mill tool box

[jdtuttle]

I'm new & just bought a used LT40HD. Sawn about 200BF so far & realize I'm hooked. Looking for advice on what to put in the tool box when sawing away from home. I know the usual stuff. Level, blades, spare alternator, belts. What are some of you guys carrying?
jim

[bandmiller2]

JD welcome,you will need a complete snapon roll around tool box,and even then you won't have what you need.Just kidding,start with a few simple hand tools when you have need of somthing add it to your box.Plastic wedges axe and a bow saw are handy when you have to back out of a cut or broken band jamed in the log.  Some of what ever lubricants you use.Be sure to have a simple first aid kit bandaids est.Frank C.

[ARKANSAWYER]

3/8 to 1 inch opened end wrenches.  Channel lock pliers and a good set of allen wrenches.  flat tip and phillips tip screw drivers. Test light.  Two logrite cant hooks (48 or 60 and a 78 A.S.S.) spare tire and a small chainsaw.  Extra gas and oil, spare blades, B57 belts, calculator, pen, sawing contract and gloves.  Sense of humor and a strong back will come in handy more days then not.  Oh yea a digital camera, cause we like photos.

[StorminN]

arky,

What is a B57 belts calculator?

-Norm.

[Dan_Shade]

https://forestryforum.com/board/index.php/topic,14478.0.html

I carry a whole pile of stuff.  Gov't surplus ammo cans are great for keeping stuff in them.

[jdtuttle]

Keep em coming. This is the kind of stuff I need to know.
What is a B57 belts calculator anyway?
I have a construction master calculator for BF.
jim

[ARKANSAWYER]

  OOPS! I forgot a commma,,,,,   so I went back and put it in.  The B57 belts are what your blades ride on.  Some times a blade will break and cut one in half.   The calculator is so you can tally the bill 'cause you is so worn out that you can't count any more.

[DR Buck]

The ultimate link of what you might need.

https://forestryforum.com/board/index.php/topic,258.msg2510.html#msg2510

[isawlogs]

I carry most of the above , plus , I have an alternator and brushes for the hydraulic pump motor . A couple of return springs for the hydraulic levers , extra fuses , there are some inside the fuse box , check if they are there  ;) Spare spark plugs .

  Have fun sawing . 

[zopi]

Duct tape.

[DWM II]

All the above plus I like to keep a couple of wedges. When I brake a band in the middle of a cut, I drive them in just behind the band so it will slide out a bit easier.

[Gilman]

Digital multimeter has been one of the handiest trouble shooting tools with the WM 800# in my cell phone.

[Corley5]

Zip ties and black tape  ;D

[zopi]

a bench brush for brushing sawdust off the mill when it gets too thick..I keep that and a plastic 6" drywall knife handy..great
for scraping/brushing excess sawdust off the lumber as it goes in stickers...

spare water line.. :

teflon tape..

aluminum yardstick..

lumber crayons..keep the kids busy if nothing else..

for my LT-15..I keep a couple of masons blocks and masonry twine..for truing the mill bed when I re-level it..

button level..or a clinometer if you're anal about it..

hatchet or a foot ax..

Thermos of coffee... ;D

no matter what you have with you..something you don't have will break..seems to be the first rule of chainsaws too..

[Dave Shepard]

I carry most of the above , plus , I have an alternator and brushes for the hydraulic pump motor . A couple of return springs for the hydraulic levers , extra fuses , there are some inside the fuse box , check if they are there  ;) Spare spark plugs .

  Have fun sawing . 

When we picked up the Wood Mizer LT40 Electric, the previous owner said that he had blown the fuselink in the little box near the battery box. He had hooked up a little 18gauge  jumper wire so he could demonstrate the mill for us. He had two new fuse links drop shipped to us from WM. By the time we got the mill and generator setup, I had forgotten all about the jumper wire. :-[ Well, the head would barely travel back and forth, and I couldn't figure it out right away. I started checking connections, at the battery, opened the little box where the fuse link hides. Hey! Theres a little black wire with all the insulation melted off! I was about to go to the shop to get the new fuse links when I noticed two spared bolted to the inside of the box. That fixed the travel problem. So always remember to to look for spares. ;)

I second the multi meter. I buy them at Sears, they are usually $20, and worth every penny.


Dave

[rbarshaw]

One of those little hatchets that have a claw like a hammer has and metal that runs all the way thru the handel.

[MikeH]

  I had a computer problem once and needed jumper cables to run the electric up/down to put the thing away and tow home. :(

[shopteacher]

Bottle of Jack Daniels and a blow-up doll for the slow times. :D

[Slabs]

 

[beenthere]

??   : ??

[Dan_Shade]

antiseptic.  good idea to have stuff to dig out a splinter if you happen to get one.

I keep a first aid kit behind the seat in my pickup with stuff to hopefully help in the event of an incident.

