Tooling Up

[oldsaw]

Thanks Brian for the inferiority complex.  Bummed me out.

[lamar]

check with cutters choice.I started out with an Alaskin and still have it and will keep it.It works good to 1/4 a log by screwing 2 halves together after first cut then you can roll it 90deg. and take 2nd cut. I buy most of my saw stuff from Cutters.They seem to have the best price.I buy bulk chain(lazer) and Its as good as any I know of.Just got there new cat.(finaly)Prices still arnt bad.!-888-288-8371

[Brian_Bailey]

oldsaw,  

I'm not sure how to interpret your post  :-/.
If I offended you in anyway I'm truely sorry.

I started this thread to show those that are interested, how one person is trying to utilize a resource that generally gets pushed aside to either rot or burned.

[beenthere]

Brian
I think oldsaw was tugging at your leg, and giving you a compliment.
Trying to come across that he was a bit jealous, maybe. Which we all probably are a bit envious of your talent, but don't let that slow you down. You have a great insight and artistic talent. You and Jeff are in a league with the best, IMHO.  :
 See the 'title' he added to his post. Hard to sometimes put feelings into the 'typed' word, as there is no way to add the sound to those words, or the chuckle afterwards.  

[Brian_Bailey]

beenthere,  

Thank you for your compliments!

I don't know oldsaw, so I couldn't tell if he was just tugging or was really bummed out  .

My posts aren't meant to make someone feel inferior or bummed.

Now if you feel motivated and inspired, that is what I'm all about  ;).

[oldsaw]

I've only got a 36" bar w/36" Alaskan.  That's why I'm suffering so badly.  You've got the "big man" toy, and now mine seems...well...it seems really small. ;D :'(

Nice work.  Great pictures.  I've got to break down and get a digital camera.

If you want to offend me, you've got to try a lot harder than that.  Seriously, my 36" on an 066 is plenty enough for what I have to do...except a bit more power would always be nice.  A get-up that size is really a two person operation, and I spend too much time as a "one man band".  After a few cuts, my get-up is about all I want to be handling.

.

[Brian_Bailey]

Thanks for the clarification oldsaw - for awhile there I wasn't sure whether I ticked you somehow or if I should get a rush order of viagra out to ya  :D  :D.

Unfortunately I have no choice but to run the mill by myself.
I made up 2 guides, one for short chunks like that cherry crotch, I can saw up to 6' lenght with it.
The other one I made to saw a log up to 8' long. Anything longer, I'm not interested in doing.

I made the guides 30" wide so it's easy to keep the mill level as I push it along.

The mill looks awkward but it is not that difficult to handle.

I only intend to use it when something unusual comes along that I can't saw on the mizer.

[oldsaw]

Sawwood has a big walnut he wants shaved down to fit JR's Norwood, and JR has a few to come down that will need it too.

Maybe it's an advertising campaign.  "Buy an Alaskan and your mill owning friends will appreciate you even more."  I thought I was being cheap...but it will make me "popular".  I don't know if those two qualify as the "in" crowd, but I like 'em anyway.  These wood guys are like that, aren't they?

I'm thinking about cutting up the top part of my old aluminum extension ladder to make a set of lighter weight guide rails.  It's only bent up a bit at the top where I fell on it.  The bottom has been chopped and is now a 10' non-extension ladder.  I just would like to narrow it up to about a foot or so...I don't get too many really big logs to deal with.  Mostly 16-20".  Still thinking of that one.  Your's is nicer, but mine has to travel.

[Brian_Bailey]

I don't know about the "in" crowd cause I try to avoid any type of crowd  :D.  

Heck, I'd be using a pitsaw if I could but I can't seem to convince my wife to be the pitman pitperson  ;D.

The ladder should work good. I'd rub a little parafin wax on the top edge of it so the mill will slide better.

Make sure that JR & Sawwood know that you're doing specialty work for them  ;).

[oldsaw]

It's payback time, so I can even it up.

Worked him like a dog in April.  But he was a pretty DanG good sport about it.

Take care Brian.

[lamar]

I used to fight the wood slabing rails then I made some out of c chanel for metal buildings.They work great.I welded nuts on bottom of rails in 4 places(6 for 20foot rail) then made adjustable legs that thread into nuts.I turned one end of legs to a point and  can set rail on log push boints into log and adjust rail for level cut.Its quite stable even with a 394 with a double ended 42" bar. On the 20foot I put an extra set of legs in the middle.I can just pick up the rail in the middle and set it on log

[Brian_Bailey]

I use 3/8" carriage bolts of varying lenghts to level the slabbing rails.
I drilled a series of holes 2" oc for the bolts across the cross bars so I have a wide range of adjustments for different size/shape logs.
I then bite into the log on each end about an inch deep with a lag bolt to keep the rails from shifting.
Seems to be working out ok for me so far  .