Still using my mill, 4 screws into a ladder is all it takes me to set up. Don't have to worry about watching a level or anything - I have a huge amount of respect for the skill required to freehand usable boards that way though!
Nice job. You should consider a couple of things for saw performance. I almost always carry wedges in my pockets, varying thicknesses and angles just to help rid of shavings and clogging the bar track. Also make sure to run your saw "dry" for 30 seconds or so when you've finished. SInce the saw has been running at long intervals, things get a little hotter than normal. Also (if properly lubed) the bar will cool down while its getting fresh lube without all the friction and dust. Keep doing the updates!
Nice, tip: I leave like an inch or so without cutting the log all the way through so won’t move as much, I also level slightly the bar in my first cut, it helps withe the straight line, if you end up with a rough board you can finish it with a planer. Grate work, nice vid!
To the ones discrediting this guys attempt: where’s your video of freehand milling? I appreciate the efforts. Let me add, you can purchase a ripping chain for this process(smoother finish but not neccessary). And don’t forget to keep your chain sharp if attempting. I recommend giving it a once over after every one or two board cuts.
Debark your log and use a chalk line. If it's green wood, it will stick and not blow away. You may want to spritz the wood before chalking if it's aged. This method works really well if you have an electric saw...
Am very impressed with the skill You have developed in cutting planks with Your chainsaw without any jig! Absolutely Amazing! You've inspired Me to do the same. Started operating a chainsaw at 9 years of age....that's over 50 years ago!
Try using a green laser used for vertical surfaces that projects a plane surface. Make sure the laser also projects onto the saw's bar. Angle the saw's bar just as you do, and watch the laser's beam on the top of your bar as you move down the log. The beam should project into the kerf so you can easily keep the bar on the desired plane of cut. Should work as well or better - no nails, no string.
@@stevenschofding1308 I use a stringline for a wide variety of things and you make a good point. However, if you also have use for a 3-plane green laser like many DIYers do, I'd give it a try.
@@stevenschofding1308 According to advoko makes, Alaskan mills or other additions to chainsaw decrease the energy efficiency dramatically. I haven't tried a comparison myself but his theory backing it up seems legit. I must say the laser idea seems too rigorous to me and I wonder whether the laser light on a rotating chain is not too invisible to be practical?
To clarify, in my view the goals of speed, energy efficiency and dimensional rigor have to be carefully weighed against each other in this art and I imagine this laser method will emphasize rigor too much at the expense of speed and energy efficiency. But yeah, love to be proven wrong ;)
I think I'd rather learn this technique than spending money and time on devices. Your method looks very learnable. I'll start practicing on firewood. Thanks for the video.
This is way easier said then done. This guy makes it looks easy. Depends how nice you need the wood to look like though. If it needs to be flat and smooth might need a plainer of some sort. I tried this on many logs before i just bought the vevor chainsaw mill. It was on sale for 70 bucks on Amazon. Its solid.
I have done this, hot glued a level on a chain saw. I had to cut from two sides as the bar did not reach through. Got chain marks on the boards but after finishing them with a wood cutting disc in an angle grinder they were good enough for a rustic garden table.
Advoko makes out of Russia does it really clean as well. Never seen him use a string though. Just the natural swing of your arm. Im sure his leg placement played a part as well. Cool vid though thank you for posting.
nah...Advoko MAKES uses a guide string; he references it very slightly, I have a log and my 026 fueled up and ready to go... currently raining here so I will wait for dry weather to slab it out... Thanks for Video.
Advoko did instruct to use a flashy-colored string. The big difference between his and this instruction video is that he trusts gravity and uses a swinging motion. Using that instruction I was able to make nice beams, but I still have to try slabs of limited width.
I'm also practicing this free-hand art. Until now I followed Advoko makes' freehand method, which trusts on gravity and a swinging motion in stead of a watermark. Admittedly I've only been making beams until now (not slabs). The experience I can share is that you should certainly consider using an electric saw (battery saw) for this job: drawing the initial line with a gas saw will waste a lot of fuel / energy for almost nothing. Careful: my own stihl battery saw initially had a bar with a way too small width so that it was way to flexible / elastic and its chain also had insufficient width. Don't get discouraged about battery saws if this is your initial experience. Rather upgrade the bar and the chain and then there's no inferiority in performance. Of course, my experience comes from a mindset for a concern over energy-efficiency and getting this job optimized in that metric. If you have to venture far into the wild and want to do a lot of work in one stroke, the energy density of batteries is no match against that of a jerrycan of gas.
Even if there are some "marks" (or noodles as you seem to call this), it's possible and kind of compulsory anyway to sand it to make a nice finish! I intend to use this method to make shelves, have been wanting to do it for a long time, this looks like a pretty "easy" method!
Hmm, interesting. One variation I saw that made a lot of sense was the guy lined up a laser that is used for plumb and level. He used the plumb line to make his cuts. Your method appears to be much flatter than his boards. Maybe a combination of the two. Me, I mostly make bowls so I do need good straight lines. I have found out that if I rock the saw, then I get way more bumps and humps.
