Milling logs into Lumber

Using your chainsaw mill to make lumber from logs in order to make live edge benches. To purchase this mill, click the links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualified purchases.

[lostnetwork]

using a ladder is the best top board ive seen yet im going to be using a ladder from here on

[tomkelly]

The fact that you are cutting so slowly and the sawdust is very fine means that you need to file down your rake teeth to get a better bite. The saw can be really sharp but if it can't take a bite with its sharp teeth, then you get slow cuts and fine sawdust, as in your video. I was doing the same thing for too long. Once I discovered the problem, my life got a whole lot easier!

[jaymzgaetz]

Works even better with a sharpened chain

[mountaindweller]

Try inserting some wedges along the cut as you go. It will keep that board from dropping behind you. Cutting will be easier without the pinch.

[jonsmith]

Thankyou for making your demonstration so easy to follow. Not complicated at all

[jacobblake]

Love the idea looks like it will be a lot of pain on someone’s back bending over but install some small levels on both sides of your ladder so when you screw your ladder it will be even on both side for a straight cut the first 👍 nice video

[billwilliams]

Now I like this set up. Better than the others I have seen.

[BigWoodsman]

Hey Gary
That sounds like quite the setup. I would love to see a picture of that. I always find it fascinating the ingenuity people can come up with to make their lives easier. Good job.

[secondcommute]

Great video and step by step. You’ve nailed your message too.. “There’s Life Out There In The Woods”

[emiellambrecht]

Nice job.
Adding a 3thd bar in cross direction, in the middle of the 2 other cross bars, would be helpful to keep the system parallel with the ladder.

[Useitorloseit]

Nice work. I've had the pleasure of cutting many, many board feet with Alaska saw mill. After a friend and I pushed the first couple boards. "Pain in the ass" I developed a pulley system.
One adjustable pulley before the log to pull straight on the saw. This pulley was mounted to a Carabiner that quickly hooked into the holes of a piece of Half Slot Strut Channel, bolted to base of tree. One pulley mounted in the tree, a few more feet up then the length of the cut, a foot or two out on a stout or reinforced branch. 5 gallon bucket with as many rocks as it took to pull the saw just right for the size of cut and sharpness of saw. Only a couple rock difference for any one cut. One counter balance weight on the Alaska saw mill jig and a nylon tie that slipped over saw trigger. 2 hose clamps on Alaska saw mill bar, that kept the Carabiner that is hooked to rope that attached to the bucket, centered to pull saw straight.
Start cut till saw stays on log, put weight on jig, pull Carabiner to saw, weighted bucket goes up in tree. Clip Carabiner to Sawmill jig, pull nylon tie over trigger. Step back, drink coffee till cut is complete. Better smoother cut than you and I pushing and wiggling saw. Saw appropriately slows for knots, dulling, and width of cut. Speeds up automatically.
Lower pulley on Half slot Strut Channel for level pull on next cut and repeat.
Use to also do a top cut, turn log so top cut faced 90 degrees to saw. than all planks had on fished edge.
My saw was Stihl MS 880 with long bar from 044, smaller kerf.

[ronhammar]

Good job with your ladder and jig. Keep it up. Maybe give up on the harp so you can cut more slabs. I think the chainsaw sounds better than the harp. LOL

[johndeggendorf]

Cool...just poked around your channel a little. Dig it, man. And when my saw mill is going, I’m gonna take up axe throwing. ✌️

[COLINJELY]

I have never used a Chainsaw Mill, but have used a Mobile Dimensional Saw. Also a company in Australia makes the Lucas Mill, which comes with a slabbing attachment

[hp]

Nice. Wedging the slab might result in easier cutting.

[jefffishback]

I have placed a small boat winch on my mill loaded with stretchy rope. I run the rope from the mill to a pulley fastened at the far end of the log and then back to the mill. It takes only two fingers to run the mill through the log. The stretch is so you don’t jamb the chain by putting too much pressure on the mill.

[focirs]

I’d you keep the ladder a foot longer at both ends you don’t have to worries about keeping the cut lavel as the mills supposed 👍🏻

[baltsosser]

A 14' ladder would make that easier. It would overhang the 12' log you are working on, and make sure both your end cuts are nice and flat with no variation.

[BigWoodsman]

Hey Verne. Ive tried a lot of things from planks to 2x4's as rails etc. but the trusty old ladder wins my vote everytime.

[OHIOspikey]

Nice video :) I've been looking for ways that this is done. Your method seems like it works very well. Thanks!