How did your morning go?

[Jeff]

I just love Fridays. Especially when I know I am going to bug out about 9 am. But Fridays like this one I could do without. I could also do with out loggers who think that they need to send me wrapped presents on the last day of November

Here is present number 3 of 5. Lets just say I spent most of my morning standing next to the saw instead of cutting lumber.


Ceramic fence insulator.

[TanglewoodTimber]

 I can surely relate to all of that.  I finally bought a Rens metal detecter and solved 99% of the problem.  the log owners get to pay for down time at $55.00 per hour and the teeth that need replacing.  they learn this up front before any cutting occurs.  I have refused cutting for people where there is a chance of hitting such objects.  Better luck in the future. :-[

[Jeff]

Our mill runs around 30,000 ft a day and a log like those containing the insulators are processed in under a minute.

So any metal detecting system would have to be a whole log automatic scan. The time taken to detect each log for metal would be far more expensive then the normal amount of tramp metal events that occur cost us.

Welcome to the forum tanglewood, I remember when you joined a little while back. thanks for the post and the info for custom sawyers!

[CHARLIE]

So Jeff, you want to know how my Friday morning went. Are you sure? Well.....let me see if I can remember. ???  I got up at 5:00 a.m. and headed for work at 6:00 a.m.  I got there about 6:30 a.m. and turned on my computer. After it booted up I checked some reports to make sure there wasn't any major order problems, but found one. An order had set up with too many conversions, so I was going to have to manually fix it using an update program (we call it a SPUFI) once I figured out what needed to be done. But before I did that I walked over and badgered a guy into buying me a cup of coffee. Then we sat and B.S.'d for about an hour. I then went back and fixed the problem order. The phone rang but I knew that it was someone with a problem, so I didn't answer it. Instead I went and bought myself and another guy a cup of coffee and we talked football for about an hour. After that I went back to my desk and sure enough there was a message on my phone, but I didn't pick it up 'cause I knew it was a problem and that I would have to do some work and it was almost lunch time. So I walked over to the office next door and talked about woodworking 'til it was time to go to lunch. ;D   Of course this is a fantasy but I'm hoping you were believing it.  Actually, out of my department, there was only 2 of us there 'cause the rest took vacation. I was swamped trying to resolve peoples order problems and correct records and answer questions. I had a line of people at my door once during the morning. Wish I had one of those "take a number" machines. ;D ;D

[swampwhiteoak]

I went into the office on Friday thinking I might get to leave early that day  :D.  Spent the morning on the phone to landowners that are worried about ordering trees and trying to set up some appointments for next week.  Finished up a windbreak design and headed over to a meeting.  Meeting lasted longer than expected and I skipped lunch.  Drove across a few counties checking site prep for planting sights next year.  Got back to the office about 6:30.  Since we don't get overtime, I seem to "donate" a few extra hours here and there.

I spend enough time during the week posting here to get them back, though. ;)

[Gordon]

Looks like I had a much better morning than you did Jeff.

Got to work at seven, waited for the sallyport to clear out that was seven thirty. Informed the building that I would be working in they would have no water for a few hours. Let everyone get out of the showers and do one last flush. Get the materials out of the van and down to the basement. Turned water off at about eight thirty am. Drained down the waterlines in the building about another half hour. Started cutting in new valves into the existing water lines.

Cut in and solder three 2-1/2" ball valves on the cold water lines one on each teir of the building. Cut in three 1-1/2" hot water valves and three 1" hot water recurculation line valves. Opened up the 4" main and flushed the system, checked for leaks and cleaned up tools. Got done at about one pm.

Then the BAD afternoon started. Went to load the tools in the van and realized that the keys were locked safely in the van. So I had to bring the tools back in the building and lock them in a closet. No problem I carry an extra van key on a separate ring. But guess where the other key ring was.----IN MY TRUCK.---So not wanting to sound like a dummie and call on the radio back to the shop. I walked across the compound back to the inside maintenance shop and borrowed a van to run to the outside shop where the extra key was.

Drive back inside drop off the van walk back across the compound and get my tools out of the locked closet. Finished up at---two thirty. Well I guess that sort of worked out perfect because quitting time is three. So by the time I got back outside the compound there was enough time to write the work order and leave for the weekend.

Gordon

[Frank_Pender]

I stalled around most of the morning today.  I had a task to do that was not really on my wanted schedule.   It was a friends funeral.  They are sometimes really tough, you know.  The mill operation was a blessing when I arrived back home.  Hard work is often a very soothing remedy for what trials one has to face.  Preping the kiln for another load took some of the salt out of the anguish of the day.  Thanks for letting me vent here. :'(

[TxLogger]

Monday Morning--it's a beautiful day.  Planned on finishing up cutting a small tract of hardwood.  Had day all planned & lined out.  Help show's on time.  Great start .

