Chainsaw Mill

karltimber

Hi,

I have eventually – 5 years later – had my chainsaw mill made by a friend.

It is made from stainless steel – and is very light compared to the old steel one I had (pic of green steel mill), which had to be returned to it’s owner.
The new mill can fit 20” timber and the bar is a 3 foot bar on a stihl 85cc.

In one of the pics – I have attached a long board to get the first cut done and after that cut, the top of the mill moves along the cut timber.
This lump of yew – about 20 inches wide came from the Phoenix park 5 years ago and is very old indeed.
I find cutting at angles to the end grain is best instead of straight on.

I’m sure there are + & -‘s to doing this but it was a great project and at last I have my mill.
Using a mill like this is probably very hard on the chainsaw & chain but I will only be using it every now and then and mainly on freshly fallen timber.
For larger work, a professional mill or mobile mill would be preferred.

I bought the 3 foot bar & 3 chains off ebay Canada for 60 punt years ago and got them delivered to an aunt over there.
We went over on hols a few months later and the miss’ wasn’t too happy to see what I was bringing home on the plane

Link below to a few pictures and a video – with muffled sound from a phone.

Link

Thanks,

K

Double Barrel

"We went over on hols a few months later and the miss’ wasn’t too happy to see what I was bringing home on the plane "
:D:D:D:rolleyes::rolleyes:

I am sure that went over really well.;);)

Nice job on the mill Karl.
BTW do you have a closeup where the mill rests on the bar?

karltimber

Hi,

not to hand but will take a pic.

The mill is held onto the bar by two L pieces with a nut & bolt to secure a grip onto the middle of the bar. To keep a good distance between them for the chain, there is a small metal square welded to the underside of each L piece.
and a small section of leather onto them, as metal to metal is not a great fix.

I will take a pic monday and add to the gallery.

K

Double Barrel

Thanks Karl.

karltimber

Hi,

Have just added 3 new pics to show how the bar is clamped.
It's not the same bar that I use - but you get the drift.

Thats 2 small pieces of leather stuck to the two blocks of steel, to allow for better clamping of the bar, as steel on steel does not work too well.

Link

K

galwaydude18

karltimber wrote: »

Hi,

Have just added 3 new pics to show how the bar is clamped.
It's not the same bar that I use - but you get the drift.

Thats 2 small pieces of leather stuck to the two blocks of steel, to allow for better clamping of the bar, as steel on steel does not work too well.

Link

K

That's some job to chop up a tree into planks. Now you need to build a kiln. :-)

karltimber

I have a small press with two light bulbs and two (old microwave) fans

It does the job.

K

galwaydude18

karltimber wrote: »

I have a small press with two light bulbs and two (old microwave) fans

It does the job.

K

What that like on the aul electricity bill?

karltimber

not much I presume - don't use it that much to be honest.

After I rought turn a blank I just let it dry out in it's own shavings and then move it into the house and hide it for a while. Usually gets the moisture content down.

all on the qt

K

galwaydude18

karltimber wrote: »

not much I presume - don't use it that much to be honest.

After I rought turn a blank I just let it dry out in it's own shavings and then move it into the house and hide it for a while. Usually gets the moisture content down.

all on the qt

K

Lol

aerosol

Great job with the mill.I've been looking at the Alaskan ones for a while.
What type of chain are you using?

woodturner

Awesome.

karltimber

aerosol wrote: »

Great job with the mill.I've been looking at the Alaskan ones for a while.
What type of chain are you using?

Hi,
& thanks

It is just a standard chain. by that I mean it's not a ripping chain.
I sharpen it to the 60deg that is etched on the tooth top.

It's prob not the ideal angle for the job, but I don't use it often enough to change the angle of the cut to a ripping chain.
And I hand sharpen it with a gauge & file.

It does the job.
The chain probably struggled a bit on the yew - 5 years drying - but would have no problem with freshly cut timber.

K