chainsaw mill

[Hiltz]

I don't think it matters how you cut a log, they are all prone to moisture issues unless you put a big porch over all four walls. Chinking might be worse because it allows moisture into the space between the chinking and the log that is created when the log shrinks. .

Not sure where you get your information. The first house I built for myself were two pre civil war log houses I took down and moved to another location. One log house was all cedar logs and the other one was popular. They are both still standing and they are both over 150 years old. One small porch on the front of each.

 

[PILOON]

Agreeing with Hiltz;
The log cabin that I built is now about 50 years old and has no signs of any rot at all.
The old guy that helped me lived in a log cabin and I noted that his was rotting and realized that he used a minimum overhang so I gave mine a 2 foot overhang to keep the water away. That and I treated it every 2 years with a home brew log oil mixture that consisted of linseed oil diluted with turps. Caulking was tarred hemp packing and caulked with black pitch that we bought in a 5 gal pail as the tube caulking was simply beyond my budget at that time. (I was 18 and a poor student)
The only change I'd make were I to do it again would be to add some sort of fungicide to the oil treatment as the logs did gradually darken from fungi.

(The chain saw used was a COBRA, basically a Clinton lawnmower engine driving a chain and weighed a ton)

 

[s219]

I saw ripping chains on Amazon. Any idea what makes it better than skip tooth?

On a basic rip chain, the only difference is that the cutter angle is better for rip cuts (you can sharpen any chain to the same angle though, usually 0-5 degrees).

Some advanced rip chains have cutters ground so that they clear the kerf in three steps. The first cutter clears the left side, the second clears the right side, and the third clears the middle out. The whole chain will be made up of repeating series of these three cutters. That makes it a lot easier on the saw and leaves a cleaner cut. I use that type of chain when milling oak or other really hard wood, since it ends up being easier for the saw and easier for me running the saw.

 

[Kolive]

I own and use a Logosal M-7 mill. Does a great job milling with my Husky 385 and ripping chain. Not hard to use in fact very smooth and easy. Getting logs is as easy as calling any of the arbor companies around and asking if they have jobs coming up where they would part with the logs. Most of them are happy to not have to buck up the trees, saves them time, money and wear on equipment. I Ahow up with a flatbed trailer and they even help load logs 8-10' long. I think of it as urban logging and end up with some great wood. A wide variety of species from fir to cedar to maple and everything in between. Now I have to turn away logs because they are calling me to see if I want wood. After milling I sticker stack in my barn to dry.

 

[tessiers]

I've got a chainsaw mill I use, I don't find the ripping chains any faster, just a smoother cut. I've tried a number of saw heads, use a Husky 395xp now, would like bigger but where do you stop. I love the idea of the carriage, I have plans ruminating in my head, maybe some day when I'm board.

 

[plumbstraight]

I made a change with the mill. Used square tubing so the rollers have more of a bite and it has no loose slop as it did with the round tubing. Put an 066 stihl on and it powers so much better. As far as pushing it through, just an even push along works fine. Don't have to rock or use dogs like I have seen some do. Even so taking several boards off at a time works well. I use full complement chain ground straight across. Seems to pull some good wood. Before with the smaller saw I was getting fine dust. Like any new system, there are bugs to work out. Will be some changes as I use this of course. As it is it works better than expected. As it is I will change a couple of things next time if I have a need to make another one.

 

[dieselscout80]

Been on my mind for a while to cut logs for a cabin. I came up with this to take two sides off the log then rotate the saw to cut down the middle to make to half logs to put together.

It is good to make lumber as I make several cuts vertical then rotate to take several boards off at a time. I have made some changes with this prototype including a bigger saw. Bar is same length, just more power. With this log I am taking off 3 2x4s and a 2x6 on each pass. This unit can take up to an 18ft log and a bit over 4ft in dia which covers most wood in this area.

Thinking about putting plans out if anyone is interested.

Cool

What saw (size/cc's) are you using? It doesn't look like a big saw.