We purchased this Alaskan Mill attachment for our chainsaws several years ago so we could make repair parts for the old barn, and it has been good for that. It clamps on the bar of a chainsaw, and can be adjusted for the width of the cut. We really appreciate its usefulness when we have to join two pieces together, and need straight, matching cuts. In the top photo we have spliced a 16' pin oak 6" x 8" to a 6" x 8" crosstie in order to have a twenty foot long timber with a creosote base.
We have used this tool to utilize trees in our yard as we lose them to storms and disease. We are building a pretty nice collection of boards and timbers in the barn. The only modification to the saw is a chain made for ripping rather than cross cutting. A standard chain will have a top angle of 25 to 35 degrees on each tooth. A ripping chain will have two teeth at 25 to 35 degrees, then two teeth with an angle of 5 to 10 degrees. You can buy ripping chain with the proper angles, or file a standard chain to the proper configuration.It is a good tool for using in repairs, but I wouldn't want to cut a house pattern with it. You need a saw with at least a 75cc motor if are going to use one of these milling attachments.
Do you attach a board to the log, for the guide to ride on, to get that first flat cut, is that how that works?
ReplyDeleteI keep a very straight 2 x 6 on hand for doing the first cut on logs. Nailing it on at 90 degrees to the first cut is the trickiest part for me. I would build a set of rails to place over logs if I had to do more than a few at a time. We bought ours from Bailey's; they probably have info on their website.
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