mtngun
Addicted to ArboristSite
Here's some pics on how I spent my weekend.
Lots of blown down trees. It used to be thick forest, that protected the trees from wind. Notice how the trees are tall and spindly, with few lower branches -- that's how trees grow when they are protected from wind. If the same species grows in a windy area, then they are short, stubby, and have lots of lower branches.
Last year they clear cut some of it, creating a corridor for the wind, which these tall, spindly trees cannot handle. Plus the slash fire got out of control and killed a lot of good trees. The combination of fire damage and wind damage resulted in several acres of blown down trees. I feel it is my civic duty to help clean up the mess.
Milling with a view. The tree I am sawing here started out as a 24" dbh douglas fir that had been killed by the slash fire, and then blown over.
Douglas fir slabs, 12 foot long. Most are destined to become rafters for a woodshed.
Saw is an Olympyk 980, normally my firewood saw. The Italian Stallion has been pressed into milling duty until parts arrive for the Stihl 066, which suffered a broken wrist pin circlip. The Olympyk's chain adjustment is at the front, so the saw has to be removed from the Alaskan to tighten the chain. The 80cc saw struggles with the 36" bar, and bogs if you push it too hard. Nonetheless, it's milled quite a bit of lumber.
Chain is Bailey's 33RP.
Guide rail is an old 2x12. One of these days I'd like to have a unistrut rail similar to what another AS member uses.
I've only been milling for a few weeks, but I am starting to get the hang of it.
I've tried using the Alaskan to make a cant, and then sawing out boards, vs. merely sawing full width slabs, and decided to go with the slabs. Slabbing reduces setup time, so I can spend more time sawing and end up with more wood in my truck. Once I get the slabs home, then I can snap a chalk line and rip boards with a skil saw, and I've got all winter to do that.
Lots of blown down trees. It used to be thick forest, that protected the trees from wind. Notice how the trees are tall and spindly, with few lower branches -- that's how trees grow when they are protected from wind. If the same species grows in a windy area, then they are short, stubby, and have lots of lower branches.
Last year they clear cut some of it, creating a corridor for the wind, which these tall, spindly trees cannot handle. Plus the slash fire got out of control and killed a lot of good trees. The combination of fire damage and wind damage resulted in several acres of blown down trees. I feel it is my civic duty to help clean up the mess.
Milling with a view. The tree I am sawing here started out as a 24" dbh douglas fir that had been killed by the slash fire, and then blown over.
Douglas fir slabs, 12 foot long. Most are destined to become rafters for a woodshed.
Saw is an Olympyk 980, normally my firewood saw. The Italian Stallion has been pressed into milling duty until parts arrive for the Stihl 066, which suffered a broken wrist pin circlip. The Olympyk's chain adjustment is at the front, so the saw has to be removed from the Alaskan to tighten the chain. The 80cc saw struggles with the 36" bar, and bogs if you push it too hard. Nonetheless, it's milled quite a bit of lumber.
Chain is Bailey's 33RP.
Guide rail is an old 2x12. One of these days I'd like to have a unistrut rail similar to what another AS member uses.
I've only been milling for a few weeks, but I am starting to get the hang of it.
I've tried using the Alaskan to make a cant, and then sawing out boards, vs. merely sawing full width slabs, and decided to go with the slabs. Slabbing reduces setup time, so I can spend more time sawing and end up with more wood in my truck. Once I get the slabs home, then I can snap a chalk line and rip boards with a skil saw, and I've got all winter to do that.
