Thread: Small mill recommendations

Originally Posted by Evanism

Hi all,

Over the last year I've had several opportunities to mill good logs, had I had a chainsaw and mill.

The recent ads from Logosol have reminded me that milling my own timbers is REALLY something I should be doing. I sure do use enough of it in my daily work!

Given I don't want a big solution, but one for a suburban grunt doing very occasional and optimistic work, does anyone here have any particular suggestions as to what solution would be "best" for small opportunistic work?

For persons in your situation I usually recommend a small alaskan mill. It is easy to use, very portable, and reliable.
Alaskan mills hold the bar at both ends so the cut straight, mills that only hold the bar at one end are not as reliable in that regard.
The upright type mills that hold the bar at one end (often called minimills) shower sawdust all over the operator unless they are setup to use the back of the bar - I haven't seen a commercial one that does this which is why I made my own.
For up to about 20" diameter logs I would recommend a modern 60-70 cc saw with a 25" bar.
A bigger (e.g. 90 cc) is better for logs above this size up to about 36" in diameter

6" Warrior Turbosawmill. I've got one left in stock here in Melbourne. yes I sell them yes I'm biased. videos can be seen on YouTube and our site www.turbosawmillaus.com the 6" is the last of superseded stock.

I would put myself into the occasional log miller category, I by chance went down the CS mill setup path some years ago, for the amount I do a lucas would just be a waste, nice to have but not used much, as time has gone by I have looked at improving/altering the way I cut logs I come across, I still use the CS mill but instead of cutting typically 50 or 60 thick slabs I now tend to cut much thicker slabs 100 to 150 or 200, I then cut them on the BS into whatever sizes I want, boards, squares etc, I also set up the trailer with a crane arm that I can lift these huge bits of wood with otherwise I wouldn't be able to move them, I also have my BS set up with infeed and outfeed ways with sleds, so for me CS and BS does all I want.




Pete

Originally Posted by pjt

I would put myself into the occasional log miller category, I by chance went down the CS mill setup path some years ago, for the amount I do a lucas would just be a waste, nice to have but not used much

I agree. Unless you are building a house or a large barn, for the average DIYer a production mill that cuts cubic metres a day is going to spend most of it's life doing nothing so will usually be a poor return on investment.

as time has gone by I have looked at improving/altering the way I cut logs I come across, I still use the CS mill but instead of cutting typically 50 or 60 thick slabs I now tend to cut much thicker slabs 100 to 150 or 200, I then cut them on the BS into whatever sizes I want, boards, squares etc, I also set up the trailer with a crane arm that I can lift these huge bits of wood with otherwise I wouldn't be able to move them, I also have my BS set up with infeed and outfeed ways with sleds, so for me CS and BS does all I want.

If you don't want to or can't use a BS and a gantry, then a $200 mini-mill (or make your own for a few $) and a couple of HD saw horses can readily be used to (initially) break up thick slabs.
first-cut.jpg

Originally Posted by pjt

I would put myself into the occasional log miller category, I by chance went down the CS mill setup path some years ago, for the amount I do a lucas would just be a waste, nice to have but not used much, as time has gone by I have looked at improving/altering the way I cut logs I come across, I still use the CS mill but instead of cutting typically 50 or 60 thick slabs I now tend to cut much thicker slabs 100 to 150 or 200, I then cut them on the BS into whatever sizes I want, boards, squares etc, I also set up the trailer with a crane arm that I can lift these huge bits of wood with otherwise I wouldn't be able to move them, I also have my BS set up with infeed and outfeed ways with sleds, so for me CS and BS does all I want.




Pete

This.

What Pete said...makes a lot of sense if its a few logs every now and then.

but having said that - once you know you can do something with the logs - they will magically multiply and you'll find them a lot more often...

That's when I'd say a model 6 Lucas

This here is typically what I do now https://www.woodworkforums.com/f132/tc-marcia-silky-oak-193201





Pete

Worked one with a mate in Tassie years ago, unless you are young and fit or have access to machinery to do the lifting I'd avoid it and contact a local (PM me if you want a guy in the ACT).

I'm middle aged, fat and lazy, so given I have access to machinery - I'm good to go!

All of the above posts are interesting. In a way I'd hoped that people would recommend an Alaskan with a meaty saw. I've found such a thing and now it's saving time. They certainly are expensive beasts, but a decent saw should be, it's not a toy.

Watched quite a few videos and they seem to do a decent job - sure it's not one of those super expensive options with rails and cost $8k, but I'm nowhere near that level of need.... An odd tree coming my way will suffice so I can make stock for jobs.

Timber is very expensive here. I'm surprised there isn't a small milling cooperative to compete against them, or more millers aren't prepared to use heavy haulage couriers to send me their work. Everyone says no, even when I arrange it

So, mill it myself is the option!

Originally Posted by Evanism

I'm middle aged, fat and lazy, so given I have access to machinery - I'm good to go!
All of the above posts are interesting. In a way I'd hoped that people would recommend an Alaskan with a meaty saw. I've found such a thing and now it's saving time. They certainly are expensive beasts, but a decent saw should be, it's not a toy.

I thought that was what I did?
OK perhaps I should have been more specific.
I didn't recommend any brands because in terms of the saws, provided you don't get a small or cheap chinese eBay model they are pretty much all the same.
If you want recommendations for a saw size you also need to provide more info on the size of logs you intend to mill

In terms of mills, the commercial ones available are also pretty much the same.
You only have a choice of two Alaskan mills here in Australia, the Westford (made in WA) and the imported Granberg.

In the US there are Panther Mills which I would not recommend given the problems purchasers have had with them.
All commercial mills are overpriced and have limitations and that's why I ended up making my own.

Timber is very expensive here. I'm surprised there isn't a small milling cooperative to compete against them, or more millers aren't prepared to use heavy haulage couriers to send me their work. Everyone says no, even when I arrange it !

The reasons that a lot more people don't do it is because i's nowhere near as simple as what the videos show.

1) Of the people that try chainsaw milling few persist because few chainsaw owner and chainsaw shops know how to sharpen chains properly and CS milling requires LOTS of careful sharpening.
New CS millers typically buy a new chain that lasts for a few cuts but even though they sharpen it or get it sharpened its cuts worse and worse.
You do realise that you should touch the chain up after every tank full of fuel? On a big log this translates into about every slab cut?

2) The saw also has to be run rich so unless you know how to tune a CS you risk damaging the saw.
Few chainsaw shops will know what is required. Ideally you need a CS tacho and some knowledge about the saw.
If it is a new saw CS milling also voids the warranty.

3) Most logs are not straight or clear or have some problems that have to be considered.
This comes with practice and reading how to get around these problems

4) Most people also don't have the space, time and care needed to convert a milled log into usable timber.
This is much more important than it sounds. I got real eager and milled dozens of logs in 2007 and 2008. The ones I put time and effort into caring for are OK, but 6-7 years later I also have some piles of big pretzels.

5) Remember it takes about a year per inch of thickness for timber to air dry so if you cut a 4" slab you need to wait for 4 years before you can use that timber.
Evenobe year is way too long for someone who just wants to make a coffee table.

While there is a lot of interesting and useful stuff about Alasakan milling buried in this forum there are few experienced Alaskan chainsaw millers that are actually active on this forum. If you want advice from more Alaskan chainsaw millers I recommend the international Milling forum at http://www.arboristsite.com/communit...-saw-mills.62/ although even there activity has been slow.
Never the less the only sticky in that forum (started by me) has some very useful info in it.