How to use a 'Gravity-Drag' to Make Perfect Boards

We use a 'gravity drag' method to chainsaw mill a large log that had Ash dieback disease. The log was very hard, dry, ash wood and the gravity-assisted chainsaw technique worked very well to slab it up.
The book, "How to make a chainsaw mill and how to use it: The tips and tricks that will unlock the magical art of planking up fallen trees" get it here: ko-fi.com/s/dd5b46e8a8
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[@FloweringElbow]

Me and Sam are blown away by all your support- THANK YOU to everyone who has left a comment here, and/or got our book "How to make a chainsaw mill and how to use it: The tips and tricks that will unlock the magical art of planking up fallen trees" available here: ko-fi.com/s/dd5b46e8a8

[@KeithOlson]

I see the wedges as having a leading taper, a long body just slightly thicker than the chainsaw kerf, then a thicker tail. Am I reading them right?

[@FloweringElbow]

@@KeithOlson yep!

[@philipocallaghan]

If your facevisor/mask is fogging up keep a bar of soap in your tool kit and just rub it against the inside of the visor and buff it out with a cloth or tissue. It creates an invisible layer that sweat and fog won't stick to plus its easy to clean the visor later as oils tree sap ETC won't stick to it .

[@samuelluria4744]

@@philipocallaghan - Thanks! Are you in Ireland ?

[@philipocallaghan]

@@samuelluria4744 yes.

[@Matthewcostellocod]

Love that car just casually driving past as you're felling it

[@jankoodziej877]

WTF, how could they allow it!?

[@tjdot8]

I was a bit shocked 😱

[@hamish1309]

I'm a tree faller, that car was insane! They should have had the road blocked.

[@Bad_Wulf]

Moronic to allow it

[@jamespeterson1148]

Jeez he already said in another comment reply- the driver got out and moved the cones and drove through, so after that they blocked the road with the backhoe...

[@shaner67]

Excellent tips for chainsaw milling. Thank you for a great video without all the useless banter that happens to extend the video for monetization. Very interested in the book

[@shawncaudill424]

Wow that may be the most beautiful Ranch I've ever seen wow amazing

[@sawdustadikt979]

You have made the most relevant information on chainsaw milling bar none. I got a new England pine Alaskan mill, with a oiler an winch then watched over 20 hrs of content taking notes. I saw the same videos over and over but by different people giving the worst advice. I’m a self employed carpenter, if I’m making the board, I want it to start out as straight and as flat as possible. Only your videos talk about this. Thank you for making the book. I’ll get it soon enough. I look forward to making a mill from scratch.

[@FloweringElbow]

Good morning Sawdust Adikt, Thanks friend, that means a lot to us. Wish you all the best with your milling.

[@89bavaro89]

Attaching the ladder at the end of the log instead of thru the top is simple genius.

[@paultaylor7691]

I was just about to comment that the location looked like Somerset but I see from the comments, you're in Wales. Although I'm from Somerset, I comment from New York where I first got involved with milling, knowing sod-all about chainsaws or milling techniques, but with neighbours off-loading over a dozen Pine, Fir & Hickory to about 4m and a metre in diameter, I soon made headway and learned a lot! Certainly milling with a raised log, is hugely easier than being on the knees and some of the logs already on the ground were already, fortunately, angled slightly downwards. Overall, it was a brilliantly enjoyable learning-curve, which I'd like to replicate once back home again. Informative & enjoyable video.

[@sprucestomper]

Just found the channel. This is by far the best chainsaw milling video I have seen, both from the technical setup and the video quality.

[@garypeterson3628]

So cool. Work smarter, not harder.

[@TreeCraftbyAndrew]

I will be using the phrase “chain-blunting kerfuffle” on a daily basis from now on😂 Thank you 🙏

[@GETTR2024]

The scenery alone!!!!!!

[@hillwooky]

Nice job! I have spent several hundred hours running a chainsaw mill. I use a boat winch loaded with 1/4" rope and a little spring loaded lever attached to the handle of the saw. When you put tension on the rope, the lever presses the throttle. I just stand at the other end of the log and turn the crank. Anyone doing serious chainsaw milling should read "Chainsaw Lumber making by Will Malloff".

