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Anyone have a Chainsaw Mill #7141763
01/17/21 08:37 PM
01/17/21 08:37 PM
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 10,308
MT
S
snowy Offline OP
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snowy  Offline OP
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Joined: Dec 2011
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MT
Wondering if anyone has any experience with a small chainsaw mill? Would like to here the pro's and con's.
https://www.amazon.com/chainsaw-Por...hy=9021187&hvtargid=pla-749842702790


Give me a fish, I will eat for a day. Teach me to fish, I will eat for a lifetime
Re: Anyone have a Chainsaw Mill [Re: snowy] #7141769
01/17/21 08:42 PM
01/17/21 08:42 PM
Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 11,194
Maine, Aroostook
Posco Offline
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Posco  Offline
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Joined: Nov 2017
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Maine, Aroostook
I have one of those sitting in my garage I bought new more than twenty years ago. I've never used it. I bought one of these and used it to build my cabin.


[Linked Image]

Re: Anyone have a Chainsaw Mill [Re: snowy] #7141783
01/17/21 08:47 PM
01/17/21 08:47 PM
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 10,308
MT
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snowy Offline OP
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snowy  Offline OP
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Joined: Dec 2011
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MT
Posco, that would be the unit to get but I just have a small job here and there I could use it on. I beleive if I remember right, I seen some of your build and seen your setup in pictures here on TM that mill.


Give me a fish, I will eat for a day. Teach me to fish, I will eat for a lifetime
Re: Anyone have a Chainsaw Mill [Re: snowy] #7141788
01/17/21 08:48 PM
01/17/21 08:48 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 7,475
WI>>>MN >>>WI
T-Rex Offline
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Pros:
  • cheap
Cons:(as opposed to band saw)
  • hard work
  • really rough cut
  • lots of waste with huge kerf


Man who mistake shillelagh for fairy wand; see pixie dust, also.
Re: Anyone have a Chainsaw Mill [Re: snowy] #7141808
01/17/21 08:55 PM
01/17/21 08:55 PM
Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 11,194
Maine, Aroostook
Posco Offline
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Posco  Offline
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Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 11,194
Maine, Aroostook
Originally Posted by snowy
Posco, that would be the unit to get but I just have a small job here and there I could use it on. I beleive if I remember right, I seen some of your build and seen your setup in pictures here on TM that mill.


You have seen it here. I set up a forty foot long rail system for mine because I was working with logs approaching that length. There's nothing stopping you from building an eight foot rail, or a rail of any length you choose. Either mill you use, you're going to need some sort of rail. Mine happens to be quite precise over the length of the cut. I wasn't using it to mill lumber, just milling the top and bottom surfaces of the logs.

With a little ingenuity, I'm sure you can come up with a rail system using the Granberg mill.

Re: Anyone have a Chainsaw Mill [Re: snowy] #7141813
01/17/21 08:58 PM
01/17/21 08:58 PM
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 4,421
Yukon
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yukon254 Offline
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yukon254  Offline
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Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 4,421
Yukon
I have two. An Alaskan, and a woodbug. I've cut literally thousands of board feet with them over the years. The key is learning how to sharpen your chain. Properly done, a chainsaw mill will cut as smooth as a bandsaw. I have one of those too, and its sure a lot less work than the chainsaw mills.


do unto others as you would have them do unto you

www.grizzlycreeklodge.com
Re: Anyone have a Chainsaw Mill [Re: yukon254] #7141825
01/17/21 09:01 PM
01/17/21 09:01 PM
Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 11,194
Maine, Aroostook
Posco Offline
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Posco  Offline
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Maine, Aroostook
Originally Posted by yukon254
Properly done, a chainsaw mill will cut as smooth as a bandsaw. I have one of those too, and its sure a lot less work than the chainsaw mills.


Chainsaw mills can do a great job if you take your time but progress is measured in seconds per foot and not feet per second. They are slow and laborious.

