i just got a new 394 xp for milling, and picked up a 36" bar and chain for it, but my old alaskan would only go to 20". that's a lot of unused bar hanging out, and something had to be done about it.
I had an old tablesaw laying around, and i took the rails for the rip fence off, and modded them to work in my alaskan.
it worked out pretty well, and while i was at it i got rid of the old clamp-on-the-bar method and drilled a couple holes for thru bolting the bar to the mill. I attempted to drill through the center of the roller nose, but there is hardened steel somewhere in there and no matter what i used or did, i couldn't drill through it. I thought i had hardened the steel, but that wasn't it as i was drilling at real low speed, using oil, and the bar wasn't even warm. (you can see the hole if you look closely) also looking for some wheels to put on to guide it as i mill.
a couple other things had to be done to make the new rails work, but it all came together in the end. now i just have to try it out! Hopefully i will have some time this week to test it on the rest of the red pine i have down.
any comments or suggestions are welcome!!
I had an old tablesaw laying around, and i took the rails for the rip fence off, and modded them to work in my alaskan.
it worked out pretty well, and while i was at it i got rid of the old clamp-on-the-bar method and drilled a couple holes for thru bolting the bar to the mill. I attempted to drill through the center of the roller nose, but there is hardened steel somewhere in there and no matter what i used or did, i couldn't drill through it. I thought i had hardened the steel, but that wasn't it as i was drilling at real low speed, using oil, and the bar wasn't even warm. (you can see the hole if you look closely) also looking for some wheels to put on to guide it as i mill.
a couple other things had to be done to make the new rails work, but it all came together in the end. now i just have to try it out! Hopefully i will have some time this week to test it on the rest of the red pine i have down.
any comments or suggestions are welcome!!
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