Freehand Chainsaw Milling #2

[@awarebear443]

Documented the process very well. Excellent video. Thank you very much. I have done a lot of this freehand ripping restoring historic log cabins. Keeping the cuts connected at the end with 2-3" of holding wood until you are ready to separate the planks/ boards keeps the log stable. Keeping some wedges immediately available just in case of a pinch is also a good idea. Make a couple of 16-18" V-notched logs (6" diameter is good) to elevate and stabilize your logs. Wedges can be made as you cut "cookies" crosscutting logs. These can also be used to stabilize logs before ripping. Never used a level as long as the bar is true, but a good idea. Advoko Makes channel describes this process very well. Yours is also ione of the best videos on KZbin showing the process. Well done.

[@JakePlisskin12]

Awesome tips. Will be using those

[@musicisbrilliant]

So smart! I appreciate this so much. I nearly killed myself doing this the hard way, no level, no string guide, and after like 6 hours of hard work with my small chainsaw, my cut was basically rubbish. Now Im confident I can get a much straighter cut. Thank you amigo!

[@chickenriverhomestead]

Awesome job man, I’ve been waiting for someone to patiently show how to do this right and not just rush through. You have a new subscriber here! Keep up the good work and God Bless You.

[@carolinamountainliving7501]

Much appreciated

[@kennethcrowe300]

blerp

[@patricktkeegan]

I've been freehand chainsaw milling for a few months now. I'm using a Stihl MS261 (20" bar and 58cc I believe) and my biggest problem is not overheating the saw. I picked up a couple granberg ripping chains and used them for the first time today. They didn't help with the heat problem but it did feel like the saw didn't have to work quite as hard. The finish on the wood is much much cleaner than a cross cut chain, and the speed/total cut time was the same between rip and cross cut chains. I wanted to wait and see how the ripping chain performed before I built a dedicated milling "jig." Now that I've seen it and am happy with it, I'm gonna build Izzy Swan's "50 Dollar Portable Sawmill" and include the winch he added in his more recent "100 Dollar Portable Sawmill" video.

[@dondicey6528]

Patrick..I too wonder about the same high rpms and the saw isn't really under a load so to speak. I was wondering if reducing the timing (retarding?) might help reduce rpm high load. Piston, crank and bearings all heating up a little more than usual because of more consistent high rpms. The little Stihl MS194 doesn't do this. I use it for carving and for hours at a time (running idle a lot too) Just beginning the journey on green woodworking, just checking with the more knowledgeable folks out there. Thanks

[@somatder]

thanks for the information, this is very valuable to me as I have the exact same saw and bar size, and I plan on using this method to mill a few logs as a start. Have you build the "50 Dollar Portable Sawmill"? I am just wondering if it is much slower as the teeth attack the wood perpendicular to the grain as opposed to parallel as in the case of free hand milling, I would really like to hear how the two approach compare

[@craignash4736]

Thank You very much ,best video ever . After watching your video I can make good boards. Thanks. Craig Pa

[@carolinamountainliving7501]

I appreciate it!

[@LeighWinspear]

Great use of POV. I've just bought a twin battery Makita 16", electric chainsaw and made some pretty nice cookies so far. Now inspired to have a go at a few smaller logs for live edge shelving thanks to your videos. Not needed a spirit level so far as the bar is very true and the wood seasoned and >10% moisture, but I will add one if I need to.

[@frankphoto2]

Use a semi chisel chain not full, it will cut slower , you should also go with a rip chain if you can

[@BitsOfEternity]

Great idea. We had our oak cut down two years ago, so we could plant some arbor vitae in their place, and I had it cut into slabs, but I still have some short pieces from some thick branches with which I haven't yet done anything, because I wasn't sure how to deal with cutting them. I have a bandsaw, but it is less than 6" cutting height, so I can't get the edges of the logs into the bandsaw without cutting very shallow cuts, right at the edges. This technique will help, especially since I bought some Wheeler bubble levels last year, for leveling my rifle scope. They have magnetic bases, so I'm going to install some metal plates on my chainsaw, instead of securing the levels directly to it - this way, I'll be able to add/remove the levels when needed. I'm worried that the magnets may not be strong enough to hold them in place while the chainsaw is active, so I may have to design a little wooden pocket into which to seat them, but the principle remains the same. I'm fortunate to have a thickness planer so I'll be able to finish cleaning up the boards once I've sliced the logs. They aren't very big, between 12-15" long, but some are 12" diameter, and since it is oak, I'll be able to make a bunch of small projects with them.

