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Thread: Build a portable chain saw mill
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12th May 2017, 12:52 PM #1New Member
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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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12th May 2017, 01:31 PM #2GOLD MEMBER
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Welcome to the forum.
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12th May 2017, 02:41 PM #3.
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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
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