Replies

1. 
   skewbit | Feb 02, 2008 03:34am | #1

   I believe i saw the product you're looking for in Lee Valley's latest tool catolog. If not there, i'm sure you can do a Google search and find what you need.

2. 
   andyfew322 | Feb 02, 2008 05:35am | #2

   you can get chainsaw attachments for your circular saw

    

   "It is like hitting yourself in the head with a hammer: it feels so good when you stop"

3. 
   benhasajeep | Feb 02, 2008 04:03pm | #3

   There are several chain saw mills sold.  I do not have any experience with them though.  I have been considering a bandsaw mill for some time now and during my searches for different models.  I have run into several chain saw types.  I think the Alaskan saw mill, is the more popular of the chain saws.  I had a coworker tell me it works ok for limited cuttings.

4. 
   CPR | Feb 02, 2008 06:35pm | #4

   I received the Alaska II as a gift several months ago and have yet to use it. I have several white oak logs in the back yard that I want to mill.  I spent some time putting it together onto my chain saw and discovered that a 20 inch bar is still too small for this application.  You see, the bar attachment takes up a lot of room.  I got a 30 inch bar and chain and will use it probably within the next few weeks.  If you are not comfortable with a chain saw I would give this a lot of thought before trying it.  I am lucky to know some professional arborists and am waiting until they have time to help me out.  Weilding a powerful chainsaw (Stihl 440) with a 30 inch bar and an unweildy attachment is nothing to take lightly.  I will let you know how I make out.

5. 
   BMan7418 | Feb 03, 2008 01:35am | #5

   I have an Alaska mill with a stihl 360 and 20" blade with a ripping chain. The basic milling equip will cost around $600-800 if you don't have any of the above. it works great, I milled a cherry tree that fell on my property and got about 300bdft out of the tree. if these are the only logs your going to do with this mill then I would suggest seeing if anyone in your area has a woodmizer mill - check the website http://www.woodmizer.com. usually will cost you 25-60 cents a bdft to saw up the wood. a little cheaper then outfitting yourself a chain saw mill if your only going to do one or 2 logs.

6. 
   FrankDrackman | Feb 03, 2008 03:21am | #6

   Sorry, not the exact answer that you are looking for but, have you contacted Woodmizer to see if they have any owners in the area?

1. 
   old baldy | Feb 03, 2008 07:19am | #7

   Frank,I have the Alaska Mark II, and have used it to slice up a couple of dozen poplar logs so far. The mill itself is not all that hard to set up, nor is it that hard to use, if you are used to a chainsaw. It produces a fairly decent slab, but the slab is rough, as you would expect from any kind of chainsaw. The hardest part of the operation is the first cut where a good plank must be used to get the reference point for the rest of the log. If your log(s) are at all thick, you probably need to think about how to get them up on a pair of sawhorses. Working at ground level while pushing the saw and the mill through the log isn't going to be easy. Nor is this the safest way to use the device....If you do try this method, you would be well advised to get the special Granberg ripping blade rather than either a standard (crosscut blade) or even a stock, so-called ripping blade. The Granberg blade has a thinner kerf and thus, as well as wasting less wood, takes a bit less power to drive. A second Point to keep in mind is that this is not intended for a "camper-special" chainsaw. For a job like this, you will need a powerful motor, something with at least 60 cc or more. My own saw is a Huskvarna 44, and while it does the job, it is quite underpowered!For additional information, go tohttp://www.granberg.com/Good luck :)TedJust to avoid confusion, my Granberg Mill is the Mark III, not the Mark II as I stated above. I don't forget much, it's more a question of remembering most of the time! :)

   Edited 2/2/2008 11:45 pm ET by old baldy

7. 
   Daninvan | Feb 03, 2008 11:57am | #8

   Autopilot,

   The portable bandmill is good because it has a thinner kerf so there'll be less waste. You may wind up with several more slabs at the end than you would with an Alaska mill. It's not practical to buy your own bandmill for a couple logs, so you'll have to pay someone who owns one to do it for you. The previous suggestion to contact Woodmizer to find one locally is a good start. Also try your local woodworking club(s).

   Same kind of holds true for the Alaska mill, in terms of the economics of it. Assuming you have a chainsaw with a long enough bar on it though, they are pretty easy to make for under $20 in materials. Drill and tap the chainbar and use some threaded rod. Make sure you practice on a less valuable log before you start on your pecan! Or, keep your eye on Craigslist, eBay, etc. for a used one.

   If the logs are small enough in diameter, you could make up a sled and run them through your bandsaw. I am guessing that since you are considering a local sawmill, they are too big for that though.

   If the logs are clear enough you could try splitting them in half with a froe/ax/wedges. I have no idea how pecan splits, but once it's split in half then you could try your bandsaw, or just split the whole thing up.

   So there's your options as I see them! Personally, if I wasn't planning on doing this again, I'd either go with the sawmill or pay a portable bandmill.

   In any case, I recommend that you put some end sealer on the logs ASAP while you're trying to decide what to do!

   Good luck!

8. 
   Napie | Feb 03, 2008 05:36pm | #9

   Taunton published a book back in 1982 called “Chainsaw Lumbermaking” by Will Malloff.  Great reference on this subject.  This of course was back when Taunton was a cutting edge company that cared about woodworkers….

    

   http://www.willmalloff.com/

    

   http://www.amazon.com/Chainsaw-Lumbermaking-Will-Malloff/dp/0918804124

    

   http://www.alibris.com/search/books/qwork/1003776/used/Chainsaw%20Lumbermaking

    

    

    

9. 
   aew | Feb 03, 2008 05:44pm | #10

   There are many options to resawing logs. A good source of information is at the ArboristSite discussion group on milling. I currently have what is called a RipSaw; a small portable bandsaw with a 14" capacity that is powered by a chainsaw power head. I can mill about 300-500 bf per day using this arrangement. A new unit costs about $3000 plus the cost of the powerhead. I picked up a used one for $1500 including a power head. The chainsaw mills mentioned in other replies also work well but you lose a lot of wood due to the relatively large kerf of the chain. For a one time operation, you are better off hiring someone. Depending on where you live, the cost of bandsaw milling is somewhere between $0.25 to $0.50 per board foot or perhaps a flat charge if the job is small. Several years ago I had about 600 bf of cherry and hemlock milled for $250. Moving logs is not something done easily without some kind of mechanical or hydraulic assists. I have a tractor to permit me to move logs and handle them. Be warned - making lumber from logs is addicting.