Thread: Chainsaw Carriage Mill Build with 4-Stroke Engine - Questions

I've been going through the process of collecting parts for a sawmill that I have wanted to build for a while. I have a Granberg style mill that I haven't used much, but I wanted to make a more stable platform with some more power. I have some steel U channel for some tracks, enough for about 6m and it should be pretty solid once it's braced and mounted on some sleepers. I have some machinery to be able to move logs and slabs so I might be able to save the back a bit. That also means that portability is not a priority. The plan is to make the track about 1.5m wide, but I'll probably only run a 42" bar for starters unless I can get a longer one cheap . I have a 16" circular saw bench that I am adapting to use to break down slabs if required rather than use a chainsaw mill, but that's another thread completely.

The engine I have is a Kawasaki 23HP vertical shaft that I will use to spin a jack shaft attached to the chain sprocket. That's where my indecision comes in, that age old question of whether to run 3/8 or 404 chain and what sprocket to use. It seems that most people who use a chainsaw sprocket instead of a processor one, end up welding a sprocket rim to the end of the shaft. Just thinking out loud here, but it seems that a processor style sprocket with a keyway makes more sense in both ease of securing it and in increasing chain speed a bit. Those processor sprockets seem to all be for 404 chain or bigger, so I want to know some opinions on whether using 404 chain over 3/8 would be an advantage or not. I haven't ever broken any chains, so I don't know what they can take as far as horse power etc. I have also never operated a saw with 404 chain.

The pictures are of the latest Blackwood to fall across the fence. Well half of it anyway as the other half is still standing. The butt section is about 1.2m across and 2.5m long while the main barrel is about 1m in diameter and 5.2m long. There's also a heap of branches etc that are 40-50cm in diameter, so It should yield some nice timber.

Any advice or suggestions etc would be greatly appreciated.

Simon


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