[shopteacher]

Oh, I thought that was a patch kit for the doll.

[zopi]

just bought one of those fat max hammer puller combo thingies...aside from being a
neat impulse buy.. :..it looked like just the thing to reach down and snatch slabs and
boards loose from the cant...prolly help to keep the dog in line too... :D

It' got  a hook that is sized for 2x and 1x plus a spike...

i'll report on how well it works...

[beenthere]

Does it look like the LogRite Hookaroon? 

[Slabs]

Looks like Dan-Shade figured it out.  I make those little pocket-sized "Splinter Pickers" on my metal lathe out of 1/4" brazing rod or aluminum stock.  For those that didn't go to my gallery for the full story, I had to include the "Neebish" excuse for an antiseptic as a background.

[zopi]

Does it look like the LogRite Hookaroon? 

Kinda Klose...it's called a Fat Max messed up....something utility bar...been running around with it all day..can reach down and
snatch a 2x4 off the ground with it...right neat for carrying a half dozen full shopping bags from yon big box nightmare too..

the picture is of the larger version...it didn't feel right in my hand..balance was off..the little one handles about like a
20 oz framing hammer...comfy..

I would like a hookaroon too...hmff...sounds like an off color cookie joke, doesn't it?

[DKinWA]

I don't know if it was mentioned, but the shop manual can come in real handy when troubleshooting a problem.

[John_Haylow]

After reading this thread I started to compile everyone's tips and make a list, and I thought it would be handy if anyone could add to it.  Jeff has offered to create a topic area, maybe a Members' Lists title, where members could add to and make changes to any lists we think are pertinent to our field. If there's interest, he'd be willing to set it up. Any thoughts?
John

[zopi]

Sounds like a good idea...tools, methods, materials...stuff like that....

[Jeff]

I'm pretty sure I can do this.  We can have a board to create "lists"  Where any member can edit the original post to add to it. Of course that has its risks and potential problems, but I've learned this group stands much taller then the norm, so I think it'll work. I'll try and create it in the "other topics" area.

But not tonight. ;D

[slider]

Don't forget your round pointed shovel , sure comes in handy setting up the mill. slider

[Jeff]

https://forestryforum.com/board/index.php/board,65.0.html

[jdtuttle]

Thanks for all the replys & suggestions. A great idea to post a site with lists for newbies like me. The pointed shovel is an excellent tool. Don't forget to accessorize it with a white roll of paper :D :D. Anybody attach a tool box directly to an LT40? nothing large just something to hold the handy items close to the hydraulic controls. Just got my new mill & I'm sitting in a hotel room in Disney with rain coming down. Wish I was back in NY sawing :'( :'(. Oh well, guess I'll have to go golfing instead.
jim

[LeeB]

Anybody attach a tool box directly to an LT40? nothing large just something to hold the handy items close to the hydraulic controls. jim

I just use the operators seat, which I very rarely use and don't really care for. I suppose I should take it off and try to sell it.

[Robert Long]

I'm getting in late on this one ....but a flat shovel to move the pile of saw dust away and a couple of 6"x6"s because the logs are never right in line with the mill and talk with the customer before you go out to the site, is he/she ready for you.  It makes all the difference in how the day goes!

Robert

[Dan_Shade]

I use a scoop/grain shovel for sawdust.  makes the job go pretty quick.

[jackpine]

Dan

Red plastic snow shovel works great for sawdust, lightweight and easy to spot when you pack up to leave.
In this climate you also need something to chip the ice out from around the supports if the mill has beeen sitting for a couple of days, as they tend to freeze in .I spent 2 hours freeing the supports on my last job as it had sat for 2 months.

Bill

[zopi]

Well...the Stanley messed up (Fat Max Utility BAR... ;D I kid thee not..) is pretty useful, maybe not as good as a Hookaroon,
but I like it..the notch behind the head is nice for picking boards up off the ground without bending over, the spike needs
some retraining..it is a good pry point, but needs to be sharper for my purpose...and it actually balances pretty good
if you want to use it as a hammer. The bigger version doesn't balance as well, at least not in my hand...maybe someone with bigger paws and arms than mine (I make Olive Oyle look fat..) would have better luck with it.

I still want more logrite toys...

[Dan_Shade]

I don't like the traditional snow shovel for moving sawdust.  the scoop shovel lets you pick up a bunch of sawdust at once to set it aside.  the snow shovels just let you push it around.  if I forget it, i just kick the sawdust over to the side (bid idea with lowcut shoes!).

[BlueRidge]

Rope/String for when the pull string on the chain saw breaks and you can't start it up (and I'm sure its more important if your mill dosen't have an electric start)...
I always keep some on me for tying down things in a pinch but found out this weekend it wasn't the small enough to fit the hole of a Husqvarna........