New Milling Setup

[Haywire Haywood]

Here's the 076 I just picked up from Rob (Stihl 041S) and the mill I assembled from 2 of Granberg's Small Log Mills connected by the extrusion I picked up from ebay (see "test" thread) I was going to try it out today on a smallish Cherry log I had been keeping for it, but when I went to mount the milling chain I ordered from Bailey's, I discovered they had miscounted the DLs both times and I got 130DL loops instead of 120. Kinda put the brakes on any milling I'd be doing today. Hopefully, I'll be ready to go by next weekend tho.

Ian

 

[Haywire Haywood]

Looking at the pics, I just realized I need to turn the left end around... it's kinda backwards.

Ian

 

[dustytools]

Looks good Ian. I noticed the post being backwards too, LOL. I think that you can get another inch or two by easing out on the tip a bit more. Awesome looking saw BTW!!!

 

[Haywire Haywood]

I was looking at that... If I dare to put the end out on the ears of the tip, I can get another 2" to make it an even 30" of capacity. I think for 98% of what I do, it won't be necessary. Now watch me fall into a log that would make a 36" cant if I had just bought the 41" bar instead of the 36. LOL

Ian

 

[dustytools]

As long as you dont clamp down on the sprocket I think you will be alright. Those extrusions would be a quick and easy fix to my wanting a 36" mill.

 

[harrygrey382]

Nice looking setup! Shame you haven't put it in wood yet... Bet it'll go like a tank when it's ready though

I think that you can get another inch or two by easing out on the tip a bit more

+1
I found I could clamp at the end of the tongue on the sprocket. Anymore and the chain would bind. But I found I could tighten it tight as I liked with no damage. Just keep moving it out, tighten down till the chain binds. Then move back a touch

 

[Haywire Haywood]

The drawback to using the SLM is that it doesn't have a pressure pad like the Alaskan does. I just has two set screws and they permanently dimple whatever you screw them against. If I ever need that extra 2 inches, I'll get a rectangle of aluminum plate to put between the screws and the nose to act as sacrificial metal to take the dimpling and distribute the pressure too.

I think I'm going to try an 8 or even 9 pin rim on the 76 and see how it does. Should bump the chain speed up nicely.

Terry... those rails are nice-n-stiff and would be a cheap way to extend your mill. 80/20 takes a phoned in CC as payment (Paypal is the devil ) and are really quick shippers.

Ian

 

[BobL]

Looks real good Ian !

One thing I've noticed is the chain brake looks like it it will contact the side of the log, especially as there will be a tendency to rotate the mill on the log - you might want to think of taking that off. That might give you a bit more length on the bar as well?

Cheers

 

[Haywire Haywood]

It's more of a spring loaded hand guard than a brake but yea, I see what you mean. I'll pull that back off. Won't give me any more length tho, I have the frame against the crank case now. Never did install the dogs.

thanks,
Ian

 

[aggiewoodbutchr]

Looks good.


Now go make some sawdust and put some scratches on that shiny new mill!!!!!

 

[slabmaster]

Looks like it will work good.You might have to remove the plastic though as chips might build up in there and be hard to remove.I'd keep an eye on the mounting bolts for movement as they aren't made for that type of mill and could be a problem.Let know it all works out. Mark

 

[TNMIKE]

Thanks for the tip in the extrusions

I ordered a pair yesterday.. Cost me 28 bucks delivered MUCH cheaper than Granberg. My 24 inch mill needed and upgrade.

BTW is that plexiglass covering the mill??

 

[Nikko]

Looking at the pics, I just realized I need to turn the left end around... it's kinda backwards.

Ian

Yup

I picked up my 48" Granberg for $100 - p/o said it worked, but not as well as he thought it would. When I got it home, the left post was backwards, just like yours. I could have told him....but nah

Why the plexi shield?

Nikko

 

[retoid]

Looking at the pics, I just realized I need to turn the left end around... it's kinda backwards.

