Dual headed Chainsaw Mill

This is a video of my homebuilt dual headed chainsaw mill

[video=youtube;jhHPQAgm6j4]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jhHPQAgm6j4&feature=plcp[/video]

The power heads are Makita 6401's with 84 cc Big bore kits and opened up mufflers. This is the first time I have used a chainsaw mill and all went better than expected. My friend Jeremy is at the controls and I'm the helper.

Features of the Mill are: guide shoes that ride on the ladder rails, dual remote throttles with a magnetic latch in the full on position, and a winch with an adjustable elevation.

I'll be posting pictures of the details as time permits (probably next weekend).

Phil

Nice set-up,

ripping is not an easy thing to put a (two) saws through.

You need to post some pics of the cut.

Thats pretty neat looking. Any troubles syncronizing the powerheads or do the clutches just sort it all out?

Hamish,

Once the saws come up to speed, the clutches are locked and both power heads run at the same speed. I experienced no problems running two power heads. With one clutch slipping I would expect to hear a beat note (one power head running at a different speed than the other).

Phil

Sweet setup. I like all the thought you put into the stuff most don't. I think that's why CSM's have such a bad rep. Your throttle and winch system is nice. Keep the wideo comming!

Phil,

Have you tached both saws in the cut? Thank god for clutches! Just got to pondering wear items with two powerheads used in line. Something new for me to figure out and maybe try one day.

What chain set up are you running?

Nice job!

At about the 4 minute mark of the vid I see the power heads jumping around a little. What does this do to the cut finish?

One to remove/reduce the bounce might be to the mounting the mill to the power head via the bar bolts rather than the bar itself.

Anyway, looking forward to some closeups of the mill.


Cheers

hamish said:

Phil,

Have you tached both saws in the cut?

What chain set up are you running?

Click to expand...

I haven't tached the saws.
I'm using WoodlandPro 33RP ripping chain 3/8" .063 guage.

BobL said:

Nice job!

At about the 4 minute mark of the vid I see the power heads jumping around a little. What does this do to the cut finish?

One to remove/reduce the bounce might be to the mounting the mill to the power head via the bar bolts rather than the bar itself

Anyway, looking forward to some closeups of the mill.


Cheers

Click to expand...

The jumping didn't effect the finish. The finish is very smooth with no ripples or any other marks.
I'm considering modifying the power head connection as you suggested. I should be able to do this with very little modification.

I've been reading your post's and others trying to design an efficient CSM. I've got a lot of pro's and con's from those posts.

sachsmo said:

You need to post some pics of the cut.

Click to expand...

full size image



closeup image

That was awsome.
Thanks for posting. What wood is it.
I'm no wood expert.





Lee

leeha said:

What wood is it.
I'm no wood expert.

Lee

Click to expand...

I was told it was red oak.

Phil

PhilB said:

The jumping didn't effect the finish. The finish is very smooth with no ripples or any other marks.

Click to expand...

Good to hear. Now that I see your cut I wonder if it was just cutting through one of those knots at that point it was jumping?

I'm considering modifying the power head connection as you suggested. I should be able to do this with very little modification.

Click to expand...

Keeping the mill and saw rigid helps reduce wear and tear over the long haul so I reckon it's worth it.

I've been reading your post's and others trying to design an efficient CSM. I've got a lot of pro's and con's from those posts.

Click to expand...

Yep there sure is a heap of useful info in this forum.

With two power heads and a total of 172 cc you should experiment with dropping the rakers. I'd try an raker-cutter-wood angle of about 7º and go up from there.

Cheers

PhilB said:

full size image

closeup image

Click to expand...

Wow,

great looking finish, like Bob I saw the saws "flapping" it sure didn't hurt the finish at all.

Picture of Mill

Another picture of the Mill

I like the mill , that's some nice work . slabs look real heavy for this weather , i am sweating just looking . :msp_biggrin:

john taliaferro said:

slabs look real heavy for this weather , i am sweating just looking . :msp_biggrin:

Click to expand...

Ya, it was hot and humid (96 deg). We had some help with the lifting.

Another picture

Really nice looking rig, mate! Well done