Great idea and video explanation. I'm interested in making a flat top on downed trees along a bike trail. THIS would save me from buying and hauling in a mill.
You should mount the level on the forward part of the saw. As the rubber mounts wear, the handle flexes and will not show level as you push/pull. Nice to see thus works as well as it does, be cautious of the bar nose rising up toward your face as you push forward on the saw.
I was doing this cause I needed 20+ft boards and I had cut some of the ugliest planks I had ever seen but they did they’re job so I can’t complain too much. That level I’m sure would’ve saved me a ton of time
@@jeremylee2024 I suppose the vibration depends on the saw. I run less than full bore, so the vibration isn’t so bad that there’s a lot of bubbles. A solution would be to drill a hole, drain the liquid, and replace with a syrup-like consistency.
very good idea to install a level on the saw. I am very intrigued by this method after watching Advoko Makes video on this. He does not use a level. Still, I think it a good idea instead of relying on muscle memory and gravity
You’ll have to take my word for it, but the thickness was quite even on both sides and at each corner. Put it this way, I made a tv stand with those boards and didn’t need a planer. My second video shows the thickness a bit better. ruclips.net/video/LtN8V_84r-0/видео.html
Thanks to PG&E. We have whole trees just cut down and left some 60ft long. Can't move, can't get in to cut, and blocks entrance door , driveway, and yard. Maybe can be plane'd horizontally along the top?
It could be planed horizontally with an Alaskan sawmill. The downsides of that is that it takes longer, is pretty uncomfortable, and requires the milling attachment.
I've hear of that brand chainsaw. What is your experience with husqvarna and stihl, if any. Which would you rather have or use? Thanks. Great job at ripping!
can't tell if you are, but try to keeps as few teeth as possible in contact...lowers the load considerably and cuts much faster because the saw can stay in it's powerband with higher rpm
@@kaitsamari I’ve used a planer and also just used an orbital sander. Both are fine, depending on the application. A planer is needed for projects requiring perfect boards.
@ I just wonder how long a home planer would last. I’ve never used an electric hand planer but that might be all I need and not wear out my full thickness planer
I believe it was the one below. You may find that it’s better to drain the liquid and replace it with a thicker liquid. I haven’t, but I’m thinking about doing it to reduce the bubbles that form at times. a.co/d/97To15X
@@carolinamountainliving7501 mite give this a try this wkend. Need to sharpen my teeth but that's easy. Shouldn't have any troubles with my MS 391 with a 25" bar.
I initially tried doing freehand cuts without a level, but I couldn’t keep the bar straight enough, so the boards were different thickness at each corner. Using the level allowed me to make each board the same thickness throughout.
You’d probably need a cordless circular saw with a guide to have a chance at it. But logs are not smooth or straight, the circular saw has a narrower kerf than a chainsaw, and there may be no benefit for the time it takes. I’ve found using a string or chalk line to be pretty effective. Some commenters did not have luck with a bubble level because of their saws’ vibrations. If that’s the case, the liquid in the level could be replaced with a light oil to prevent bubbles.
The downside I see to this technique is potentially a lot of tip wear and a lot of revving your saw which might wear it out faster. I've seen a few vids from advoko makes and he was using a stihl 260 and burnt it up twice. I wasn't sure if maybe it was the 14k rev speed on the saw which don't seem to last as long or that using it that way wears it out faster (or both). How's your Shindaiwa holding up? Those are similar to echos aren't they? Nice boards in the end though. Those hardwoods are so much stronger than pine it's silly.
Shindaiwa is now made by Echo. They make good small engines, IMO. As far as saw life in general, it definitely adds a lot of hours to the saw. That said, bars last quite a while and are relatively cheap to replace, and a sharp chain on a 60cc saw has no trouble milling. Milling is generally with the grain of the wood, so I can run 50-75% power with good results. Crosscuts are more difficult because you’re cutting into the grain.
I also learned this from avoko makes. He said this technique uses less gas, so I understood that to mean low rpm. That works well for me as I have built a lot of stuff lately. It does add a lot of hours to the saw, but I haven't broken anything yet.
Nice! I have a question. What kind of chain are you using? I was expecting to see noodles. When I mill freehand I get nice long noodles. I use a 10 degree ripping chain. Very, very nice job! those slabs look great!
It was a standard ~25 degree chain. I do get long noodles with a new or freshly sharpened chain. This chain being a touch on the dull side gave a very nice finish. Chains have to be sharp for cross cuts, but it’s not as important when going with the gain (milling).
I tried this but as soon as pressed the trigger on the saw, the vibration shook the bubble in the level into a thousand tiny bubbles. Not sure what I did wrong.
