Milling

[RoamingGnome]

Looks good @Eugen, how was it to set up and use?

[JSinMO]

@Eugen That’s something i have thought about trying. I’d like to hear your thoughts on it and how well it works.

[Eugen]

@RoamingGnome and @JSinMO , I'll follow up with a longer post about this. The mill attachment I got might be of lower quality, the thickness setting mechanism is a little awkward. Four nuts that need to be loosened and tightened again. The chain is a new ripping chain from Stihl, yet after the the first cut it went pretty slowly. I tried for 1" boards, the log is ash and about 1 foot diameter and 5 feet long. It worked but after three boards it got dark and my back was complaining. I cannot say this was easy.

[Toolslinger]

I'll jump in a bit on this...
The chainsaw mill rigs are good and bad. (like everything right?)

Obviously, they work. You end up putting an awful lot of work in to makeing boards, and turn a bunch of tree in to dust. I'd say, they're as hard on the operator, as they are on the saw, and log. Getting the first cut takes the longest, because you really want to make sure you get your guide setup right. Mess that up, and all the following boards will have the same defect since you ride on the previous cut. If you're working on something short enough, you can setup with the log on an angle so you get a little help from gravity pulling the saw along. Not much help on beams, but worked for my projects.

They are, however, about the only choice in some situations. I've only used mine a couple times. Those occasions involved slabbing out the very bottom of the trunk, and the root ball. Nobody in their right mind would try to run that through their sawmill. Apart from the terrible shape, the amount of dirt, and rocks makes that horrible. It's murder on the chain too, but that's a fairly easy thing to sharpen. On the other hand, the end result grain is amazingly good looking.

If I was really out in the boonies, it would make sense for planks too I guess. Making beams would be fine, particularly if you don't need them square, just flat on top, and bottom.

Few shots of some end slabs, and a little cocktail table I made from one piece for my other half's patio umbrella.

Black Walnut

Honey Locust

[DavidBarkey]

@Toolslinger , That umberela table is really nice .

[Harry]

TS that table is gorgeous a project to be proud of. Harry

[RoamingGnome]

@Toolslinger Thanks for sharing some finished work - that umbrella table is very nice - a firm 2 from
And thanks to @Eugen and you I think I might be able to put one of these on the wish list...

[Eugen]

Guys, I thought I open a new thread on this subject and continue what we started over in the Pictures the moment thread. I got a few logs I want to mill as I need planks. I just tried a last night an ash log and cut a couple of planks, it was hard. I might not be doing it right, I'll try again. But I do appreciate any input you guys might have. Here's the ladder half I used for making the first cut. I used deck screws to fix it to the top of the log, and adjusted the thickness to accommodate the ladder thickness and another 2" approximately.

[Toolslinger]

I haven't cut ash with the mill, so no idea if applicable. I'd think ash would slice up pretty nicely.

When I got setup, I remember reading that you want the oiler running basically wide open. The type of oil you run, and the temps can play havoc with those systems, so you'll have to play around a bit. Cut a bit, then pull it out and see if you're running dry. They do sell auxillary oilers for the Alaskan Mills.

I never read this, but kinda found it accidently... My setup tended to cut a little easier when the saw was cutting a little diagonally across the trunk. That could be due to the chain, or the grind on mine, but something to possibly try.

I expect you were using wedges to keep the slab up and avoid pinching?

That's about all I got. Looking forward to a stack of lumber!

[keith]

Another awesome masterpiece. Like the talent you have, Tooslinger