Mud around the mill--and a solution

Jim_Rogers · March 12, 2012, 01:57:48 PM

When I move my mill out to go to a road job, and before I put it back, I take the backhoe and scoop up all the sawdust and bark pieces from where it sits. I dump this into the one ton and it goes to the tub grinder for bark mulch.

Last month when I did this the ground was somewhat frozen and I couldn't get all the sawdust up as it was a big slab and froze down good.

What happened was, I took the mill out in December. And when I came back, being that it was such a mild winter, the ground was muddy. Then I walked in the mud creating many foot prints. That night the weather changed and it froze up. So the next day I had a yard full of ankle twisting frozen foot print holes. To get by, I spread some sawdust down to fill in all these holes and let it freeze up again to get a solid surface to walk on.

Well, it's March now, and last week even though it snowed here, it got to 65 degrees and everything has melted. This is known as "mud season"..... for those of you who don't have that season, it is when the frost is coming out of the ground and the water can't drain down in because the frost hasn't completely come out. And it make the surface a muddy mess.

Last Friday, I started sawing a customer order of red oak flooring for a customer, and the yard where I walk was a wet sloppy sawdust mess. I had on my best boots but by the end of the day they were soaked and so was my socks and feet. I hate when that happens.

Today, I was about to start sawing again, and not looking forward to this muddy wet mess again. I hate walking it all this.

So, here is my solution.

Years ago, at home, we had a muddy mess, and I made up some wooden walkways.

What I do is take some stickers 1x2x4 pine and cut some of them to 2' lengths.
And using two inch nails in my nail gun; made up some walkways, to lay down into the mud.

This is a drawing of what it looks like:

I liked them and would leave them there all the time to clean off your shoes and boots when walking into the house. But my wife for some reason never liked them.
She would pick them up and put them off somewhere.

I brought them back to the mill recently.
I decided today, I'd use them.

And I added some more I made up today to create a nice wooden walkway along the mill

and out to the lumber stack.

I'm real happy the way they came out and now my boots won't get soaked with mud or wet sawdust.

What do you think of this idea?

Jim Rogers

medic · March 12, 2012, 04:25:25 PM

I like it. Cheaper than concrete, easier on your feet and you can move them completely when you don't need them anymore. Think I'll dig into the scrap pile and make some.
scott

steamsawyer · March 12, 2012, 05:05:08 PM

Hey Jim_Rogers,

Great minds think alike... Does your butt itch too.

I have been thinking about the same thing at my mill. I don't have a mud season here but I have a spot that turns into a small mudhole at the rear of my steam engine. My engineer has been putting down slabs to walk on but it still leaves a mess. I have a pickup truck load of used 2x4 pt to use for stringers and I figured on sawing a bunch 1x6 for the floor boards. I am planning to make a good sized platform in the back with a walkway down the side of the engine so he can get to the catwalk on the side of the boiler.

Over at the sawyers position I am thinking about the same type of walkway. I could use the extra height and it might keep me from tripping on the ends of the crossties between the carriage and the brow.

That's a nice job and it looks good.

Alan

purple otter · March 12, 2012, 05:53:28 PM

Good idea.I definitely can relate to the mud season! I have a pile of pallets that I use the same way ,but something more uniform like you made might be the ticket.

Jim_Rogers · March 12, 2012, 06:39:09 PM

Thanks for your comments.

And yes it is easier walking on wood.

I think I'm going to make some more tomorrow. There are a couple of spots where I'm still walking in the wet sawdust and I need to make it better.

I'm out of nails so I guess I'll have to stop at home cheapo tonight on the way home and get another box for future projects and more walkways.

Jim Rogers

sprucebunny · March 12, 2012, 07:12:27 PM

They are called duck boards up here.
Must be much nicer than trying to walk on slabs which is how I end up every year.

POSTON WIDEHEAD · March 12, 2012, 07:28:39 PM

Jim's "Cat Walk".

Pretty Cool....now your boots won't weigh 50 pounds a piece! :D

eastberkshirecustoms · March 12, 2012, 08:09:53 PM

Nice portable solution Jim, problem is that it's been mud season all winter! Freeze...thaw...freeze...thaw. I've used pallets too, heavy cardboard, old carpet, straw, whatever works at the time. Yeah it sucks having to lug all that mud around. I've even installed those boot scrubber brushes on the porch and entrance to the shop. A couple hundred ton of crushed rock and a vibratory roller are on my wish list ;)

bandmiller2 · March 12, 2012, 09:47:23 PM

Mayby we should call it boardwalk milling.I just use course circular mill sawdust seems to drain and always seems to be dry and comfy to work on. Frank C.

zopi · March 12, 2012, 10:09:03 PM

corduroy roads.... could also drop a couple bags of portland cement in the mud.
I have a little drain feature in front of what was my mill shed, before the trailer came along, and I got tired of the tractor wearing ruts in it, so I just lined it with slabs...

