redoak
ArboristSite Member
Hi all,
I'm taking the week off to work on the barn project. Yesterday I tried out a jig called "The Beam Machine." WTF! I cannot see how that jig could possibly maintain a straight cut. There is at least 3/16 wiggle at the jig, which translates to a BIG mess in the cut. I'm sending it back. I'm guessing I should have bought the mini-mill... right? Live and learn.
Anyway, I switched back to the super strut rails and the Alaskan mill. A serious pain in the butt moving that around solo. The results are plenty good for timber framing work. So the pictures are one shot of the BM's (ha! great acronym for that piece!) messy cut, then shots of the process with the Alaskan. 20' 8x8 in white pine, a little wane on one face as the log had a bit of a jog toward the small end.
Talk to me about the mini mill. Does it maintain a solid cut or do you find you have to "free hand" a bit to keep things straight.
-redoak
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I'm taking the week off to work on the barn project. Yesterday I tried out a jig called "The Beam Machine." WTF! I cannot see how that jig could possibly maintain a straight cut. There is at least 3/16 wiggle at the jig, which translates to a BIG mess in the cut. I'm sending it back. I'm guessing I should have bought the mini-mill... right? Live and learn.
Anyway, I switched back to the super strut rails and the Alaskan mill. A serious pain in the butt moving that around solo. The results are plenty good for timber framing work. So the pictures are one shot of the BM's (ha! great acronym for that piece!) messy cut, then shots of the process with the Alaskan. 20' 8x8 in white pine, a little wane on one face as the log had a bit of a jog toward the small end.
Talk to me about the mini mill. Does it maintain a solid cut or do you find you have to "free hand" a bit to keep things straight.
-redoak
View attachment 80453
View attachment 80454
View attachment 80455
View attachment 80456
View attachment 80457