Chainsaw mill.

[Lazurus]

Got myself a small chainsaw mill to convert timber to blank. With the current bar and chain allows up to 16" log to be turned into boards. Anyone else using one?

[malcy]

There's a coincidence. I've just bought one and fevered it only yesterday. Will be giving it a try next week, weather permitting. Malcolm.

[Paul Hannaby]

What size chainsaw bar do you need for the 16" cut? I guess it's going to be 24" ?

[Roger Groom]

I have had an Alaskan Mill for 12 years and use a Stihl with a 36" blade. The widest plank I cut is 29". You lose a bit either end of the blade for the gripper teeth and the bearing on the end of the blade. It cost me over £1000 when I bought it, and it paid for itself with the first tree I converted, an Oak with a diameter of 48" which yielded over 90 cubic ft of lumber. With Oak at any price between £25-£50 a cubic ft seasoned it has certainly been a good investment. It's bl**#y hard work though. I also have a kiln which dries about 30 cu ft at a time. Well worth while.
Roger G

[Lazurus]

Running a 20" bar to get the 16" cut. It's a copy of the Alaskan mill which at less than £70 was a bargain, will take up to a 30" bar or so.
As stated earlier hard grubby work but very satisfying when you open the log and see what you have inside. Converted a load of logs today and produced over 40 blanks 10 to 16 inch diameter and 3" thick. Paid for itself already.
Hats off to the guys who do it for a living as I ache all over.