I cut all my slabs freehand - mainly as I can't be bothered mucking about with a mill. I also bin off lines, straight edges, guides and all that malarkey - I cut by eye & any drifting/deviation/cock-ups or boo-boos get classed as "Oh well.. that's a bit more character in that one anyway.." There are only happy accidents. If you want perfectly flat, perfectly level timber - pop across to B & Q or the Homeless Despot & buy some Yawn-Wood. Make your thing out of that. It will be as boring as every other perfectly flat, perfectly square Yawn-Yoke everyone else makes better than you do. I grab the saw - the same saw as you're using, coincidentally, and start cutting slabs - not hugely caring what thickness they are, if there's deviations, if it's straight - just cutting out a slab. God invented other tools for smoothing out the "flaws" into flowing lines. Flowing lines are a lot more interesting than Yawn-Wood. Today I slabbed an 8' length of Irish white birch - the results were several slabs that vary from 2" ish to 4" ish - and the grain & figure are unreal. I defy anyone to look at the woods figure & yawn - you could chuck the untouched slabs onto 2 beer kegs, call it a table & people would still stand and look at them, because wood - most wood - is naturally beautiful if you don't frot it to within an inch of its life. It's tactile - so stop smoothing it to look like plastic. If people wanted plastic, they'd go buy some - leave wood look like wood.
www.dewalt.com/products/power-tools/saws/circular-saws/20v-max-612-in-brushless-cordless-circular-saw-kit/dcs565p1 It’s a bit weaker than I’d like but handy since it’s cordless.
OK not to think I'm knocking on your video because I'm not. I think it's great that you showed you can make lumber without a milling jig and just use a string and level. However I think faster production would be an Alaskan mill or faster yet a gas powered band saw mill. But it all depends on a guy's wallet and what he's looking to do. Thanks for sharing
I'm confused. If the string is the guide, and the cut is going to follow straight down from there, what role does the level play? You're locked into your path based on the string.
The string only helps ensure one side of the board is straight. If your saw’s bar is not held at the same angle throughout the cut, the other side of the board could be various thicknesses. Using your eyes as the gauge instead of a level or plumb line will result in inconsistent thicknesses throughout the board.
I really like the level idea. Seen quite a few of these freehand cutting vids and this is the first one I've seen the level utilized, nice work. Also, how tall are you? lol. That saw and 18" bar look massive in your hands. I was really pleasantly surprised when you said it was 18" because that's the length of my bar. Most of these other vids use much longer bars, I was worried mine wouldn't be large enough to make this work.
Take note people...he starts the chainsaw correctly. That wide ledge near the trigger, notice it is wider on the right, is there to put your right foot on and start it with your left arm. The best and safest way to start a chainsaw. Watch how he does it in the video at 2:50. Now the worst bit is laying out the string....just use a chalk line and snap a blue chalk line on the log. NO string to cut by accident. Other than that great video....oh and for Gods sake buy a 'Stihl' brand chainsaw....not Chinese crap copies of one.
"bubble level" Thats the problem I have with this technique. If you plumb bob from your top lines down the front face of the log and mark 1 additional guide line. I'd think you could start from the front of the log, using both lines as a guide and make a diagonal cut into that corner that would help guide the bar down this cut started at 4:11 instead of trying to freehand plumb and cut this starting cut.
@@FatherTimeRipVanWrinkle I'm out of logs. Theres only one spot to dangle a plumb bob. Thats the cut face you get when you chop down the tree. The round cut face. Dangle the plumb bob there where you want to start the cut. On that face and mark where the plumb bob sits with a vertical line. If your chain saw tracks that line, your boards will come out with an even thickness on their width. Now look at the cut at 3:20 in the video.Hes tracking a line. He has one line. I am describing the other in detail. These two lines intersect in the corner. You can start your cut in that corner and use both the string(he has) and this plumb bob line for reference. The cut he is making determines the width of the board. But if the chainsaws bar sinks into the log at any angle but straight it will wander in either direction throughout the cut. Making it different widths along the width of the board. So lets say. 2 inches thick where you start the cut at the top tree bark at 3:20 and 3 inches thick on the bottom bark. If the bars angle goes in wrong. But it doesn't take much of the bar to go in before the two sides of the log pinch the chainsaw bar and thats the vertical line the bar will now track So you start your cut in the corner while referencing both lines and Your bar is now tracking angle while you're laying out this board width reference line being cut at 3:20 otherwise you're focusing on both the width of the cut and your bars angle since the bar is not being pinched until it is plunged a little....Now once you get to the bottom and the cut starts spreading and its no longer really guiding the bar and you hit a knot it can stop tracking angle and you will get a bad width there.
@@FatherTimeRipVanWrinkle Also my ground is not level and my logs roll around. So I suggest driving a stake against that round log face and pinning through the stake and into the log face with at least two nails to secure the log. Since this other face. The face his legs are by at 3:20(thats the board face) If the log rolls slightly, it throws off this cuts by angle. So pin it. then take your first face cut off the log and check it with a bubble level pressed against that face cut. To make sure that cut is plumb from sky to ground. Now you can either roll the log until its level or roll the log over and use that face cut as a foot so its sitting on the flat surface you just cut. If youre off one way or another on a board. Its salvageable if the cut is made by too much. so you want 2 inch stock and its 3 inches somewhere. You feed it through a thickness planer(dont reach inside to clear sawdust while its running), handheld electric planer or a hand plane. RUclips makes this stuff look easy but its not. The devils are in the details. But nobody wants to listen to someone ramble on about stuff and piece all those words together. Back in my day we used to have books.
