instructables Chainsaw Mill by KentaNolin Many times a project calls for materials of specific There is an update in the mill post section. The post dimensions and quality that can't be obtained, clamps now have bolt pins to secure the mill to the financially or logistically. A chainsaw mill is a tool that bar. can be utilized to produce beams for timber framing or to cut slabs for wood working. Being mobile, it can There are details in the pictures so mouse over the be on site or right where the tree falls. This yellow image notes to get a clearer explanation. instructable shows how to construct a 20 in bar , variable height chainsaw mill. 1 1 1 1. Completed Chain saw mill (posts and guide bed) 1. Original plan for the mill, a few adjustments were made. 1. Completed Chain saw mill (posts and guide bed) Chainsaw Mill: Page 1 Step 1: Measure & Cut (This is for a 20 in bar) Accounting for the width of the Posts: square stock, the diameter of the largest tree that is (4) 8 in square stock able to be milled is 14.5 in. (2) 12 in pipe (1) 3 in wide by 8 in long sheet steel Materials: (4) 2 by .75 by .25 in bar stock (4) 4 in bolt, (4) nuts, (8) washers , (4) lock washers Guide bed: Chop saw (2) 9 in square stock Drill press and drill bits (2) 14.5 in square stock Ruler and wax pencil (1) 6.6 in square stock (1) 5 in pipe Safety: (1) 1.25 in square stock Goggles (1) 2.5 in square stock Gloves (2) .5 in nut and bolt Ear plugs Clothing to cover entire body (closed toe shoes) Note: Welding jacket Square stock is (1.25 by 1.25 in) Welding mask Pipe is (1 in) outer diameter Tools: MIG welder Vice grips Grinder 3 1 1 2 1. Marking with wax 1. 1.25 by 1.25 in square stock being cut with chop saw 2. Using ruler with square to measure 3. Chop saw Chainsaw Mill: Page 2 6 6 2 2 1 4 4 3 35 5 1 1 1. Clamp and slice 1.25 by 1.25 wide square stock 1. Check and grind down for flushness 2. Cut all other pieces 1st and and cut this piece to fit. Mine came out to be 6.6 in 3. 9 in 4. 14.5 in 5. 8 in 6. 12 in 1. Check and grind down for flushness 2. Cut all other pieces 1st and and cut this piece to fit. Mine came out to be 6.6 in 3. 9 in 4. 14.5 in 5. 8 in 6. 12 in 1. 1/2 in nut and bolt 2. 2.5 in This piece is longer because the bolt will 3 be pointing away from you, in other words both bolts will face the same direction. 3. 1.25 in This piece is smaller on this end. 1 2 Chainsaw Mill: Page 3 Step 2: Mill Posts The Mill Posts attach to the bar of the chainsaw and square stock, while having them clamped together. is what the guide bed attaches to when adjusting the Make these holes slightly larger than your bolts. depth of the cut. Weld your 12in pipe on center to your 8in square Posts: stock, the bottom of the pipe needs to be flush and (4) 8 in square stock should stand up on end on its own. Tack weld your (2) 12 in pipe pipe to the square pipe in 4 places first and then weld (1) 3 in wide by 8 in long sheet steel around the pipe. (4) 2 by .75 by .25 in bar stock (4) 4 in bolt, (4) nuts, (8) washers , (4) lock washers The short bar stock pieces (that clamp the chainsaw bar) should be centered and welded onto each piece Drill holes an inch away from the ends of your 8in of square stock. Tack weld first and then weld across the bar stock making sure to keep the weld under the holes you drilled. height of the bar stock. To make sure the bolts line up with their holes: As a safety precaution, a chain tip protector was Drill the hole next to the plastic teeth in the chainsaw added on, hammer the 8in by 3 in sheet steel into a bar first, then put the post clamp with the bolt sticking half circle over an anvil. Weld only to the top 8 in out in the hole in the bar. Then mark exactly where square stock on the outer post. the bolt on the post clamp hits the bar near the tip. You can score the bar with the bolt by dragging it Update: Securing the post clamps to the chainsaw back and forth. Drill the hole near the tip. Go slow, with bolt pins! use oil, and let the drill do the work (don't push the Drill holes in chainsaw bar with a 1/4 in drill bit (or a drill into the bar too hard) bit bigger than the bolt you are using). These holes are located using the post clamps and The second bolt should seat in the hole perfectly. The marking their centers. bolt goes through the bar into the bottom post clamp's With the chainsaw mill attached mark the outside of hole. Now your mill is going to stay centered on your the post clamps, take the mill off and mark the chainsaw bar. halfway point of the clamp using a ruler. Find half the width of the chainsaw bar and align it with the center marks of you post clamps. Indent the point with a metal punch so the drill wont walk off the Put your washer and lock washer on your bolt and center mark. Go slow, use oil, and let the drill do the secure them with the nuts and you have your mill work (don't push the drill into the bar too hard). posts! Drill holes in flat stock, about .25in deep, on center. (4 holes) (2 post clamps, top and bottom) Cut 2 sections of bolt with a hacksaw a little less than an inch long. Using a 2 part metal epoxy compound, secure these bolts on the top post clamps, in the Chainsaw Mill: Page 4 1 1 1. 4 in bolt with washers and lock washers 1. Practice your welds before you start on your mill, The basic idea for MIG welding is to keep the tip of your welder close to your metal and move down the joint in a crescent moon motion. 1 2 1 3 1. I used 17 on volts 1. I made the mistake of welding before drilling. Drill 2. 175 on wire speed your holes first, by clamping two 8 in square stock 3. Argon gas MIG welder: feeds wire, electrical current and inert argon gas to make weld. together and drilling with a bit slightly larger than your bolts. This is done on a drill press for accuracy. Chainsaw Mill: Page 5 1 1 1. Mark your center, then place your pipe in the center of the square stock 1. 2 by .75 by .25 in bar stock. These will go on the 8in square stock of the and place tack welds on 4 equidistant spots around the joint, then posts to clamp the bar, without touching the chain. complete the weld around the pipe. Tack welding insures that the pipe stands vertical, without being pulled in the direction of a cooling, and thus shrinking, weld. 1 2 1 1. Weld on center and keep weld on sides, grind away any thing that is 1. Look complicated? Then don't get carried away with welding, like I did, above the bar stock and drill your holes first. 2. Mark center Chainsaw Mill: Page 6 2 2 1 2 3 3 1 1 4 4 1. Get post as close as you can to body of chainsaw 1. Remove the metal bumper spikes. 2. This bolt faces forward for the purpose of accessibility when guide bed 2. With the square stock butted up against the plastic teeth, mark the is lowered near body of chiansaw. center. 3. Weld the chain tip protector to only the top 8 in square stock of the outer post. 4. The second post attaches near the tip of your bar, attach it loosely and put your guide bed onto the posts, this will dictate the position of the post close to the tip. 1. Get post as close as you can to body of chainsaw 2. This bolt faces forward for the purpose of accessibility when guide bed is lowered near body of chiansaw. 3. Weld the chain tip protector to only the top 8 in square stock of the outer post. 4. The second post attaches near the tip of your bar, attach it loosely and put your guide bed onto the posts, this will dictate the position of the post close to the tip. 1 1. Using the center mark you made (with the square stock), make cross hairs of your drill point. Measure the width of the bar and align it with the center mark of the square bar stock. Use a punch to make an indent at the point you intend to drill. Chainsaw Mill: Page 7 1 1 1. Drill holes in all post spacers on center, about as deep as the flat stock. 1.