`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸ ><((((º> 'Portable saw mill' SLABS aug. HELP u get 1/2 conn/ny/mass

Look in the videos. Dorje did a series with one.

O, cool Riker thanks I’ll check it out now…

-- PJM.`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸ ><((((º> ""BY HAMMER AND HAND ALL ARTS DO STAND""1785-1974 nyc Semper Fi, Patrick M

I thought about one until I saw how big of a chain saw you need to do this.

-- making sawdust....

I have one of the simple ones (i.e. not an alaskan mill) and yes it works. If you only have a little to do I think it’s interesting enough to have one. A ripping chain makes a big difference. A cross-cut chain just doesn’t cut as well when ripping. I have an 18” poulan.

I have three or four trees I could slab up. I just don’t know if it’s worth having a mill come in…even at $0.50 a foot. I can do it when I want.

I do have a rather large hickory that I’d really love to have slabbed up….bigger than my 18” could handle. But of course hickory is more because it’s harder and dulls the blades quicker.

It’s always 6 to 1, half a dozen to the other, time vs. money, etc. I do get some satisfaction in knowing I cut the wood up myself from my own trees.

-- arborial reconfiguration specialist

You do need a big saw and a decent attachment – the Alaskan seems to do the trick. Rikkor mentioned the blog series I did; if you haven’t looked at it yet – check it out! It was fun…I think it’s worth buying a set-up like this if you see yourself milling periodically over the long haul. And they do work – well! Do they waste more wood than a band mill, sure, but they can go where band mills can’t. It’s the perfect solution for me. I live in the city for crying out loud!

And, once you get the equipment, you start getting calls, so you’ll never run out of wood. I was just offered two cherry logs this weekend…it’s kinda like having a truck.

-- Dorje (pronounced "door-jay"), Seattle, WA

Cherry, do I need to come over and help you cut some logs? :)

-- http://theinquisitivewoodworker.com/

i would like to make my own.any one have plans

-- hap, gunbarrel city tx.

I started out with a small Granberg and you can make some nice material. Good for the small projects and the part timer.

-- Ron, Twain Harte, Ca. Portable on site Sawmill Service http://westcoastlands.net/Sawmill.html http://westcoastlands.net/SawBucks2/phpBB3 http://www.portablesawmill.biz/concrete/

I have one that I got from Northern Tool. I think I paid $24 for it. Uses stock 2×4as guide/runner. I also use 18” Poulan. Works pretty good actually, but as was said before, if you only have small amounts to cut. It is a lot of work.
Catspaw- where did you get ripping chain for 18” Poulan? I can’tfind one

I’ve seen some metalworking type bandsaws that run horizontally. Would something like this work for milling lumber?

I wonder how tough it would be to create your own horizontal bandsaw to use for lumber milling. A motor, two wheels, pullys, bandsaw blade, something to house the wheels and blade and a trolly system to move the lumber or the bandsaw. Anyone ever thought of building your own?

-- Owen Johnson - aka IowaWoodcrafter

I got my ripping chain from Granberg.

Those milwaukee hand-held bandsaws don’t have the width to be useful. They only go to about 10” or 12” and probably don’t offer a wood blade? Between the bark and variations in the trunk, that’s kinda alot of work for some not very wide wood.

Also Hud-son (sometimes I go to the site just to watch the video of their $2600 bandsaw mill) sells a wheel kit for about $800.

uh….over and out.

-- arborial reconfiguration specialist

IWC, to answer your question about a bandsaw running horizontally, it seems Grizzly already has one. And it’s only $8500. It must work really well….....lol.

Grizzly Horizontal Band Saw

-- Carl Rast, Pelion, SC

Not quite what I had in mind. Besides, WAY too much money. I’ve never checked on the price of a portable saw mill but I can’t imagine them costing that much money.

-- Owen Johnson - aka IowaWoodcrafter

There are several people that I know in SC that have woodmizers. I tried the sawmill resaw route years ago boy what a dangerous lot of hard work! I since have discovered that I do not have to personally have to do everything. I bring the wood to one of them that needs to be re sawn and in no time flat it is accomplished cheaply without risking life and limb or too tired to do woodwork after the rough stuff is accomplished. If it is large enough a woodmizer, small stuff a rodgers re saw that has belt feed and almost no waste and I did not have to spend 10,000.00 to get one. These process wood accurately and fast, and you do not have to add on to the shop to make room for it. These guys resaw heart pine from timbers and ect. so to place our small stuff and saw it is nothing to them. Let these guys have some work for their investment as far as I am concerned after my experience I am more then glad to bring it to them. It is hard nasty work. A chainsaw is dangerous and a lot of things can go wrong in the process. The log can roll, chain can break( and wrap around your hand while spinning, and sharpening takes a lot of time too. So research and make the best choice.If you have enough wood they can bring the process to you for less then you can think.

I have used an alaskan mill on a 088 Stihl. It does a fantastic job on splitting logs too large for my mill. Or reducing a logs size to haul it (with the 4 wheelers help) to the trailer. I have used a six foot bar and ripping chain on it. The down side is huge, lots of backbreaking work and not as fast as I like. The chainsaw exhaust gets a bit old, and the sawdust is directed to my eyes with any sort of breeze. The plus side is larger slabs than I can cut on a sawmill. I will continue to use my alaska mill when I cannot fit the log on the mill, or need large slabs from a large log. My mill can cut up to a 31” dia log and a final cut of 24”. The bandsaw is alot faster. But some logs just won’t fit. Good luck.