[@FloweringElbow]

That is awesome! Nice idea with the throttle leaver.

[@bingbangboom1239]

Any repetitive task deserve some thinking. The harder the task and the more you have to repeat it, the more worthwhile your thinking becomes.

[@BrandonDickenson35]

Without a doubt this is the best video on KZbin that I've seen on milling tips. I don't even have a chainsaw but KZbin keep sending me to these videos and I watch them because I have interest in it. Lol If I went and bought a saw tomorrow just the commentary in your videos would probably save me a month's worth of effort when starting out. Y'all are doing awesome work stick with the teachin'! Now only if only that wheel barrow would move itself when you wanna use it😁

[@FloweringElbow]

Wow, thanks Kochab! Appreciate the encouragement friend :) Now about that barrow...

[@xyexz]

Gravity assist wheel barrow? ;) Great video!

[@WiFiJeremy]

I don't have a chainsaw either, yet I keep watching these videos. I can't figure it out! Fabulous work!

[@josephmcvicker7280]

Down hill and a counter weight is brilliant! Since I was close to my home, I used a bucket with stones to make it easier to adjust the counterweight.

[@daybraeburn6172]

This is the best CSM video I have seen yet. Way to go folks! Very English of you.

[@AtlasLathe]

This is the best instructional chain saw mill set up I have watched. Now I am going to Build one, I have had a 390 xp I built for this purpose for 4 years now collecting dust. Cheers from Florida USA. The rope gravity mill is genius just what I need as I have everything to Build your setup

[@FloweringElbow]

Thanks Atlas, and good luck with your build 👍

[@akairborne]

That ash looks absolutely beautiful!

[@chrispalffy3511]

Great video guys, thanks for sharing. I used to do chainsaw milling for a living,mostly native all hardwoods in N Z. I like the extra oil idea and the gravity weight thats awesome. I just used to open the oiler right out and use half tanks on the 090s. I used to use semi chisel teeth because the working edge stays sharper longer, also sharpen your teeth at 5%. Any where from about 3 degrees to around 8 degrees works just fine, you can go down to 90 degrees and that cuts fine too. Keep up the good work Ill look out for your videos.cheers

[@ShowCat1]

Love the bee. Nice touch.

[@joshuadelisle]

Lovin it! top man and woman! cheers J

[@williamgilchrist8577]

Dude, I am here to tell you, these tips you have given are great. I have a mill and I have just not used it yet. I will have something new to try.

[@BadassVideos]

DAMN FINE BOOK MAN. GOOD SHOW. JUST SCANNED IT, FAST READ. MY GOODNESS. GREAT TIPS

[@MrPhatties]

The fog in the valley when you started cutting was very picturesque.

[@clarkg9805]

Work smarter not harder as they say. This is going to be very useful, thank-you so much for sharing your experience with us.

[@chaplainand1]

Thank you First exposure to this method. Lots of work and seems worth the effort.

[@eugenetswong]

That's a beautiful way to cut wood! It looks so safe, too.

[@kilowatt_75]

This channel is amazing! Your demeanor and knowledge combine into something pretty unique

[@Sean--]

Just found your channel from some of the cnc videos, great knowledge and content!,

[@my83roadster4me]

That weight is the best idea I've come across in a long time.

[@Wedget]

Thanks for sharing this awesome video brother , I am very much addicted to chainsaw sawmilling and as your video proved there is always different ways to approach different aspects of milling timber with a chainsaw 👍👍

[@yepiratesworkshop7997]

I'm glad I found this! I live on a farm and we lose trees (ash, hickory, red oak, black walnut, etc.) now and then and some of it I hate having to use up as firewood. Sometimes, a neighbor and I will "double up" on getting someone to come out with a portable band saw mill, but that's kind of expensive. Then, we'll each spend the next six months looking at ads and auctions, dreaming of buying one to share, but the money and the time of running a bandsaw milling business is never there. We just want to cut up a few trees here and there each year. Of course, we also thought about just doing up a "chain-saw" mill, but that never got done, either. After seeing this video, I think we may do it this year. We'll start by buying your book!!! ...and watching all your videos we can find! I've seen so many board feet of what could have been beautiful rifle and shotgun stocks or woodcarver's stock just rotting where it fell or getting burned up as firewood, it makes me ashamed of myself. So, thanks for the video! And I'm gonna' lasso my neighbor and see if he wants to go together on making a good chain-saw mill. Oh, yes. And you've got a new subscriber. Me!

