Judson
ArboristSite Lurker
Just wanted to say that all of the info that is given here has been a huge help in getting me started in milling with a CSM. I had a chance to get out yesterday and mill some heavy timber beams from a fir tree that came down this winter, but I came away with a few questions..
1) What does everyone use for guide rails? I was using a 2x6 that is screwed to the top of the log, but even with my best efforts to keep it straight I was still getting a little runout, like 1/4" over a 10 foot beam. Doeas anyone ue the granberg slabbing rails system? It looks like at may be a great way to be able to do really long beams.
2) I picked up an echo cs8000 last fall on the cheap to see if I would like the whole CSM thing. It has a 28" bar on it and is mounted in a 36" mill. It is just barely big enough, bar wise, to mill a 21" or so tree. What kind of production increase could I expect if I stepped up to a 395xp or a MS660? It would only be 10-15 cc's more, but I would guess the HP would increase by 1-2 hp.
3) Do most people mill their logs in the woods and shelp all their gear in, and then shelp it all out again + timbers when they are finished, or should I get a winch to put on my trailer or something like a lewis winch so that there is less carring stuff in and out plus I could drag all of the logs out insted of having to carry the timbers out. Of course If I drag all the logs out then I could do all the milling at home which seems to be a popular option here.
4) What is the easiest way to square a cant with a CSM? I was using a framing square and the 2x6 mentioned above which worked fairly well, but I was just wondering if there was something I missed to make it go even easier.
Hopefully I can get back out next saturday and finish up the tree that I started yesterday. I don't have any pics from this time as my wife has the camera in another state.
1) What does everyone use for guide rails? I was using a 2x6 that is screwed to the top of the log, but even with my best efforts to keep it straight I was still getting a little runout, like 1/4" over a 10 foot beam. Doeas anyone ue the granberg slabbing rails system? It looks like at may be a great way to be able to do really long beams.
2) I picked up an echo cs8000 last fall on the cheap to see if I would like the whole CSM thing. It has a 28" bar on it and is mounted in a 36" mill. It is just barely big enough, bar wise, to mill a 21" or so tree. What kind of production increase could I expect if I stepped up to a 395xp or a MS660? It would only be 10-15 cc's more, but I would guess the HP would increase by 1-2 hp.
3) Do most people mill their logs in the woods and shelp all their gear in, and then shelp it all out again + timbers when they are finished, or should I get a winch to put on my trailer or something like a lewis winch so that there is less carring stuff in and out plus I could drag all of the logs out insted of having to carry the timbers out. Of course If I drag all the logs out then I could do all the milling at home which seems to be a popular option here.
4) What is the easiest way to square a cant with a CSM? I was using a framing square and the 2x6 mentioned above which worked fairly well, but I was just wondering if there was something I missed to make it go even easier.
Hopefully I can get back out next saturday and finish up the tree that I started yesterday. I don't have any pics from this time as my wife has the camera in another state.