A chainsaw’s bar kerf is much thicker than a sawmill’s, so a lot of wood is wasted if 1” thick boards are cut. Also, I need thick boards for my projects - benches, tv stand, etc.
@@ebutuoyebutouy Look at the wood, you will see it is dirt stained. Especially visible on on the corner of 1 piece. And you don't normally see dirt flying unless you are really bad.
It’s just a standard chain, and the finish was very good. But I should say that it wasn’t as sharp as it was when new. A new chain or one that is very sharp will not give the same results. A ripping chain may be a better option.
Sick of the chainsaw advice yet? Guys who watch chainsaw videos must be the biggest bunch of know-it-alls on the internet. The irony is that we're here to learn by watching YOUR method. I'm walking away with the idea to attach a level to my chainsaw, so thank you!
@@carolinamountainliving7501 Stihl Motomix? The special ethanol free chainsaw gas? Last time I checked it was $30 I think you mean normal ethanol free gas.
So how do read a bubble level while the saw is running? Too much vibration... I call B.S. There would be hundreds of small bubbles oscillating at different rates.
Sometimes the bubbles do break apart, but they stay together most of the time. It may not work for every saw or level, but it works pretty well with my setup. Here’s a video that shows the bubble while making the cuts: ruclips.net/video/LtN8V_84r-0/видео.html
so...i tried the level...sounded good in theory....but because the saw shakes so violently its impossible to read ..... unless you stop shut saw off....so putting the level on your saw is totally pointless....waste a time...thanks
You see the bubbles pretty clearly in the video, so it’s legit. I made some great boards just two days ago with the level. Maybe your saw is the difference. A solution would be to drill a small hole, drain the liquid, then refill it with an oil or something thicker than water.
For a more detailed explanation, see the 2nd video: ruclips.net/video/LtN8V_84r-0/видео.html
Still using my mill, 4 screws into a ladder is all it takes me to set up. Don't have to worry about watching a level or anything - I have a huge amount of respect for the skill required to freehand usable boards that way though!
Good for making rough structures or other things and nice for when you can’t afford a sawmill
I have never seen a level mounted on chainsaw, never thought of it, ill definitely try this out. Thanks heaps!
Nice job. You should consider a couple of things for saw performance. I almost always carry wedges in my pockets, varying thicknesses and angles just to help rid of shavings and clogging the bar track. Also make sure to run your saw "dry" for 30 seconds or so when you've finished. SInce the saw has been running at long intervals, things get a little hotter than normal. Also (if properly lubed) the bar will cool down while its getting fresh lube without all the friction and dust. Keep doing the updates!
What does running dry mean?
@@5th_decile no bar oil
@@5th_decilemeans running the saw without cutting anything.
@@Carlos-ps7hbno. Means running without cutting anything.
Great alternitive for all landowners. Thanks for the lesson. Im going to buy three levels. One for each saw!!👍
Great work! I have a lot of logs I want to slab, and you have given me the confidence. Thank you for sharing!
Nice, tip: I leave like an inch or so without cutting the log all the way through so won’t move as much, I also level slightly the bar in my first cut, it helps withe the straight line, if you end up with a rough board you can finish it with a planer. Grate work, nice vid!
To the ones discrediting this guys attempt: where’s your video of freehand milling?
I appreciate the efforts. Let me add, you can purchase a ripping chain for this process(smoother finish but not neccessary). And don’t forget to keep your chain sharp if attempting. I recommend giving it a once over after every one or two board cuts.
Nice work bro!! Thats pretty slick, im fixin to hit the woods and give this a try
Debark your log and use a chalk line. If it's green wood, it will stick and not blow away. You may want to spritz the wood before chalking if it's aged. This method works really well if you have an electric saw...
You my friend are a genius. I am off to the hardware store to buy a bubble level and start cutting some trees. Crazy simple! Great video!
Outstanding! I didn’t know it could be so simple.
Am very impressed with the skill You have developed in cutting planks with Your chainsaw without any jig! Absolutely Amazing! You've inspired Me to do the same. Started operating a chainsaw at 9 years of age....that's over 50 years ago!
Try using a green laser used for vertical surfaces that projects a plane surface. Make sure the laser also projects onto the saw's bar. Angle the saw's bar just as you do, and watch the laser's beam on the top of your bar as you move down the log. The beam should project into the kerf so you can easily keep the bar on the desired plane of cut. Should work as well or better - no nails, no string.
Cool idea, but using a $200 tool, vs $0.25 string and nails. Spend $200 on a mill and don’t freehand anything.
@@stevenschofding1308 I use a stringline for a wide variety of things and you make a good point. However, if you also have use for a 3-plane green laser like many DIYers do, I'd give it a try.
@@CT_Yankee I have one, so going to try tomorrow or day after in this alder grove. Also bringing string and spray paint.
@@stevenschofding1308 According to advoko makes, Alaskan mills or other additions to chainsaw decrease the energy efficiency dramatically. I haven't tried a comparison myself but his theory backing it up seems legit. I must say the laser idea seems too rigorous to me and I wonder whether the laser light on a rotating chain is not too invisible to be practical?
