Chainsaw milling survey, who's running what?

[ontario026]

Just curious who is running a chainsaw mill here?

What powerhead, bar size, and chain are you running??

I just got an 044 I'm hoping to do a little 'low production' hobby milling with.  Any recommendations?

Thanks guys
Matthew

[Dan_Shade]

I have an 066 setup with a 32" (I think) bar, it might be a 30...

I swapped from using 3/8 to using .325, but only slabbed up a pittance of maple with it, I've since then purchased a Hud-son Oscar 28" so for the most part, my chainsaw milling days are over.

It works, but it's brutal work, and pretty tough on a powerhead.

[Dan_Shade]

One other thing, if you can get your hands on Will Malloff's book, it's worth it, but it's out of print and expensive to find these days...

on the bright side, some of the best info in the book is reprinted in the fine woodworking book "wood and how to dry it" ISBN0-918804-54-x

[1953greg]

matthew,  i use an 066 w/ 42" bar w/ auxillary oiler 3/8 .063 chain sharpened @ 5* cutting red oak.  can clear 36".  hook 5 or 6 tarp straps together end to end and attach to off end of bar for additional help.  trial n error for the proper pull.   the 066 is a bit small for the bar but i have more time than money.  your 044 wil b ok in hardwoods up to bout 24" bar (18" cut, thats bout a 25" log) if you keep the chain sharp and use plenty of oil.  no experience in softwood.  be sure to get the first cut flat.  i use a metal ladder on top of log for the first cut guide.  if at all possible remove bark b4 sawing.  
 happy sawing!   1953greg

[DonE911]

I have a logosol M7.  066 mag power head. I have cut mostly red oak to this point as I have not had it long.  I use a 25" bar until I can switch to a 16".  The 066 does the job, but I will be buying a 3120 in a few months.  Your 44 will do the job but as earlier mentioned, it will be slooooooowwwwww, just use the smallest bar that you can get to work.

I did cut one pine log and the speed picked up alot, I never changed the bar down to the 16". I hope by going to the 3120 I can step up to the same speed in the hardwood.  

As for chain I'm still using what logosol sells by the loop, but I think I'm going to start making my own loops and purchase a roll of ripping chain.  It's easier to have 5-6 sharp chains waiting then sharpening so often.

[Lorax]

I have the Hudson chainsaw mill.  I use a Husky 3120 with a 42 inch bar and an auxillary oiler.  The ripping chain has 3/8 in. pitch and 0.063 gauge.  I order my ripping chain from Bailey's.  So far I have cut mainly spruce and pine, but have done a little ash also.

[Greenskeeper]

I have a Logosol M7 385xp Husky 16 & 25 inch bars, got it a year ago.Have cut around 12,000 bft with it.Mostly red pine also maple, walnut and butter nut.Started out with the PMX chain that Logosol sells it gives a good smooth cut, its hard to maintain.Switched over to RS-33 chain its much faster and much cheaper.Cutting pine with RS-33 is at least 50% faster and longer chain life.

[Egon]

I do a little work with a Husky 365 - 24in. bar and 3/8 ripchain.

Use a homemade quide that resembles an edger and requires a drilled bar.  Seems to work okay but have plans for a new quide fermenting.

Work this in conjunction with a hand power planner , bandsaw ,planner and jointer. It's slow work but can get some nice pieces.

Works best on pieces to about six feet long as larger get to heavy for me to turn and support properly.

I usually try for 1/4 sawn  or as close as I can get.

Egon

PHOTOS MUST BE JPG PDF NOT ALLOWED

[RacinRex]

Just a suggestion. Don't shoot!!!

I purchased a small bandmill that was built right here in upstate NY. I see you are right on the border around the kingston area which means you are about 2.5 hrs or less from Syracuse, correct?

The mill I got is called a Simplicity Bandmill, They cost about 3700 bucks complete and ready to go. Toby, the guy who builds them has been happy to help anytime I've called. It comes with a 13 HP honda and isn't the speediest thing in the world but it makes nice lumber for a hobbiest.  He's two hours from here  to the west.

A small bandmill like that one may serve you much better than a chainsaw mill in the long run.

Of course I'm not sure what an alaskan costs so I may well be out of the ball park on this one. Anyway, just my $.02

[grampt1]

I have a 046 with a 32" bar with aux oiler and use oregon 72RD ripping chain. It works but it is mighty slow going and I don't know how much longer the 046 is going to last because this set up really gives it a workout.I only cut lumber for my woodworking hobby so I had a hard time justifing it but I wish I would have bought a small band mill to start with.
 Good luck with what ever you decide to get
                                          Ron

[Tony_T]

I'm running a logosol M5 w/O66 stihl.  So far I've just rum the pmx chain that logosol sells w/16 or 25 in bars. Just cutting hradwoods so far mostly ash and cherry. The cherry being cut for 4/4 and 5/4 grade and the ash for framing/timbers. Most cuts are true and smooth but slow   I like the mill but would have went with an 088 if was purchasing again.

I don't have a loader so built portable ramps w/steps cut in so I can load mill by myself using a log cant to roll logs up.  Have tackled a 15 ft 28 in. ash log by myself it's a good workout...  

I'm intrigued that the RS-33 chain cuts faster tham the pmx given that it has a larger kerf.  What kind of angle is used when sharpening and how smooth is the cut in comparison w/the pmx chain? Also what type of wood has this worked well on?  thanks in advance for any advice.