Hand sticks tractor in mud.  Tears valve stem out of left rear tire.  Down about 2 hours & out $70.  Not bad we'll recover.

Got a load ready to haul.  Haul truck stuck in mud.  Okay no problem not stuck real bad.  Work an hour on getting unstuck, just about there & throw drive shaft on haul truck.  Now broke down in mud, busted yoke on transmission, can't get nut off, day has gone to ???? :'(

Go home will try again tomorrow :D

Tom

[Tom]

Hey Tex,

Here's a good tip.

Next time you are able to get your tractor tire free from the rim so nothing gets burned, do this.

Cut a piece of 2" or so iron pipe about 1 1/2" or 2" long and spot weld it at the valve stem opening.  It doesn't even have to be as tall as the valve stem but I feel safer if it is.  Don't be too concerned with a tight fit because you want water to be able to get out when you park the tractor.

Then when you are running in the woods or deep in the mud the stem is protected.   ;D

[Gordon]

Well Tom great minds think alike. ;)

I was thinking the exact same thing when reading that post on the valve stem. Did it to my last tractor after the same thing happened. Now on this tractor it came with protectors on the front rims but not on the rear. Go figure. So I added some to the back rims. Two quick tack welds on the pipe nipples and some paint a great money saver.

A friend actually went a step farther with his. He used threaded nipples and put caps on top to help keep the mud out of the pipe. I just hope he used plenty of never seize on the threads. ;D

Gordon

[Tom]

yeah, me too.  

It would be my luck to never get the caps off and have to dismount the tire to air/water it up.

I guess a lot of you guys can't use water, what with the freezing winters..........but we do down here.

I have found that a short piece of pipe works fine.  It needs no top.

I have a great skid pan and a plate in front of the tractor too.  Talk about saving money try tearing a hole in your crankcase or radiator.

[CHARLIE]

Tom, up here the farmers use antifreeze in their tires instead of water. ;)

[Tom]

.....................oh

[Corley5]

Calcium Chloride is also used as ballast in tires up here.  But its corrosive nature makes it hard on rims if a leak develops.  A new stuff called RimGuard is made from corn or sugar beet squeezins, has a food rating from the USDA and is non-corrosive but stinky and sticky.  

[Frank_Pender]

  Corley5,  Does it freeze?

[Corley5]

Doesn't freeze but must get pretty thick.

[Frank_Pender]

  Speaking of thickness.   My morning is just about over, here in Dallas, Oregon.  The rain has been falling since 3:30 this morning.  My thought had been to saw lumber, even have one of the mills in a large building, however I changed my mind.  I simple made sure the kiln stove was stoked as well as the Taylor stove for the house was loaded and headed for the woodworking shop I have here on the Tree Farm.  I even stoked that stove.   I decided to make a few Christmas gifts for the Siblings and my own "critters" (2 sons)  I found some pieces of Black Walnut and began turning Tree decoractions.  What a BLAST.   I have turned about 25 already and dhave run out of "eyehooks".  Back to town this afternoon, I reckon.  I hope everyones day has gone as fine and fun as mine, so far. ;) 8) 8) 8) 8)

[Haytrader]

First time to post...rookie here.
Got new saw Monday and have already leared several things not to do....... >:(
My real job is hauling hay (54' dropdeck trailer hauls 34 big round bales) and this afternoon while loading the second load of the day I found a drag harrow that the farmer had parked in the fence row (with front tractor tire....ugh)
I enjoy seeing what y'all have to say and am learning by reading. :P
After a 10 year fascination of bandsaws I now have one. I have no idea what happens next. ;D  I cut a cedar yesterday and have all the locals oohing and aahing. Today i brought some elm in from the farm to cut for blocks under the saw and some friends came by to see the "new toy" and think the elm needs to be furniture or somthing. I must admit it has some pretty grain.

Haytrader

[Kevin]

Hey Trader,
Glad to have you with us.
What mill did you buy?
I just milled a couple hundred board feet of elm yesterday on my LT-15 for furniture projects.

[Jeff]

Hey Hey, Hay!

One of the most beautiful things I ever saw made from wood was a grandfather clock made from american elm. Elm is making a come back around here after loosing most of it to dutch elm disease.

Speaking of which, the biggest elm is called the buckley elm which is only about an hour from my house. There is a thread about it on https://forestryforum.com/cgi-bin/board/YaBB.pl?board=general&action=display&num=985825260&start=3

[Haytrader]

Kevin,

My mill is made by Oliver Manufacturing in Glencoe, Ark..
It is an electric manual mill. What one do you have?