To clarify, in my view the goals of speed, energy efficiency and dimensional rigor have to be carefully weighed against each other in this art and I imagine this laser method will emphasize rigor too much at the expense of speed and energy efficiency. But yeah, love to be proven wrong ;)
I think I'd rather learn this technique than spending money and time on devices. Your method looks very learnable. I'll start practicing on firewood. Thanks for the video.
This is way easier said then done. This guy makes it looks easy. Depends how nice you need the wood to look like though. If it needs to be flat and smooth might need a plainer of some sort. I tried this on many logs before i just bought the vevor chainsaw mill. It was on sale for 70 bucks on Amazon. Its solid.
Such a simple idea to add a level. Good one
I have done this, hot glued a level on a chain saw. I had to cut from two sides as the bar did not reach through. Got chain marks on the boards but after finishing them with a wood cutting disc in an angle grinder they were good enough for a rustic garden table.
Cool!
I would have cut that string on my first attempt. Great video.
Advoko makes out of Russia does it really clean as well. Never seen him use a string though. Just the natural swing of your arm. Im sure his leg placement played a part as well. Cool vid though thank you for posting.
nah...Advoko MAKES uses a guide string; he references it very slightly, I have a log and my 026 fueled up and ready to go... currently raining here so I will wait for dry weather to slab it out... Thanks for Video.
Advoko did instruct to use a flashy-colored string. The big difference between his and this instruction video is that he trusts gravity and uses a swinging motion. Using that instruction I was able to make nice beams, but I still have to try slabs of limited width.
I like how you jumped right into action.
I'm also practicing this free-hand art. Until now I followed Advoko makes' freehand method, which trusts on gravity and a swinging motion in stead of a watermark. Admittedly I've only been making beams until now (not slabs).
The experience I can share is that you should certainly consider using an electric saw (battery saw) for this job: drawing the initial line with a gas saw will waste a lot of fuel / energy for almost nothing. Careful: my own stihl battery saw initially had a bar with a way too small width so that it was way to flexible / elastic and its chain also had insufficient width. Don't get discouraged about battery saws if this is your initial experience. Rather upgrade the bar and the chain and then there's no inferiority in performance. Of course, my experience comes from a mindset for a concern over energy-efficiency and getting this job optimized in that metric. If you have to venture far into the wild and want to do a lot of work in one stroke, the energy density of batteries is no match against that of a jerrycan of gas.
Even if there are some "marks" (or noodles as you seem to call this), it's possible and kind of compulsory anyway to sand it to make a nice finish! I intend to use this method to make shelves, have been wanting to do it for a long time, this looks like a pretty "easy" method!
Hmm, interesting. One variation I saw that made a lot of sense was the guy lined up a laser that is used for plumb and level. He used the plumb line to make his cuts. Your method appears to be much flatter than his boards. Maybe a combination of the two. Me, I mostly make bowls so I do need good straight lines. I have found out that if I rock the saw, then I get way more bumps and humps.
Great idea and video explanation. I'm interested in making a flat top on downed trees along a bike trail. THIS would save me from buying and hauling in a mill.
A really beautiful job!!! MY best to you!
Thank you
You should mount the level on the forward part of the saw. As the rubber mounts wear, the handle flexes and will not show level as you push/pull. Nice to see thus works as well as it does, be cautious of the bar nose rising up toward your face as you push forward on the saw.
Thanks for doing this video!
Very nice - thanks for sharing! Greetings from Germany!
Awesome! Thanks for sharing your method :)
That is actually quite impressive
Who built your workbench? 🤔😬
Have you thought about using wedges? Good video!
hey buddy nice video good job. had one question for you does this method burn your sprocket out quicker than if you were using an Alaskan style
Nice my boss..👍
Keep safe to your freehand mill 🙂
I was doing this cause I needed 20+ft boards and I had cut some of the ugliest planks I had ever seen but they did they’re job so I can’t complain too much. That level I’m sure would’ve saved me a ton of time
Great technique
Imma try this next time
Cut two chunks of cherry this summer but vertically. Not the best way
So, what do you do with the timber? once you have cut the boards
I plan to release a video in the next few days showing a bench I made with freehand chainsaw cut boards
So explain how the level helps when the vibration from the saw causes the bubble to split into a froth?
@@jeremylee2024 I suppose the vibration depends on the saw. I run less than full bore, so the vibration isn’t so bad that there’s a lot of bubbles. A solution would be to drill a hole, drain the liquid, and replace with a syrup-like consistency.
Sweet! What kind of chain do you use?
A normal semi-chisel chain
very good idea to install a level on the saw. I am very intrigued by this method after watching Advoko Makes video on this. He does not use a level. Still, I think it a good idea instead of relying on muscle memory and gravity
Great video! I wish you'd put a caliper on those boards to show how uniform the thickness came out.
You’ll have to take my word for it, but the thickness was quite even on both sides and at each corner. Put it this way, I made a tv stand with those boards and didn’t need a planer. My second video shows the thickness a bit better.
ruclips.net/video/LtN8V_84r-0/видео.html
My level arrived yesterday. I'll give it a try.