Re: Anyone have a Chainsaw Mill [Re: snowy] #7141884
01/17/21 09:29 PM
01/17/21 09:29 PM
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 1,623
alaska
3
3 Fingers Offline
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3 Fingers  Offline
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Posts: 1,623
alaska
Done a lot with an alaska mill. Portable, light and makes good lumber especially with a good ripping chain. As mentioned, slow and lots of waste with the wide kerf

Re: Anyone have a Chainsaw Mill [Re: snowy] #7141905
01/17/21 09:42 PM
01/17/21 09:42 PM
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 16,150
Tennessee
Scuba1 Offline
"color blind Kraut"
Scuba1  Offline
"color blind Kraut"

Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 16,150
Tennessee
I depends on what wood you are cutting as well. Cutting cedar is a breeze. Dead white oak not so much. That stuff can make ya break out in a sweat to the tune of 2 beers per board. Also, you will need a saw with dome wroooom to it as ripping like that takes quite a bit more power than a cross cut. I run an Alaskan mill with a Stihl 661 and a 36 inch bar.In oak I meed every horse that saw has got

[Linked Image]


Let's go Brandon

"Shall not comply" with morons who don't understand "shall not infringe."
Re: Anyone have a Chainsaw Mill [Re: snowy] #7141913
01/17/21 09:47 PM
01/17/21 09:47 PM
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 10,308
MT
S
snowy Offline OP
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snowy  Offline OP
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Joined: Dec 2011
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MT
Great advise and thanks. I'm thinking strongly of getting one like the link shows. It wouldn't be a problem to build a rail it could be made and be a stationary unit at the ranch where it stay.

I can see the waste and being slow. I've ripped enough logs that using a chainsaw isn't a fast game.

That is true on type of wood being cut. Mine would be cedar, pine and cottonwood that I want to cut some planks and slabs.

Last edited by snowy; 01/17/21 09:51 PM.

Give me a fish, I will eat for a day. Teach me to fish, I will eat for a lifetime
Re: Anyone have a Chainsaw Mill [Re: snowy] #7142030
01/17/21 10:31 PM
01/17/21 10:31 PM
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 35,127
McGrath, AK
W
white17 Offline

"General (Mr.Sunshine) Washington"
white17  Offline

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Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 35,127
McGrath, AK
Have some pre-emptive back surgery done first. They do work but not as hard as you will.


Mean As Nails
Re: Anyone have a Chainsaw Mill [Re: snowy] #7142101
01/17/21 10:59 PM
01/17/21 10:59 PM
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 16,150
Tennessee
Scuba1 Offline
"color blind Kraut"
Scuba1  Offline
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Posts: 16,150
Tennessee
Just cut the slabs and do the rest on the table saw.


Let's go Brandon

"Shall not comply" with morons who don't understand "shall not infringe."
Re: Anyone have a Chainsaw Mill [Re: snowy] #7142117
01/17/21 11:07 PM
01/17/21 11:07 PM
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 10,308
MT
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snowy Offline OP
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Thanks scuba1. Yes all I need is rough cut 3/4 or 1 inch slabs for fencing and small jobs/projects etc..


Give me a fish, I will eat for a day. Teach me to fish, I will eat for a lifetime
Re: Anyone have a Chainsaw Mill [Re: snowy] #7142231
01/18/21 12:19 AM
01/18/21 12:19 AM
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 16,150
Tennessee
Scuba1 Offline
"color blind Kraut"
Scuba1  Offline
"color blind Kraut"

Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 16,150
Tennessee
Here ya go. Thats this old Kraut cutting up some oak slabs. Gives you an idea of how much fun you can have with one of those things. Just to add. This is with a big saw and a chain that I have ground for the purpose. If you tried this say with a rancher type saw and a normal chain it would take you easily 3 times as long.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q-aHOmWyzWg


Let's go Brandon

"Shall not comply" with morons who don't understand "shall not infringe."
Re: Anyone have a Chainsaw Mill [Re: snowy] #7142250
01/18/21 12:42 AM
01/18/21 12:42 AM
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 2,015
SE Iowa USA
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AKAjust Offline
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Posts: 2,015
SE Iowa USA
I tried it with power poles.
My best suggestion. DON'T
just