[@FloweringElbow]

Good morning Ye Pirate's Workshop! Great to hear friend. I hope you find it useful. The book addresses a lot of CS milling topics, but any specific questions you're not seeing, just ask! :D

[@yepiratesworkshop7997]

@@FloweringElbow Thanks! Will do.😊😊

[@urbanlumberjack]

You guys are awesome. First video of yours I’ve seen. Really cool auxiliary oiler, I am needing to do that for my setup. Great slabs!

[@andreww6738]

What a brilliant technique. Never seen wood cut quite like that, the ladder is an awesome idea. Wish I lived in the country.

[@SteveSmith-zz4ih]

Your a lucky man - having a partner that doesn't mind helping, shes a keeper, i know so many women that won't leave the couch! which is sad. So enjoy each others company as that helps the relationship enormously as does having similar interests.

[@nwwoods2607]

Love the “gravity fed”, I will be attempting to replicate the same thing when I mill some slabs next. Nice vid…

[@marca5883]

Where have you been all my life💚🇬🇧🌱 Great video, very helpful... Subscribed...

[@FloweringElbow]

Thanks and welcome aboard :D

[@jamespeterson1148]

Long time viewer here. Love all your csmilling vodeos. You have a unique approach and plenty of hard experience, and it shows! Have your book and love that too. Will be using this gravity drag method so thanks!

[@FloweringElbow]

Really appreciate that James :D

[@Zogg1281]

That was a really nice logs and some great helpful hints. Thanks for sharing 👍👍👍👍

[@bullterrier1970]

Absolutely brilliant. Thanks for sharing the video.

[@darktoranaga]

As someone that has no need to do this, for some reason it was very interesting, one more thing to store in my had for the unlikely event that one day I might do something with it. Well done.

[@classixdrummer]

Nicely done sir. Great method and very nice results.

[@stefanlundblad7693]

I am actually an quarter sawn lumber fanatic.

[@antoniocarvalho6160]

LOVED IT, 1 MORE FOLLOWER FROM PORTUGAL!

[@FloweringElbow]

Thanks Antonio! Welcome aboard :D

[@roy.h.barrett]

Very ingenious and productive. Thank you

[@FloweringElbow]

You are very welcome, thanks for watching!

[@anvilsbane2196]

Brilliant . This is now in my toolbox. Thank you.🙂

[@retireddac]

This is a great idea. I just started milling with our chainsaw. I can appreciate how the log would pull nicely. I will be incorporating this into our next logs. Thank you

[@non1503]

Not a bot. But you might like the video Self-propelled Chainsaw | Turning Logs into Perfect Boards from Advoko MAKES channel. This might be a simpler homemade system. Hopping something like this might make your life easier. He uses it in the rough. Also has some videos on his chainsaw techniques. and many other things.

[@fredpilk7759]

Exactly what a bot would say

[@TheOlsonOutfit]

Brilliant! Another great video with lots of helpful techniques.

[@XLR8RRICK]

Seems I am the only one that will make the first cut mid log and work up from there not having to adjust the ladder for many cuts. I liked the video.

[@MrJones-di4sn]

Nice tips! Thanks for sharing!

[@Makebuildmodify]

Great instructional video!

[@stevenjohnblundell2768]

Sooo informative. Pure knowledge through experience. Freely shared ,to help others

[@FloweringElbow]

Thanks a ton Steven, appreciate the encouragement :D

[@glennwilck5459]

Clever and works great thanks for sharing with us!

