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#1
The Outdoor Board / Re: Building a Kestrel nesting...
Last post by Jeff - Today at 07:09:37 PMHanging the nesting box
#2
Sawmills and Milling / Re: Ideas sought - most effici...
Last post by scsmith42 - Today at 05:48:11 PMThanks all for the suggestions and ideas - lots for me to think over. I really appreciate the sharing of knowledge; most of the equipment mentioned are things that I did not even know existed.
One of my fears is that if I invest a lot of $ into the "proper" production style equipment, if the buyer finds a better deal in a month or two I'll be stuck with an expensive boat anchor. So phase 1 may be to see what I can fabricate on my own and in a few months if things are still progressing well then I can look at moving into phase 2 (double end trim saw, etc).
Rusticretreater - one thought that I had regarding pre-trimming the logs was to have the end trims be made perpendicular to two faces, and then to mark the faces so that I could set the log up on the mill and do full taper milling based upon those same two faces. This might resolve "most" of the problem of the end alignment. I have some leeway regarding the angle at the ends of the 2x4's, as long as the overall length is within spec.
I am familiar with the pack dockers (Holzer's). One concern that I have is that if I'm purchasing logs that are the standard 16'6" - 17' lengths, if I'm careful with my trimming I would be able to net two 100" logs per 16'6" log. But that does not give me much tolerance at all for any misalignments in the stacks if I'm using a pack docker.
Without question the suggestions regarding using RAS, double end trim saw or other saws with guides to cut through a dozen or so 2x4's at the same time on a conveyor would probably yield the closest tolerance results. I'm just trying to figure out a way to reduce the labor involved in case the contact peters our in a few weeks / months.
Fortunately I have a well equipment welding and fabrication shop, as well as a machine shop, so if I can keep things simple enough I should be able to fabricate a solution in-house.
Please keep the ideas coming, and thanks again for the feedback.
Scott
One of my fears is that if I invest a lot of $ into the "proper" production style equipment, if the buyer finds a better deal in a month or two I'll be stuck with an expensive boat anchor. So phase 1 may be to see what I can fabricate on my own and in a few months if things are still progressing well then I can look at moving into phase 2 (double end trim saw, etc).
Rusticretreater - one thought that I had regarding pre-trimming the logs was to have the end trims be made perpendicular to two faces, and then to mark the faces so that I could set the log up on the mill and do full taper milling based upon those same two faces. This might resolve "most" of the problem of the end alignment. I have some leeway regarding the angle at the ends of the 2x4's, as long as the overall length is within spec.
I am familiar with the pack dockers (Holzer's). One concern that I have is that if I'm purchasing logs that are the standard 16'6" - 17' lengths, if I'm careful with my trimming I would be able to net two 100" logs per 16'6" log. But that does not give me much tolerance at all for any misalignments in the stacks if I'm using a pack docker.
Without question the suggestions regarding using RAS, double end trim saw or other saws with guides to cut through a dozen or so 2x4's at the same time on a conveyor would probably yield the closest tolerance results. I'm just trying to figure out a way to reduce the labor involved in case the contact peters our in a few weeks / months.
Fortunately I have a well equipment welding and fabrication shop, as well as a machine shop, so if I can keep things simple enough I should be able to fabricate a solution in-house.
Please keep the ideas coming, and thanks again for the feedback.
Scott
#3
General Board / Re: Brag about, or dog, your t...
Last post by aigheadish - Today at 05:14:35 PMThe GMC is being returned. It rolled off their delivery truck with a nasty squeak that didn't go away. It also had flakey running boards. I called and had words with them yesterday after they were not willing to fix the squeak (squeek?) and they made it partially right by extending my return period another 5 days.
I'd thought about it and found a 2022 f150 xlt, that is nice and less electrical. A few less comfy features but also a third less expensive. And better on gas.
I think it'll be a good move.
I'd thought about it and found a 2022 f150 xlt, that is nice and less electrical. A few less comfy features but also a third less expensive. And better on gas.
I think it'll be a good move.
#4
Sawmills and Milling / Re: Ideas sought - most effici...