[Arthur]

When running my lightweight mill I use an 088 Magnum with 1.5m bar.  This gives a 1.2m (4ft) cut.

If I have a lot of slabbing to do I use a dedicated unit with a 20hp Vtwin petrol and a 96" bar.  Give a 2m cut.

arthur

[rebocardo]

I am using a Husky 365, with a 28 inch bar, on a Procut trailer, using a variety of ripping chains. The low profile 3/8 from Bailey's cut 10/10 is the best so far. Because the saw is under powered I keep it to wood 16" or less. 

[Brucer]

I use a Jonsereds 2171 (70 cc) on my 28" Alaskan mill. I've got a 34" bar bolted to the mill and I
file my own chain from standard 3/8" chain using Will Malloff's recommended profile. The
powerhead is way too small for chainsaw milling, but it's what my back can handle.

The chain is filed straight across with the file held level and set much lower into the gullet. The
hook angle is about 45 degrees instead of the usual 15 to 30. I file the rakers to .040". The first
filing is a pain because I've got to take off the whole front of the tooth -- usually I get the
dealer to do it with his grinder. After that it's easy to file with a hand file and a modified guide.

I use kerf wedges to keep the chain from dragging on the back of the bar. It saves a little power
and leaves a great finish.

[Sawing Logz]

I just received a 660 Magnum from santa, ;) and both Grangerg Mini mill and the 56" Alaskan III mill . The Mill maker recomend, of course the biggest saw you wallet can afford, but said this would more than cover it. I have a 36" cutting capacity on my TimberHarvester But get all my LOGZ from tree services that do city work, with 45% being over that size. I will let you know how it goe's after it get's above -7F.

Sawing Logz

[DonE911]

Anyone tried .325 ??

Wondering how it cuts with 066 type power?  Is it strong enough?

[oldsaw]

Next purchase is 42" bar.  Primarily oak and walnut to this point.  Have run the mill upright to upright (about 28-29") in red oak.  Slow going, but have been working on dressing the chain to get better.  But, I'm either cutting for myself, or getting big logs small enough to get on a friend's mill. 

I wish I had an 088, until I have to carry the 066 back into the trees.  I've found that I can actually stack my 2.5 gal gas can, gallon of bar lube, and basic tool kit on the bar inside the Alaskan.  Kind of a basket of sorts.  All in all, I'm happy with it.  Especially when I don't need a place to park it.

[Dangerous_Dan]

Homemade. When I first built it I used a 066. That was too slow, noisy and I was choking on fumes.  Decided to go electric. Now it has a 7.5 hp electric motor, power feed and a positive displacement oiler.  Here are some pics.

[Dangerous_Dan]

Another pic.

[IndyIan]

I have a husky 372 with an alaskan mill.  3/8 Oregon rip chain.  It works pretty good in softwoods 20" and under.  I've done 16" hard maple with it too and that works ok if I square to a cant and saw that.  Sawing through and through would be a bit torturous in the wide cuts. 

I'd only get a chainsaw mill if you have:
A very small quatity of logs, not worth bringing in a portable mill.

Or you have inaccesible logs that you can't get out to a mill due to terrain or lack of machinery.

Ian
 

[leweee]

Dan ...I just love what you'ave done to that mill 8) 8) 8) You should patent that puppy'. I,m  an old farmer and you know farmers they ain't happy with a piece of equipment until they take the torch or the welder to it & "personalize" it : :D ;D

[rebocardo]

Dangerous Dan, that looks like an awesome set up! 

[weimedog]

I have a 36inch Granberg Alaskan mill with a old McCulloch 797 (123cc) saw. Use a 36inch bar, a 3/8 semi skip chisle chain ground at aprox 5 degrees.

Setup works pretty well..actually much better than I expected. It IS brutally hard work to spend a day pushing that rig through large 26-32inch diameter hardwood....but not hard enough to discourage me from doing it again. Milled enough wood to build 7 horse stalls last fall into early winter. That was around 30 boards per stall. Each 2 X 8 x 12. Add it up. Cost me $200 bucks for the alaskan mill and around $225 for the saw. Also a bunch of gas, chain oil, and elbow grease (Two or three weekends). Oh yea, some diesel to use my tractor to drag the logs up out of the woods.

Right now I have dropped some more ash 70plus ft tall in the woods and plan to drag that mill out there to slab were they lay. Try that with a band saw mill in 2ft of snow in the middle of the wetland....Going to use an old C-7 I call "Franken Saw" for kicks. It needs a reason to exist so this is it. This is turning a crazy hobbie into usefull stuff...next project is building benches for a work shop to further advance the art of old saw restoration & use to justify this old mans fun & games.

Todays recreation was to use my kids plastic sled and drag my XL-925, bar oil, gas can, bottle of orange juice, and tool bag out around 2 miles into our place and drop a couple of trees to get ready for the next set of projects. Need the excersize to off set age and that high collesterol diet.

[KiwiCharlie]

Hey,
Howd I miss this thread?!  :D
I have a Stihl 090 p/head, and have a 42in bar.  A new 72in double ender on order now.  Oregon 27ra (.404) rip chain from the box.  Granberg Alaskan, and Mini mill.
Great for slabs and beams, but I wouldnt want to do too much dimension timber with the Alaskan.
You want as much power as you can get, and plenty of oil for the bar.
Cheers
Charlie.