Mini mill action

[mdavlee]

I did a little milling today with a beam machine. Was some sycamore a little over 5' long. The widest board was around 18".

 

[cowroy]

Looks like it made boards. Looks pretty good to me.

 

[mdavlee]

Looks like it made boards. Looks pretty good to me.

Yes it did. Pretty quickly with the 288.

 

[hamish]

I love pictures without snow I them! Did a demonstration to a potential mill buyer today, in the snow, wet blowing snow, for two hours, still luved every second of it!

 

[Dave Boyt]

Nice... just enough spalting to make it interesting. The center pieces should be real pretty. Tough part will be waiting a couple of years for them to air dry.

 

[mdavlee]

Nice... just enough spalting to make it interesting. The center pieces should be real pretty. Tough part will be waiting a couple of years for them to air dry.

I need to figure a way to kiln dry them so I can use them next year.

I've got some maple and cherry to cut over. Xmas hopefully.

 

[Trx250r180]

are you using chisel chain ? i was getting rough cuts like that till i got ripping chain ,and keep it at 10 degrees on the top plate ,now my cuts are smoother than a bandsaw

 

[mdavlee]

That was semi chisel filed at 25 degrees. I'm working on getting it to 10 degrees.

 

[john taliaferro]

I got a chain that i keep at 30 because making bowl blanks for the lathe, rough doesn't matter it stays sharper longer . Jumps so much that the kerf is larger by 1/8'' or so and rough . It is noticeable faster to

 

[nk14zp]

I need to figure a way to kiln dry them so I can use them next year.

I've got some maple and cherry to cut over. Xmas hopefully.

Build a kiln.

 

[Dave Boyt]

... now my cuts are smoother than a bandsaw

Smile when you say that! Just about every kind of bad rep any sawmill gets goes back to the cutting edge. I am curious, though, does anyone mill with a square filed full chisel chain? It would be interesting to work out the geometry for sharpening for fast, smooth rip cuts.

 

[Trx250r180]

Smile when you say that! Just about every kind of bad rep any sawmill gets goes back to the cutting edge. I am curious, though, does anyone mill with a square filed full chisel chain? It would be interesting to work out the geometry for sharpening for fast, smooth rip cuts.

i tried square sharpened at 10 degrees ,it does not cut much faster ,and leaves scratches in the finish of the board ,if you are looking for a rustic looking board that when you stain will attract line features it looks like an old barn board sort of ,here is a piece of cedar done with ripping chain at 10 degrees

 

[Trx250r180]

this is wood i did with square chisel chain ,it was rougher ,i sanded it some with 100 grit to knock the rough edges down stain is golden mahogany wood is douglas fir

 

[Trx250r180]

couple more of the wood done in square chisel

 

[mdavlee]

That looks pretty good there Brian. I've got a hand planer and sander to finish them with. It doesn't take much to get the cut marks out that its leaving with the chain I'm using.

 

[Dave Boyt]

couple more of the wood done in square chisel

I wouldn't want every piece to look like that, but I could see making a few for rustic effect. Thanks for the pic.

 

[Hedgerow]

I wouldn't want every piece to look like that, but I could see making a few for rustic effect. Thanks for the pic.

I think I found a Hedge log for you Dave... I will try and set it aside this winter..
As far as finish, Nothing I mill will ever be fine furniture or anything... That takes creativity and skill... Of which, I have neither...
We've made some stuff out of 3" thick slabs that weren't dried for 2 years... What's gonna happen to them?

 

[Dave Boyt]

Hi, Matt. Good to hear from you. If you've set aside a stick of hege, I know it must be something special. I look forward to seeing it. Let me know and I'll come up with a trailer for it. Your 3" thick hedge would be OK, as long as whatever you built can move a little as the hedge shrinks. If the grain is fairly straight, it probably won't warp much. Not saying I'd try to make fine furniture out of it, but rough & rustic would be just fine. Hope you're staying warm. Do you want some boards from that honeylocust from your place that I milled up?

 

[Hedgerow]

Hi, Matt. Good to hear from you. If you've set aside a stick of hege, I know it must be something special. I look forward to seeing it. Let me know and I'll come up with a trailer for it. Your 3" thick hedge would be OK, as long as whatever you built can move a little as the hedge shrinks. If the grain is fairly straight, it probably won't warp much. Not saying I'd try to make fine furniture out of it, but rough & rustic would be just fine. Hope you're staying warm. Do you want some boards from that honeylocust from your place that I milled up?

Naaa... You'll get better use out of em' than me...
Don't get stuck in all that snow!!

 

[Dave Boyt]

Don't get stuck in all that snow!!

You've seen my truck... not likely! If it does get, it's staying there until Spring!