Last post by longtime lurker - Today at 05:12:46 PMI freakin' love jobs like this... its like everyone is panning for gold and I am too but I'm selling sand by the ton as well.
The accepted big answer is a double ended trim saw and it's well worth looking around the various used equipment brokers for a deal. You never know you might just get lucky.
The accepted medium answer is a pack docker. Material gets stacked in a frame with one end up tight, pack gets strapped and the entire pack goes through basically a glorified chainsaw on a fixed pivot point to cut each end.
I still use a single saw with length stops. Thing being it's not the single saw that's the choke point it's the ergonomics around infeed and outfeed. To make it work with one person you need powered rollers and pop up or swing length stops so CTL is but a pause as the material goes down the line.
I dunno, I try and cut every log square in the yard but we get some awful ends in the mill. I'd not be expecting to find a solution out there.
The accepted big answer is a double ended trim saw and it's well worth looking around the various used equipment brokers for a deal. You never know you might just get lucky.
The accepted medium answer is a pack docker. Material gets stacked in a frame with one end up tight, pack gets strapped and the entire pack goes through basically a glorified chainsaw on a fixed pivot point to cut each end.
I still use a single saw with length stops. Thing being it's not the single saw that's the choke point it's the ergonomics around infeed and outfeed. To make it work with one person you need powered rollers and pop up or swing length stops so CTL is but a pause as the material goes down the line.
I dunno, I try and cut every log square in the yard but we get some awful ends in the mill. I'd not be expecting to find a solution out there.
#5
The Outdoor Board / Re: First Bear
Last post by SwampDonkey - Today at 05:09:29 PMHave someone grow a field of that feed corn, the bears with have paths tramped to death into the corn and areas mulled down. It's been 2 years since they had corn up by the woodlot in a 150 acre field. There was at least 4 different ones and I found a den that year in the fall. The dirt road was criss crossed with bear tracks that year. Never seen no tracks in the snow last winter, but that corn year there was some in December.
#6
General Board / Re: The weather 2025
Last post by SwampDonkey - Today at 05:05:05 PMAs far as the hot days, I always remember a couple hot days then cool off for a week. Seems normal from my experience. A week or two on end is not normal for up here, and I have not seen that for 3 years now, don't hope to ever see it. 
That lasted for a 3 or 4 year run here, was terrible dry had to water the garden. Haven't watered for 3 years. Looks like some rain for the weekend. 77° here this afternoon, was 71° early this morning on the porch.
That lasted for a 3 or 4 year run here, was terrible dry had to water the garden. Haven't watered for 3 years. Looks like some rain for the weekend. 77° here this afternoon, was 71° early this morning on the porch. #7
Sawmills and Milling / Re: Kubota SVL75-3
Last post by barbender - Today at 04:44:13 PMI would definitely demo or rent the machine that you're thinking about purchasing.
#8
Sawmills and Milling / Re: Ideas sought - most effici...
Last post by barbender - Today at 04:42:46 PMI had this exact same issue, but I never really got it solved satisfactorily. I tried cutting the logs precisely, but I still struggled to maintain that ½" variance. So I switched to a 42" chainsaw bar on a 390 Husky, and just trimming entire packs. I got that to work, but I still wasn't satisfied with the results. I did it by screwing upright 2x4s to the pack that I used as guides. I never added pads to the bar but that wouldve been the next step. This method would've worked well I think, if I would've went to the next step and built a steel jig that I could set the packs in, with squared steel uprights to run the saw guide pads on.
#9
Sawmills and Milling / Re: Where do you get such wide...
Last post by tule peak timber - Today at 04:42:23 PMOn the NNRH job back a couple of years ago I had to end match, grain match, color match, a 7000 square foot curved wall with walnut. Each joint had to be video documented and passed by the "committee " before packing for shipment to the job site. Knots, what are you kidding....
#10
Sawmills and Milling / Re: Ideas sought - most effici...
Last post by Mooseherder - Today at 04:17:24 PMA trim saw or board sizer like this one would probably work well.
This one is wider than the pic shows.
This one is wider than the pic shows.