[@frankmackey2419]

Nice job fellas and I never say that...very nice indeed.

[@user-hb3nw4ow4n]

Great job and advice.

[@tehgangstadawg]

Excellent video, I wish I could have seen your ideas years ago.

[@sharpfocus5]

Loved this. Bravo guys.

[@krustysurfer]

New Sub Here 😎 Bravo! Well done Brother, and I really appreciate you using veg oil for bar oil in this circumstance, people look at me very strange when I tell them they should probably do the same if they are going to use the sawdust around their gardens, its so much better for the environment 😉 much respect and as the saying goes 'work smarter not harder' you and yours are living it 🙌 thanks again for the demonstration, great video, Aloha from the great lakes USA, Timothy

[@FloweringElbow]

Hi Timothy, thanks for the encouragement friend, and welcome aboard! :D

[@PaulArgyle1]

Glad I bought a second-hand Logosol M7

[@empticagain]

The weight and pulley is a brilliant idea.

[@stephenspreckley8219]

Nice! Believe it or not, I have been cutting slabs freehand for over 40 years. My first big saw was an 090 with a 42" bar . 16 years with that one, then an 880 magnum also with a 42'er, 17 years with that one, now I am 67 years young, perhaps I won't need another saw.! All this in Australia and mostly sawing our good old Aussi hardwoods.

[@FloweringElbow]

That is awesome Stephen. Huge kudos for doing skilful work :)

[@stephenspreckley8219]

@@FloweringElbow Thanks mate!

[@kennethtalbott2233]

some good thinking there. excellent.

[@gordo2505]

Fabulous! Fun to watch.

[@f_USAF-Lt.G]

😄That ladder really "steps up" production... But, all those table sized waste cuts really make for great porch, deck, and patio furniture !!

[@joelg4849]

This is a great video, thanks! I have a few trees in my yard i'll be milling soon, i'll definitely slope the log.

[@stevesrt8]

Well Done. first time seeing the gravity method. cheers

[@traxdelt9016]

This was a great video, subscribed

[@MrDmmeeks]

Looks like it was cut with a band saw. Nice finish

[@BlackMagnets]

Fantastic video of a great trick. Thanks for sharing!!

[@FloweringElbow]

My pleasure, thanks!

[@kennedy67951]

Mate you should try and Mill the Trees while still standing. Doing this would give you great advantage's although set-up is a little more time consuming. I've done this and in the long run was way better than using the old method as your using. It's safer too. Try setting up and Milling one Tree that's standing. After working out all the kinks, 'I believe you'll start doing this method more and more. Just a thought mate. Thanks for sharing your knowledge with me.

[@chetnash5991]

Great technique!

[@visamedic]

Excellent video. Thank you

[@visamedic]

Just bought the book too. Thank you again.

[@nicholasgeorge7825]

Really smart. Like why didn't I think of that smart.

[@FloweringElbow]

Thanks Nicholas :D

[@BeaulieuTodd]

Great idea on the weight. I made a very similar setup, but with a winch. Not a walk in the park.

[@stap0035]

fantastic skills. love the video. keep it up 👍👍

[@vogtland_holz]

Thanks for this video. Now I know a few thinks more about milling wood. Very helpful.👍

[@donaldpyper4627]

No mercy for that poor hedge!

[@Oldtanktapper]

Well, there’s a thing! I was just asking a bloke the other day (here on YT) if he’d ever tried exactly what you’re doing here. The notion popped into my head as I’m in the process of setting up my own chainsaw mill, and years ago I used to use a lapidary saw that was weight driven. It always struck me as a really good, simple way to get an even cut as the force remains pretty constant. Good to see I wasn’t totally off the mark with my idea!

[@FloweringElbow]

Haha, yeah cool. I haven't seen anyone else doing this, which is a surprise to me, as like you said, it's a good constant force, and easy to setup. Thanks for watching Caedmon

[@keithgeisen]

Great ideas! One of the things I have been asked is when do you resharpen the chain. After sharpening the chain, the chips being discharged from the saw are large. When the chips decrease in size by more than half, I resharpen (by hand). I loved the gravity pulling. Well done Sir.

