Please look at the main title to see the size of Alaskan mill for this listing - the chainsaw is not included in the sale and is there for demo purposes only. You get the bracing kit with mills 48" + which helps keep the mill square. This is why there is a larger jump in price from the 36" to 48" mills.
The Alaskan Mk III Chainsaw mill is brand new and boxed ready to be assembled and used. It is made by Granberg International in America. Granberg are the longest running manufacturers of chainsaw mills and have been going for 40 years. There are lots of other chainsaw mills out there and I have seen and used most of them. For most chainsaw milling applications the Granberg mills are the fastest and easiest to use. All Granberg mills have been CE marked and rated for use in Europe. The mills are designed to mill wood using an ordinary chainsaw. You can adjust the rails to fit both smaller and larger chainsaws but ideally you want to match the size of chainsaw with the same size of mill e.g if your chainsaw has a 36" bar then a 36" Alaskan will fit best. We also supply the Alaskan Mk III 24",30",36", 48",56" and 72" sizes.
How wide will I be able to cut? - Simple - take 6" off the chainsaw bar length (this is what you lose where the mill has to clamp beneath the nose sprocket) and this is your max width of cut.
We also sell a smaller type of horizontal mill called the 'Granberg small log mill' also listed in our ebay shop.
For vertical cuts there is also the 'Granberg mini mill' which is the most versatile of the mills.
One of the main questions asked is - is it adjustable - I have a saw with a 25" bar but should I buy an Alaskan 36" as I may get a larger saw later? Yes because the way the mill clamps to the bar is all adjustable and so you can fit a large mill to a small bar.
If you have questions please look at http://www.alaskanmill.co.uk/Faqs.aspx
How do I make first my first cut? - With the Alaskan Mark III Mill you need to have a flat surface for the mill to ride on to get a flat even cut. You can nail a 2x10 or use a simiar straight bit of timber. My preference is an aluminium ladder. The mills top guide rails run along the top of this surface ensuring the first cut is straight.
How thick can the Mark III cut? - The Alaskan Mark III Mill can cut boards as thin as 1/2 inch and as thick as 13 inches. Setup and make your first cut, remove this first slab. Then adjust the mill to the thickness of planks you want to produce. The rails of the mill ride on top of your first cut. After this you can cut thicker on thinner slabs depending on preference. If you come across timber the is too big for the Alaskan then you need either to a) take a plank off the top, roll the log and take another plank, roll again and take a third plank thus forming what is known as a 3 sided cant. However this is quite a long winded process. Much easier is to get the smaller granberg mini mill and take the sides off without moving the log.
What quality is the lumber produced? - If used correctly the Alaskan mill can produce sawn lumber of that equaling a large sawmill. You would think a chainsaw cutting timber would leave a rough finish - wrong! Because there are more teeth per second cutting the wood the finish is smoother than you may think. With ripping chain even smoother. All the instructions needed come within the box. All you need to do is assemble the mill, clamp it to your chainsaw and away you go. The mill does not require the bar to be drilled in any way. Why turn lovely hard and soft wood into firewood when it could all be turned into valuable planks, lumber and rustic furniture.
Chainsaw milling as with all chainsaw work can be physically demanding but the stunning results will keep you coming back for more! I have set up a seperate business from the timber I have cut down and milled. Have a look at www.treet.org to see what you think.
If needed we can supply ripping chain (chain designed be used with the mill making cutting down the grain faster and more efficient). Please see the ripping chain for sale in my shop for more information on what makes it different from ordinary chain. Although more expensive Granberg ripping chain is well known for being the best ripping chain on the market. We can also supply any/all Granbergs other products e.g 12v grinders, longer or shorter rails, spare parts. It is important not to use ripping chain for ordinary cross cutting as there is a greater chance of kick back.
Also see my faq at http://www.alaskanmill.co.uk/Faqs.aspx for more information. It will answer a lot of the questions you may have.
Always wear the correct personal protective equipment and and ensure you have had the correct training when using a chainsaw.
And you don't necessarily have to make things out of your timber in order to turn a profit. You can dry your wood or sell it 'green' direct to customers. There is a big market out there for timber and if you think about it where else would you be able to buy oak, willow, ash, beech, yew, maple, cedar and all the rest of the timber that is available in this country but is just decaying or being used as firewood.