What kind of chain do you use on your CSM?

[Wolverine]

I am curious what the general consensus is on milling chain. To this point, I have used a loop of full skip full chisel Stihl, square filed. After sustaining damage from a piece of metal a few months ago in my ash tree, I had to file away some damage on one side only. Today I went through 4-5 .22 bullets in a large pine log. It severely dulled the chain, but did not damage further. But now, one side is way off from the other, creating more problems. So I'm looking to pick up a 2nd chain for milling. Question is... do I buy dedicated ripping chain??

 

[redoakneck]

I use Bailey's ( ducking, running away) full house , 3/8 . 063 milling chain. I got it years ago, does a great job.

 

[Wolverine]

Thanks for sharin'. What powerhead ya run and what size bar? I'm hesitant to go full house, I bought a 48" grandberg but only have a 36" bar for now. Which puts me around 30-32" final width. Don't plan on doing much soft wood.

 

[Jimmy in NC]

I use Bailey's ( ducking, running away) full house , 3/8 . 063 milling chain. I got it years ago, does a great job.

View attachment 17904

Me too....holds up well...vibration is tolerable. 394xp and 30" mk3

 

[mdavlee]

I use whatever is handy still. Mostly skip square

 

[Wolverine]

The site today had 2 pines down and bucked into a little over 8 foot lengths. I think there's 8 sections. I'm curious as to how much faster/durable a ripping chain would be. And by ripping, I refer to 10 degree, chisel and semi. I though I should be going through that pine much quicker than I was. I'm looking to get another chain so I have 2 for cases like today, going through lead

 

[Jimmy in NC]

The site today had 2 pines down and bucked into a little over 8 foot lengths. I think there's 8 sections. I'm curious as to how much faster/durable a ripping chain would be. And by ripping, I refer to 10 degree, chisel and semi. I though I should be going through that pine much quicker than I was. I'm looking to get another chain so I have 2 for cases like today, going through lead

I dont think you pick up speed. Ripping is normally semi and designed for finish and durability.

 

[Wolverine]

That's what I'm seeing in dedicated ripping chain(semi). But what I'm seeing online is quite a few people I respect using full chisel, either square filed or round @ 10. Wish I could test drive one to see how it handled.

 

[mdavlee]

The semi was slower and no smoother for me.

 

[quietfly]

So im new to this and ya'll know a lot more than me, so all i can offer is conjecture. People on other sites have said milling with pico at 10 or below picks up a ton of speed. However they could just be blowing sunshine back up a unicorns arse....

 

[Jimmy in NC]

Pico is a narrower kerf thus removing less wood...less wood = less work...faster. Pico wastes less of the log too.

 

[redoakneck]

I'm using an 088 with a muffler mod. That log is 15' long, 32" wide, takes 7-8 minutes per slab.

 

[Brewz]

I bought a 48" grandberg but only have a 36" bar for now. Which puts me around 30-32" final width. Don't plan on doing much soft wood.

Question about the Grandberg mills
When they advertise 30" or 36" or 48", does that designate the max bar length it will hold?

 

[Brewz]

Bump

 

[VinceGU05]

Doesn't it say on their website? I would say bar size. I have a 36" mill. Ran it with a 32" bar on it. And yup it would be ok with a 36" bar. Which means you can cut about 32"

 

[VinceGU05]

What are ppl running their rakers at? I am at about .040 and it still bloody slow.

 

[Wolverine]

.025.
I did convert my square filed chain (full skip, full chisel) to round @ about 10 degrees due to the inconvenience of trying to use the double bevel while on the mill. The one side is very difficult because of the angle @ which you must hold the file interferes with the rail. Milled a few pines for play after and I must say I'm happy with the results so far.

 

[VinceGU05]

Hmm maybe I need to try half or full skip.

 

[Brewz]

I have looked at the carlton ripping chains
They make a 3/8 .050 chain which is useless unless you own a Husky
I am interested in the 404 .063 ripping chain for milling

Yeah it will cut a lightly wider kurf but 404 is a wonderful thing in Aussie hardwod

 

[295 tramp]

Question about the Grandberg mills
When they advertise 30" or 36" or 48", does that designate the max bar length it will hold?]

No that measurement is how long the runners are. I have a 36" mill. my 36" bar has a sprocket nose and you can't clamp on the sprocket so you lose some width of the cut from that and you have to remove the dogs from you saw and will still lose a inch or so in your final width