Diy timber beams, it's slow.

[MossRoad]

Thanks Egon.

 

[Doofy]

We still have the ambition and ideas, Doofy, just not the energy. Yes - MANY fond memories of our times in Alaska.

My Get-up-and-Go Got-up-and-Went!

 

[newbury]

I have about 10,000 black locust trees. About 2000 of them are 12-20" diameter. I'd like to make 6x6 or 8x8s and use them to build a post and beam screen house by our pool in the next few years.

IF you have the chainsaw and want to do it at low expense a chainsaw mill MIGHT be a solution.
BUT black locust is HARD and you'll probably need at least a 90CC saw to do the cutting.
I've done 16 to 20 inch red maple with a 62CC saw and it was slow (and low). Moved up to a Stihl 660 and it was easy.

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I've a 120CC in reserve.

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BUT if you don't have the saw an entry level Woodmizer or other brand sawmill is only about $3,500 and will save your back.

A good 90CC costs about $1,000 or more. And if you have 2,000 trees you could make good use of a sawmill.

 

[MossRoad]

IF you have the chainsaw and want to do it at low expense a chainsaw mill MIGHT be a solution.
BUT black locust is HARD and you'll probably need at least a 90CC saw to do the cutting.
I've done 16 to 20 inch red maple with a 62CC saw and it was slow (and low). Moved up to a Stihl 660 and it was easy.

Attachments

• 
  stihl42inch8x6.jpg

  248.4 KB · Views: 312

I've a 120CC in reserve.

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  088_just-bought.JPG

  269.1 KB · Views: 206

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BUT if you don't have the saw an entry level Woodmizer or other brand sawmill is only about $3,500 and will save your back.

A good 90CC costs about $1,000 or more. And if you have 2,000 trees you could make good use of a sawmill.

Thanks for the info.

I'm NOT doing 2000 trees. I have them. But I'm not doing them.

Just looking into do enough to make a 12X16 screen house.

 

[CalG]

For softwood (hemlock mostly) snapping lines, cross scoring with the chain saw, and then chipping out the waste with an axe makes for pretty fast work. I did all the floor beams in the shop that way. (24 x 32) one side only.

A D handled garden spade works pretty well as a spud to debark. Just let the tree set about two weeks after cutting to loosen up the bark.

I really like that guide frame set up Egon! NICE!

Can you show or describe the bar clamp details?

 

[dougtrr2]

I had some trees I wanted to turn into cabinet lumber. I briefly considered using a chainsaw. I hired a portable bandsaw mill. I had plenty of help, had the logs lined up and bark removed. In less than 8 hours we had over 1400 Bdft of walnut and red oak. The bill was $700. It was the best money I ever spent.

Doug in SW IA

 

[Egon]

For softwood (hemlock mostly) snapping lines, cross scoring with the chain saw, and then chipping out the waste with an axe makes for pretty fast work. I did all the floor beams in the shop that way. (24 x 32) one side only.

A D handled garden spade works pretty well as a spud to debark. Just let the tree set about two weeks after cutting to loosen up the bark.

I really like that guide frame set up Egon! NICE!

Can you show or describe the bar clamp details?

Not much to it. The bar has a hole drilled in it with a 1/2 in. pillow block bolted on. Then a 1/2 in. rod is welded onto a flat iron plate that is bolted to the sliding frame and goes through the pillow block. Then a bunch of one in. Spacers to vary the thickness of the board being cut.

 

[kenmbz]

I used an Alaskan mill from granberg to cut two 2" planks, by 7' and used the bottom half for a garden bench.
I have a 20" bar on a 50cc with a ripping chain and it worked pretty well. Used a dead Ash trunk.
Very limiter width (about 10-12") width with that size bar.
First time got some scoring, took down with a flap disk and then orbital sander. Looks pretty good.
Started by screwing on an 8" 2x8 to the trunk, so came out pretty straight.

Egon, that setup is really nice!

 

[shooterdon]

Thanks for the info.

I'm NOT doing 2000 trees. I have them. But I'm not doing them.

Just looking into do enough to make a 12X16 screen house.

Buy the bandsaw mill and then sell it when you are done. You can saw up a few extra trees for lumber for projects down the road. They do not last long on Craigslist. There are guys here that will bring a portable mill to your property and mill what you need.

 

[MossRoad]

My machine only lifts 800 pounds. These locust logs are too large to drag out of the woods for my machine as well. Also, it's too remote of an area to get a bandsaw mill into. That's why I'm looking at the chainsaw route. I can move 8x8x16'. I can't move 16" diameter x 16' locust with the little machine. I suppose I could get a log arch to haul out of the area, then parbuckle onto a trailer or bandsaw mill, but hey, let's just spend more of my money.