[@jonasduell9953]

I will probably never need this in my life or attempt it but I enjoyed the video a lot. What a great channel :) Thank you

[@FloweringElbow]

So nice of you to say Jonas, thanks for watching friend :)

[@broccoli5408]

I am tempted to buy the book. You are an hero.

[@FloweringElbow]

Hey thanks Bro :D re the book, just do it Bro, if you don't like it we will happily refund you.

[@objektivone3209]

I love this video. It gives me a belief that even I can do the master job. KZbin-watching takes my time, damn.

[@victoryfirst2878]

I can say we must be brothers from different mothers. What you have shown is what I was doing in the 80's. and 90's. Using vegetable oils that were recycled made me hungry every pass of wood slab. So nice to see you make a video with wonderful ash wood. Why did the tree die flowering elbow ??? Here on the other side of the pond Pennsylvania we have ash borers that have devastated the trees. Just take a guess where the garbage came from, CHINA. Good luck and peace too. vf

[@FloweringElbow]

Hey VF, good to hear from you. The ash tree was a victim of Ash dieback disease that is prevalent here in the UK. Its estimated that we will loose 90% of our ash trees from it 😞 At least the timber is often still good to use after...

[@victoryfirst2878]

@@FloweringElbow Nice that you can use the wood. Shame for the ashes. They deserve to live on.

[@voorhisk]

Great tips, thanks,

[@josie4065]

This is awesome.

[@noanyobiseniss7462]

Beautiful cuts and w00d!

[@RovingCanada]

Nice wood coming from that timber.

[@heathhenry9272]

Awesome tip! Beautiful slabs

[@FloweringElbow]

Thank you! Cheers Henry!

[@seabeepirate]

Nice video. This side of the world I’ve heard them called Alaskan chain saw mills. I like the gravity assistance! Almost got me to dig out the old backup saw and start rigging but then I remembered that a neighbor has a bandsaw mill so I’ll go talk to them first. Wait… I don’t even have any downed trees right now.

[@FloweringElbow]

LOL Thanks for watching friend.

[@davidanderson252]

Great info. Thank friend

[@electricAB]

First video watched = subscribed. Nicely done! Thanks to both of you for sharing… .

[@FloweringElbow]

Welcome aboard deadlyAB, and thanks :D

[@TumokaiHPetera369]

Great skills and appreciate all the info on chainsaw milling... thank you very bro... keep ip the good work... 👍👍👍😎

[@FloweringElbow]

Thanks 👍

[@davidbaldwin9830]

Nice piece of wood...

[@jplieurance]

Very nice.

[@graftedbranch4480]

Thats a great idea thanks

[@bodesbodes9408]

Great work. Very cool stuff.

[@FloweringElbow]

Thank you very much :D

[@williamlewis8741]

Brilliant ! still waiting for the possible mock-up you proposed for me a while back. i've not forgotten. cheers

[@FloweringElbow]

Hey William, thanks for watching friend. You may not have but I fear I may have forgotten?? Mock-up of what? I even searched back through your previous comments and am still scratching my head?

[@williamlewis8741]

@@FloweringElbow let me find the email you sent me

[@williamlewis8741]

sir, i've sent you a couple of emails of our conversation starting some 3 years ago cheers

[@davidelliott5843]

I've installed "Scot Oilers" on motor bike chains. The instructions require oil to be dripped onto the rear pocket. However, the best performer of all dripped oil onto the slack return run, just after the front sprocket. I believe the time taken for the chain links to reach the rear pocket allow more chance for oil to get into the links. Your bar oiling system looks to be doing the same thing.

[@amwphotos]

Great milling and great tips as always! I've got a big ash log in the field waiting for me to mill it too.

[@FloweringElbow]

Hey Alastair, always nice to hear from you. Yeah, we have quite a few by the road that have succumbed to ash dieback :( Lots of firewood mainly, but some big ones like this.

[@ejsocci2630]

Awesome awesome thanks