Need Some Help Buying my first CSM

[procarbine2k1]

Looking to buy a mill within the week. I've read through the forum, but am still having trouble figuring out what is best for me. Guess I'm a hands on kinda guy...
Most of the wood that I will be milling, will be hardwood- and in most cases wood that has started to spalt. I just put a very nice ash on the ground today, that has been standing dead for quite some time. I hand milled about a foot into the log, just to see what kind of wood I was working with...
Beautiful to say the least, and very sound. I have been looking for an excuse to buy a mill, and if this log isn't good enough reason- nothing is.
This spalted ash will be milled to 3/4-1" planks, and cover the wall above my fireplace and hearth in my home. Accuracy is a must, as I don't want to send this lumber through the planer. If I have to, well I have to- but would rather get a nice finish right off the mill.
I am looking at a Granburg, or a smaller Alaskan. Most of the wood that I would mill would be between 16-24". I am very well acquainted with equipment, OPE, and very mechanically inclined. Whether or not any of this makes a difference, is beyond me. I am looking for guidance from you older guys, and hope that you can point me in the right direction on which mill best suits my needs.
I will most likely buy a well used 051, 056, 076, or something around those lines as a mill-only saw.

 

[BobL]

Looking to buy a mill within the week. I've read through the forum, but am still having trouble figuring out what is best for me. Guess I'm a hands on kinda guy...
Most of the wood that I will be milling, will be hardwood- and in most cases wood that has started to spalt. I just put a very nice ash on the ground today, that has been standing dead for quite some time. I hand milled about a foot into the log, just to see what kind of wood I was working with...
Beautiful to say the least, and very sound. I have been looking for an excuse to buy a mill, and if this log isn't good enough reason- nothing is.
This spalted ash will be milled to 3/4-1" planks, and cover the wall above my fireplace and hearth in my home. Accuracy is a must, as I don't want to send this lumber through the planer. If I have to, well I have to- but would rather get a nice finish right off the mill.
I am looking at a Granburg, or a smaller Alaskan. Most of the wood that I would mill would be between 16-24". I am very well acquainted with equipment, OPE, and very mechanically inclined. Whether or not any of this makes a difference, is beyond me. I am looking for guidance from you older guys, and hope that you can point me in the right direction on which mill best suits my needs.
I will most likely buy a well used 051, 056, 076, or something around those lines as a mill-only saw.

if you want accuracy and finish right off a CS mill then expect to do a fair bit of practice and just assume that your first few logs will have lots of dips and ridges. I's suggest not starting with your best logs.

Also read post #51 in the milling sticky regarding finish

If you get on 076 then a 36" mill with 36" is what I would do. Even 24" diam trees have 30" crotches and interesting bits and pieces. If you are mechanically minded I would suggest making your own because you can make it better than you can buy.

Whatever you do, don't necessarily expect a wide knowledge of machinery will apply directly to the operations of a CS - they really are a unique machine. Knowing how to sharpen a CS chain is critical for low stress milling.

 

[procarbine2k1]

if you want accuracy and finish right off a CS mill then expect to do a fair bit of practice and just assume that your first few logs will have lots of dips and ridges. I's suggest not starting with your best logs.

Also read post #51 in the milling sticky regarding finish

If you get on 076 then a 36" mill with 36" is what I would do. Even 24" diam trees have 30" crotches and interesting bits and pieces. If you are mechanically minded I would suggest making your own because you can make it better than you can buy.

Whatever you do, don't necessarily expect a wide knowledge of machinery will apply directly to the operations of a CS - they really are a unique machine. Knowing how to sharpen a CS chain is critical for low stress milling.

Thanks for the heads up Bob, I was hoping you would chime in here. I was a little afraid I might have to wait on this ash. May take this one to the mill, but still plan on buying a CSM.
I wouldn't have any problem making one, I just don't have the greatest understanding of how they work. Is there any thread I should look for on here that has plans, or good pictures of home made CSMs? I will browse around in the meantime, and thanks again Bob. Any help I can get is greatly appreciated...

 

[huskyhank]

I think simply buying an Alaskan is the way to go for the first mill. They don't cost that much and you'll learn what you do and don't like from using it. If you hated it you can always sell it.

BobL is right on the 36" mill. Its a nice size to handle and will let you cut some big stuff. I'd go with a 42" bar to get max cut out of the 36" mill.

 

[BobL]

Thanks for the heads up Bob, I was hoping you would chime in here. I was a little afraid I might have to wait on this ash. May take this one to the mill, but still plan on buying a CSM.
I wouldn't have any problem making one, I just don't have the greatest understanding of how they work. Is there any thread I should look for on here that has plans, or good pictures of home made CSMs? I will browse around in the meantime, and thanks again Bob. Any help I can get is greatly appreciated...

There are plenty of "Build your own" threads but not so many in the last year or so. The Chainsaw Lumber making book by Will Malloff is an excellent starting point for CS milling in general. I don't agree with everything in that book but I think the basics are pretty spot on.

Have you read the sticky (first post in the milling forum?)

I think simply buying an Alaskan is the way to go for the first mill. They don't cost that much and you'll learn what you do and don't like from using it. If you hated it you can always sell it.

Buying get's you started milling sooner and you can learn a lot - but building a mill also gives you the double experience of building and using one and even though they are relatively simple jigs you will still learn a lot by building one.

BobL is right on the 36" mill. Its a nice size to handle and will let you cut some big stuff. I'd go with a 42" bar to get max cut out of the 36" mill.

Yea 42" bar for a 36" mill makes sense. I have 3, 42" bars - I really like that size and I use it to mill everything from 20 " up to 39" for me on my BIL mill.

 

[huskyhank]

I keep wanting to build a bigger mill for my big bar, but when I price it out its hard to not just buy an Alaskan. On the other hand, I know that I'd like it to be different - mostly wider and capable of a deeper cut in a big log. Maybe I'll build it this summer.

I'd say a lot depends on your fabrication abilities and desires. I can and have built lots of things but its often slow and I depend on friends for some machining and welding tasks. Turned parts I can whip right out on my lathe. Aluminum weldments or large milled parts and I'm depending on others. I'm looking to buy a mill. I need more money and more time.