Thread: guna build a mill

Originally Posted by texx

ok guys i want to build another alaskan style sawmill / i did build one a few years back but it was just a rough one i knocked up in a few hours .
i want to build a better one this time .
i currently have 2 saws one is an farm boss 034av in very good like new nick even though i have had it for about 12 or 15 years .
the other is dads old saw that became mine when dad pass on its a dolmar 115i it is in real good nick too , both saws only have 18 or 20 inch bars on so i need to decide which saw to use and get a bigger bar for that saw , i am leaning towards the dolmar for the mill .
question what would be the biggest practical bar for either of these saws without killing the motor .
there is one other possibility my eldest son a few years back bought at a clearing sale for 150 bucks with a little push from me a stihl 2 man post hole digger i think it has a 088 power head .
he used it to do a few holes in his yard and then lent it to a guy for a few days he now has it back and never uses it and probably wont either .
its not running at the moment he tells me .probably stale fuel or carb needs cleaning .

so that is another option buy or borrow that from him and make the mill to suit that saw

Texx, one major thing you haven't told us is what trees you plan on milling and how big they are.

Next most of the guys on this forum are Aussies and won't know much at all about your trees. What I suggest you do is post your question in a forum where you will find a lot more expertise relevant to your loaction. Try here. I post there as well - lots of texans do too!

Originally Posted by BobL

Next most of the guys on this forum are Aussies and won't know much at all about your trees.

Actually Bob, I think you'll find that Texx is from Texas on the NSW/QLD border

yep i dont know what they mill in the USA cos i have never been there,
i was born in yorkshire UK moved to australia when i was 13 lived in brisbane until 1984 then moved to texas queensland australia and thats where i is now .
i do talk to a lot of guys in the states though i am into there style of smoked BBQ .
anyway back to wood . the trees well just mainly what ever i can get localy i suppose we do have a lot of river red gums on the farm where i work part time and share farm .
i also have 90 acres but that is mainly iron bark and some wattle and what we call mountain gum or knock down gum , basically just what ever becomes available i do have a few s/oak logs now waiting to be slabbed and another that a guy is going to cut down soon.

For smaller saws i suggest you have a look at something like Carl (weisyboy) has.

It mounts on the motor end of the bar and is open ended allowing him to use the full bar length.

Cheers

ok ta , does he use that vertical on a rail or horizontal,
ill go see if i can find it

Go look at that site anyway Texx - there is a heap of info there.

As far as the biggest bars go 18" and 20" is about right. You could use a 24" but you would have to go gentle.

The 088 is right at the other end of the scale, sucks petrol, heavy etc but they make a great milling saw.