Does the log have to be dry before you slice it or slices can dry separately
@@Chris-vc1dh The slices can dry separately. Logs in most climates will rot before drying.
@@carolinamountainliving7501 will not crack?
@@Chris-vc1dh drying wood usually cracks. Some methods can be used to reduce it, but it’s mostly unavoidable, depending on the wood species.
Thanks to PG&E. We have whole trees just cut down and left some 60ft long. Can't move, can't get in to cut, and blocks entrance door , driveway, and yard. Maybe can be plane'd horizontally along the top?
It could be planed horizontally with an Alaskan sawmill. The downsides of that is that it takes longer, is pretty uncomfortable, and requires the milling attachment.
Great idea!
I've hear of that brand chainsaw. What is your experience with husqvarna and stihl, if any. Which would you rather have or use? Thanks. Great job at ripping!
If it doesn't say ECHO on it don't waste your money. Pro tip
Well done/ good tip about the level.
can't tell if you are, but try to keeps as few teeth as possible in contact...lowers the load considerably and cuts much faster because the saw can stay in it's powerband with higher rpm
Yup. So true. U want to cut the log not make a ton of fine sawdust.
Get a ripping chain
Great video. 👍🏻
Impressive, how much time goes into milling a lot that size?
This log took 45 minutes
Do you send the planks through a planer?
@@kaitsamari I’ve used a planer and also just used an orbital sander. Both are fine, depending on the application. A planer is needed for projects requiring perfect boards.
@ I just wonder how long a home planer would last. I’ve never used an electric hand planer but that might be all I need and not wear out my full thickness planer
Can you provide a link to the level you purchased?
I believe it was the one below. You may find that it’s better to drain the liquid and replace it with a thicker liquid. I haven’t, but I’m thinking about doing it to reduce the bubbles that form at times.
a.co/d/97To15X
I'll try on Sunday using tortara see how my Makita will handle it
Great job. You have a lot of finesse and skil with the saw. What size engine are you using?
59cc
@@carolinamountainliving7501 thanks 59 cc
How's the tip of your bar holding up due to the heavy use it goes through? I would think you have the oil feed turned up as well
The bar is doing fine. I did remove the oil seal at the end of the bar and I go through a good amount of oil.
@@carolinamountainliving7501 mite give this a try this wkend. Need to sharpen my teeth but that's easy.
Shouldn't have any troubles with my MS 391 with a 25" bar.
Nice work! So you mentioned you were using a regular chain? Like a chisel or semi chisel at 30 degrees?
I’ve used both full and semi-chisel. Semi-chisel gives a smother cut. Some use near 0 degrees, but I’m using the standard 25-30°.
I can this ok on short logs, keep the saw vertical and make shallow cuts. Surface is not great but pretty straight.
I initially tried doing freehand cuts without a level, but I couldn’t keep the bar straight enough, so the boards were different thickness at each corner. Using the level allowed me to make each board the same thickness throughout.
Is the chain sharpened at a 10° angle? I've heard others say that's best for cutting through a log length wise.
It’s close to 25°. 10° may give a smoother finish, but the finish was pretty smooth as is, and a higher angle allows for faster cutting.
Yup. +1!
Would doing the straight cut with a skil saw then finishing with a chainsaw be easier to keep it straight?
You’d probably need a cordless circular saw with a guide to have a chance at it. But logs are not smooth or straight, the circular saw has a narrower kerf than a chainsaw, and there may be no benefit for the time it takes. I’ve found using a string or chalk line to be pretty effective.
Some commenters did not have luck with a bubble level because of their saws’ vibrations. If that’s the case, the liquid in the level could be replaced with a light oil to prevent bubbles.
The downside I see to this technique is potentially a lot of tip wear and a lot of revving your saw which might wear it out faster. I've seen a few vids from advoko makes and he was using a stihl 260 and burnt it up twice. I wasn't sure if maybe it was the 14k rev speed on the saw which don't seem to last as long or that using it that way wears it out faster (or both). How's your Shindaiwa holding up? Those are similar to echos aren't they? Nice boards in the end though. Those hardwoods are so much stronger than pine it's silly.
Shindaiwa is now made by Echo. They make good small engines, IMO. As far as saw life in general, it definitely adds a lot of hours to the saw. That said, bars last quite a while and are relatively cheap to replace, and a sharp chain on a 60cc saw has no trouble milling. Milling is generally with the grain of the wood, so I can run 50-75% power with good results. Crosscuts are more difficult because you’re cutting into the grain.
I also learned this from avoko makes. He said this technique uses less gas, so I understood that to mean low rpm. That works well for me as I have built a lot of stuff lately. It does add a lot of hours to the saw, but I haven't broken anything yet.
Sometimes, it’s just the cost of doing business. You are getting a nice slab of wood out of the deal.
Nice! I have a question. What kind of chain are you using? I was expecting to see noodles. When I mill freehand I get nice long noodles. I use a 10 degree ripping chain. Very, very nice job! those slabs look great!
