Chainsaw milling guide

[reb78]

I find myself using the chainsaw more these days when I have straight limbs/trunks from trees I have cut down to create planks.

I started messing around doing it by eye which was reasonable but needs a lot of work to get the wood planed and flat.

Can anyone recommend a milling guide for hobby/occasional use? Dont want to spend too much really but its the sort of thing that will increasingly come in handy apparently.

 

[123hotchef]

make one from an old ladder

 

[Screwdriver]

I like this chap:

 

[gaz1]

the way your doing it

if you want better go down a sawmill route homemade vs bought mill vids

if you want better

if you want portable and easy to transport look a the build

 

[8ob]

I find myself using the chainsaw more these days when I have straight limbs/trunks from trees I have cut down to create planks.

I started messing around doing it by eye which was reasonable but needs a lot of work to get the wood planed and flat.

Can anyone recommend a milling guide for hobby/occasional use? Dont want to spend too much really but its the sort of thing that will increasingly come in handy apparently.

Easiest way is a low level builders trestle each end of the butt, throw a few sandbags over the legs, decent ladder across the trestles and clamp it down, jack up/wedge the butt to optimise the planking, mill away. Consider using Aspen mix, your face is right in there with the saw.

Bob

 

[gaz1]

Easiest way is a low level builders trestle each end of the butt, throw a few sandbags over the legs, decent ladder across the trestles and clamp it down, jack up/wedge the butt to optimise the planking, mill away. Consider using Aspen mix, your face is right in there with the saw.

Bob

stuff has changed now 8ob

2mm angle iron frame with posts and middle inserts extendable with leveling feet

a ladder is ok but still needs supporting across its length

video ref

Norwood LumberMate LM29 Portable Band Sawmill​

 

[Old Dog]

The ones on e-bay work for a cheap price, but I made myself one out of scrap 30mm box and bits of angle. The ones you buy are adjustable to fit various bar lengths, I made mine to bolt together to fit the 3 saws that I have. A ladder works but it needs to be well clamped to make the cut accurate. It's also hard work on the saw and a oil can of chain lube is handy to oil the bar tip.

 

[Old Dog]

Oop's forgot get a couple of milling chains (sharpened to a different angle) Stihl ones last longer and keep it razor sharp and the depth gauges set correctly. It will leave less chain marks in the wood. Don't use the milling chain for cross cutting it kicks back harder.

 

[Parm]

I’ve been watching this guy

My turn for a YouTube video

(Don’t tell me off @Wozzaaah)

Watch from about 15 mins, looks simple enough

 

[James1979]

It’s been a while since i was around fixing arb and forestry kit but the one they raved about was the Alaskan mill. Might turn up on the bay?

Mill is easy. You’re gonna need a saw with grunt and a ripping chain. A chipper chain won’t do it. It’ll stress the saw too much. A grunty saw (MS880 ideally or a 660 if not) will cost you even second hand and will chug fuel like a tramp on diamond white.

Not putting a downer on it but you’ll need to consider the larger picture

 

[reb78]

My 044 should manage? It wont be the size of the big trees in the vids. Otherwise my mate has a 660 he might let me play with.

 

[James1979]

Try it. I think (from memory but @8ob will know I’d think) that the sprockets are the same on both saws so worst case you can put the chain and bar on his saw.

 

[sako243]

There isn't a local timber yard near you Rich?

Not quite the same as milling your own but after meeting Pete Gregor a (more-or-less) neighbour down the road and popping into his wood yard I'd be more tempted to take the stuff down to him to put through the bandsaw instead.

I'm getting a load of douglas fir cladding cut by him for a stables and it's working out the same price as shiplap half the thickness (not from Wickes etc., from a proper place) so a bit of a no-brainer.

 

[reb78]

Its more about having a play with stuff i cut myself Ed.

 

[gaz1]

is it just for home use

portable or just permanent use ?

 

[reb78]

is it just for home use

portable or just permanent use ?

Just home. And occasional use as i get something worth planking really

 

[mike os]

Look at an Alaska mill

 

[gaz1]

simplest one in cost is this one

however id change it so it has a top double swing and id swap the wood for aluminium or steel thats been galvanised

for reference dont force all the way through let the blade do the cutting

 

[Migmac]

Pal has the Alaskan Mill, it works well.

 

[Shiny Steve]

The cheap Chinese Alaskan style mills on ebay work ok, although I did upgrade to a panther. As said before you need a lot of saw. I have milled 18inch diameter with my old ms441 but this wasn't very kind to the saw I then upgraded to a 880 when I got the panther.

Chain is the most important thing about milling with a chainsaw it needs to be sharp very evenly ground to prevent the chain wandering and tensioned correctly, tension will change as it wars up