A simple garden chainsaw mill

[doorframe]

I once tried to dry some freshly cut trunks (from a railway embankment behind my sister's house.), about 12" diameter, cut down to about 12" lengths. Brought them into my workshop, and just left them under a bench. About 3 months later I got them out to have a look, and every single one had multiple splits. I don't know what type of wood it was, but they were wrecked. I've been told since that I should have painted the end grain. The ones I left behind haven't split, but they're now quite rotten. When they cut some more down I'll try again.

 

[Walney Col]

About 3 months later I got them out to have a look, and every single one had multiple splits.

Are you talking about actual 12' long logs? If so, and the splits are in the ends, have a bash at cutting a few inches off the ends there's a reasonable chance that the splits don't penetrate more all that far after only 3 months.

 

[doorframe]

Yep, splits along the whole length. Wide enough to get your fingers in.

 

[dickm]

Col
Inspired by your posts, started checking other home build mills to check details before getting the mig out for my version.. Came across an example quite like yours, but with only a one-sided guide and a second rail on the other side of the log. Didn''t look nearly as easy to use, especially without strong arms. But it did make me wonder if it would be worth rigging a second rail on your one, together with some sort of end cap on the nose of the bar to run on the second rail? Two possible advantages, safety and by allowing a more sloppy fit on the main rail, less friction. Would give a URL for the build but can't now find it - the trials of age!!

 

[Walney Col]

Hi ****.

I live on West Shore Park (see photo) and the only reason my chainsaw mill was designed as it was is that being an open-plan no-private-gardens distinctly seaside type environment it was essential that when it wasn't in use it blended into the background and didn't look too out of place.

Had I lived in an ordinary house with a private garden this is what I'd probably have made:-

The carriage would have been made from 30mm or 40mm welded hollow box section wound along an angle-iron track by a small winch based around a bicycle wheel hub.
You can download the WIP plans for that mill here HERE

I've also got WIP plans HERE for a midi sized chainsaw mill driven by a 6.5HP 4 stroke engine which I'd love to build if my health was up to it (which sadly it isn't).

And cream of the crop (for some) might be the same 6.5HP engine driving a bandsaw mill.

The WIP plans for that one are HERE

Oh, and apart from the single rail being compulsory in my final design due to it having to look like a garden bench, another reason a blade-tip rail was out of the question was my electric chainsaw blade which is only 16" of which I need every spare millimeter I can get.

Hope you find all that interesting. :lol:

Col.

 

[Harry 48]

Hi Col a fantastic job made to fit your environment =D> =D> =D> =D> =D>

 

[Walney Col]

Thanks Harry.

 

[dickm]

Great designs Col. You must do a lot of thinking as well as making. With half acre out on the edge of village plus reasonable fitness, I've not got your constraints, but still don' t get half as much done!
By the way- your aerial shots of Barrow were great, but how come you got away with filming over what must be a pretty sensitive area?

 

[Walney Col]

Great designs Col. You must do a lot of thinking as well as making. With half acre out on the edge of village plus reasonable fitness, I've not got your constraints, but still don' t get half as much done!
By the way- your aerial shots of Barrow were great, but how come you got away with filming over what must be a pretty sensitive area?

Thanks ****. I get plenty of thinking time but physical activities are usually limited to about an hour a day before I'm exhausted so I don't get anywhere hear as much done as I'd like.

Finding out where you can fly model planes is a pretty straight forward business. In Barrow there are 3 official no fly zones of varying diameters (around the airfield, the gas works, and the nuclear shed at BAE) the details of which are all publicly available, and I personally have all that data on an overlay in google earth to help me avoid any infringements when I'm planning where to get the best shots of the features I want to film. I also used to fly on Walney Airfield itself which plays host to one of the local rc flying clubs and you can get all manner of information from just about any of the personnel there. And finally there's NOTAM (Notice to Airmen) which is the means by which you advise the authorities a minimum of a day in advance of any unusual air activity you've planned in order that they can notify all the "proper airmen" who've also log routes through that area.

Other than that you have to use a good dose of common sense, have permission from the land owner (doesn't apply to "common land"), and follow all the usual rules about how close you fly to people building and structures etc.

Hope that helps.

Col.