Chainsaw Milling - I know but bear with me . . . .

[SwingOak]

I just bought the 24" Granberg mill, and ran it tonight on a small black walnut log for practice. Forgot the dust mask (Duh - hack cough sniffle) and I used a full comp chain, a Stihl chisel chip rapid super (which they don't make anymore in 3/8 pitch, grr...). I left it where it was, at 30 degrees, and 0.030 raker depth. It cut fine, but a bit raggedy.

The 84 drive link ripping chain I had ordered from Bailey's is backordered until July 1st...  ???

[SwingOak]

I bought a new Stihl Rapid Super Comfort chain today, so I recut my older Rapid Super chisel chain to 10 degrees, with a 10 degree pitch angle, and 0.30" on the rakers.

Compared to the standard chain I used before (30 deg, 10 deg, 0.030") it not only cut smoother, but seemed to cut faster too, or at worst about the same.

[plbnyn]

For what it is worth. I ran an 090 48" bar with 38" cutting ability. I ran the granberg chain in Douglas fir, black walnut, elm, Curly redwood and found that in cut vrs cut it was slow through all of the woods, all cut green or very wet. I modified a full chiesel, full skip loop ground with square file with 0 degree rake and 45-55 degree down. leaving two complete cutters intact, ground the rakers off, and then ground off the horizantal portion of the next two teeth to serve as rakers (configured like the teeth on the old misery whips, two cutters and several rakers).
This modification was the best thing that I had done, it reduced cut time by 75% 10 full bar Doug Fir granberg was 15 minutes, with my modification the same tree next log up was 5-10 minutes depending on sharpening/knots/dirt.

I had used full house, full chiesel with a 2300 Homelite (not enough power) and the cut was slow when I changed to the 090 the cut was still slow. Micro chiesel was even slower, I contacted an engineer at Oregon saw chain got a couple of loops to play with came up with the modifications above from an old timer in Humboldt County, and then bought a Lucas, have pulled out the 090 mill a couple of times to cut big Sugar and Pondie Pine cants for benches, the modified chain cut fast, realitivly smooth (depends on the saw team and movement in the stinger and power head.

I gave the info to the engineer at Oregon Saw chain and that is that.

Hoc Majorum Vitrus

[TexasTimbers]

plbnyn,

Interesting info. I don't really understand the "leaving two complete cuters intact" part. What does that mean?

[olyman]

seeuns how i have a granberg--and have never heard of this book--anyone want to sell one??---i would like to read it--always learning----

[TexasTimbers]

I would never sell mine because they are not available at all sometimes and when they become available they ain't cheap.

The way I got mine is I put it on my Amazon wishlist and waited a longtime before I got an email saying one was for sale. Now, they have 6 listed!

The lowest price $75 and that is an excellent price. Snatch it while you can, becuase the other five are selling for . . .

$95.00
$110.33
$111.08
$194.99
$195.00

If you are going to be serious about milling, chapters 4 & 5 alone are worth the price.

But ya better get busy with that mouse. This book will never again go into print IMO and one day you may not be able to get one at any price.

One of the reviewers made an interesting comment that I have never heard but is worthy to share I think:

. . . Chainsaw mills are perhaps the only @ $1000 woodworking tool with a one day payback period . . . .

I think the payback period on the book is also not only fast, but ongoing!


http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0918804124/sr=8-1/qid=1211464295/ref=olp_product_details?ie=UTF8&me=&qid=1211464295&sr=8-1&seller=

[Ironwood]

Thanks For the input TT.

Ironwood

[Ironwood]

TT,

Got the book today, cheapest one out there. IT was NEVER even opened, the binding was original and not even opened. Smells a little moldy but seems good reading. I had seen some of the content in Tauton reprint series many years ago. It will be good reference.

Thanks Ironwood

[Dan_Shade]

http://www.amazon.com/Wood-How-Dry-Fine-Woodworking/dp/091880454X/ref=pd_bbs_6?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1212285087&sr=8-6

this book has some of the good information that Mr. Malloff wrote into his book.

[Ironwood]

That is one in the series I am speaking of. I think that one is on the shelf behind me.

Ironwood

[beenthere]

Found this video about chainsaw milling, and couldn't pass up the chance to let you all see it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wQaxyi_4d4Q


Appears that the cut was already started before this video began, as the first 18" or so went pretty fast and no sawdust. However, the rest of the cut was extremely slow, and little to no sawdust. Needs some leg protection too. 

[sawguy21]

That is a very crude setup, an accident just waiting to happen. :

[logwalker]

It sounds like he is only using half throttle. LW