Alaskan 36" with small saw bars ....

[Mik the Miller]

I bought one.

A 36" Alaskan (from Rob of course) I still need a sit down when I think about the cost

 

Interestingly the 36" bar I have only cuts 705mm (28") - i could take the teeth off the trusty Stihl for a bit more, but it doesn't seem worth it really.

 

The rails supplied (36"/915mm long) will obviously accommodate a lager saw bar, most likely a 42" (?) I did try out a 47" Stihl D bar, but the 36" rails are definitely too short for that. The longer bar does allow the maximum cut length is 870mm (34") so a 42" is probably about right.

 

Trying a smaller bar the Mill becomes a unwieldy, 20" is usable but lugging it about is a bit of a pain, anything less is silly as you are losing the 4" off the nose due to the clamp.

 

A Granberg Small Log Mill is the answer but @ circa £175 delivered that's difficult to justify. The Mills are all imperial of course (being American) so it's taken me a while to find an answer. The profile they use and the bolts etc aren't available here in the UK ....

 

Well they weren't - but now they are

[Mik the Miller]

And of course I can do longer rails too.

Longer rails with an additional cross brace and a matching round bar.

 

I can also supply stainless bolts (US thread) and end caps on the profile so you can easily swap rails to your existing nose and thrust bar clamps. I have presumed you would use the Alaskan handle and X-brace which fit in the rails (as per the attached photo).

 

I am also developing a helper handle (not pictured) which will fit on a X brace at the 'nose end' of the rails so someone can guide/help that end along the cut.

[bobh]

Looks good but I really don't see the point. I've cut sub 12" using my 660 and 30" bar with no problems, anything less than this wouldn't really be worth milling.

 

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Arbtalk mobile app

[wisewood]

Have you worked out a price on your kits yet?

[Mik the Miller]

Looks good but I really don't see the point. I've cut sub 12" using my 660 and 30" bar with no problems, anything less than this wouldn't really be worth milling.

 

I think the point is that using a 36"/660 combo to cut 150 to 230mm (6 to 9") planks from a typical pine is overkill. If you have a smaller saw you could use a 12" to 16" bar very effectively. I have two variants the 1216 and the 1820, both relate to the typical bar sizes it will take. More than 20" and you really need the support that the nose-clamp offers on the Alaskan Mills.

 

It would be an ideal tool if you are quartering, a lot lighter and less cumbersome than a 36" Alaskan.

Smaller saw using less fuel, cheaper chains, lower costs all round ?

 

Being smaller and better balanced you can use the ubiquitous 6x2" plank for the first cut and then Mill the log with the larger set-up ?

 

Have you worked out a price on your kits yet?

 

I'm close and am aiming for the SAS.1216.SAM and the SAS.1820.SAM to be less than £50/£55 inc VAT and delivery.

The others I haven't 100% finalised yet but as a rough guide if you buy a 24" Alaskan (£199 + Vat from Alaskan UK) and a set of SAS.4850.AMil rails from S+AS Limited @ £75 + Vat, the total delivered cost (for both items) will be less than £275 (+Vat and delivery) and you'll have the two tools.

 

The part numbers = the max bar size in inches.

 

SAS.2836.AMil £55

SAS.4850.AMil £75

SAS.60.AMil £90

SAS.72.AMil £102

SAS.XX.AMil £1.40 per inch

SAS.XBar.AMil £14

 

It depends on numbers, order more the material costs reduces per inch, the amortised shipping cost is less per item etc etc. The above prices are consequently not 'fixed' at the moment.

 

If you PM me i'll get back with a discounted (to Arbtalk members) price.

Of course you'll need to post a review