Log turner.

Bill Gaiche · August 02, 2010, 09:20:51 PM

Looking for a simple mechanical method to rotate logs on my manual mill. Tried to roll a 22"x 12' after I had made first cut. Not enough muscle. I couldnt do it untill I put a chain around it and used my front end loader to turn it. Any suggestions or photos would be appreciated and thanks, bg

carykong · August 03, 2010, 12:29:48 AM

I have a cant hook with a 6' handle--has good leverage. Still,22" diameter log can be difficult if you are sawing by yourself. Wax your log bed with the big logs.

tyb525 · August 03, 2010, 01:15:48 AM

For me, all I have to use muscle and a 4ft cant hook. i know others have rigged up hoists, winches, etc., to do the heavy turning. I myself don't see those as practical for me (yet...), due to the fact that I can turn a log by hand much faster than by winch, hoist, etc. I do have a tractor with a loader, but that takes too much time just to turn a log.

paul case · August 03, 2010, 02:38:38 AM

hey bill,
norwood, ez boardwalk, cooks, woodmizer,and serveral other mills use a manual winnch or 12 volt to power some sort of turner. the ez boardwalk has a hand crank winch mounted on a 2x2 sq tube 4' long that pops up on the back side and has a log hook on the end of the cable to hook the log with. lays down when not in use. i have turned 30'' logs with it.
you probably get a look at some of these on their websites. pc

customsawyer · August 03, 2010, 04:37:58 AM

tyb525 The reason we things like winches etc. is because we're not 18 years old any more.

kelLOGg · August 03, 2010, 05:54:43 AM

Ditto for me, Customsawyer.

Bill,
I have a permanently attached winch for loading/turning. See my gallery.

Bob

bandmiller2 · August 03, 2010, 06:23:25 AM

Bill,your my age and we shouldn't be trying to hump big logs with a canthook.You need a two plain clamp/turner or the "Pineywoods turner".If your mill is stationary run the hyd. pump with an electric motor.The clamp function is as much help as the turning aid.Mill smart,save important body parts.Frank C.

robnrob2 · August 03, 2010, 07:59:20 AM

Sorry about the slightly blurry photo, but here is a shot of my claw style turners in action. I built and added 3 of these to my mill, since my machine cutting length is 21'6" I had room.
I have a single 3,000lb winch that pulls all three routed cables and flips the logs very good.
Has been working for a long time. Each Cable is routed thru its own 1/2" tubing with a bend at the end that points it in the right direction.

r.man · August 03, 2010, 08:55:39 AM

Tyb525, a bit of advice to ignore or not, just because you can lift something doesn't mean you should. Another one that I like but can't claim is " if I'd known I was going to live this long I'd have taken better care of my body". Can't remember the author but as I approach my 50s and think of the things I've lifted, carried, pulled or handled over the years by myself I think of both of these things and wonder about the aches and pains and the future.

Papa1stuff · August 03, 2010, 09:47:20 AM

Tyb525, I can remember at your age I was working for a large paving company in the Northeast ,working 15 to 18 hrs a day and alot of my work was by hand.

I also had older men tell me at that time I had better slow down and I just laughed and said I would never have to,well I still work pretty hard (at least I was untill the blood clots)and I will again but not a lot of hrs per day!

My advice is to use all assistance you can and save your body for latter years,you will need it ;D

tyb525 · August 03, 2010, 11:36:18 AM

Sorry guys I wasn't trying to sound cocky or anything

That's just how I currently do it. And I try not to overwork myself, if it is too much of a strain I resort to other methods (tractor). Both my uncles have knee and arm problems from hard work all their life. Whenever I am able to get a better method, I will certainly use it. I already try to keep manual log handling to a minimum.

