Looking at getting a portable chainsaw mill, or sometimes called Alaskan chainsaw mill, to cut planks for raised gardening beds. My question is how much saw do I need? I have a Stihl MS271 (50cc) with 20” bar, but thinking that won’t be enough? Is 60cc enough? Something like a Husky 460 or Stihl 311/391?

I got my first Alaskan 'mill' in the 70's. You will probably discover that it is hard work, very hard work. I don't know what kind of trees you have in Tenn., but western softwood will work the hell out of you and your saw. In my opinion, the biggest saw you can get your hands on will reduce time and effort. Also, read up on the tutorials regarding saw chain configuration (they make a ripping chain) and filing. Best of luck.

Thanks, I was doing some reading earlier and saw other folks recommend a ripping chain, need to look into that further.

Iv'e ripped a few with my 50cc.....10 foot an hour and I was probably pushing it. I was also using a ripping chain. 2 slabs and I was done for the day with that task.There are some videos online where folks are doing it freehand/vertically looks much more comfortable. On a big enough tree you could do that and use a 2x4 as a guide also and get multiple cuts. Takes time and probably practice and unless your selling planter boxes they don't need to be perfect. I will tell you it was all my saw wanted.....lotsa rest and lotsa extra bar oil....below is an example of freehand method

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LtN8V_84r-0

If you go over to the Forestry forum...those guys will tell you buy the biggest saw you can afford.... I looked at that and just bought a sawmill, it was cheaper...at least that's what I told my wife . You can do it with 70-90 hp pretty good. You should look around/do search for a small sawmill operation close to you... Woodmizer has search for a sawyer on their website I think....unless you need a ton of slabs or just want to do it, to do it....that was me btw

Oh yeah, if you are going to make any kind of a volume business out of this....get a mill.

Great info…thanks guys

You need a saw.

None if those you mention are anything I would use as a saw.
For a mill, 80cc plus if you want to get work done.
Be sure it's tuned properly, use good oil, premium fuel.
That's about the worst way to cut a tree.
And you are going to be working it hard.

I got started down this road a little bit about a year ago. Watching it on TV shows and having firewood in piles from two years before got me wondering... What else could I do with this tree that fell?

Before I knew it, had a couple slabs. Next thing a couple posts...

Then I had a "mill" that wasn't much more than a guide. Then a bare minimum saw, 60, and a longer bar than you think you will need and a new Alaska mill.

By then I was making some pretty darn nice posts and pretty awesome 2" slabs...

Soon as I got that mill put together, I knew. "I'm gonna need a bigger saw."

Accidently bumped your location.
Is that really where you are?

LOL, no. It was suppose to be a funny joke but it has been so long since I put it on there I don't remember what it means.

Get you some steel toe shoes, chaps, ear plugs.

So are you going to get one of these? Any questions. Got me all excited someone else was interested in it.

Talked with my neighbor yesterday, he has rough cut planks from a small mill, going to work something out with him, we good like that here in the hills 😁

Also really don’t want to buy another saw, ones I have prolly won’t run it.