Sequoia chainsaw milling

[Big J]

We did a contract milling job for a local school this week, which involved a double ended chainsaw mill with an 84" bar, and a lot of effort!

 

It was a good experience, and went according to plan. Priced as a three day job, the cutting was done in two leaving me to shovel sawdust at a leisurely rate on day three.

 

Two men, two days cutting, and 415 hoppus foot of boards produced. About 250 cube of that was at 2", with the remainder at 3 and 4 inches.

 

Technically it was a bit of a challenge with the first log. The first cut was started at pretty much head height, which meant that we had the inevitable rise and fall in the cut at the start of the cut, which migrated slowly down the log as the cutting progressed. With the sheer weight of an 84" mill set up, and nature of starting a cut 6ft off the ground, I'm not sure how to avoid this practicably. Given that there is no other way of cutting a log like this, I think it's a far trade off.

 

The cutting was easy and quick with the double head set up. We were getting a consistent cut rate of 3ft/minute through full width (65-67") cuts. The real challenge is having the patience to take the depth gauges down enough. I need to start pleading with chain manufacturers to produce ripping chains for people with high power output saws (or indeed two of them) because a stock chain is like trying to run a Ferrari V12 through a Ford Fiesta gearbox - you cannot realise the power. I must have taken about 25 stokes off every depth gauge, and it could still stand to be much lower. Either way, on a 13 ft cut, we were getting 3 cuts to a tank.

 

So, as ever, I'd strongly recommend that for anyone doing any large diameter chainsaw milling, ditch the single head set up and get a double headed mill. It's not twice as quick, it's four times as quick. You save fuel (I used 20 litres to produce 415 hoppus foot), chain sharpening, stress on your machines, stress on you and lots and lots of time.

 

Photos (apologies for the lack of mid cut photos - our promised help didn't really materialise, so we could only photograph when not cutting.

 

 

 

 

[Big J]

 

 

 

[se7enthdevil]

the size of those stacks, logs and boards makes you look short, which you ain't...

[Stubby]

Nice work Big J . What does the school intend using the boards for ?

[slasherscot]

thats a pint your due me

[bolthole]

This is fantastic. Makes me want to mill. )

[woodyguy]

Wow. I thought my 36inch mill looked a good size but this is massive. Really good use of the wood, would have been a shame to go for firewood. Thanks for sharing.

[delabodge]

they breed them tough in scotland! well done mate !top job,,have you the strength too lift em lol:001_tongue:

[ballibeg]

I've got some bigger than that. Can't see it being economic to mill. Firewood I think.

[gobbypunk]

Nice job like woodyguy said I thaught my 4ft alaskan looked big but thats one big rig would love to have a go I bet the incline cut did your back in as you got lower i did some sweet chestnut on tuesday that was incline and customer wanted as many boards as poss so now my back is kaput must try and make a low/teck lifter so not down on my knees puting my back out but i digress Nice Job

Cheers Mark