Very cool way of winching your Alaskan up the log

[Rob D]

After having observed Rob's setup working, I can see a few potential problems with screwing anchors directly into the piece being milled:

 

 

• Rob's setup at the show, had the pulleyed anchor point at ground level but at a short distance from the end cut. Abrasive friction would then reduce with every cut closer to the ground.

 

 

Good post yep it worked perfectly at the show - just a peg or even a heavy log in front of the log a short distance away works best - easy to set up and as you have said the angle of pull changes as you get lower down the log.

 

 

Changing the washing line I had in the winch for thin starter cord worked better as well. Good stretch, can get more cord on for larger logs, and as it spools into the top of the winch being thin it does not spill out.

 

 

 

[Big Beech]

Thinkin, why not use a metal marque peg or similar wacked in tk the ground a few feet from the end of the log.

Then usin a small pulley (washing line?) And a small sling strop with a simple monkey fist knot you can just slde the sling up n down as neeeded.

[Rich2484]

Down the local marine shop a hand winch with 30m cable is only 19.99. It's only a 900kg rated one it ore Han enough.

[Rob D]

Here's the first vid - a bit crude as have now replaced thick washing line with pull start cord and set the end pulley up to a ground anchor in front of the log... but for those who weren't at the show does give an idea of how it works.

 

 

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9xyChiFTrA0&feature=c4-overview&list=UU9eV7377LRZ9H98BQowuSbQ]Using a winch with the Alaskan - first attempt. - YouTube[/ame]

 

 

 

 

 

 

[mendiplogs]

I recently sold an old Stihl mill to a customer and he told me how he winches his mills up the log... I've tried winching before and it's ok but can be a bit of a fiddle. The system he set up is cheap and looks very easy to operate. The thing I liked is that the winch is positioned on the mill rather than at the end of the log or similar.

 

 

Using a springy type rope as the line to even the pull i.e. he uses a waterskiing rope, you can position the winch in the right place on top of the mill to give the best point to pull i.e. given log diameter, saw power etc etc.

 

 

I've just bought a 12v winch off ebay for £90-00 that has remote controls and I'm hoping this could be a good way to mechanise chainsaw milling. Plan is to:

 

 

• Introduce mill into log
  
• Put some weight on top of the mill (saw that in Will Maloof's pdf!)
  
• Have a method where you can operate the winch and to start with the throttle is done by hand
  
• Have a way that as the winch tensions it also applies the throttle (may be tricky for someone like me).
  

 

 

But either way I think this winching method is a good one - I may try and get a few winches in and sell these as kits to go on your mill.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Boat winch as in pics on Stihl mill below Manual Marine Hand Gear Hand Winch 600LBS Boat Trailer Caravan Crane No Cable | eBay

 

 

Remote control winch I bought (but haven't tried yet - may do so today) WINCH 12V ATV BOAT TRAILER 3000 lb WINCHMAX BRAND | eBay

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pics of Brian the customer and his set up (which he assures me works fine).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

HI ROB im looking on the tube now mate ive seen you on there with your 880 with large muff thanks jon

[Goaty]

Where you drilled the rail to fit the nub nut. I ground the nut on 2 sides. A nuts cheaper to replace and I wasn't sure I'd drill the rail in the right place.

[Rob D]

HI ROB im looking on the tube now mate ive seen you on there with your 880 with large muff thanks jon

 

 

 

Nice Jon! That was a great saw and a great shame but I sold it and the new 880 has a different muffler so I could not put it on!!

[Rob D]

Where you drilled the rail to fit the nub nut. I ground the nut on 2 sides. A nuts cheaper to replace and I wasn't sure I'd drill the rail in the right place.

 

 

 

Ahh! - a much better idea - as then you can slide the winch up and down to suit - like it

 

 

 

[Forest2Furniture]

This is how I attached the rope, it worked fine.

 

I hooked the rope on and started to wind.

 

I screwed it into the section that isn't used, as you will always lose the first couple of inches of a board once dry no harm is done.

Edited June 24, 2013 by Forest2Furniture

[Bob Slade]

Where you drilled the rail to fit the nub nut. I ground the nut on 2 sides. A nuts cheaper to replace and I wasn't sure I'd drill the rail in the right place.

 

Hi Goaty, i was playing with the idea of a nut, found one in an odds and sods container with a washer attached, simply ground down the nut, took the small bolt out and fed it in from the top with nut in the rails. the washer stops the nut from pulling through.