It was a standard ~25 degree chain. I do get long noodles with a new or freshly sharpened chain. This chain being a touch on the dull side gave a very nice finish. Chains have to be sharp for cross cuts, but it’s not as important when going with the gain (milling).
this is a short log, have you tried on something 13-16 feet long?
I have not, but I’m confident the results would be good. Following the string and using the level ensure consistency throughout the cut.
I tried this but as soon as pressed the trigger on the saw, the vibration shook the bubble in the level into a thousand tiny bubbles. Not sure what I did wrong.
That’s awesome
Brilliant!
I cut all my slabs freehand - mainly as I can't be bothered mucking about with a mill. I also bin off lines, straight edges, guides and all that malarkey - I cut by eye & any drifting/deviation/cock-ups or boo-boos get classed as "Oh well.. that's a bit more character in that one anyway.." There are only happy accidents.
If you want perfectly flat, perfectly level timber - pop across to B & Q or the Homeless Despot & buy some Yawn-Wood. Make your thing out of that. It will be as boring as every other perfectly flat, perfectly square Yawn-Yoke everyone else makes better than you do. I grab the saw - the same saw as you're using, coincidentally, and start cutting slabs - not hugely caring what thickness they are, if there's deviations, if it's straight - just cutting out a slab. God invented other tools for smoothing out the "flaws" into flowing lines. Flowing lines are a lot more interesting than Yawn-Wood.
Today I slabbed an 8' length of Irish white birch - the results were several slabs that vary from 2" ish to 4" ish - and the grain & figure are unreal. I defy anyone to look at the woods figure & yawn - you could chuck the untouched slabs onto 2 beer kegs, call it a table & people would still stand and look at them, because wood - most wood - is naturally beautiful if you don't frot it to within an inch of its life. It's tactile - so stop smoothing it to look like plastic. If people wanted plastic, they'd go buy some - leave wood look like wood.
Thanks for this!!
nice work man. Thanks for sharing this.
Came for the chainsaw cutting,
Left wondering what Dewalt circular saw that is with the blade on the “right side” please tell
Me!
www.dewalt.com/products/power-tools/saws/circular-saws/20v-max-612-in-brushless-cordless-circular-saw-kit/dcs565p1
It’s a bit weaker than I’d like but handy since it’s cordless.
Thanks a lot!
OK not to think I'm knocking on your video because I'm not. I think it's great that you showed you can make lumber without a milling jig and just use a string and level.
However I think faster production would be an Alaskan mill or faster yet a gas powered band saw mill. But it all depends on a guy's wallet and what he's looking to do. Thanks for sharing
An Alaskan mill’s cut is slower, and it takes more time to set up. A gas-powered band saw is best, if available.
@@carolinamountainliving7501the Alaskan mill is faster than your first shallow cut with the string, in tennis shoes.
Yeah, im doing this. Thx man.
I'm confused. If the string is the guide, and the cut is going to follow straight down from there, what role does the level play? You're locked into your path based on the string.
The string only helps ensure one side of the board is straight. If your saw’s bar is not held at the same angle throughout the cut, the other side of the board could be various thicknesses. Using your eyes as the gauge instead of a level or plumb line will result in inconsistent thicknesses throughout the board.
Interesting. Thank you.@@carolinamountainliving7501
Great job. Probably easier on the saw than an Alaskan mill as you are not cutting end grain
Nice work 👍
Very smart
I really like the level idea. Seen quite a few of these freehand cutting vids and this is the first one I've seen the level utilized, nice work. Also, how tall are you? lol. That saw and 18" bar look massive in your hands. I was really pleasantly surprised when you said it was 18" because that's the length of my bar. Most of these other vids use much longer bars, I was worried mine wouldn't be large enough to make this work.
The level changed everything, allowing me to get the same thickness throughout the slabs. I’m 5’9”.
Which chain is good for dry wood
Not sure about that, but I do know that big logs retain moisture for years.
Take note people...he starts the chainsaw correctly. That wide ledge near the trigger, notice it is wider on the right, is there to put your right foot on and start it with your left arm. The best and safest way to start a chainsaw. Watch how he does it in the video at 2:50. Now the worst bit is laying out the string....just use a chalk line and snap a blue chalk line on the log. NO string to cut by accident. Other than that great video....oh and for Gods sake buy a 'Stihl' brand chainsaw....not Chinese crap copies of one.
that's a japanese saw, a subsidiary of echo I think
To all the professional loggers or chainsaw experts. Would it be beneficial to remove the bark first to keep dirt and un necessary wear off the chain?
Removing the bark would certainly improve the chain life, but the added work wouldn’t be worth it.
Ever try cutting 1" boards so as to mill to.7/8-.75"
?
No, but I’m confident it can be done. The chainsaw kerf is fairly wide, so doing thicker cuts results in less lost/wasted wood.
"bubble level" Thats the problem I have with this technique. If you plumb bob from your top lines down the front face of the log and mark 1 additional guide line. I'd think you could start from the front of the log, using both lines as a guide and make a diagonal cut into that corner that would help guide the bar down this cut started at 4:11 instead of trying to freehand plumb and cut this starting cut.
