Milling in the dark

[raycon]

 Next week the sunset will be 5:00 pm or there abouts.
 Anyone milling outdoors after sunset? If so what kind of setup do you have?
 I'm thinking about giving it a whack.

[sigidi]

Hey there Ray,

down here I have to extend my daylight hours sometimes, as I never seem to be sent enought (can you fix that for me Jeff? :D)

With having bought a block of land, my wife begining to farm Alpaca's, me starting up my milling business and both of us wanting to build our own home all the the past two months, I'm sure you understand.

To get around all this, I use two stands of halogen lights, each stand is two 500w lights, Yep 2000w of cornea frying, daylight making monstronsity, I set them up on their tripods at each end of the mill, so that I don't get left in the dark too much.

I'll try and post a pic if Wifey ever lets me have the camera!!!

Hope it helps

[RacinRex]

I have a hard enough time making good lumber when its light out  :D

I am in Upstate NY and I feel your pain. Especially since I'm still stuck in my 925er and just sawing part time. Limits me to 9 hrs a day on the weekend. Just not enough sawdust for me. I try to do alot of prep and maint while its dark out so I can saw with every minute of light I get.

Very similar setup to sigidi.

Two stands with 2 500W halogens each. Run them off a generator if I'm away from real power. Burn as much in gas powerin the lights as I can make in lumber.  :-[ get frustrated and turn off.

[Brad_S.]

Lights mounted on the dump bed headboard of the truck, pointing backwards. Shadows can be annoying though. Recomended for emergency (finishing up) use only.

[Arthur]

on our mills we mount wide angle halogen lights at each end directly down (covers an area clearly of 3mx3m)

we also mount one on the cradle so the operator can clearly see where they are walking and also see the log as if its day time.  This one is powered via the engine on the cradle the others need there own power source (small genset).

Ideal for finishing the job but you will need at least two others on tripods to cover the work area for extended use.

[Bibbyman]

We've got a sawshed with 4 overhead lights with 200 watt bulbs.  Other flood lights under the sheds + others on the outside of the building.  We use to saw some evenings up to 9:00pm but not much any more.

Arky installed a 12V light to the front of the sawhead on Wanda.  Had one mounted on the control box but it got knocked off. :D


Useful sawmill mods

[Tom]

When I can't see to saw, I shut it down and everybody, inclulding me, says "Thank Goodness".

[ohsoloco]

In a way I'm glad my mill is still at my parent's house.  Now, by the time it gets dark I'm ready for a nice, hot, home-cooked meal and some strong coffee  

[DanG]

This is the weekend I have dreaded for as long as there has been Daylight Savings Time. Somehow, though, the return to Standard time don't mean diddly-squat, since I retired. ;D

[ohsoloco]

What's to dread?  You get an extra hour of sleep...or in most cases, an extra hour to stay up  :D

[sigidi]

Hey Arthur,

can ya post a pic or give a url to see the set-up your talkin of?

AS I am always burning the candle at both ends, I'm thinking of something a little more permanent with respect to lighting - running some machine lighting off the mill's battery, something to see the set-works better, not to light the area.

TIA