Debarker,, pros and cons

Magicman · March 23, 2014, 08:46:10 AM

I bought my sawmill used. You say that there was supposed to be a beeper??

Chuck White · March 23, 2014, 09:16:15 AM

Yes, there is supposed to be a beeper that resembles the sound of a vehicle that is backing up.

The beeper is supposed to be sounding whenever the debarker is running!

edit: A regular automotive back-up alarm will not work!

nk14zp · March 23, 2014, 09:37:58 AM

How many circle sawmills have added a mudsaw?

terrifictimbersllc · March 23, 2014, 10:38:07 AM

More than once walked around the head for whatever reason and that little blade was spinning. Could do a number on a spinal column.

Jim H · March 23, 2014, 09:04:29 PM

The first job I did with a working beeper was for a repeat customer. He told me he'd pay extra if I made it stop :D. I never got around to hooking it back up. ;D

backwoods sawyer · March 24, 2014, 12:31:41 AM

When I updated the debarker It came with the beeper, had to unplug it on the first job as the horses did not like it and were getting a bit antcy

.
Now little Jo uses it to get my atention with 3 quick beeps :

Brucer · March 24, 2014, 01:45:25 AM

It's there for a reason. Assuming it's wired up correctly, if the key is switched on, the debarker is switched on, and the carriage control is set to forward, the debarker will be running -- very quietly. The sawmill engine doesn't have to be running either -- just have the key set to auxiliary.

If you're going to walk around to the front of the carriage, then the beeper may be the only thing that warns you the debarker is running.

I've made it a habit to have the key turned off whenever I walk around to the front. That's for my protection. I plug in the beeper whenever there's visitors. That's for their protection.

thecfarm · March 24, 2014, 08:51:14 AM

They do make diffeant tones of beepers. Where I work was loud. We was having a hard time hearing the beep of a forklift. The guy in charge of the lifts said he could put a diffeant tone on it so we could hear it better.
With my hearing, if I was around a lift that was backing up and a de barker and they both had the same "beep" I would have no idea which one was which.

Sawyer697 · March 24, 2014, 09:02:38 AM

Got a debarker the day I got my new mill, Do not need it all the time, but all it takes is some mud or rocks from dragged logs, and your blade is shot. If you saw dirty logs, and who does not, then a debarker is a good investment! Love mine.

Dave Shepard · March 24, 2014, 12:59:50 PM

Quote from: terrifictimbersllc on March 23, 2014, 10:38:07 AM
More than once walked around the head for whatever reason and that little blade was spinning. Could do a number on a spinal column.

The debarker blade, while dangerous, is not as dangerous as a skill saw blade. In fact, my T shirt did a pretty good job of stalling it out. The wire had gotten pulled out, so I had no idea it was still running. It didn't leave too bad of a scar. :

Bandmill Bandit · March 24, 2014, 01:11:47 PM

I know i would not want to be with out the debarker on my mill. It sure saves blades on dirty logs. I taped a thin piece of foam over the beeper to just take that sharp edge out of the beep. It is still loud enough to hear but doesn't hurt the ears. Also thinking of adding a flashing light (red or yellow) that will activate with the beeper.

nastcat · March 24, 2014, 08:49:04 PM

I was wondering why you couldn't just spray off the mud with a powerwasher before making your cut?

Magicman · March 24, 2014, 09:00:32 PM

Sometimes you can do very well with a hose or pressure washer. Usually you can then be prepared for more mud or some careful log handling.

Here is a very recent job where the logs were picked up by a trackhoe and washed. Even then, there was still dirt, mud, and sand and I was glad to have the Debarker. Simple answers and solutions are not always simple.

My sawing is portable at the customer's location where water is very seldom available anyway.

YellowHammer · March 24, 2014, 09:45:34 PM

Quote from: nastcat on March 24, 2014, 08:49:04 PM
I was wondering why you couldn't just spray off the mud with a powerwasher before making your cut?

I did the pressure washer thing for a good while with my old mill that didn't have a debarker. At the best of times in the summer it was a time consuming, wet, soggy mess due to the unpredictable rebound of the high pressure water off the bark and debris. I couldn't help but get wet. At other times of the year, like in the winter, spring and fall, it was just a cold, wet, soggy mess :D.

YH

customsawyer · March 25, 2014, 05:09:53 AM

I would think that the pressure washing would drive some dirt deeper.

SwampDonkey · March 25, 2014, 05:24:24 AM

Another plus for winter snow. Ice is easier on blades than dirt. ;D

Bandmill Bandit · March 25, 2014, 10:14:11 AM

The debarker is a lot less time consuming to use than a pressure washer so you end up with more lumber cut in the processing time of the logs that have mud and dirt on them.

Seems like a pretty good investment to me.

Magicman · March 25, 2014, 01:24:54 PM

I can not wait around for customers to pressure wash logs. Also, when it is done, it has to be far enough from the sawmill to keep from making a muddy mess.

The idea sound good when in actuality it is not very productive.

hardtailjohn · March 25, 2014, 03:35:55 PM

Quote from: Brucer on March 23, 2014, 02:18:20 AM
The beeping is annoying, but it's there for a reason. However ...

When I was contract sawing for a timber framer, his forklift made the same sound when backing up. Soon after I bought my second mill (with debarker) they had a couple of close calls with the forklift while backing up. Folks were getting so used to the annoying beep, beep, beep from my mill that they stopped paying attention to the forklift. True, they should have been paying attention, but the fact, some of them weren't.

So I modified my mill -- put a small plug on one of the wires to the beeper. Since I didn't have a helper right at the mill, I could safely leave it unplugged. But whenever visitors came by, I'd plug it back in.

Yep....safety 3rd!!!!! I've been preaching this for years!!!! Check out Mike Rowe's video.... http://www.mikeroweworks.com/2009/08/safety-third-huh/

Bandmill Bandit · March 25, 2014, 04:32:46 PM

I have said for years that safety is no accident but neither is stupidity.

That is pretty much what Mike Rowe's video implies.

reswire · March 25, 2014, 05:45:08 PM

I checked with Timberking. It's $1695. for a debarker for my mill. I also tried to use my blade sharpener for the first time tonight. I couldn't believe how many missing, misshaped teeth were on my old blades. I think I'll bite the bullet and get the debarker. Probably worth more than the sharpener. :D

Chuck White · March 28, 2014, 07:13:35 AM

I'm pretty sure you won't regret springing for the debarker!

You'll wonder how you got along without it!

Bandmill Bandit · March 28, 2014, 10:25:22 AM

not sure what timber king has for a sharpener or what it is worth but I do know that I would have bought at least 2 sharpeners worth of re-sharp/shipping cost if if I had not bought the sharpening equipment at the same time I bought my mill.