Which is the best thread to follow for information on milling your own timbers?

thanks

Nate

this one, if you keep asking questions.

(That's funny.)

Ask your questions here...many will come.
Mark is a good one, for starters...

I run a Woodmizer bandmill. Ask some questions, and I will help you the best I can. Are you thinking of buying a mill?


Dave

Actually, rather than buy a mill, I was thinking of a chainsaw with a jig. I was looking around the site, and a gentleman posted some photos on his blog showing his chainsaw setup. I have a simple homeowners stihl 036 (?, so I am assuming I would need something a bit beefier? Any suggestions?

If you are thinking about a jig that clamps to the bar, the $40 dollar kind, I have used them and they are not great, IMO. If you want to chainsaw mill, I would recommend the Alaskan type mill, they are proven, and will make some very good lumber. An 036 is actually a pro saw, but a little on the small side for chainsaw milling. An MS660 is probably a better bet. There are other options as well. Raphael has a Logosol, maybe he will get a chance to tell you about it.


Dave

my first mill was the $40 dollar clamp-on-the-chainsaw thingy.
I loved it, even though it was a piece of manure....

The 036 is great for cutting down trees, but I am seeing people with some HUGE saws w/ 20 inch bars. I will look into a new on eint this area. Thanks! (more later when I get to the milling)

O36 will be too small for milling, I'd suggest at least a 066 (bigger is better...). A simple jig attachment will be labor intensive for using a chainsaw. I've got a logosol and it works well and gives true lumber if you set it up correctly and use decent logs. You are limited to just a bit under 16 ft but can add an extension to get close to 24 ft.

This is still a lot of work compared more automated band mills.

You should also consider how you are going to move/load logs. My 9N ford handles hauling the logs out of the woods and I built a ramp with lumber I milled to load the logs using a cant hook.

Besides this forum there are two others that have a great bunch of sawyers, The Forestry Forum and the Wood Web. The former also has a TF forum moderated by Jim Rogers (member here).

Another suggestion is to watch a sawyer at a local mill (or local portable mill). There is a "art" to sawing and getting the most/reading each log. I learned by working at a circle mill when putting myself through college.

Keep asking questions...........

The logosol looks terrific! It recommends either the ms660 or the husky 385xp(?, would it be worth the extra 1000 to get that particular saw? Also, I think that the 16 foot length will do for the short term, with the 24 foot extension for the future. How quickly could I mill one log?

As far as the timbers go, once they are down, should I mill them, sticker and stack them, or let the logs cure first? Obviously I am looking for the highest quality,rather than the fastest way.

Thanks for the help

Nate