What does that mean ?? Would you mind posting a video response that illustrates your comment, please. Thank you !!
@@FatherTimeRipVanWrinkle I'm out of logs. Theres only one spot to dangle a plumb bob. Thats the cut face you get when you chop down the tree. The round cut face. Dangle the plumb bob there where you want to start the cut. On that face and mark where the plumb bob sits with a vertical line. If your chain saw tracks that line, your boards will come out with an even thickness on their width. Now look at the cut at 3:20 in the video.Hes tracking a line. He has one line. I am describing the other in detail. These two lines intersect in the corner. You can start your cut in that corner and use both the string(he has) and this plumb bob line for reference. The cut he is making determines the width of the board. But if the chainsaws bar sinks into the log at any angle but straight it will wander in either direction throughout the cut. Making it different widths along the width of the board. So lets say. 2 inches thick where you start the cut at the top tree bark at 3:20 and 3 inches thick on the bottom bark. If the bars angle goes in wrong. But it doesn't take much of the bar to go in before the two sides of the log pinch the chainsaw bar and thats the vertical line the bar will now track So you start your cut in the corner while referencing both lines and Your bar is now tracking angle while you're laying out this board width reference line being cut at 3:20 otherwise you're focusing on both the width of the cut and your bars angle since the bar is not being pinched until it is plunged a little....Now once you get to the bottom and the cut starts spreading and its no longer really guiding the bar and you hit a knot it can stop tracking angle and you will get a bad width there.
@@FatherTimeRipVanWrinkle Also my ground is not level and my logs roll around. So I suggest driving a stake against that round log face and pinning through the stake and into the log face with at least two nails to secure the log. Since this other face. The face his legs are by at 3:20(thats the board face) If the log rolls slightly, it throws off this cuts by angle. So pin it. then take your first face cut off the log and check it with a bubble level pressed against that face cut. To make sure that cut is plumb from sky to ground. Now you can either roll the log until its level or roll the log over and use that face cut as a foot so its sitting on the flat surface you just cut. If youre off one way or another on a board. Its salvageable if the cut is made by too much. so you want 2 inch stock and its 3 inches somewhere. You feed it through a thickness planer(dont reach inside to clear sawdust while its running), handheld electric planer or a hand plane. RUclips makes this stuff look easy but its not. The devils are in the details. But nobody wants to listen to someone ramble on about stuff and piece all those words together. Back in my day we used to have books.
Show us a video of how you doit.
Well done....
Why such thick lumber? I need one inch thick boards
A chainsaw’s bar kerf is much thicker than a sawmill’s, so a lot of wood is wasted if 1” thick boards are cut. Also, I need thick boards for my projects - benches, tv stand, etc.
NICE JOB...
This is way easier said then done.
Or you can use a chalk line marker instead. Good work man!
Yep, a chalk line is better
Get your logs off the ground to save your chain mate. Nice video
U see any dirt flying?
@@ebutuoyebutouy Look at the wood, you will see it is dirt stained. Especially visible on on the corner of 1 piece. And you don't normally see dirt flying unless you are really bad.
Good stuff.
standard chain have what? 30 degree tooth, it is good for cross cut, for parallel cut you need chain with 6 degree tooth, work will go much better.
is it a ripping chain
It’s just a standard chain, and the finish was very good. But I should say that it wasn’t as sharp as it was when new. A new chain or one that is very sharp will not give the same results. A ripping chain may be a better option.
Sick of the chainsaw advice yet? Guys who watch chainsaw videos must be the biggest bunch of know-it-alls on the internet.
The irony is that we're here to learn by watching YOUR method. I'm walking away with the idea to attach a level to my chainsaw, so thank you!
nice bud
Use a laser 2:22
If this brings you joy I’d say do it. But at $25 for a gallon of motomix getting your boards at the hardwarestore is way cheaper.
Gas is only $3/gallon
@@carolinamountainliving7501 Stihl Motomix? The special ethanol free chainsaw gas? Last time I checked it was $30 I think you mean normal ethanol free gas.
@@Adutchmaningermany I don’t know anyone who uses that. I use a cheap gas and oil mix.
@@carolinamountainliving7501 you are a godsgift to saw companies! 👍🏼
👍
So how do read a bubble level while the saw is running? Too much vibration... I call B.S. There would be hundreds of small bubbles oscillating at different rates.
Sometimes the bubbles do break apart, but they stay together most of the time. It may not work for every saw or level, but it works pretty well with my setup. Here’s a video that shows the bubble while making the cuts: ruclips.net/video/LtN8V_84r-0/видео.html
Good but consumption of fuel is high.
The $1 of gas per hour is a small price to pay
👍🏻
so...i tried the level...sounded good in theory....but because the saw shakes so violently its impossible to read ..... unless you stop shut saw off....so putting the level on your saw is totally pointless....waste a time...thanks
You see the bubbles pretty clearly in the video, so it’s legit. I made some great boards just two days ago with the level. Maybe your saw is the difference. A solution would be to drill a small hole, drain the liquid, then refill it with an oil or something thicker than water.
Badass
Cool