Papa1stuff · August 03, 2010, 11:50:21 AM

tyb , Don't think anyone took it that way,we have just been there done that ;D

sparky · August 03, 2010, 01:44:24 PM

The quote " if I'd known I was going to live this long I'd have taken better care of my body" was one I had always attributed to Jimmie Durante. I did a quick check and find that it is also linked to Mickey Mantle, Leon Eldred, and Eubie Blake.

Sparky

r.man · August 03, 2010, 04:54:39 PM

Thanks for the research Sparky, I should have done that myself. Tyb, you didn't sound cocky, you sounded normal. Bad knees run in my family too and one piece of advice I got from an uncle early on and had the sense to follow was to not jump from any height. Many times I have taken the longer route down and I am hoping it is going to pay off with better knees than my father in later life.

Bill Gaiche · August 03, 2010, 10:19:36 PM

Thanks guys for the info. I have looked at what you have suggested and like what i have seen. That steers me in a possitive direction to start on. I used my tractor loader to turn logs with a newly made hook welded to a chain today and it works ok, just a lot of on and off tractor. Keep cool tomorrow. bg

bandmiller2 · August 04, 2010, 07:25:06 AM

Tractors work Bill but be very carefull with them around the mill the only time I damaged my bandmill was when I rolled a lunker off the forks and bent the rear stops.I made up real heavy duty saw horses from oak same hight as the mill bed.Logs are rolled on the mill with the aid of removable oak ramps.Turning with a chain and hook is probibly OK if done with care.Frank C.

Bill Gaiche · August 04, 2010, 03:22:02 PM

bandmiller2 thanks for the advice. I have no one to account for my time so I should never be in a big hurry other than wanting to complete a project. I will be carefull. I have used my little Ford 1520 4X4 for about everything. I live on a 1 acre lot and i use it seems like everyday. I have 10 acres at another area for wood and logs. You would think i had a 100 acres as much as i use my tractor.Brush hog, box blade, rock rake, cycle mower and backhoe. Its handier than the pocket on a shirt. Have a good day, bg

paul case · August 04, 2010, 05:20:16 PM

my neighbor says that everyone should have a wife and a tractor with a front end loader. pc

customsawyer · August 04, 2010, 05:22:53 PM

My wife don't have a FEL. :D

nas · August 04, 2010, 06:00:18 PM

Quote from: customsawyer on August 04, 2010, 05:22:53 PM
My wife don't have a FEL. :D

I'm gonna get my wife one. She needs it for her sawmill ;) 8)

Magicman · August 04, 2010, 08:06:16 PM

I need to get my wife a FEL. It won't be my fault if it just happens to have a Green JD hooked to it. :D

bandmiller2 · August 04, 2010, 08:25:05 PM

Seeing you guys are generous enough to get your wives a front end loader you might as well get her a new bird gun too.Bill once you have a tractor with loader you never want to be without.Frank C.

Bill Gaiche · August 04, 2010, 11:15:23 PM

bandmiller2 , i agree. Everywhere i go i see so many people that have farms or buinesses that could use a front end loader on there tractor. They just dont realize what a tool this can be. Magicman JD green would go good with that loader. bg

Handy Andy · August 05, 2010, 12:08:41 AM

My Cook bandmill came with a 2 ton winch and a hook, just hook onto the cable and wrap around the log, and turn the log, course it wouldn't turn those 30" logs, so I picked up a 8 ton at harbor freight, and bent the tubing the winch mounts onto. Not the mill bed, just the winch part. Can't figure out how to straighten it either. If you pull on it, the mill just leans over, and tried putting it on a press and couldn't quite figure out how to mount it up. Suppose just cut out the bent piece and weld in a heavier one.

kelLOGg · August 05, 2010, 05:52:38 AM

Handy,
I had problems with the Cook's winch design, too. It pulled the log/cant into the squaring arm usually requiring assistance with a cant hook. To make it easier I made a heavy swinging boom that slides in and out with a winch on it which pulls nearly vertically. Now the cant doesn't lodge next to the squaring arm when turning it and turning heavy cants is much easier. A pic is in my gallery.
Bob