Ian

I made that mistake a few times hehe. It's not a big deal but yes it is easier if you put it on right.

Very nice. That saw looks awesome. I like your plexi shield as well.

 

[Haywire Haywood]

BTW is that plexiglass covering the mill??

Yes, the SLM comes with a plexiglass shield so I put both of them on. I thought about cutting one down so I could move the handle closer to the saw. I think that handle is going to be too far out on the mill to be comfortable unless I'm standing up to mill and that almost never happens. No way to lift a log of any size. We'll see when I use it.

Figured out last night that next weekend is Memorial Day. I'm going to see my mother and will be gone all weekend, so no milling then either... Doesn't matter. I need to go see her anyway. It's been six months.

Ian

 

[guitarborist]

Very nice! I am glad to see people using the extrusions, the price is right and they are very strong, I can't get enough of them. Can't wait to see some picts of the lumber.

I am going to build another mill that will be dedicated to 4/4 material. I am using it to floor my house. I just bought a 17" bar for the 075 mill. I use the 42" bar to make 12"x ?(depends on the log diameter) beams then switch to the short bar/mill and make 12" x 1" boards, dry them and turn them into flooring in my basement shop. The only concern is the balance of a short mill with the 075 head. I think a counter weight is in order.

 

[Haywire Haywood]

Use the short bar but long rails and hang a bottle of bar oil on the end like Aggiewoodbutchr does.

Ian

 

[guitarborist]

Sounds good to me.

 

[woodshop]

I was looking at that... If I dare to put the end out on the ears of the tip, I can get another 2" to make it an even 30" of capacity. I think for 98% of what I do, it won't be necessary. Now watch me fall into a log that would make a 36" cant if I had just bought the 41" bar instead of the 36. LOL

Ian

Nice job Ian... bummer about the chain, I hate when I have plans like that and then something like missing or broken equipment stops it dead in its tracks. I don't do as well in those kinds of situations as I should. As per your maybe shoulda bought the 41 inch bar... you KNOW you're gonna come across a very large tree one day... but if you got the 41 instead of the 48 you're gonna come across an even larger log that the 41 won't do. Just like in that one Star Wars movie, when he said "There's always a bigger fish". Gotta stop somewhere, and for me the vast majority of my logs are less than 3ft, thus after slabbing, my 32 inch capacity of my 36 inch mill is plenty enough. Also, there are VERY few times I actually have a use for a slab that large. Most of the time, I'm milling that 30 inch log into 8-10 inch wide boards anyway, as that's what I use in my woodshop. In that case, by taking a slice, then rolling the log, then taking another slice etc etc, although you won't get slabs wider than 32 inches wide, you CAN slice a 4ft dia log into usable lumber with just a 36 inch granberg csm.

 

[aggiewoodbutchr]

Nice job Ian... bummer about the chain, I hate when I have plans like that and then something like missing or broken equipment stops it dead in its tracks. I don't do as well in those kinds of situations as I should. As per your maybe shoulda bought the 41 inch bar... you KNOW you're gonna come across a very large tree one day... but if you got the 41 instead of the 48 you're gonna come across an even larger log that the 41 won't do. Just like in that one Star Wars movie, when he said "There's always a bigger fish". Gotta stop somewhere, and for me the vast majority of my logs are less than 3ft, thus after slabbing, my 32 inch capacity of my 36 inch mill is plenty enough. Also, there are VERY few times I actually have a use for a slab that large. Most of the time, I'm milling that 30 inch log into 8-10 inch wide boards anyway, as that's what I use in my woodshop. In that case, by taking a slice, then rolling the log, then taking another slice etc etc, although you won't get slabs wider than 32 inches wide, you CAN slice a 4ft dia log into usable lumber with just a 36 inch granberg csm.

Yea- you could end up like me... cutting 2x8's with an 084 and a 44" bar. Bigger isn't always better. Sure cuts fast though.