Haytrader

[Kevin]

I bought the Wood-Mizer LT-15 with the trailer package.
Works great!

[woodmills1]

after moving out of boston in 1980 i moved to chelmsford mass and lived in an apartment i built in a 200 year old barn.  actually it was 200 years in that spot having been moved there from NH    The place had once been called the four elm farm which had been deeded to the ancestors of the current owners by the king of sweeden.  only one of the elms was left at that time and it was suffering from the disease.  :-[ it finally had to go as the owners were afraid it would fall and crush their house. the tree cutter had a 75 foot boom on his truck and it didnt come even to the middle of the trees height, yet he dropped it right where he said it was going.  I laid down on the 2 foot high stump and neither my feet or head hung over, I am 5'10".  huge tree.  this was way before i had a mill so i made firewood out of the enormous branches cutting from both sides with a 16" bar.  but i didnt try to split any until i cut all i could.  no way! even when frozen the maul wouldnt even go in, it bounced back.  every piece I end cut with saw and split with wedges. and total insult, it burns like a misty day.  I had two rounds  that i used as a jack stand untill last year.   so by all means make blocks or lumber, but not firewood.  i just remembered that when i bought my hd-40 it was from the guy who cut the elm.  small world. :D

[Corley5]

We've burned LOTS of elm firewood with no problems except for creosote.  Grandpa preferred elm over any other wood.  It's getting hard to find good elm firewood now.  What is around has been dead a long time and is pretty soft and live ones ones are few and far between :(.  I've got some burning in the stove at this very moment that was cut green and stacked in the barn 25+- years ago by Grandpa.  Burns great, doesn't sizzle just don't give it too much air or it burns too good. 8)

[TxLogger]

Here's an Update:

Finally got part to fix truck, spent 6 hours getting truck drug up to firm ground!!!

It's Friday & I'm sawing  8) 8) 8), I won't leave my sawmill location  untill May.  That's a promise.

I bucked up logs & sawed 600 BF of great lumber (SYP) 2 x 6's; felt like I actually got something done.  Made a deal on 4 large Walnut trees  & presto my terrible week went great!!

Put in the Lord's hands most honest, hard working, humble men will get by.  That's great isn't it??

Tom

[Frank_Pender]

Txlogger,                                                                                             It is a good feeling to have the sawdust entering your lungs again, isn't it.  I have been wondering about your plight with briken drive line and all in the mud up to your..... .  Anyway, i am happy you are out and sawing again.  It is a good feeling, I know.   8) 8) 8) 8)

[Frank_Pender]

It has been ten days since the last posting.  And it was mine.  The day has been terrific.   I just loaded out 1400 lbs of Maple Burl.  Yea! My morning is great. 8) 8) 8)

[Frank_Pender]

Well, I started this yesterday and I got kicked off line for some reason.  Here goes for Tuesday Mornings Day.  I began at 4:30 A.M.   Each second Tuesday of the month I have an elected Regional Education District board meeting to attend at 7:00 AM.  But the fun only began.   The following is how the remainder of the morning went:  1. went and saw two trees 4' DBH 140' tall that were coming down next week and were mine for hauling them away  (Giant Sequoia), 2.  had to visit ad 5' Cottonwood that was coming down on Weds.  (again free for hauling).  This one is only 3 miles from the farm. 3.  upon arriving home at 11:45 AM  I had a neighbor bring me a log he hauled all the way from Missouri for me to saw for him on shares.  It was a 18" White Pine.   Item one will cost about $250 to get hauled home with a self loading log truck.  (2 loads?)  Item number two will cost about $175 if a log truck hauls, but I may have a  large quarry loader simply put sections on a tripple axel trailer for me and I haul myself.  The evening  was topped off with a fine dinner out with Wife, son and doughter-in-law.  Son and doughter-in-law are headed back to their Missionary calling in Haiti.  Next time home is in 6 months :'(

[fencerowphil (Phil L.)]

When to a customers home, made a little living, then it happened:  a freebie, if I can take advantage of its 2300bdf.
 8)

A friend of mine just told me about, and showed me this morning, a pushed-aside trunk of a yellow pine over three feet thick at the butt end.  Can't wait to try my fresh-from-Fedex Stihl 090/Alaskan out on that monster tree.  If only I had an "All-terrain" model of the Peterson swing blade for this one!  Three sections are too close together, and I would estimate that the main 20' section would weigh 5K lbs.  They are lying in a mushy bog with a spring actually flowing from under the logs.
Phil L.

[Kevin_H.]

