Milled My Maple Tree Today

[820wards]

The weather was just right for milling today. I picked up a Maple tree just three blocks from my house and decided I would mill it in my driveway while all the neighbors were at work today. Had zero complaints.

Had Dad (86yrs.) out to watch since it is hard to get him out in the hills anymore. (cancer)

Here are a few picture of our milling today.

The Log was 7' long and 25" across.

Close up of slab.

Me and the guys milling.

My buddy-grandson Antonio keeping an eye on us.

My neighbor Simon and our standing wood. He now wants to build a mill for his place in Washington State. Had to get the old 820 in the picture sporting it's 30" bar.

It was a good day to have my Dad come to watch. Being a retired mechanical Engineer, he enjoyed watching the big saws run.

I have to fess up I made a mistake with my mill. When I sharpened the chain last week, I installed the chain backwards, yep, backwards. When I went to make my first cut I couldn't figure out why it wouldn't cut. That won't happen again. No harm, no foul...

Hope you enjoy the pictures.
jerry-

 

[BobL]

Looks like you guys are having too much fun and some real nice wood you got there Jerry.

I know I sound like a broken record but I'm sure you or others would expect me to say something about it, but this looks like a little too much bending over to me.

Even before this point I'd be lifting that log up another ft or so.

As for the "chain on backwards", try doing that and posting a picture on the CS forum and see how much flack you get I'm still getting the egg off my face over that one.

 

[Brmorgan]

I have to fess up I made a mistake with my mill. When I sharpened the chain last week, I installed the chain backwards, yep, backwards. When I went to make my first cut I couldn't figure out why it wouldn't cut. That won't happen again. No harm, no foul...

Hope you enjoy the pictures.
jerry-

LOL We've all done something like that. My most major was probably using a 7" lag bolt to set my guide board up for a 6" deep cut... 10" into a 12' cut and the chain was done for the day.

 

[Brmorgan]

Looks like you guys are having too much fun and some real nice wood you got there Jerry.

I know I sound like a broken record but I'm sure you or others would expect me to say something about it, but this looks like a little too much bending over to me.

Even before this point I'd be lifting that log up another ft or so.

Heh, a case of "many hands make light work", or "you rub my back and I'll rub yours"?

 

[BobL]

Heh, a case of "many hands make light work", or "you rub my back and I'll rub yours"?

Actually with a log that size 2 fellas either side of a 6ft long 4 x 2 should be able to lift one end of that log pretty easily up by about 1 ft while the 3rd bloke jams another piece of wood underneath.

Personally I am not comfortable with that many people working around a running chainsaw on a regular basis no matter how well constrained it is. I also work wearing a full face shield as I have see moving chains throw things much further and harder than I like. But this is just me and perhaps my reaction to the first time I used the BIL mill and the fact that it threw a 1/4 lb brass plumbing fitting smack into the middle of my forehead - lucky I was wearing that face shield. BTW the 1/4 lb brass plumbing fitting has been exchanged for a plastic one

 

[820wards]

Heh, a case of "many hands make light work", or "you rub my back and I'll rub yours"?

I was getting the cut started for my son on the right to run the mill. Generally the extra hands is just to get the mill to the log, then the operator takes it from there. I add the wedges at the end/middle and just before the saw exits the wood. We were timing the cuts and it was only taking about four minutes per cut.

I'm running a 7 x .404 rim sprocket, but I just picked up a 8 x .404 to try the next time I mill. I'll be sure put the chain on correctly.

Got all the ends painted today to get the wood ready for storage. There is a local winery that has offered me storage area in the building he stores his wine barrels in exchange for a few slabs of oak he can use to make router-ed signs for his winery. Free storage is cool. I have a big oak tree I'm going to take a look at this weekend I will mill for this winery.

jerry-

 

[discounthunter]

sounds like you had a great day,and made some nice lumber. good to hear you got to spend some time with your dad too. ive found people are willing to put up with the noise just to see has these contraptions work. ive had several of my neighbors come over when they heard the saw start up .also ,sounds like a sweet deal on the storage too.

 

[lumberjackchef]

LOL We've all done something like that. My most major was probably using a 7" lag bolt to set my guide board up for a 6" deep cut... 10" into a 12' cut and the chain was done for the day.

Did something similar with a 4" deck screw.Made me want to Learned me to always bring an extra chain when milling though! Cause you just never know what you might encounter in that log!