010 and bounce between a 20 and 24" bar on my 039 unless its pulling sawmill duty.

[drobertson]

I use a 362 sthil, 20" bar, its not too heavy, cranks easy and has the power needed for trimming larger butt ends.  Ideally, two saws would be nice, a small nub trimmer and a bigger one for larger cuts.    david

[barbender]

Sixacresand, it will take quite an inverter to run an electric chainsaw, won't it? I'm trying to remember how many watts a circular saw (15 amp) takes, around 2000 I think. I would would expect an electric chainsaw to use similar amperage. To the OP, I usually have my 346 Husky around the mill.