WDH · March 12, 2012, 10:36:38 PM

Aside from moving to the hot and humid South, I think that it is a great idea!

eastberkshirecustoms · March 12, 2012, 11:45:34 PM

Quote from: WDH on March 12, 2012, 10:36:38 PM
Aside from moving to the hot and humid South, I think that it is a great idea!

The only problem with the hot and humid South is the 'hot and humid' ;D Otherwise, that would be great!

MHineman · March 12, 2012, 11:56:08 PM

Don't forget the snakes, cockroaches, hurricanes,.....

WDH · March 13, 2012, 12:15:13 AM

and the Grits :D.

dukndog · March 13, 2012, 12:22:00 AM

and the deep south tornados and gaters....CHOOT EM TROY!!

mad murdock · March 13, 2012, 02:24:49 AM

Chiggers, hookworms and all the other fun creepy crawlies >:(

zopi · March 13, 2012, 02:29:08 AM

Ticks and polyticks...

thecfarm · March 13, 2012, 08:44:57 AM

Grits keeps make up here in the Northern territory :D

POSTON WIDEHEAD · March 13, 2012, 08:45:22 AM

NEIGHBORS :D

Jim_Rogers · March 13, 2012, 08:50:01 AM

Quote from: zopi on March 13, 2012, 02:29:08 AM
Ticks and polyticks...

I dug a tick off my knee just the other day.
I was surprised to see one so soon.

Jim Rogers

POSTON WIDEHEAD · March 13, 2012, 08:52:44 AM

Quote from: Jim_Rogers on March 13, 2012, 08:50:01 AM
Quote from: zopi on March 13, 2012, 02:29:08 AM
Ticks and polyticks...

I dug a tick off my knee just the other day.
I was surprised to see one so soon.

Jim Rogers

It may have been there since last year, :D Good Morning Jim.

Magicman · March 13, 2012, 08:56:17 AM

About the only problem that I can think of is trying to find a place to store our snow blowers, show skis, ice skates, overcoats, hoods, mittens, snow shovels, tire chains, ice scrapers, long underwear, coveralls, and those other things that I have no idea what they are.

bandmiller2 · March 13, 2012, 08:57:41 AM

Deer ticks are a big problem,anything above 30 degrees you have to watch out,one warm day and there active.They never used to be a problem when I was young ,of course deer were scarce then. Frank C.

POSTON WIDEHEAD · March 13, 2012, 09:07:18 AM

Quote from: Magicman on March 13, 2012, 08:56:17 AM
About the only problem that I can think of is trying to find a place to store our snow blowers, show skis, ice skates, overcoats, hoods, mittens, snow shovels, tire chains, ice scrapers, long underwear, coveralls, and those other things that I have no idea what they are.

Did you see my new shed?

thecfarm · March 13, 2012, 09:19:50 AM

MM,I know what you mean. I have the same trouble with grits. ;D
Ticks,we never had any here until about 5 years ago. My FIL would come up with thier dogs and have a fit about ticks. Just because we live way out in the woods, we HAD them,according to him. :

They live about ½ South and they had them for years. Than we found one,one year and more the next and so on.

Magicman · March 13, 2012, 09:41:04 AM

Oh, I know where the grits are kept, or rather PatD does.

Jeff · March 13, 2012, 10:08:30 AM

Jim, at the big mill where I used to work, we used those wooden walks as well, but not over mud. We used them in front of the green chain. The guys piling lumber walked on those all day rather than on the concrete below. Made worlds of difference in how their legs and feet would hold up over time. Its just amazing how much easier the wood is to walk on rather than concrete. Does't seem like it would be that big of a difference, but it sure is.

Jim_Rogers · March 13, 2012, 10:12:29 AM

I agree for sure.

I went to home depot last night and they wanted $50 for a box of nails for my nail gun. I could spring for that right now.
So, I got a box of 2" screws to make up a couple of more.
I'll update my pictures later on when I have them done and placed.

Jim Rogers

Jeff · March 13, 2012, 11:45:39 AM

We used screws to build ours as well. We had to move them once and awhile to clean out the debris that inevitably collects under them, so they held together much better and longer with the screws. I think in the twenty five years I was there, we had to rebuild and replace each section one time.

bugdust · March 13, 2012, 11:57:41 AM

Yeah Jim, I know what you mean. With all the wet weather we've had this winter it seems like the mill site never dries up. Until I finish my shed I always keep the mill covered, as well as the saw dust. When my pathways get saturated I throw down some dry dust, which is really easier on the legs and back. In my "past life" my pipeline welders carried something of the sort they called Mud Boards. With sun and mid 70's this week it is going to make a world of difference around the ole mill. Great idea, much better than wet feet.

eastberkshirecustoms · March 13, 2012, 12:35:35 PM

Quote from: Magicman on March 13, 2012, 08:56:17 AM
About the only problem that I can think of is trying to find a place to store our snow blowers, show skis, ice skates, overcoats, hoods, mittens, snow shovels, tire chains, ice scrapers, long underwear, coveralls, and those other things that I have no idea what they are.

touché :D

WDH · March 13, 2012, 09:52:23 PM

theCfarm,

I have never stored grits in a shed. That might be your problem :D.

thecfarm · March 13, 2012, 10:15:42 PM

Maybe I was getting the sawdust and the grits mixed up????

