My 1st milling experience I'm hooked!

[PineFever]

Stayed up on the mountain after work last week to seek out some cants for the new alaskan 36. Today I got all excited about giving the mill a try. Before joining AS I had no idea how to mill lumber, only how to make it fall and buck it up.
Thanks to the members here, the amount of information and ideas gained were put to the test. The initial setup did not take as long as I figured, about 20 mins.
I was most worried about the saw bar vibrating loose from the bar mounts, but that never happened. I used my 044 with a 25" bar and 3/8 0.50 full chisel chain, figured it would work better than the full skip that was on it. I think I'm gonna order some 3/8 low profile loops from Bailey's, for my 32" bar. Any suggestions?
Granted this was only pinyon, but the saw buzzed thru it like nothing. Anyway enough with the :chatter: let's move on to some pics.

Setup:

Top cut:

First cut:

Finished 1st cant:

Reloaded and ready for more:

I started out with a small 4' er at 14" DBH because I was "Skeered".
I reloaded with an 8' er because I'm a happy camper!
I can't wait to get some 28" DBH cants and mill some larger wood.
All I can say is SWEEEEEEEET, I'm officially hooked....Maybe a 066 is in order.

 

[smokinj]

Nice work!

 

[the westspartan]

Nice work! Is that 044 stock? I loved milling pine with my stock 441. Now that it's ported it just blows through it.

 

[BobL]

Great - another one hooked and in the clubhouse.

Good to see yer operating nice and high off the ground.

try sloping the log so you mill down slope - its even easier that way.

How was the noise echoing off the wall alongside the log - hope you had some muffs on?

 

[PineFever]

Nice work! Is that 044 stock? I loved milling pine with my stock 441. Now that it's ported it just blows through it.

Yeah Just a stocker with a muffler mod and retune, I bought it new in 93, she's been a damn great saw. One of these days when she finally starts to go I'll put a BB Kit on her.

 

[PineFever]

Great - another one hooked and in the clubhouse.

Good to see yer operating nice and high off the ground.

try sloping the log so you mill down slope - its even easier that way.

How was the noise echoing off the wall alongside the log - hope you had some muffs on?

Thanks Bob,
I agree with the higher the better. I'll try the slope next go around. Noise was not bad at all, I had all the appropriate pp on including 27 Decibel ear muffs.

 

[dustytools]

Looks good!!

 

[BobL]

Thanks Bob,
I agree with the higher the better. I'll try the slope next go around. Noise was not bad at all, I had all the appropriate pp on including 27 Decibel ear muffs.

I just realize those Muffs attached to the Helmet look like Peltor 10H's - if they are then they are normally rated better than 27dB.

 

[PineFever]

I just realize those Muffs attached to the Helmet look like Peltor 10H's - if they are then they are normally rated better than 27dB.

They are Peltor, got em from Wesspur they are rated 27db and cost 29.00
On the sides of each muff it says Peltor optime 105

 

[mtngun]

I was most worried about the saw bar vibrating loose from the bar mounts, but that never happened.

I never once had a problem with the stock Alaskan bar clamps vibrating loose. It's a rugged clamping system, works well other than making it difficult to swap chains.

However, I have had problems with the stainless threads galling and seizing. Suggest using anti-seize on all the stainless threads.

Thank you very much for the pics.

 

[luvsaws]

Very niceTried to rep ya but I have to spread the luv
What brand is that mill? Looking at getting one,any likes/dislikes on your's?

 

[BobL]

I never once had a problem with the stock Alaskan bar clamps vibrating loose. It's a rugged clamping system, works well other than making it difficult to swap chains. )

It's happened to me once - you won't forget to check again, well not for a while anyway.

 

[houtworm]

:greenchainsaw: nice job

 

[PineFever]

Very niceTried to rep ya but I have to spread the luv
What brand is that mill? Looking at getting one,any likes/dislikes on your's?

It is Granberg Alaskan 36". I picked it up from a Craig list ad for 60 bucks, the guy had only made one cut with it and thought it was too much work.
So far I like it very much, It's well built and pretty lightweight. This afternoon I milled 15- one and a half inch thick boards between 8 and 12 feet long. It's a blast. I also placed an order for a couple of milling chains .375/.050 low profile Bailey's Item #WP365 30LR they had em for .19 cents per drive link. My 32" bar uses 105 DL's so they were 19.95 each. Damn I want an 066 or 088 now:chainsawguy:...but I still luv my 044

 

[jimdad07]

Looks good, great to see another hopelessly addicted milling addict. Hope you get a lot of enjoyment out of it.

 

[luvsaws]

This may sound dumb but I don't know! Your mill is a 36" can you use like a 20" bar?

 

[PineFever]

The max is 36". You can adjust it for your bar size up to 36" bar.
For my first time I used the 25" GB titanium bar. When those Lp mill chains get here I'll set it up for the 32" bar.
Yes you could use a 20 " bar on it.

 

[luvsaws]

Anymore milling?

 

[PineFever]

Not today, I wanted to, but decided to pull maintenance on some of my saws, tried to adjust the oiler on my 044 so I could get a little more oil while milling but the adjustment screw was maxed out. I was just reading a thread where JacobJ posted you could file the stop end of the adjusting screw to obtain more oil. I'm anxiously awaiting the low profile milling chains I ordered from Bailey's so I can put one of them on my 32" bar and mill some larger DBH cants.
What about you, have you decided on a mill yet?

 

[luvsaws]

Not today, I wanted to, but decided to pull maintenance on some of my saws, tried to adjust the oiler on my 044 so I could get a little more oil while milling but the adjustment screw was maxed out. I was just reading a thread where JacobJ posted you could file the stop end of the adjusting screw to obtain more oil. I'm anxiously awaiting the low profile milling chains I ordered from Bailey's so I can put one of them on my 32" bar and mill some larger DBH cants.
What about you, have you decided on a mill yet?

Ha, I was just thinking today about how I could get more from the oiler after max!Where is that thread?
As for my mill I am looking at the same one you have,kinda hoping I find cheaper than $190.