Kevin Davis
Ruff Cutts

-- To those who fight for it, life has a flavor the protected never know. Unknown, on an empty C-ration box. Khe Sahn 1968

Really Great comments tips trick and reference. I’m doin’ IT!.... Ripping chain! Thanks Dorje. May Be an important tip!... I like the Idea Of “going where Someone else can’t” . I roam around an old family farm up in connecticut sometimes sawing up crooked slabs to drag home and refine… But thing it’s time to try this Alaskan Jig. O, man I’m dreaming of my own cut slabs now.. Less ebay lumber…Gotta try and save some $ where I can. I found myself becoming truly OBSESSED with wood now. It’s like hunting fishing Art and building wrapped into a Giant new world of GREAT people.. And , a never ending education . Limits are endless. Back In Those Woods is an Old Fruit Orchard, I’ve found cedar, pear tress, cherry, walnut. Some trees I have no idea what they are? Man, I need to move up there . I’m about finished with living in brooklyn. And always “hearing it”- about “why do you need so much wood in our apartment…. HAhahah I don’t care. I need the wood… I’m definitely out of my element here… O well, two more years… You guys are the best! Thank you All….... Patrick

-- PJM.`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸ ><((((º> ""BY HAMMER AND HAND ALL ARTS DO STAND""1785-1974 nyc Semper Fi, Patrick M

[IMG]http://i261.photobucket.com/albums/ii48/woodnut99/right-tool_1986_94954714.gif[/IMG]
Granberg G777 Alaskan small log chainsaw milling attachment
Think I’ll go for it! Thanks , again any more tips are welcome ..I’m waiting a month to buy, which will give me more time to read more reviews etc….

-- PJM.`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸ ><((((º> ""BY HAMMER AND HAND ALL ARTS DO STAND""1785-1974 nyc Semper Fi, Patrick M

I started out with a pair of 2×2” and a square. I would place log upright, screw 2×2 to log on each side and cut from top down as close to the 2×2 without touching them as I could. Lost alot of wood but I was still overwhelmed with the slabs.

Blue stingray boots…. “very cool” I remember when I was a kid in oregon fishing on the log rafts… wondering even then how i can get the good wood….

-- PJM.`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸ ><((((º> ""BY HAMMER AND HAND ALL ARTS DO STAND""1785-1974 nyc Semper Fi, Patrick M

Thanks tope5 , that’s a great site….. and, iowa wcftr as far as using a portable band saw to mill, I’ think I’d end up with 50 broken baleds and 3 fingers…. the chain-saw I know i’ll have both hands on tight!! Always safe with the chain-saw safty first!

-- PJM.`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸ ><((((º> ""BY HAMMER AND HAND ALL ARTS DO STAND""1785-1974 nyc Semper Fi, Patrick M

UPDATE!!!!!>>>Decided I’m Going for this G777 Small Log Milling attachment this summer from some recent side work funds…..... has any one owned one? >>>>Also Anyone in the NY CONN.. Area Willing to join me cutting slabs in Mystic Conn….................................
Some interesting logs I have to get into it’s old family land so no beef… if you want to help me we can split the slabs down the middle.
Cutting Date August 15th !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Mark it if you are interested and write me.
Patrick

-- PJM.`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸ ><((((º> ""BY HAMMER AND HAND ALL ARTS DO STAND""1785-1974 nyc Semper Fi, Patrick M

JULY 5 09 update

-- PJM.`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸ ><((((º> ""BY HAMMER AND HAND ALL ARTS DO STAND""1785-1974 nyc Semper Fi, Patrick M

No Takers? free slabs for half days work? ok I tried

-- PJM.`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸ ><((((º> ""BY HAMMER AND HAND ALL ARTS DO STAND""1785-1974 nyc Semper Fi, Patrick M

I’d be all over that if you we’re so damn far. How do you like the saw mill? What kind of chainsaw are you using?

-- Hold on! Let me get the board stretcher!

I’m not far from Mystic…about 45 minutes. But I really couldn’t do anything with the slabs..I don’t have the room/equipment to dry them out.

-- David, South Windsor, CT "I love the smell of sawdust in the morning"

Darn, I just know 2 yrs ago I’d jump all over this too. Some guys helped me out and I want to do the same.
We have some burls, pear, apple, and an An interesting Maple I’m dying to look inside….
Brad, Stay in touch, Even if ya just wanna come out for the cutting party, you can take home some smaller stuff.
I’m looking at it as a bbq slabbing party. I’m researching my best ways to dry em’ there a dry barn we could use
as long as we need. And meet up anytime after they’re dry or take em’ with. Later ya’ll

-- PJM.`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸ ><((((º> ""BY HAMMER AND HAND ALL ARTS DO STAND""1785-1974 nyc Semper Fi, Patrick M

Hi All, I purchased a LOGOSOL Timber Jig a few years back and have had the opportunity to play around with it. I purchased ripping chain from I think it was Log Home Store in OR for a reasonable price.

I used it on a small Poulon Wild Thing saw and it does take some work. The big thing is the more CC’s the better.
The next thing to consider is a guide rail. The jig came with the suggestion of using 2 2×6’s. It works pretty well as long as the 2x’s stay nice and straight, your timber will be nice and straight. I’ve considered some of their other packages that can cost up to $3700, but that includes the saw with a 3 year warranty.

I’ve done a little time with a woodmizer and would go with that if I was buying one because of the carriage for the cutting head. The woodmizer uses one side of the bed as the track vs both sides, so it seemed to be more forgiving if the whole set up cannot be on level ground, you still get level straight cuts.

This is all just my opinion.

-- I don't know what God is. But I know what He ISN'T - Jordan Maxwell