[@luigicristiani7709]

nice work congratulations you kept the cutting field clean. I suggest that when you cut...you walk backwards...never forward, and always on the opposite side of the cut. you could get at least 1 more board by decreasing its thickness. and always reuse the first two peels; you can build the edge of small flower beds or for your vegetable garden best regards from Roma

[@burgheracres7639]

Stumbled upon your channel. Great content I will put into practice. Thanks and subbed.

[@scottjohnson9912]

Thanks for the idea . Great video.

[@Psalm-gz6bf]

Great video!!!

[@muohiodpowell1974]

Suggestion: Make v-notches in two logs to rest the log

[@somika87]

You are a lifesaver!!! Thanks

[@Parkerpalmer987]

Okay.....the levels on the air filter cap are sick! Best idea ever!

[@uriel-heavensguardian8949]

This is awesome! Thanks for sharing

[@gavinelliot3564]

Been using chalk line for 50yrs/hasn't failed yet/perfect every post/next.

[@reggaelovers-i6y]

i liked your shirt mon, thanks for posting!

[@MrJeronlewis]

Dude, your shirt is perfect for cutting

[@imaginarymask]

I like the t-shirt

[@maryarnott6404]

Fantastic!

[@leostgeorge2080]

I use a angle grinder and cut off all the depth guides on my chain for milling. Cuts like crazy. Cuts the time in half to cut a slab.

[@carolinamountainliving7501]

Now that’s interesting. I’ve been afraid the saw getting bogged down, but I may give it a shot.

[@leostgeorge2080]

@@carolinamountainliving7501 works great for ripping. You want to use the regular chain for cross cuts but for ripping this will save you a lot of time. A lot less work too you don't need to push so hard. I'm in the Philippines and need to cut all my own lumber. I don't have access to all the resources i had in the states. A couple of the natives turned me on to this trick.

[@carolinamountainliving7501]

@@leostgeorge2080 My wife is from the Phil, and I’ve been there 8 or so times. Would love to live there, but the communication, regulation and differing expectations are too frustrating. Do you happen to have English-speaking neighbors? On Panay by chance?

[@leostgeorge2080]

@@carolinamountainliving7501 Yes it is a culture shock living here. I am getting to use to most of it. Only the Karaoke in the streets is still driving me crazy. But when our house in the mountains is finished it will be very quiet. I do not have any English speaking neighbors. Thats great your wife is a Filipina. Congrats there wonderful women and caring wives.

[@carolinamountainliving7501]

@@leostgeorge2080 Well good luck. I’m very curious how that works out.

[@andrewdecola1733]

Maybe I missed it, but what kind of chain did you use? Is it specifically a ripping chain?

[@JamesKelly89]

Greetings from Winston-Salem! I've got a lot of wood to cut up from storm damage and I'd hate to waste it so I think I'm going to try this technique.

[@nealbushnell5556]

My question: You seem to only be letting the chain rotation "pull" the bar into the work. Do you do that on purpose? I'm wondering about "bar control" pulling the bar toward me versus letting the chain pull the saw into the work... Thanks for taking the time to show your techniques. Gives me more options and ideas for my living situation.

[@carolinamountainliving7501]

My right arm is against my side, so my body helps control and move the saw. My left arm presses down as needed to keep the chain digging. If I filed the rakers down, I probably wouldn’t need to press down with my left hand. Hope that answers your question.

[@erlingpanduro5973]

What is this kind of spirit lever called? I can't seem to find anything similar where I'm at (EU). I cut my first boards out of some spruce logs, but nowhere near as clean as yours. I'm thinking that the combination of soft wood and gnarly branches might make things more difficult?

[@carolinamountainliving7501]

I’ve had success on both hard and soft woods. The technique does make a difference. Make sure you are working across the entire log instead of starting on one end and working up/down. Look for a bubble level. Some complain their saw’s vibration makes the air bubbles jumbled. If that’s the case, you could empty the liquid and refill with oil.

[@erlingpanduro5973]

​@@carolinamountainliving7501 Yep, I'll keep on practicing! Another issue I had was the log getting full of sawdust down in the groove

[@villutobi2265]

Amazing job! Skilled worker!

[@geosabado4216]

Try to use 070 with 36" bar is way more easy and faster for freehand milling.

[@hariantogesek]

Salam sukses 👍🙏

[@Matt-wz3ov]

Do you sharpen your chain at all while cutting the slabs?

