Backyard Milling

[JohnG]

Doesn’t have to be in your backyard, but I thought we could use a general thread on personal milling experiences and to show off your milling setups and log piles. 

A while back I got a couple sycamore logs from my neighbor. They’ve been sitting next to my log pile for a while, waiting for a nice day to mill them(the pile is mostly for firewood but I’m hoping to have a separate pile for milling soon).

I’m running a Stihl 084 that @Bmac helped me score. I’ve got a 36” bar and matching Granberg alaskan mill. 

I know people will complain that I didn’t quarter saw all of this, but too bad. 

[Woodworking_Hobby]

I have been eyeballing the chainsaw mill but have not been able to pull the trigger yet. We hade an elm tree fall this spring so I figured what can I lose and I just free hand cut some of the logs and got a nice stack of some wood to dry. Just hoping I have enough that makes it so I can make a small box or something. Just feels cool to be able to make something from a tree that was in my yard. 

[Chestnut]

Free hand cutting for shorts works great. I've done a fair amount up to 36" that way.

[wtnhighlander]

But freehand cutting a full log is a royal pain. I tried it on an oak that had to come down last year. Got a couple of 10' "boards", if you have a very loose definition of board. Also a slab about 3.5 to 4" thick, still drying in the garage. By the time I mill away all my crazy saw marks, it might be 2.5".

I decided to leave the milling to the pros.

[Chet]

On 9/11/2021 at 1:34 PM, JohnG said:

I didn’t quarter saw all of this, but too bad. 

I was going to ask if you were going to cut any that way.  I can't get it out here but I sure like the look of quarter sawn sycamore.

[Bmac]

On 9/11/2021 at 4:34 PM, JohnG said:

Doesn’t have to be in your backyard, but I thought we could use a general thread on personal milling experiences and to show off your milling setups and log piles. 

A while back I got a couple sycamore logs from my neighbor. They’ve been sitting next to my log pile for a while, waiting for a nice day to mill them(the pile is mostly for firewood but I’m hoping to have a separate pile for milling soon).

I’m running a Stihl 084 that @Bmac helped me score. I’ve got a 36” bar and matching Granberg alaskan mill. 

I know people will complain that I didn’t quarter saw all of this, but too bad. 

Great job, How did that Stihl 084 run? I'm sure it made quick work of that log, or at least relatively quick work.

[JohnG]

On 9/13/2021 at 8:44 AM, Bmac said:

Great job, How did that Stihl 084 run? I'm sure it made quick work of that log, or at least relatively quick work.

It’s a beast. I thought my 271 cut through logs like butter but the 084 puts it to shame. I’ll look into a ripping chain or at least a skip-tooth chain for future milling but it made fairly quick work of this sycamore log. I didn’t time the cuts but overall the cutting time was much less than me moving the slabs and taking breaks. 

Once or twice it acted up for a brief moment, but the fuel in it was a bit on the stale side. I might check the carb just to make sure there isn’t some gunk in there. Otherwise it’s been running great.

I did manage to hit the chain brake on the log a couple times but now I know to watch out for that 

[Bmac]

Using a skip tooth is nicer, I typically use a standard skip tooth with standard cutter angle and when I sharpen I try to take the tooth/cutter angle back to 10 degrees, basically converting it to a ripping chain during the sharpening process. 

There are other specialized ripping chains out there, most just have the decreased cutter angle in the teeth.  Granberg makes one with different cutter widths, I have found it doesn't make much difference. The biggest difference is having a sharp chain, you get a little smoother surface with a lower cutter angle, but not really an increase in speed. 

[Coop]

On 9/11/2021 at 10:53 PM, Chet said:

I was going to ask if you were going to cut any that way.  I can't get it out here but I sure like the look of quarter sawn sycamore.

+

I got some real nice looking boards from @Spanky.

[Chestnut]

2 hours ago, JohnG said:

It’s a beast. I thought my 271 cut through logs like butter but the 084 puts it to shame. I’ll look into a ripping chain or at least a skip-tooth chain for future milling but it made fairly quick work of this sycamore log. I didn’t time the cuts but overall the cutting time was much less than me moving the slabs and taking breaks. 

Once or twice it acted up for a brief moment, but the fuel in it was a bit on the stale side. I might check the carb just to make sure there isn’t some gunk in there. Otherwise it’s been running great.

I did manage to hit the chain brake on the log a couple times but now I know to watch out for that 

Your log didn't looktoo big. I didn't really notice milling to become slow until I was over 26" wide. Moving the material prepping etc always takes longer. I need to get a skip for my 48" bar setup.

I always buy fresh gas the day i mill. For a larger higher value / higher performance saw the minimal cost is nothing compared to downtime. I also usually use enough that my other 2 stroke equipment can burn the stale gas between milling sessions. My leaf blower and string trimmer are indifferent to fuel age. I swear i had gas in my string trimmer for 3 years. Can you get enthaol free premium?

You have power equipment and you didn't set the log with a down hill slant? Elevating the log so you can just let gravity do most of your feeding is the best advice I've ever received for milling. I never lay my logs flat if i can help it. It also helps airflow around the log to keep dust out of the saw, and exhaust out of your face. I also usually try and mill on windy & cool days.

Some photos of my setup. I use shop made wedges from leg taper cut offs. Beats paying for the uber expensive stihl branded ones and i have a good 2 dozen.

Smaller log on driveway. U used support on both ends to get out of the dust.

This is what my homemade brace looks like. It's held around 500 lbs or half of a 1,000 lb log. I've been meaning to make it a bit nicer and sturdier just haven't gotten around to it.

[rarefish383]

I think I might be able to find a couple pics. I tend to keep my barbarian wood working skills away from real craftsmen, but since you asked?

[rarefish383]

[rarefish383]

[rarefish383]

[rarefish383]

The 37" wide Pine table was milled on my property in WV. The hinges are inlayed in the table and it folds up against the wall with a paddle to hold it in place. it's one of my favorites.

[wtnhighlander]

How long is that table? Pretty neat idea, honestly.

[rarefish383]

I forget how long it is, maybe 5'. I should know, I moved it from the old trailer to our new bunk house this morning. Two grown men can set very comfortably on each side and one on the end. My old hunting camp had/has a 1959 house trailer on it. Three years ago a mouse got in bed, and bit me on the thumb. I told my wife I was cashing in my UPS stock and buying or building a new bunk house. It took three years, but last night we slept in the new building for the first time. Base board heat kept us toasty at 46* outside. I bought a 12'X40' garage package, then bought two skids of 1" thick interior Pine paneling 16' and 20' long. It's taken about a year and the inside is almost finished. It's close enough we will be staying in it for deer season this year. As ssoon as I get the new table pics uploaded, I'll post them.

[rarefish383]