Portable saw mill

[Splitter]

I've some beech I'd like to plank up but have never used a saw mill, are the portable one's advertised for use with a chainsaw any good?

Cheers Robert 

[Dan Maynard]

There are lots of pictures of stuff alaskan milled in the milling forum. The mill is just a cheap frame though, the expensive bit is a big enough saw.

[topchippyles]

2 hours ago, Splitter said:

I've some beech I'd like to plank up but have never used a saw mill, are the portable one's advertised for use with a chainsaw any good?

Cheers Robert 

What chainsaws do you have will need at least a 70cc saw to mill.

[Martin du Preez]

W

Edited July 13, 2022 by Martin du Preez

[Splitter]

1 hour ago, topchippyles said:

What chainsaws do you have will need at least a 70cc saw to mill.

I've a 572xp with a decent length bar on it

[Splitter]

3 hours ago, Dan Maynard said:

There are lots of pictures of stuff alaskan milled in the milling forum. The mill is just a cheap frame though, the expensive bit is a big enough saw.

Sorry, didn't realise I'd put it in the wrong section lol

[Stubby]

8 minutes ago, Splitter said:

Sorry, didn't realise I'd put it in the wrong section lol

You will go to prison ! 😀

[Dan Maynard]

1 hour ago, Splitter said:

Sorry, didn't realise I'd put it in the wrong section lol

I don't care which section you post, it's just there are loads of pictures of wood which has been milled with one.

 

572 is enough power if you are patient, probably you want a lo-pro 36" bar and then with that you can mill up to about 24" wide. You lose a disappointing amount of bar in the clamps each end.

 

If you're only ever going to do one log then cost of parts is not that far off paying someone with the gear for a day to get it done.

[Splitter]

4 hours ago, Dan Maynard said:

I don't care which section you post, it's just there are loads of pictures of wood which has been milled with one.

 

572 is enough power if you are patient, probably you want a lo-pro 36" bar and then with that you can mill up to about 24" wide. You lose a disappointing amount of bar in the clamps each end.

 

If you're only ever going to do one log then cost of parts is not that far off paying someone with the gear for a day to get it done.

Thanks, i need to check but i think some of the beech is wider than 24" and I'd have to buy a new guide and chain etc, so got to cost it out like you say. 

I have a metal fab shop at home, so might look into making my own mill 🙄

[trigger_andy]

8 hours ago, Splitter said:

Thanks, i need to check but i think some of the beech is wider than 24" and I'd have to buy a new guide and chain etc, so got to cost it out like you say. 

I have a metal fab shop at home, so might look into making my own mill 🙄

A 48" Chinese built 'Alaskan' is/was about £120 last time I looked. Hardly worth the time to fab one up in my opinion. 

 

You can also buy a 36" Chinese Alaskan (Chilaskan) for about the same and save on cost by not needing as big a bar and chain. With the 36" Alaskan and a Low Pro Bar and chain you'll just/kinda get away with your little saw. 

 

At the end of the day you're gonna be ball deep into £500 before you get started.