Re: Anyone have a Chainsaw Mill [Re: AKAjust] #7142266
01/18/21 01:12 AM
01/18/21 01:12 AM
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 16,150
Tennessee
Scuba1 Offline
"color blind Kraut"
Scuba1  Offline
"color blind Kraut"

Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 16,150
Tennessee
Originally Posted by AKAjust
I tried it with power poles.
My best suggestion. DON'T
just


Well they are impregnated with salts to slow the rotting. Those salts form small granules inside the wood and will dull a chain as soon as you look at the stuff. Railman sleepers are the same. Don't ask me how I know that
crazy


Let's go Brandon

"Shall not comply" with morons who don't understand "shall not infringe."
Re: Anyone have a Chainsaw Mill [Re: snowy] #7142293
01/18/21 02:16 AM
01/18/21 02:16 AM
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 3,960
Northern Nevada
B
Bob Offline
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Bob  Offline
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Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 3,960
Northern Nevada
I always wanted to get a small mill, and with the price of lumber these days it wouldn’t take long to pay for one lol. I bought 2”x6”x10’ boards at Home Depot the other day, $12 a piece. If you could crank out two an hour that’s decent wages lol. Heck it’s $5 for a dang 2x4 stud!


"I have two guns, one for each of ya."
Re: Anyone have a Chainsaw Mill [Re: snowy] #7142496
01/18/21 10:16 AM
01/18/21 10:16 AM
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 16,150
Tennessee
Scuba1 Offline
"color blind Kraut"
Scuba1  Offline
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Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 16,150
Tennessee
People pay very good money for live edge slabs these days. I sold one slab of white oak that I cut for a guy 9 foot by 24" and 9 quarter thick for 350 bucks. I am not building that saw mill just to cut the lumber for my house. Have a walnut tree that I cut down in the fall that once its cut into slabs will pay for the material I ned for the mill.

Last edited by Scuba1; 01/18/21 10:16 AM.

Let's go Brandon

"Shall not comply" with morons who don't understand "shall not infringe."
Re: Anyone have a Chainsaw Mill [Re: Bob] #7142603
01/18/21 11:12 AM
01/18/21 11:12 AM
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 180
Flint Hills, KS
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jht Offline
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Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 180
Flint Hills, KS
Originally Posted by Scuba1
Originally Posted by AKAjust
I tried it with power poles.
My best suggestion. DON'T
just


Well they are impregnated with salts to slow the rotting. Those salts form small granules inside the wood and will dull a chain as soon as you look at the stuff. Railman sleepers are the same. Don't ask me how I know that
crazy


A few years ago, I tried to rip a couple short power poles in half for a neighbor with my small band mill. The blade didn't make through the second cut. I agree. Best not to try it.

Originally Posted by Bob
I always wanted to get a small mill, and with the price of lumber these days it wouldn’t take long to pay for one lol. I bought 2”x6”x10’ boards at Home Depot the other day, $12 a piece. If you could crank out two an hour that’s decent wages lol. Heck it’s $5 for a dang 2x4 stud!


I hear you there. I spent more on lumber last fall to build a 225 sq ft deck than I did the previous year for the lumber to frame and sheath nearly 600 sq ft of house.

The payoff in owning your own mill can also depend on your application. If the lumber you need can be put together rough, then added cost post-milling is minimal, but if you're looking for finish quality wood, then make sure you consider added time and effort in processing your rough cut lumber. The hours of work at the jointer and planer can add up quickly, as can the cost of planer knives, especially working with something like seasoned oak. Personally, I enjoy the work, the look of the finished product, and the ability to do things for myself, so I don't mind the extra effort. The payoff for owning the mill, for me, is in the process and the product, not just in my pocketbook.

Re: Anyone have a Chainsaw Mill [Re: snowy] #7142658
01/18/21 12:10 PM
01/18/21 12:10 PM
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 4,324
AK
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FairbanksLS Offline
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Have you priced the materials you will need to build your mill Scuba?


formerly posting as white dog
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