Thread: New to CS - Port Stephens NSW

Originally Posted by webbster

. . . . . I planned to use my Husky 460, but am concerned that I need more power. If I am just milling perhaps 3 trees, is it worth upgrading? .

Once you start it is very likely you will not just be milling 3 trees. This sort of thing is highly addictive.

Back ti your question.
The longest recommended bar for a 460 is 24" and given you lose 6" of length when attaching it to a CS mill you are in theory restricted to a 450 mm cut but in practice you will always need a couple of inches to get around obstacles etc so you widest cut will be 16" or 400 mm.

In terms of power a 60 cc saw is borderline for milling 500 mm diameter aussie timber.
I'd be starting at least with a 70 cc saw for that sort of thing, then you could run a 28" bar and this would allow you to clear 500 mm quite easily.

I have a number of saws including a 70cc still that I use with a small alaskan mill and LoPro chain on logs up to about 18" in diameter, only bigger stuff I get out the bigger gear.

Keep you eye on this thread as it is for a similar question https://www.woodworkforums.com/f132/type-chainsaw-195635

As for Scribbly Gum, don't bother milling, they call it automatic firewood up here. This is because of you cut it into 300mm lengths it will split into firewood blocks within a few weeks. The burls are nice though.

Originally Posted by webbster

Hi Guys,

I have been looking at CS milling for a while after I purchased a few acres of land in Port Stephens NSW with Smooth-barked Apple - Sydney Red Gum (Angophora costata), Scribbly Gum (Eucalyptus haemastoma), Red Bloodwood (Corymbia gummifera) and Brown Stringybark (Eucalyptus capitellata).

We are going to drop a few trees later this year to clear for our house to be built, and I'd love to be able to mill my own timber from the trees to then make furniture for the house. I think having several pieces of furniture that were created from the block would be really awesome. I have a few nice straight trunk lengths about 400-500mm diameter in mind, though the majority is standard twisted trunks in a coastal region.

I have read through the many posts (here and others) on CS milling, and am looking to get a granberg or alaskan mill shortly. I'll position the trunks for milling with an excavator, we have heaps of space and a nice slope to push the mill down. I planned to use my Husky 460, but am concerned that I need more power. If I am just milling perhaps 3 trees, is it worth upgrading?

I'd appreciate comment on my timber species, and how to pick the best bit to mill - can you tell from the crosscut? Are these species going to mill ok and make good furniture, or should I not bother? Also, how long would be recommended to season the wood in 2" slabs? Do people just leave out in the weather or should I cover with a tarp to keep out the rain and maximise drying?
If I wanted to make 4" slab for posts, presumably that will take a lot longer to dry.

Last, if anyone is milling in the Port Stephens region, I'd love to chat.

Thanks.

Webster,

I live in Nelson Bay but have land up near Taree. I have a panther mill but haven't managed to use it yet. You are welcome to borrow it, you can't really break em. We get heaps of smooth barked apple out in the bay, if it mills anything like it burns I wouldn't bother. Also hard to get any straight anything growing in so much sand. I'm yet to see a tree without rot through it.
You must be further west if you have access to some bloodwood?
Get plenty of nice straight healthy stuff up north. Tallowood, ironbark, bloodwood, heaps of Flooded Gum - Bit softer on the saw.
I'm saving up to buy myself a 90+cc saw before I get too carried away with milling.

I will read with interest on how you go with the milling up of the Angophora.

Please keep us posted.

Thanks, CR

Thanks for the advice, will keep an eye out for another saw.

Crowash We are in Nelson Bay, Navala Ave, its heavy clay so there are some massive trees about - mine are not that big (15-20m) but I have seen huge trees on the firetrails to the back of Gan Gan. There are a few with trunks over 1m diameter right beside the track. All species I listed were identified in the flora and fauna assessment, perhaps the western aspect and clay is suitable for those species, from what I can tell it looks like it will be a few stringy bark that are in the middle of where my house will be built, so they will be my first candidates. Sounds like the other species are not worth bothering.

Is your panther mill the panther mill II? Would love to borrow, at least till I get the "bug" and want my own mill.

Webbster.

Yeah mate its the Panther Mill II 36". I've got a chinese 72cc saw that might cut some smaller stuff. If you've got timber lying on the ground we could give it a go. Just need a ladder or some such for the first cut.

You live like 300 metres away from me.

I'll pm you my details.

Ash

Hey webbster, go down to Little beach and check out the HUUUGE trees down from the last storm. I don't know what they are but they are big!
Lyle - Medowie-ite.

Wow we should start our own club. Port stephens angophora millers.
From what I've seen timber in these parts is full of termites or twisted to hell. Come up taree way you get plenty of quality timber species and timber that cuts nice.

Trees at little Beach after the big blow.

Originally Posted by Lyle

Trees at little Beach after the big blow.

Nice Beach be nice to see how the colour is when milled.

They have been down for a month-ish now. I think the council doesn't know what to do with them as they are so large. Plus the cleanup is still going strong, so maybe these are the 'last ones to do'.
Shame to see them go to landfill/chipping.