Whatcha Sawin' ???

[DPatton]

PA_Walnut,

Those are some interesting stickers you have in that slab pile. Do you make them yourself?

[Darrel]

That blade is wandering a tad bit don't you think?

[Crossroads]

Love the Walnut!!!

[burtle]

Roast you!?  How about congratulate you: Well done!  
Free logs are good and it appears you are doing great with them!

Only thing I see--walnut isn't exceptionally prone to staining, but your stickers appear to be softwood AND wide, which won't allow (slow) drying under them. See if you can make some stickers that are more narrow to put between your walnut or move them several times.

On the bottom it appears that you have thinner stock stacked-up agains the sides. Don't do that either--airflow is good.

All in all, you're after to a GREAT start! Enjoy your wood.

I will use different stickers and make them thinner.

I'm going to fix the other stack as well. Thanks again for the tips!

[Downstream]

After three years of sawing I finally gave up on a log.  4 nails, hidden metal in the middle of the log, 2 toasted blades and I finally shut it down.  Good news it was the last log I had left to saw. There was so much metal I don't even want to risk chainsawing it into firewood.  To bad since it was a nice looking log.  Glad I get them for free.  Any ideas of what I do with it or I will roll it into the ravine?

[Magicman]

It would almost make a bench. 

[Briankinley2004]

After sitting idle since the fall I cut some red oak, white oak and gum today and made some lumber pallets off Jim Rogers design. I have logs to cut but want to get set up to handle them with the sky trac first. I used the extension to put flitches on and will try and get the backstops built for it soon so I can start using it to cut on

[E-Tex]

ERC and a few pine.
full 4"x4"x10', 2"x4", and some 4/4 various widths. 

[WLC]

Was nice and warm here today at about 38-40° so after digging the sawmill out of the snow for the second time in the past couple of weeks I literally dug a small log off the pile and cut some stickers.  Just couldn't stand not running it for a bit. As soon as I can actually see what I've got in the log pile I'm going to start whittling it down.  Hopefully another week or two at the most before I can start in earnest.  Got to get this stuff sawed up so I can drag some more out of the woods to saw.

[PA_Walnut]

Those are some interesting stickers you have in that slab pile. Do you make them yourself?

Dpatton, the stickers are design to have minimal contact with the wood, allowing air to get to the area they touch. This minimizes (eliminates) sticker staining, etc.

Walnut isn't quite as prone as lighter woods, but I've seen WAY too many walnut treasures stashed in a barn, tobacco lath as stickers, only to stain/rot at the point under the stickers.

I have made these before, but those particular ones are purchased. They are NOT cheap at $2ea, but well worth it for me. They are oversized to allow better airflow for slabs. I also use 3/4 inch sized ones too!

[Kbeitz]

I'm with MM... Make a bench...

[Crusarius]

After three years of sawing I finally gave up on a log.  4 nails, hidden metal in the middle of the log, 2 toasted blades and I finally shut it down.  Good news it was the last log I had left to saw. There was so much metal I don't even want to risk chainsawing it into firewood.  To bad since it was a nice looking log.  Glad I get them for free.  Any ideas of what I do with it or I will roll it into the ravine?

Throw some legs under it put it by the road with a for sale sign maybe make $50 off of it

[LeeB]

Take nothing less than $300.

[Jim_Rogers]

I finally finished the block order for the paving company:



 

The last four 6x6x4' are on the mill.
I emailed the company that they order was done. And sent them the second part invoice. As they had picked up part of the order already, and I had invoiced them for that some 3 weeks ago.
The man in the company that ordered them called to discuss the invoice.
He said he had told the office to not pay the first part of the invoice as there were more pieces of lumber coming to complete his order.
I was not happy to hear that.
I emailed him an invoice for the entire order.
They had been pushing me to complete the order as then needed the blocks, and after I told them they were done, I expected him to rush right over and pick them up. But then didn't come on Friday, and they don't work on Saturdays, that much during the winter.
I wanted to ask you about how to handle this in the future. Would you not send a part order? if they are not going to pay it. They do issue purchase order numbers for every order.
The current trailer plank order is half done (1 trailer deck done) and one almost done of the same number of planks for a spare trailer. And they paid me for the part of this order that they picked up three weeks ago.

