First time milling.

[link523]

Wife and I decided to go up to are property for New Years. So I brought my granberg mill and a couple saws. I bought the mill us d from Craigslist a year ago and a used 394 that needed work. Thanks to the guys on the chainsaw forum I have it running good.

. Used unistrut for the straight edge. logs are about 6 and a half feet long and 14" diameter red oak. I don't have any equipment to move the logs around. Just a can't hook and will power.


In the woods

 

[JTM]

You go brother! That looks great. I'm in the process of getting setup to do the same. Any observations you'd like to share with fellow first timers I'm sure would be much appreciated.

 

[link523]

The colder weather is ok saw cools quick. I don't sweat so bad. Get the logs as high as possible. My back is killing me got 19 boards cut it about 14-15 hours. Keep the chain sharp. Best advice I have get some equipment and a bandsaw mill. I did have fun but a lot of work.


In the woods

 

[link523]

I used pieces of lumber instead of an tape measure. To set the depth of cut.

In the woods

 

[link523]

. All stacked up under a roof and a couple to take home


In the woods

 

[BobL]

You should use more stickers, all directly above each other and have a sticker right up close to each end of each slab

 

[BigOakAdot]

And be sure to get some weight on top. My first boards ended up pretty warped most likely because of that.

 

[JTM]

...Best advice I have get some equipment and a bandsaw mill.

That's exactly what a friend of mine told me. Lol

I like the the idea of using blocks to the set cut depth. 15 hours is a long day, don't think I could do it. Do you have any plans or ideas on what you are going to make with your wood?

 

[link523]

I cut it over 2 today's and that time includes cutting the tops to firewood . not sure what to make yet. The boards I brought home I am taking to a local mill to get kiln dried. Thanks for all the advice. Hope the stacks work out as is there 3.5 hours away from my home. Next time I get up there I will get weight or straps no them.


In the woods

 

[cre73]

It appears the unistrut worked out for you. That is what I have planned on using if I ever get that far. As I can get some for free from work.

 

[link523]

I liked it. I used the spring loaded nuts so I could adjust for different lengths easily.


In the woods

 

[JTM]

Where can I see this unistrut?

 

[link523]

. The long steel is unistrut. I bought it from Home Depot


In the woods

 

[JTM]

10-4, I can't tell how you attached the unistrut and short angle. Can you elaborate?

 

[BobL]

Link523's unistrut is the medium weight stuff and is excellent for lighter weight mills and when used over shorter lengths.

This was my first setup - its was narrow type of light gauge unistrut, but too light weight for more than about 2 ft of unsupported length. Eventually I managed to bend it and replaced it with the real stuff.
It's hard to see but there is a T-slot under the log rail



I changed to HD Unistrut ; notice the use of threaded rod to get adjustable width. This =is handy when using longer bars.


The HD stuff is HEAVY, but will support along a much longer distance.
The verticals are also a type shallow Unistrut


I purchased 2 , 20ft lengths of the HD stuff and cut them in half so I can use a shorter set or combine for a longer set. Instead of cutting in half I wish I had cut 12:8 ft sections as the 10 ft sections are a tad short for many of the logs I cut.

 

[JTM]

Thanks for that info. So to make sure I understand, the channel in the strut allows length adjustment through the use of a type of carriage bolt? I see some rectangular nuts available in my searches that I assume slide along the channel. Also, would the 1-5/8" square, 14 gauge be considered heavy duty? What did you use to cut the slots in your angle iron?

 

[BobL]

1 5/8 square 14 gauge is the intermediate duty, 12 gauge is the HD, 16 Gauge is the lightweight stuff.
14 gauge will work if it is adequately supported.

 

[link523]

I used the 12 gauge.

. Worked good at 8feet. With no center support


In the woods

 

[JTM]

I will get the 12 gauge then. There happens to be a business across the way from my office that sells this stuff. What saw did you use on those logs?

 

[link523]

Husky 395xp. 28" bar


In the woods