Got off work at 8am today, went home hooked up to the flatbed trailer and picked up 2 red oak and one hickory log at the local tree service. got home and unloaded with the bobcat and nothing broke...Ahhh yes a good day indeed. 8)

[Corley5]

Fired up the 240B TimberJack at 8:30AM.  Pulled a dozen or so skids, went for lunch, came back, pulled down three that I'd hung up the night before, bucked em and skidded em out.  Dad got home from work at 4:00PM and we headed back to the woods. He ran the misery stick while I fell and bucked.  I won't fall trees alone.  We cut till 5:30PM.  Only one hung up to pull down tomorrow but more skids to pull than today.  Nothing broke but with the warm weather it sure got muddy today.  Hope it freezes up.

[Frank_Pender]

  Corley5,

     Out here in the hinter lands of the West we call those "hang-ups", "teepees".  If you are not careful you will make your "wigwam" if you are not watchful of how you bring them down to the ground.  :'( :D :D :D

[Corley5]

Here in Michigan we call them widow makers for obvious reasons.  I hook on to the butt with the skidder, run out some cable and winch 'em down.  Pretty safe inside the cage and I don't go under them anyway.  Some times if left over night they'll fall down by themselves.  That's what I really like 8)

[Kevin_H.]

Maybe they should be called "Treepees"...Just a thought.

[Don P]

Generally that's about how long I wait before venturing back in. ;D

[CHARLIE]

Reminds me of a Lena and Oly joke.

Lena decided she wanted to learn about gardening, so she went  to a gardening class. When she came home she walked over to Oly.
Lena: Oly, did you know that a pea can last 2000 years!
Oly: Yah, you betcha, sometimes it feels that way.
 :D :D :D :D :D

[Frank_Pender]

I kinda pulled a Phil L. today.    Some background:  A few days ago I got a call about some trees across a road at the 4H Conference Center here in the Willamette Valley area of Oreogn.  Since I am on the Site Committee I waas asked if I wanted to help remove them.  i made a visit with one of my trusty 044"s with a 36" bar, and made the appropriate cuts to get the tree moved off the road.  It was an Oak,  39" at the dirt level and 24' long.  I had to cut it into two pieces to get it off of the road proper.  Back to today:  I had a firend with a self loader show up this afternoon at the Site and not only got the Oak removed but bucked up the Douglas Fir that caused the Oak to fall.  the Fir had 4  25' logs amounting to 790 bd.    ft. and the Oak a total of 210' board feet.    The fee for hauling was only $160.00.  I  did not feel to bad for getting 1,000 bd. ft. of logs and delivered to my mill for a mere $160.00 today.   Tomorrow the fun begins if the snow has not gotten tooooo deeeep tonight. ;)

[Frank_Pender]

Well, No cutting for me today.  I awoke to 10 plus inches of snow.  We are at about 1100' elev..  Down on the valley floor there is only about an inch or two.   I reckon I will take the Gator and go play.   the wife want to get the snowmobiles out but they are a hassle for yarding with. :D :D   I might fall a tree to watch the snow explode from a 140 fir.  It has to come down soon.    I may as well enjoy it falling with a couple tons of snow on its branches.  Hope you are all have a marvelous day, in your 70 degree weather. ;D

[fencerowphil (Phil L.)]

Frank Pender, hey!
Well, the morning went alright.
(You can't get hurt too bad, when you're in church.
Just got my toes stepped on a little.)

But, after a good meal and a little nap, I decided to tackle the
big White Oaks which were blown down in a clear cut a few months ago.  I have mentioned them before.  Last week I got permission to salvage all the big stuff which was left behind, if I would get a move on.

To make a long story short, well, no , let's just keep it long.

I took my Stihl 090 that I am breaking in before using it on an Alaskan mill.  All went well for a while.  I decided to buck some of the huge straight limbs in a good, straight fork.  Next I cut the crotch really deep with two kerfs, trying to judge the pinch.  (I had shored up with fire-wood-size chunks under the main trunk.)  

I had gotten the crotch cut loose from the butt log and moved to cut the last large limb from above the crotch, when I "done it good".   This large 18" limb looked a little tricky, like I should go for the undercut last, but I didn't.    Why? Looking at the situation, it looked like I could end up with a 42" pretzel for a saw bar, if that limb came down on my saw in the tight spot I had.    First I did a third or so undercut.  Next, I decided to cut a few kerfs on top, cutting out a sizeable wedge.  Then, as  the chain was about to meet the undercut I had made, the bar got pinched but good.

I didn't have all my stuff with me to get out of the jamb, so the engine is at home, and the bar and chain are still out in the country, hidden by an old bush I threw over it.

