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  1. #1
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    Question Build a portable chain saw mill

    Hi

    I want to build a portable sawmill, I've been looking for information and found several designs.
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EUgrATaPt4Q
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tjI8l9o9Nn0
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lZE8lwVdBm0

    The first and second, they look comfortable to use but something more complex to build. The third one looks simple to do but more "difficult" to work with.

    What do you think?

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  3. #2
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  4. #3
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    Quote Originally Posted by enavarro View Post
    Hi

    I want to build a portable sawmill, I've been looking for information and found several designs.
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EUgrATaPt4Q
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tjI8l9o9Nn0
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lZE8lwVdBm0

    The first and second, they look comfortable to use but something more complex to build. The third one looks simple to do but more "difficult" to work with.
    What do you think?
    The first is a "double-rail" chainsaw carriage mill.
    Pros include easy to use and can handle heavy logs but not the heaviest logs if only manual handling available.
    Cons; not very portable, complex to make, PITA to sharpen the chain
    If you are going to build this style of mill I would serious look a using a small Bandsaw rather than chainsaw. Chainsaws turn a lot of wood into sawdust and are much slower at cutting.

    The second is a monorail carriage mill
    Pros include easy to use. It cuts fast because that mill comes with a special chain that cuts a narrower kerf. That chain will not work on regular saws unless a special drive sprocket is used - the manufacturers do not release the sprocket for general use and only the owners of these mills can purchase spares.
    Cons; not very portable, a bit easier to sharpen the chain, can only handle lighter weight smaller logs have to be lifted higher. Theres a limit of about 650mm on the size of the cut than can be made accurately with this style of mill

    The third one is a conventional alaskan.
    The Alaskan holds the bar at both ends like a carriage mill so very long bars up to about 2.1 m in diameter can be used with this style of mill
    Pros; Easy to make, Most portable by far. Easiest to sharpen
    Cons: requires more lifting of chainsaw and mill

    There is a few other types to look at
    A Mini mill.
    https://youtu.be/rO7r_1EWT34
    Holds the bar at one end like a monorail carriage mill
    Pros; Easiest to make, most mobile, easy to sharpen chain.
    Cons, Limited to about 650mm long cuts, it can cut up to 900 mm but the cuts may not be straight, operator constantly showered with sawdust.

    You would need to consider how important portability was. If you cannot get a vehicle to the log then you are really restricted to either an Alaskan or a minimill.

    I have 3 home made alaskans, and a home made monorail mini mill. The minimill cuts with the back of the bar so that sawdust does not shower the operator.
    This means the saw wants to jump up out of the cut so the rail attachment is more complicated than a regular mini mill
    The mono rail clamps to the log at any angle so I can cut at any angle - I use this mill to make nature playground furniture.

    cutting1.jpg

    Small alaskan (600 mm bar 72 cc saw)
    Mill2.jpg

    Large alaskan (1.5m bar, 120cc saw) if the log is sloped and the chain set just right it will cut by itself.
    To ligt the logs I use a hi-Lift Jack.
    selfmilling.jpg
    Attached Images Attached Images

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