New Tool Gloat

[Dale Osowski]

My 56" Alaskan mill arrived today. Can't wait to start milling.

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[Frederick Skelly]

Ooooooooooo. Cool!
Have a good time. Let us know how you like it!

Fred

[Matt Day]

Now that is a big bar and chain combo! Keep us posted on getting it up and running and using it. Have fun!

[John Bailey]

Is that the saw in the background? Your going to need some serious cc's to move that big bar.

John

[Stephen Cherry]

Looks great, I wouldn't recommend using that saw as a climbing saw though.

[Dale Osowski]

Thanks Guys

Yes, that's the saw in the background, Stihl 880, 121.6 cc :)

[Charlie Jones]

You will love it. Your back won't..

[John Pratt]

I have the same saw and Alaskan Mill combo and I love it. Definitely takes two people to run it, Preferably three. One issue I had when I first started using it was that the saw itself needed a break-in period. The issue is that the saw rests on its side while cutting and for some reason it did not allow the piston to "self-lubricate" while running and the piston wore unevenly and quit running (siezed). After taking it apart and seeing the uneven wear on the piston and rings, we replaced the the parts, ran the saw with a shorter bar for some other work to break it in and now it runs perfectly when milling. That was our assessment and that of the local dealer/repair shop after I showed him the parts. However, It could have also been something in the manufacturing process.

[Dale Osowski]

I've been breaking in the power head by doing a lot of bucking, also running premium and synthetic oil. I'll run a couple more tanks before milling.

[Stephen Cherry]

I've been breaking in the power head by doing a lot of bucking, also running premium and synthetic oil. I'll run a couple more tanks before milling.

I don't know how often you plan on using the saw, but if is going to not be used for periods of time, I would take look at the stihl ethanol free premix. The idea is to run the saw out of ethanoled gas, then put some ethanol free premix in the tank, and run it a little with the premix. I've done this with my saw, and it has been trouble free.

[John TenEyck]

Wow, that is a serious saw/bar; makes my little Husky 385 XP with a 28" bar look pretty tame. My arms and back hurt just thinking about how heavy your rig is going to be. Soooo, what are you planning to mill with it?

John

[Dale Osowski]

First to be milled will be a large Burr Oak, Red & White Oak. Also have some Maple coming soon and a couple Walnuts.

[John TenEyck]

Nice. It would be great if you could post some pics when that happens. Thanks.

John

[Dale Osowski]

Nice. It would be great if you could post some pics when that happens. Thanks.

John

Will do. I think I may do a little milling next weekend, weather permitting.

[Brian Jarnell]

And I thought this was a fine woodwork forum.How wrong can you be ?:)

[Dale Osowski]

And I thought this was a fine woodwork forum.How wrong can you be ?:)

Ahh yes, but we need to start with the wood first :)

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[Brian Jarnell]

Ahh yes, but we need to start with the wood first :)

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266201I thought it all came from a timber yard?

[Jim Andrew]

If you were here in Kansas, you might wait a few weeks. It was 109 degrees here yesterday.

[Dale Osowski]

Finally had a chance to put the mill together this weekend, just need to break in the power head a bit more before mounting it to the mill. I should be milling next weekend.

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[Brian Jarnell]

Finally had a chance to put the mill together this weekend, just need to break in the power head a bit more before mounting it to the mill. I should be milling next weekend.

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I have to say, I am impressed with that bar.

[Dale Osowski]

I start milling this weekend :) Double end bar is now mounted to power head. To give you an idea of overall length, the saw is sitting on an 8' bench.

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[Kevin Bourque]

Does your saw have a kick start?:D

[John TenEyck]

Lordy, that's a monster ! My back hurts just thinking how much it plus the mill weighs.

John

[Dale Osowski]

Mill is now together and running. Forgive the shaky video, I had one hand on saw, other on throttle.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Mq6ZaD4J1U&feature=youtu.be

[Dale Osowski]

My first slabs:

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[John Bailey]

Good stuff!! I've got a "tiny" 30" mill. The most important thing is the chain and how sharp it is.

Can you tell us what chain you're using and how you're grinding it?

Thanks,

John

[Dale Osowski]

I’m using Granberg ripping chain: http://granberg.com/content/granberg-ripping-chain

[Dale Osowski]

We had an hour or so to mill today and cut a couple more slabs. These two slabs have some spalting, curl and medullary flecking.

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