Whatcha Sawin' 2024 ??

Wlmedley · November 27, 2024, 05:57:43 PM

WV Sawmiller · December 04, 2024, 06:15:24 PM

I loaded up yesterday for a one tree job 32 miles away. Got up, hooked up and made a leisurely drive down and got there at 10:00 am.

Here is the log "pile". One walnut tree. The butt log at the front is 6' long and about 28" diameter.

Pretty tight set up. I drove in to an alley behind and had to pull in behind his house because the side the logs were on. I only had a foot of clearance on my right because of exposed drain pipes and maybe 2' from his cactus garden.

We got some real pretty 16" X 8/4 X 6' boards out of the butt log and one big bent nail that had to have been 6' high when the tree was standing. We also got some more pretty narrower boards from 6-14 inches wide. The second log had some 8/4 odd shaped. one live edge pieces from 22-23 wide at the base to 12-14 inches at the top with some crotch wood that was actually prettier pieces IMHO. I cut the smaller piece into 2" thick live edge craft pieces and cut 2 -10/4 LE benches out of the small crooked piece in the 2nd picture. There were several more small pieces but the customer said he was out of room and would cut them into firewood.

It was a minimum rate job so I did not do a detailed tally. Probably 500-600 bf (1.7 engine hours and about 1.2 gallons of gas used). The customer said he had budgeted for 3 blades and only got billed for the one so he did not get sticker shock and was very pleased with his wood and I had a very good time in spite of the cool weather which was not supposed to get over about 39 degrees today. I was done before 2:30 and was able to get out without hitting or tearing anything up so it was a very good small job.

Magicman · December 04, 2024, 06:51:06 PM

As scheduled I moved to a SYP & Oak job this morning for a several times repeat customer:

We got 11 of the 13 SYP logs sawn, all into 1X6's, before the rain started. That leaves two SYP logs and four Oak logs for tomorrow. The Oak is for cabin flooring.

I have only one more job that I plan/hope to saw this year. It is all Oak and for the customer that took a radiation cancer treatment Monday. It looks like rain is trying to wreck our sawing schedule for next week.

Hackeldam Wood Products · December 05, 2024, 06:24:02 PM

Cutting 1x8 pine to length for indoor walls of the new wood shop.
I have the 12 inch 220 volt radial arm saw and the spiral head grizzly 15 inch planer 3 phase 220 volt in the shed next to the LT 40 so I can process lumber. I run them with a generator. I have a door on each side so I can take the lumber off the forks on one side and take it out the other.

The mule is handy around the sawmill.

I will be retiring next week after 23 years as my Town's Superintendent of Highways. It is an elected position and I won twice and was unopposed four times for a total of six four year terms.
Plan on doing a lot more mill work and woodworking. I started working when I was 12 years old, I ran my own auto repair shop/towing/used cars from 1980 to 2002. I think I am going to enjoy not chasing a dollar for a while.

Hackeldam Wood Products · December 05, 2024, 06:30:45 PM

Quote from: WV Sawmiller on December 04, 2024, 06:15:24 PMI loaded up yesterday for a one tree job 32 miles away. Got up, hooked up and made a leisurely drive down and got there at 10:00 am.

Here is the log "pile". One walnut tree. The butt log at the front is 6' long and about 28" diameter.

Pretty tight set up. I drove in to an alley behind and had to pull in behind his house because the side the logs were on. I only had a foot of clearance on my right because of exposed drain pipes and maybe 2' from his cactus garden.

We got some real pretty 16" X 8/4 X 6' boards out of the butt log and one big bent nail that had to have been 6' high when the tree was standing. We also got some more pretty narrower boards from 6-14 inches wide. The second log had some 8/4 odd shaped. one live edge pieces from 22-23 wide at the base to 12-14 inches at the top with some crotch wood that was actually prettier pieces IMHO. I cut the smaller piece into 2" thick live edge craft pieces and cut 2 -10/4 LE benches out of the small crooked piece in the 2nd picture. There were several more small pieces but the customer said he was out of room and would cut them into firewood. It was a minimum rate job so I did not do a detailed tally. Probably 500-600 bf (1.7 engine hours and about 1.2 gallons of gas used). The customer said he had budgeted for 3 blades and only got billed for the one so he did not get sticker shock and was very pleased with his wood and I had a very good time in spite of the cool weather which was not supposed to get over about 39 degrees today. I was done before 2:30 and was able to get out without hitting or tearing anything up so it was a very good small job.

I bet he was happy. Firewood turned to beautiful hardwood lumber. There is no Black Walnut around here. I will have to travel one day and buy a few logs. Would like to get some to work with.

