New milling configuration... the short way across?

[TSRuff]

Ok, I'm guessing that this may have been discussed at some point in time, but searching didn't find a thread on it.

Has anyone tried milling the short way across a log instead of the long way? I.E. you would be cutting noodles instead of across the grain. Cutting noodles is much faster and more efficient than cutting across the grain, so theoretically you would be much more efficient milling in this manner.

I know that this would have some limitations, log length being the biggest of them, but assuming I could put a 100" bar on my 3120 I could cut 8' logs with ease. Obviously you would have to have some type of mechanism for holding the bar so that it didn't sag in the middle, along with some type of bracket/guides for the mill to rest on. And some help to move it around would probably be a good idea too.

Just throwing it out there as a possibility, anyone given this a shot before?

 

[smokinj]

Sounds like a mini mill to me, but you will not need a bar that long..

 

[cgarman]

Sideways milling

Don't know that I'd want to sharpen a 200" loop of chain, but you may be on to something.

I run a 56" bar on the Alaskan, and the last time, I tried something different. I let the saw end of the bar run ahead of the nose by about 30 degrees. Somehow, it seemed to go faster. It might be due to the fact that you're not quite cutting true end grain. I'm going to give it another shot this weekend with a newly sharpened chain to find out.

 

[Popeye1]

I've had this idea pass through my mind a few times. though I was just considering cutting on an angle rather than completely parallel with the log.
If you had a fairly long bar and was cutting a tree comparitively smaller you could get quite an angle and start cutting somewhat of noodles.
I'm not really sure, but I like the idea.
Hopefully BobL sees this thread.

 

[BobL]

I've had this idea pass through my mind a few times. though I was just considering cutting on an angle rather than completely parallel with the log.
If you had a fairly long bar and was cutting a tree comparitively smaller you could get quite an angle and start cutting somewhat of noodles.
I'm not really sure, but I like the idea.
Hopefully BobL sees this thread.

I see it (I spent today in transit from Kuwait to Sofia via Istanbul).

If the noodling method really provided any significant advantage you can bet commercial millers would be onto it before now.

I've timed milling slabs on an angle up to around 45º to the grain and it doesn't seem help much. My guess the ease of cutting is simply counteracted by having extra cutters in the wood which imposes a greater load on the saw.

There are unlikely to be substantial speed gains by super long bar chain lengths using conventional chain as the chain gullets will fill and bog very quickly. Using something like 3/4" chain would be needed, and don't forget long bars have sag problems.

Look at what big commercial millers use - bands with 6" wide blades with massive teeth.

 

[Popeye1]

My guess would be that if you could cut at an angle on smaller log you might see an increase because you are engaging more teeth. However, if you are already taxing your saw in larger wood, I am sure that BobL is correct and you won't see much of an increase.

 

[cgarman]

Could be. I was milling 36"+ logs with a 79 cc Dolmar, which would stall if pushed. It may be that having more teeth engaged allowed a higher chain speed. It may also be that I was tired, dehydrated, and delusional.

I'll be trying this theory this weekend with a 111 cc 076. Should be a good comparison. I would expect that a saw with more ass can keep up the RPMs and prove that the shortest distance between two points is a straight cut.

 

[cgarman]

Another thought

I forgot to mention, but I watched a bandmill demo once, and there was a mill made by some Amish folks called the EZ Boardwalk. It took noticeably less effort to push it through the cut (compared to straight mills) because it was on a 10-15 degree angle to the log. They explained that the design was intended to cause the hooks on the teeth of the blade to pull the saw into the cut. I guess this is why I started thinking of it in terms of a chainsaw mill. Especially when milling alone, I need all the advantage I can get.

 

[deeker]

I see it (I spent today in transit from Kuwait to Sofia via Istanbul).

If the noodling method really provided any significant advantage you can bet commercial millers would be onto it before now.

I've timed milling slabs on an angle up to around 45º to the grain and it doesn't seem help much. My guess the ease of cutting is simply counteracted by having extra cutters in the wood which imposes a greater load on the saw.

There are unlikely to be substantial speed gains by super long bar chain lengths using conventional chain as the chain gullets will fill and bog very quickly. Using something like 3/4" chain would be needed, and don't forget long bars have sag problems.

Look at what big commercial millers use - bands with 6" wide blades with massive teeth.

Oh do tell of your travels!!!

Kevin

 

[Brmorgan]

A flight plan like that might be good enough to get you gloved by Homeland Security if you try to come into the States now...

 

[TSRuff]

Thanks for all the feedback guys... that's why I posted. I agree that engaging that many cutters in the wood could create a bogging situation.

I have a 60" bar and partially warn chain which I may try and fiddle with. Remove some cutters, see what different grinds work best for not clogging, etc.

Will post some details once I have a chance to test things out and do some timed cuts.

 

[BobL]

A flight plan like that might be good enough to get you gloved by Homeland Security if you try to come into the States now...

Yeah - could be a problem at the end of May when I plan to do this. The most surprising (or perhaps not) thing about Kuwait is the reverences in which the GBs (and I do not mean bars) are held. How anyone could live there is hard to understand. Bringing anything alcoholic into the country is a $4000 fine and not a tree in the country worth touching with a CS!