[@carolinamountainliving7501]

Sometimes. It depends on the wood and how long I’m cutting. I did touch up the chain halfway through these cuts. Just a couple passes on each tooth.

[@leonardwradley4870]

Does this dull your blade quicker?

[@carolinamountainliving7501]

@@leonardwradley4870 Milling goes with the grain, so it actually dulls a little slower.

[@JMSkoyles]

Question: how long did the whole process take? Apologies if I misses you saying it in the video.

[@carolinamountainliving7501]

45 minutes to finish this log. Pine or soft wood goes faster.

[@eltigredetejas2328]

Thinking about adding my 24 in bar to my 14 in ryobi 🤦🏿‍♂️ my main saw is down right now

[@stevec8861]

What brand/model bubble level do you use? I tried this with a similar looking two way RV bubble level, but the saw vibration broke up the bubble into too many tiny bubbles to be of any use keeping chainsaw bar plumb like you're doing. I'm guessing your bubble level has a more viscous liquid than mine. Look forward to trying again with same level you're using. Thanks for your assistance.

[@carolinamountainliving7501]

Here’s the one I got: www.amazon.com/Johnson-Level-Tool-125-Cross/dp/B000LDETSU/ref=mp_s_a_1_34?dchild=1&keywords=level&qid=1621036040&sr=8-34. The bubbles sometimes break up on me too. When they do, I just slow down for a couple seconds.

[@stevec8861]

@@carolinamountainliving7501 Great! Will try that level and report back. Initially, I tried this (with RV level I have on hand) on a cheap chinese saw (Farmertec JonCutter 5800), and only had micro bubbles, even at idle. So then tried same on one of my pro grade Husky saws (562XP), but had same problem. Will see how it goes with your level. Thanks again.

[@stevec8861]

@@carolinamountainliving7501 I installed the same level you used, but my saws just have too much vibration for this to work. I noticed my Husky 562XP has considerably less vibration than my cheap Chinese saw, but it appears the Husky anti-vibration system keeps the vibration off my hands and focused unto the motor. I didn't bother trying a level on my Husky 572XP, because it's just a higher cc version of the 562XP. Thanks again for sharing, as this should work for some other people depending on their saws.

[@carolinamountainliving7501]

@@stevec8861 Interesting. Thanks for sharing. The saw I used in the video was stolen, so I may replace it with a different brand and see if I get similar results. If I run into the same problems you have, I’ll drill a hole in the level and replace the liquid with corn syrup or bar oil.

[@stevec8861]

@@carolinamountainliving7501 So sorry to hear your Shindaiwa saw was stolen. Had a Shindaiwa brush cutter for over 25 years that gave get service and was easy to maintain before wearing out, so I know first hand it's a great brand. Look forward to hearing how you make out with replacement(s).

[@SuperJamster1]

Nice work! Is that the same saw as an Echo Timberwolf 590?

[@carolinamountainliving7501]

They’re very similar, if not identical. Shindaiwa / Echo make good saws. No complaints from me.

[@SuperJamster1]

@@carolinamountainliving7501 Thank You, I have the Echo Timberwolf 590, I'm going to have to try your technique. Esp with the price of lumber. Thanks

[@SuperJamster1]

@@carolinamountainliving7501 Just cut a 13 foot white pine beam today using your technique. Mine didn't come out as perfect as yours, however it's more than straight enough to use for a footbridge across our creek. Thanks

[@conradhomestead4518]

How did this take? Thanks for the instruction! Very helpful! New subscriber here

[@carolinamountainliving7501]

It took probably 45 minutes

[@smilingdog54]

Can you show how to do this if the log is bigger than your saw?

[@carolinamountainliving7501]

I’m afraid you’ll need a bigger saw/bar or smaller log. It would be nearly impossible to get a smooth board by cutting halfway through, flipping the log, and then finishing the cut from the other side.

[@SantoForest]

👍👍🙏

[@davidjenson4512]

Have you ever hit the string?

[@carolinamountainliving7501]

I have, but the nails stay in the log. Just have to tie a new string. I also where a face shield just in case.

[@44musher]

I see nothing wrong with that shirt.

[@JamesJackson-xe2gj]

Dangerous with tip cutting

[@simonmasters3295]

Not with the saw embedded in the timber. My first reaction was how many hours have you practiced the technique? I think your comment was unnecessary...anyone using a saw knows this