Going stationary

[ljmathias]

Thanks, Donnie- sure will to both.

Woodmizer traveling tune-up specialist and snake oil salesman Bob cruised in this morning- great guy to work with and sure knows his stuff.  Despite on-again-off-again showers, we jumped right in on the mill: got the legs off and replaced on the front, then dropped the legs on the back along with bolts holding the wheels on.  Tried lifting the back end with the front end loader but balance is way off on the mill to one side and Bob said he really didn't want to have to pick it up after it rolled over- easy for a dog, not so much for a bandsawmill...

Instead, we bolted on the back legs, let the air out of the tires and then took the wheels off- dropped the axle and just slid it out the side (did have to cut the electric brake wire- now how am I going to get the brakes to work?).  Spent the next two-three hours replacing this and that, tightening up belts and chains, greasing and lubing here and there, and finally got the head aligned and the blade guides squared up along with the dogs on the bed.  Seems I've been out of alignment a fair bit- which might explain the not-quite-square cants I was getting (and here I thought it was just me without my glasses on).  Quit for the day about 1 (maybe Woodmizer people don't eat much but my body demands food now and then, and then had really snuck up on us!).  Tomorrow we drain the hydraulic oil, change a couple of filters, tighten up a few things and then put the covers back on and see how it cuts.  Got to hammerdrill some holes in that fresh-and-soft concrete so I can anchor the new legs in so don't wobble all over when we start cutting, but should get that done shortly.  Will post some pictures shortly, but I have to say, don't she look sleek and ready to work now!

Lj

[ljmathias]

Couple of pictures on the transition- got the legs anchored (some of them) but need to put spacers under one or two.  Woodmizer Bob suggested steel plates of the right thickness or wood, which seems to span the range from durable to not so much durable: any suggestions?  I was kinda hoping the legs from Woodmizer would come with rubber pads for footings like motor mounts maybe, something to absorb some of the vibration so the anchor bolts don't work themselves loose with time.  Anyway, progress is being made and without the wheels underneath, sure looks clean and easy to get sawdust and bark out from under... and as Donnie commented, having the back open means I can throw slabs off that side.  Kept the slab close enough to grade that I should be able to put down a couple of PT 6X6's to stage logs on.  Wow, this is really exciting!










Lj

[ksu_chainsaw]

Go find an old truck bed mat- it is roughly 3/16" thick, and you can cut it up to shim the legs.  If you need thinner shims than that, use some older corrugated barn metal- just cut out a piece, lay it on a log, then pound the corrugations out with a sledge hammer- quick, cheap, and easy.

Charles

[Meadows Miller]

Gday

Looking Good Mate looking good  ;) ;D 8) 8) 8) You have every right to be excited  ;) ;D ;) I dont have a shed over mine yet  :( :( :'( :'( but ill have one soon  ;D 8)

Reguards Chris

[ljmathias]

Thanks, Charles- should have thought of those two myself; got trim pieces of barn metal next to the big barn I haven't finished yet.  Would love to have some of the rubber used in motor mounts in different thicknesses- seems like it would be great to use under all the legs as vibration isolators (seem reason we have motor mounts): Woodmizer, take notice- this could be a new product for you all!

Lj

[ljmathias]

Ok, folks, last of the pictures of the tune up- rained all night so the fresh red fill dirt is muck all around.  Sure is nice being on a clean-for-a-few-minutes slab!  ;D  First couple of pictures show the first log cut in the new shed and the first-ever sawdust laying where it should be now- easy to scoop into the waiting bucket of my backhoe. Amazing how clean and fast the saw cuts now that Bob has worked his magic on it: I love working with people who know their job- cut training and years of experience plus a good dose of common sense.







Just so you all know, this is what the Woodmizer repair and tune-up truck looks like- right pretty sight when you need service.





And this is Bob toting up the final tally- great value actually (I use the working formula value=performance/cost) because now the saw cuts fast, smooth, straight and clean, even in the nasty and sticky SYP we are so proud of here in the Deep South: mess to cut and work with till it dries out, and then it's some of the best wood in the world.





And here's the view I'll have while I'm cutting (once I cut the rest of the frame up and the roof on this week).  If you look carefully, you can see the dogwoods in bloom already. 





Walking back to the house for lunch just now, I noticed the grass  in the front yard (meaning weeds of whatever kind will grow there when I cut it like grass) already needs the first cut of the year.  This is important down here to level the playing field: the first green stuff up isn't what you really want, so you have to cut it back quick to let the better stuff get sunlight and get started (not really good stuff either, at least the people in the subdivisions in town that we moved away from would have it all killed off and replaced with something having a much fancier name).  Any way, makes me happy today: rain has stopped so maybe I can cut some more of the frame, grass is starting to grow, flowers are out and I got most of my controlled burn done before the rain hit (although I did catch a phone pole on fire- burns like lighter pine!).  Hope your days are as good- economy may be down but I'm learning to focus more and more on the little things that really matter- beautiful wife, playful and full-of-energy grandsons, family mostly healthy and working hard, and God's beautiful earth to enjoy and take care of best we can.

Lj

[ellmoe]

   Very good, lj. Thanks for sharing your journey with us.
Mark

[Warren]

ljm,

Thanks for sharing the pictures.  I am particularly interested to see how much space is now open thru the middle of the mill since you took the axle out.  Been thinking about doing the same to mine.  Hmmm...

Looking good.  Enjoy !


-w-

[ljmathias]

Finally ready to update you all on progress- hadn't realized it had been so long but I guess time moves slower but seems faster here in the "hot and humid" which we're into full bore now- 85 degrees and 95 humidity with thunderstorms on and off, a perfect summer day.  Anyway, back to topic: first picture shows tools that made this shed frame possible as a one-man job: my son's miniexcavator is surprisingly (to me) effective at lifting the two large beams into place on the front and back top- almost took an arm off trying to do this with the FEL and a makeshift gin pole based on a lift-pole: dumb!  Anyway, got the beams in place real easy once I got the right "tool-" ain't it always the case that you got to have the right tool, which means you have to have lots cause you never know which will be the "right" one till the job gets to that point...





Next is a close up of one of the corners with braces both ways held in place with pockets of sorts and 12" fastwing screws.  Had to pre-drill the holes for these as even with a good impact driver, I could only get one in about 6" or so before it locked up.  Once in place, they hold pretty well under tension but not so good in flex or twist- means you have to design with tension as the main force to deal with (which I didn't actually do here- just threw it up as fast as I could to get my mill under cover).  Pretty solid frame over all although it does move a little when I accidentally bang it with the FEL...




And here are two of my "helpers" which make life all worth while in so many ways: grandsons numbers 3 and 4, one each from my two sons' families.  I hope one day they get a chance to work in and with the buildings and tools I'm gradually getting together on the farm here.  Guess that's really what all this work is all about- giving them a chance to try and learn skills that will help in their lives and self-respect.





Took these pictures yesterday and today got the first four pieces of metal roofing on.  Started to rain pretty good so I decided that sliding off the roof was probably not a good way to get down and gave up for the day.  Hope to finish the roof and some siding in the next few days so that my mill is protected.  Suddenly dawned on after I lined up the visit from Woodmizer Bob that I really should take better care of my tools, especially if I want to pass them on to the grandkids.

Lj