Any advice would be helpful.
Jim Rogers

[SawyerTed]

I have a bad case of MPD, Multiple Project Disorder.  So after spending 5 hours on a bathroom remodel for a neighbor, I got to do some sawing sawing yesterday. 

I'm working on a cut list for a sawmill shed.  So I cut 6x6x14 for posts, 2x8x14 for rafters and top plate beams, and a stack of 1x6 and 1x8 side boards.  Dr. Emily, my wife, was off bearing and stacking.  Since she volunteered to help, I can't criticize her stickering.  I'll be anchor sealing the ends this afternoon or in the morning.  All material is pine and poplar.

[PA_Walnut]

I have a bad case of MPD, Multiple Project Disorder.  So after spending 5 hours on a bathroom remodel for a neighbor, I got to do some sawing sawing yesterday.  

Tru'dat here also! :(

This has piqued my interest with the sawmill shed part. I have to do the same. Curious what kinda build you're doing? I have a bunch of oak and poplar logs allocated to this and need to get moving!

In the meantime, sawed this awesome cherry yesterday. Made 8/4, 10/4 and 12/4 slabs. Awesome material!
First image was wetted down. The 2nd one shows some figure in the slabs. ;D

[WDH]

I'm with MM... Make a bench...

It would cost one SGU to just move that thing . 

[thecfarm]

Magicman,you may saw'em and leave'em,but back a couple pages again,I would saw'em and steal'em. :D  :D

[SawyerTed]

My plan is to build a pole building 26' wide by 40' long.  It will have a 4/12 roof pitch (snow load is not to serious a concern) with a metal roof attached to 1x sheathing boards.  Rafters will be 2x8 24" oc set on built up beams which will be set on 6x6x10 posts.  Posts will be set on concrete footings with 24" tall concrete piers.  On the log loading side there will be a 20' space between posts to allow logs to be loaded to the mill.

Board an batten and sliding doors will be applied once I figure out how work will flow. 

I want the building tall enough to allow operation of loading equipment  underneath and addition of another shed perpendicular to this building.

[Magicman]

@Jim_Rogers  After the invoice is paid I would ask to talk with your representative and state your case for direction.  He wants what he wants and you need what you need.  It seems to me that the precident is already set with you being paid for the partial trailer plank order.

When sawing, I generally ask to be paid at the end of each week and the final at the end of the job.  I may not actually need it but the "need" is not a business decision.  Remaining current with invoicing and being paid are because you need to maintain your cash flow.

[WV Sawmiller]

Jim,

   I'd go ahead and deliver/surrender the rest of this order to the customer in good faith. After you collect for this invoice I would take special note how long it does take them to pay. I can somewhat understand them not wanting to pay till they have the entire order because there is a good chance they can't complete their work till they have it all. This should have been clear up front to both parties though. 

   If they are slow paying and want more materials in the future I'd tell them cash in advance based on past collection delays with them. That will help ensure the worker bees keep pressure on the pay and accounting people and let them know they are causing problems. 

   I am like Lynn on my pay. I tell my customers I get paid at the end of the job or weekly, whichever comes first. Then again I am selling a mobile sawing service not the finished lumber/product. If my project gets interrupted the customer still has the balance of his logs. I once let a customer get about 3 weeks of my work before I finished and got paid for it all and I can honestly say I was getting nervous. He did pay immediately upon completion.

[Jim_Rogers]

Thanks for the advice 
Jim Rogers 

[Dave Shepard]

I suppose a little give and take is expected with a regular customer, but I have moved to 30 to 50 % down, and full payment for anything that leaves the mill yard. I'm not a financing company, and I'm not going to play the 30 days game, either. 

[Peter Drouin]

Jim, Nothing leaves here without not being paid for. Unless I get a big order like 2000 BF of stuff. I let stuff go like ½ a timber frame. And they pay for what they get. Small orders get all cut and done before I call them.
I don't let customers push me. Their emergency is not mine.

[Kbeitz]

I'm with MM... Make a bench...

It would cost one SGU to just move that thing .

A bench with wheels....