WDH · March 13, 2012, 10:32:17 PM

One way to tell is that the sawdust is a little grittier ;D. I think that Coon eats a lot of sawdust, so maybe he can help us out

.

thecfarm · March 13, 2012, 10:36:08 PM

If coon was only here to see that reply. :D

Jim_Rogers · March 14, 2012, 09:44:54 AM

After I got a new box of 2" screws I made up some more walkways.

Here I have placed two more new ones beside the old ones:

This is so I can walk back with the mill after making a cut and not walk backwards on the first set. It is much easier for me.

I like this system as it raises the level up enough so that it is higher then the single board system:

It rained here last night, with very loud thunder and lightening.

The single board system is ok, but when the puddles are deep the water runs over the top as you walk on them.

I have to get my drainage ditch cleaned out so that this puddle will run off better.

Jim Rogers

Magicman · March 14, 2012, 09:57:58 AM

Now that last picture better describes your mess. Yuck !!! When it's wet I keep piling sawdust and raising the level around the sawmill, but I am not dealing with that much water.

Jim_Rogers · March 14, 2012, 10:45:15 AM

The problem is when I use the back hoe to remove the sawdust under the mill, while it's out of the way, I dig up a little gravel from the yard and it creates a low spot. I was going to say "dip" in the yard, but I didn't want to give you guys any ammunition to say who the "dip" in the yard is.... :D

And I don't really have any extra gravel around to spread back in there. This has created this on going problem.
I have some drainage ditches in the yard to drain off these puddles but they require constant maintenance to keep the water flowing. I need to go out there now and clean them so that I can work out there later on.

After things dry up some, I like to spread down a layer of sawdust to walk on and take up the boards. And I will take up the walk ways when things are dry and use them when needed, now that I have a nice stack of them.

Jim Rogers

bugdust · March 14, 2012, 01:38:57 PM

Quote from: Magicman on March 14, 2012, 09:57:58 AM
Now that last picture better describes your mess. Yuck !!! When it's wet I keep piling sawdust and raising the level around the sawmill, but I am not dealing with that much water.

Hey MM, That's what I've been trying to tell them, but "you can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink" ...... or something like that.

Magicman · March 14, 2012, 02:53:41 PM

Yup, sawdust is my friend when it is wet and muddy or horses/cattle inspect the sawmill at night and leave a "mess".

bandmiller2 · March 14, 2012, 09:16:55 PM

Bugdust I used to believe that old saw about leading a horse to water but can't make him drink until I was in the navy.Navy says you put his mouth in the water and suck on his A hole,he'll drink. Frank C.

WDH · March 14, 2012, 11:47:45 PM

MM,

You just cut em and leave em

.

bugdust · March 16, 2012, 08:41:18 AM

bandmiller2, Sure am glad I miss that part during my Navy experience.

zopi · March 16, 2012, 10:30:11 AM

Yer supposed to use an eductor...how were you doing it ?

Coon · March 16, 2012, 01:38:23 PM

Well now....... I am here. :D :D Sawdust has a lot more flavor than Grits. Yes, I have been known to eat sawdust a time or two as well. The softwoods seem to leave a pitchy residue inside the mouth so now I just stick to the aspen and other hardwoods. :D :D :D Grits wouldn't even make good fill for around the mill........ would get all mushy and smell like a brewery after a while. ;D

thecfarm · March 16, 2012, 05:43:03 PM

Been a long hard battle keeping those grits guys at bay. :D Glad you are back,coon.

WDH · March 16, 2012, 10:43:37 PM

Coon,

As mush as I hate to say it, I have missed yore grits bashing self. theCfarm cannot carry on the campaign all by his lonesome ;D.

Ironwood · March 16, 2012, 11:36:23 PM

I use WIDE rubber belting. Three pieces 4' wide and 25' long. It can be slippery where your walking but I have been know to throw pee gravel down if it is bad, and then I can easily shovel out the rear, and walk and then scoop out between the bunks. Once I have a permanant shed it will be blacktopped (I get left over "hot" all summer long from my paving guys) so it wont be pretty, but it'll Git er DONE.

Ironwood