I have did some ripping today.

alsayyed · April 20, 2006, 05:23:53 PM

I had purchased new Stihl chainsaw bar, then I have dressed the bar with ripping chain then decided to use the machine to cut some logs which I have left in the sun. I cut first slab and it took at least 45 minutes to cut one slab my question is this normal or it slow. I used the The Alaskan MK III Saw Mill. It is ripping but very slow I have to push the chainsaw very slowly, if I have pushed very fast the chainsaw tend to lose power so I back it little then I get full power again. So I need some advice.

Dan_Shade · April 20, 2006, 05:43:37 PM

what kind of wood, how big was the log, and how long is the bar?

was the chain getting loose while you were sawing?

alsayyed · April 20, 2006, 05:49:18 PM

The log size I should say roughly 12-13 inch, I have the 30 inch bar rollmatic ES from Stihl. The wood I do not know but kind red wood the common name here called Kini it is hard wood. Tomorrow I am going again and I am going to take some photos of that log.

rebocardo · April 20, 2006, 06:39:49 PM

Way slow for a 13" log.

JimBuis · April 20, 2006, 06:53:30 PM

Quote from: alsayyed on April 20, 2006, 05:23:53 PM

I had purchased new Stihl chainsaw bar, then I have dressed the bar with ripping chain then decided to use the machine to cut some logs which I have left in the sun. I cut first slab and it took at least 45 minutes to cut one slab my question is this normal or it slow. I used the The Alaskan MK III Saw Mill. It is ripping but very slow I have to push the chainsaw very slowly, if I have pushed very fast the chainsaw tend to lose power so I back it little then I get full power again. So I need some advice.

You mention "ripping chain". Did you buy "true" ripping chain or have you sharpened it yourself to ripping specifications? It sounds to me like the chain is not sharpened to the right specifications. Even if the log you are working with is a particularly hard wood, if you had good ripping chain, it should not have taken that long.

Good luck,
Jim

Dan_Shade · April 20, 2006, 07:28:13 PM

if the chain is overly dull, it will heat and stretch, pretty badly.

it could also be a very abrasive wood, actually if it is in sandy soil, i'd be very surprised if it wasn't very abrasive.

alsayyed · April 22, 2006, 03:01:19 PM

Today I did some ripping some log, I have cut two slabs by using the ripping chain from Granberg international. The time today is much shorter I took roughly 15 minutes to cut one slab, I am learing, beside if I push the chain very slow it dose cut like I said if I push too hard the chain tend to loose power. I have noticed that I see spark coming from the wood, no nails or any hard metal inside, could anybody explain to me why is spark coming from the wood.
I think the one ripping chain I used before is not good enough for ripping.

Tom · April 22, 2006, 03:18:07 PM

I get sparks when cutting very hard woods also.

Some of the sparks are coming from the friction where two hardened steel surfaces move against each other. I think those that look like they are coming from the wood are actually coming from the contact of the chain and bar under pressure. Perhaps they could come from an area where the chain is not real tight with the bar and is slapping it.

I have seen this on my bandsaw mill when the light is low. Sawing pressure makes it worse. The band doesn't ride on a bar but it does touch the blade guides, which are hardened steel.

I also think that some woods are hard enough to create a spark from moving metal. We have an Oak called Live Oak that is very hard and dense. I have seen sparks from it on a chainsaw, on my bandsaw mill and on an Axe.

Perhaps your slow sawing problem has to do with a very hard wood. I'm not familiar with your wood but some of what you describe is the same problem as I have with Live Oak.

My only solution has been to keep my blades real sharp and to sharpen them frequently.

SawTroll · April 24, 2006, 08:01:48 AM

I don't really know if it is possible, but it may help to rip at an angle, instead ot streight across the log.

dredgeslavedave · April 25, 2006, 12:53:08 AM

I may have missed it, but what size of chainsaw are you running? Dave.

Tom · April 25, 2006, 01:01:53 AM

Awhile back he mentioned a Stihl MS650

Alsayyed is trying real hard but we are having language problems. Our communications are getting better every day.

I believe he has a better idea in the works.

solodan · April 25, 2006, 01:53:15 AM

Dirty logs will dull your chain fast.
Open your oiler all the way.
You mentioned the logs have been in the sun. Dry logs cut real slow, always try and mill your logs as soon as you can.

Dan_Shade · April 25, 2006, 09:16:28 AM

Do you know what type of wood you are sawing? that could lead to some better info on your problems too.

alsayyed · April 25, 2006, 10:45:43 AM

thanks to everrybody i have stihl ms650 with 30" bar. and i opened the oiler up to the limit. tomorrow i am going to do some ripping a new log and see what is going to look like. I will take my digital camera with me.

rebocardo · April 26, 2006, 11:08:26 AM

When doing chainsaw milling I found if your cut is canted (read not exactly level and square) your speed will slow down greatly.

maple flats · May 31, 2006, 10:15:40 PM

I have noticed in the past that trees along a gravel road will often dull the chain fast and you might have similar with wind driven sand embeded in the log, if this is the case you just need to sharpen often. Good luck!

urbanlumberinc · June 11, 2006, 10:58:48 PM

Rebocardo is exactly right, if the cut is a bit off kilter it causes a lot more friction which loads the saw more and dulls the cutters faster. Another addition that may help a bit is an auxillary oiler. In my experience, you cannot lube the chain too much when ripping hardwood.

4woody · August 08, 2006, 10:12:50 PM

Hi if you are close to a water hose fix it so it sprays bar & chain

weimedog · September 03, 2006, 07:41:54 AM

I also use a Granberg MK111 Alaskan Mill...I use a McCulloch 797 for the saw and usually I am milling Hard Maple or Ash. When I first started I only had a standard .404 chain and on 30-32inch wide slabs it would take 40-45 minutes! Thats with my kids helping.

I then learned how to work the saws better...rock it so you are always cutting a "corner" and those times dropped dramatically to 20-25 minutes.

THEN I swapped to a 3/8 skip chisle chain with just a standard sharpening job and the times AND effort dropped again.

Now if I spend 15 - 20 minutes on a 15-16 ft long 25inch width log its a lot.

Usually I get them sliced in 13-15minutes.

couple of things to keep right:

1) MAKE CERTAIN you don't have a burr on the bar. That will stick and make it really tough on you.
2) Keep that chain good and sharp. Every fourth slab I touch up mine.
3) Keep the oil on the bar going. My McCulloch is the best saw I have for that. The manual Oiler has a GOOD sized resevoir and thats why its the saw used vs. the other big saws I have. AND the fact that it is just hard to stall the blade in the cut when your pushing. Lets you get *pithed and just push that thing through the log! No replacement for displacement! (123cc)
4) Make certain you have the milling attachment set up symetrically...a little off in the depth adjustment from one side to the other seems to increase the effort required to push. Why? I can't figure that one. Just observations.
5) Get the log at a height easy for you to work and push. If its too low, you are pushing DOWN and forward adding effort to the job.
6) With a small log like that 13inch deal, sometimes you have a hard time with twisting in the cut. You have to support the saw and keep things straight as there isn't enough surface for the log to keep things straight for you.

Also with the newer saws I tryed (and gave up on) you really had to keep the RPM's up so it limited how hard you could shove the saw.

With a 13 inch log you should tear through that in under 15 minutes. I've done that sized Ash in under ten.