Tomorrow morning?
I get another chance.  Two more large Whites Oaks,  three large Red Oaks.   All blow overs.    The bull dozer is set for the end of the week to get them out of the junky clear cut.

Is this livin' er whut?   All free trees.  Wish the dozer was.
PHil L.

[Frank_Pender]

  Phil, the next time you have a pinching type cut have your wedges to insert into the first cut to help elimnate the pinching of the bar.  i have used as many as three on large logs like you are talking about.   I have even used wedges on logs flat on the ground, you never know.  I too have left a bar in a log AND even a tree overnight. ;) :D  The best of luck on the morrow.

[fencerowphil (Phil L.)]

Yep, Frank Pender, once I had my wedges, I was out in 90 seconds - used three.

Get a load of this:

Today I cut loose three extreme White Oaks (blow-downs) from their root structures and bucked the trunks/butt logs. Working in a swamp is such fun!

Two of these were "twin trees", if you will, having grown super close at the butt, forcing each to meld into the other - almost. The result was some spectacular grain. These had popped apart on impact, revealing two flats, like crotch pattern grain or flame pattern, approx. five feet across. Each tree has this pattern in the stump, and each revealed an almost flat, flame grained surface, when they came apart.

The trees are astounding in themselves - abandoned in a clear-cut, only to be blown down in a storm last summer. This bonus of this "flame pattern" in the stumps may just make me decide to have the dozer push them out, too. I bucked the larger member of the pair into one 16' and one 8' log, the other into a 12' and an 8'. We coated the ends immediately. Also, we coated the stump end of the one stump with the flame which jumped up and fell back into its hole. The other stump is too close to the bole, until the dozer can be brought in.

Has anyone fully processed such a White Oak pattern before? I can see several slab breakfast tables in each stump! 50"square!   Whatcha say, Frank P.  Seems like you have done it all over the years.
Phil L.

[Frank_Pender]

  I wish I had done it all over the years, Phil.  That sure makes My wife more congenial.  ;) Anyway, I would first consider a large log loader to remove the stump, rather than risking tearing up the stump with a Cat, unless it is about the size of a D6 or D8.  Please coat the other stump as soon as possible.  When you get them home pressure wash them and begin removing the outer root legs.  I would also coat them if you plan on letting the stump set for any time at all.  I would not let the stump set to awfully long before you begin blocking or slabbing.  Perhaps you could find someone with an Alaska type mill or one of those Peterson or Lucas slabbing units near your location.  I would make the slabs no less than 2 1/2" thick and place at least 1" stickers between slabs.  I would also let they air dry for at least 3 or 4 months before ever considering placing them in a kiln.  All the while remember to coat the entire slab with Anchor Seal or the like to cut down on checking.  An ounce of caution is worth a pound of cure.  :'( While you are letting them air dry, place them in a shaded area with a lid of tin or plywood, also with 1" stickers  between it and the top slab.   I am sure you will get a vast host of suggestions of what to do, but you asked.   You see I do not have a PhD in this "stuff", merely experience.   Sometimes I have heard it said that, "A man with an experience is never at the mercy of an argument."  Perhaps that is true, sometimes. :D :D  You also might consider makeing some of the stumps into truning stock.  The $ return is sometimes very high for bowl, vase and box turning stock.  You could market it on the internet green, as many turners prefer green wood.  Reember to coat the entire piece of turning stock, if you decide to cut some.  the best of luck to you in your "stump venture". ;)

[fencerowphil (Phil L.)]

Hello again,
With the day's piano tunings done I can do some more "lernin". :P

A friend of mine has had a 36" Alaskan in his possession for a year and a half - never used it.  When I told him I had just the saw, he volunteered his frame.  As you can tell, however, this frame and my 41" bar are not up to this particular pair of stumps.

As far at the Peterson/Lucas equipment, you probably realize from this forum and WoodWeb forums in which I have explored and have sought owners' info on their slabbers and swing blades,  these guys are just hard to find.  After they buy, they must disappear back into the bush or something. :-/

Thanks for all the points.   The turning stock I could do with the Alaskan on hand.  The table/counter top slabs would be beyond me, unless I can shake the bushes enough to find a mean-machine slabber owner.

Phil L.

[Frank_Pender]

Phil, I dug out a slab I had out away in my woodworking shop for four years.   i had a buyer. 8)  H was looking for a coffee table type slab.  this wone was 3" thick 34" wide and 5' long.  I only charged him $225.00.  He was as happy as a clam at a bake.  So was I, in the pocket. ;)

[Kevin]

... this frame and my 41" bar are not up to this particular pair of stumps.

Phil, why is that?