Alaskan-Mark-IV-Chainsaw-Mill-36 on sale at Amazon for $185

newbury · Jan 24, 2019

Alaskan Mark-IV Chainsaw Mill

List price at Grandberg $260

Cut trees like a bureaucrat cuts red tape - lengthwise

TimberXX · Feb 3, 2019

Thank you! I literally got the last one!

John_Mc · Feb 3, 2019

TimberXX said:
Thank you! I literally got the last one!

Still showing "in stock" at that link, at a price of $188.64 with free shipping.

Oldpath05 · Feb 3, 2019

Even with this 90cc saw still seemed to me to be a lot of work, I would've thought with that big saw would've ripped right down that log in no time. What does it take to make a chainsaw cut length ways as fast it can cut across. And then the constant hanging on a vibrating tool, I suppose if just cutting beam it would be ok-ish............

Alaskan Chainsaw Milling - Tips and Tricks - YouTube

John_Mc · Feb 4, 2019

Slow is pretty much the nature of the beast when it comes to chainsaw milling. The options for faster cuts are a bigger saw (but you reach the point of diminishing returns), and keeping your chain sharp (always a good idea, but critical if you want to make decent time in chainsaw milling).

There are those who will tell you that sharpening your chain as a "ripping chain" (i.e. at a 10˚ angle, rather than the 25 or 30˚ normal for a crosscut chain). I have limited experience with chainsaw milling, but everything I've read and what I've heard form those who do a lot of it is that ripping chain does not cut any quicker (and some believe it cuts slower). It does cut smoother, so there is less work to do after sawing to smooth out the surfaces (not really an issue if you will be running it through a planer anyway).

newbury · Feb 4, 2019

Oldpath05 said:
Even with this 90cc saw still seemed to me to be a lot of work, I would've thought with that big saw would've ripped right down that log in no time. What does it take to make a chainsaw cut length ways as fast it can cut across. And then the constant hanging on a vibrating tool, I suppose if just cutting beam it would be ok-ish............

Alaskan Chainsaw Milling - Tips and Tricks - YouTube

What does it take to make a chainsaw cut length ways as fast it can cut across.

A miracle, but gravity helps.
Remember, when you set up a log to cut across, as when you are cutting a horizontal, limbed tree into lengths of firewood, you are normally cutting DOWN and rarely have the full bar in the cut.
The way the guy in the vid was cutting was horizontal with almost the full bar in the cut.
One of the first "tricks" often learned is to angle the tree so you are cutting at a slope. Another trick is to use a pulley system to pull the saw through the cut.

CSM is not for everyone.
And I'm very glad.
Some of it's great points are portability and low cost.

I had a 20" maple in the backyard. The neighbor lady, very nice person, had a deep seated fear it was going to fall on her house.
So I started making it shorter.
First with my old Stihl 021

I then purchased a used 660 ($600 w/42"b&c) and an Alaskan Mark III (~$200) and proceeded to make it both shorter and thinner

After a year of drying I used most of it for shelves and a small table for my chain sharpener.

So my TOTAL equipment investment was about $800 in saws (which are used frequently).

And I'm glad that some people discard CSM because one guy that did sold me a lightly used Stihl 088 (120CC) / Alaskan Mark III setup for $450.