Haddon milling attachment

[paragonbuilder]

Went to my FIL's and helped him mill up a pear trunk today. I've never used one of these before. Here I am making the first cut using my 261cm.

 

[paragonbuilder]

A couple observations I would love some input on.
1. The unit is designed to run on a 2x6. But it was loose on the 2x6 my FIL had. So I had to pull the saw and unit towards myself as I cut. Seems some kind of an adjustment would me nice?

 

[paragonbuilder]

2. Since you can't dog in, it seemed to take a lot of effort to work it down the log. In addition to having to hold it towards myself.
I started with the 261 thinking since I didn't need a real long bar it would be easier, and made 2 cuts. I did the other 2 with my ported 460.
Both had very sharp chains, semi chisel on the 261, sq ground on the 460. They self feed good while bucking, but milling they were screaming, I was having a hard time applying enough pressure to load the saws.
Thoughts?
Lower the rakers more for milling?

 

[paragonbuilder]

The finish on log between the saws was interesting. Here is the semi chisel

And here is the sq. ground

Other than the chain difference, I had to go practically vertical with the 261 with the 18" bar, the 460 had a 25" so I was more on an angle.
Thoughts?

 

[paragonbuilder]

I was very impressed with how true the cuts were. The way the bracket bolts on to the bar, I didn't think it would stay square.
But if set up properly it came out perfect!

 

[paragonbuilder]

And a couple more pics

 

[TimRD]

Looks pretty good! Nice work. I've never used one of those attachments before. Your cuts don't look too bad, and the chains I use for milling is square ground. It's pretty impressive how much power you need from the saw to mill. Like you said they will self feed pretty well, but they are screaming in the cut. You might want to try milling with a slight slope to the log so gravity can help you out some. I have only milled with an Alaskan mill, but it really helps me out.

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[paragonbuilder]

Looks pretty good! Nice work. I've never used one of those attachments before. Your cuts don't look too bad, and the chains I use for milling is square ground. It's pretty impressive how much power you need from the saw to mill. Like you said they will self feed pretty well, but they are screaming in the cut. You might want to try milling with a slight slope to the log so gravity can help you out some. I have only milled with an Alaskan mill, but it really helps me out.

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Thanks Tim! It was fun to do something different!!

 

[TimRD]

Thanks Tim! It was fun to do something different!!

You're welcome, sir. Milling is addicting. I started a little while back and now I have a basement full of stacked lumber drying! Keep up the good work, and keep the pictures coming!

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[RI Chevy]

Very nice Dan. Any pics of the saw with the attachment on it? The square ground was much more square on the cut, but a little rougher. I am sure it will clean up nice. Much nicer than the semi chisel.

 

[paragonbuilder]

Very nice Dan. Any pics of the saw with the attachment on it? The square ground was much more square on the cut, but a little rougher. I am sure it will clean up nice. Much nicer than the semi chisel.

Yeah the square seemed to actually be smoother, but left the hairy stuff.
Here is the jig on my 460

I drilled dimples in the bar where the set screws are. It was moving on me. Worked better after that.

 

[paragonbuilder]

I need to find a way to make the saw work, or there is no use having a big saw and burning the fuel. I used half a tank on each saw, 2 cuts each. And the 460 wasn't faster with how it was working.
So the 261 was quieter, lighter and more fuel efficient.
In this case...

 

[RI Chevy]

Cool. Thanks Dan. I wonder if the Alaskan milling jig is any better?

 

[mdavlee]

That works well with an Alaskan to make dimensional. You can trim both sides with it and not roll the log.

 

[paragonbuilder]

That works well with an Alaskan to make dimensional. You can trim both sides with it and not roll the log.

It works in conjunction with the Alaskan Mike?

 

[mdavlee]

It works in conjunction with the Alaskan Mike?

Yep. You can make a cut down each side with the Haddon and then a cut with the Alaskan on top and then adjust for a thicker cut and make a can't without rolling the log.

 

[paragonbuilder]

Yep. You can make a cut down each side with the Haddon and then a cut with the Alaskan on top and then adjust for a thicker cut and make a can't without rolling the log.

Ah! That makes sense. Very cool!

 

[CTYank]

About the surface finish, seems most (all?) ripping chain has semi-chisel cutters. Been experimenting with options for some serious milling, and off-the-reel 30 SC WoodlandPro gives as good finish as their 30 RP ripping chain, in black locust.
Seems a good tooling combo is Alaskan III for slabbing and MiniMill for edging/ripping. With a mill like Haddon or beam-maker, probably best to rip 2X to make a custom-fit guide.

 

[flying pig]

I've been milling with round ground 404 chisel just with my custom grind on it and it works very well, the finish is comparable to milling chain. I don't think it's the square side profile that makes or breaks the milling chain that's for sure. I think cutter angle is much more important.