Maybe biting off more than I can chew.

[WV Sawmiller]

I'm confused on the 4 degree bs 9 or 10? I have a lt28 with the 19hp in upper Michigan and both the Wisconsin and Indiana Woodmizer dealers I've talked to in the last month have both said I should only use 10 degree in summer and 9 in winter. They said not to even buy the 4 degree for my saw. Can anyone explain the difference in information please or is it more opinion?

I am surprised at that response from the WM folks.

  The 4 degrees is the hook angle and just means it takes a smaller chip than and 9 or 10 degree hook angle. I am standardizing on 4 degree. I might could saw faster with a 7 or 10 degree blade in pine or spruce or such but when I hit a hard knot it would jump up and leave a ripple on the board or cant while a 4 degree would saw straight and flat right through it.

[TreefarmerNN]

I think this tip isn't needed but I'll throw it out anyway.  I would definitely paint the log ends with a sealant or even old paint to help prevent splitting. 

I agree with the removal of bark.  One way to reduce the work load is to use an old band to cut top and bottom slabs off.  Then remove the bark with a draw knife, axe or other implement.

Put a good band on and go to sawing.

[beenthere]

I'm confused on the 4 degree bs 9 or 10? I have a lt28 with the 19hp in upper Michigan and both the Wisconsin and Indiana Woodmizer dealers I've talked to in the last month have both said I should only use 10 degree in summer and 9 in winter. They said not to even buy the 4 degree for my saw. Can anyone explain the difference in information please or is it more opinion?

Sawing hardwoods or softwoods? Might that have had something to do with the recommendation?

[ArkansasOaks]

I'm not sure if this is the right place for this post, but many of y'all have suggested that hickory (among others) should be debarked prior to milling. With this in mind, have any of you tried any of the chainsaw driven debarkers?

Draw knives are good, but I would think, much slower than something driven.

Thoughts?

Haven't tried the chainsaw debarkers on the market but do use a chainsaw to do the debarking. I take my ms170 and turn it on edge running the top of the bar parallel to the log taking off just the bark where the blade goes.  

Efficient....not really but it beats wearing out blades super fast in dirty wood. Only use for logs that have been drug any amount. Or visibly dirty.