WV Sawmiller · December 05, 2024, 07:17:38 PM

Rich,

He said he had no idea what he was going to do with it and said he might re-saw some into 3/8" pieces. I'd have been glad to saw the remaining pieces for him at the same price as I include 1,000 bf or 5 hours in my minimum rate jobs and he had about half (1.7 engine hours for the whole stack pictured) that and most was not even edged. The walnut sawed really good and he had plenty of very pretty craft and building pieces and finally stopped me and said he did not have any more room. I guess that means we produced a lot more wood than he was expecting. The tree was in his back yard and I was sort of surprised we only hit the one nail.

I love sawing for customers who are excited about what we produce. I told the guy I had a lot of fun sawing with and for him.

Congrats on the upcoming retirement.

Magicman · December 05, 2024, 08:56:39 PM

I finished my sawing job today and moved it from the schedule book to the invoice book.

The last log was a 16' Red Oak 26" on both ends.

The customer is tallying the lumber. It is not all shown here but this is the majority. (The last log's lumber was still on the tractor forks.) The total tally was 2396bf in two days sawing. Kinda wimpy but it was all 1X6's which makes slow going. He will tractor it all to a shed for stickering.

I have one more job to saw for this year and we will start it next Thursday the 12th. I believe that it is all Oak but I do not know the cut list. It will probably all be 1".

WV Sawmiller · December 06, 2024, 01:20:42 PM

One thing I forgot to mention was on my last job I had to use my Magic Hook on the 2 biggest logs shown in the first picture. They were pretty large diameter and the upper cut had an odd shape and would not roll so I used the magic hook to roll it over and I used it on both to hold the logs in place during lifting and to keep them from rolling backwards until they settled securely in the cradle of the lifting arms. It is a real handy tool to use in conjunction with my mills hydraulics on occasions.

If you don't have a Magic Hook and you own a hydraulic mill I suggest you make yourself one.

Magicman · December 06, 2024, 01:30:27 PM

I had to use mine yesterday but for another reason. Two logs were 18'6". That means that with the operator's seat, it has to be exactly positioned on the sawmill bed for the blade to clear on both ends. Yup, I used the toe boards to raise the logs and the side supports/Magic hook to gently roll the log to the correct position.

A Magic Hook rocks !!

trapper · December 06, 2024, 03:50:18 PM

Sawed a small rotten oak log live edge for a repeat customer today. I would have used it for firewood myself but he was happy. He uses it for crafts and fit his plans

NewYankeeSawmill · December 07, 2024, 10:06:03 PM

Blown away, I didn't think it would work that well, nor be that easy!

We hauled... 25+ inch diameter logs up onto the mill using a couple boards for ramps and some straps. 3 guys is best, 1 on each strap (2 straps), one guy w/ a peavey to act as safety stop.

I don't have hydraulic loading on my mill, but I think I'll send this to customers who don't have access to a skid steer or tractor! It was honestly far easier than I expected it to be.

NewYankeeSawmill · December 07, 2024, 10:07:36 PM

Quote from: trapper on December 06, 2024, 03:50:18 PMSawed a small rotten oak log live edge for a repeat customer today. I would have used it for firewood myself but he was happy. He uses it for crafts and fit his plans

At the end of the day, we are not the arbiter of what has value, the customer is. If they're willing to pay for it....

WV Sawmiller · December 07, 2024, 10:19:19 PM

Yankee,

No disrespect intended but the thought of an inexperienced helper on a peavy or cant hook downhill of a 25" log being towed by 2 others (I assume at least one is inexperienced) would make me nervous. And BTW - I'd be more nervous if I was the one with the hook under the log with 2 inexperienced helpers pulling on the straps.

I'd prefer to just let the log roll back and start over if something broke or slipped.

If you can get an ATV/UTV or even a small tractor or large mower pulling those parbuckle straps it may make the job a whole lot easier.

NewYankeeSawmill · December 07, 2024, 10:25:46 PM

Quote from: WV Sawmiller on December 07, 2024, 10:19:19 PMIf you can get an ATV/UTV or even a small tractor or large mower pulling those parbuckle straps it may make the job a whole lot easier.

That's 95% of my customers - tractor w/ a bucket or skid steer required (I'll accept an excavator if you have one of those). I advise all my customers we need 'machine' on site to load the logs. This customer was persistent and said they had a machine lined up, but fell through... I arrived on site and was informed they had it handled. This is what they threw at me.

Agree, less-than-ideal is an understatement. That being said, I couldn't believe how easy it was.

WV Sawmiller · December 07, 2024, 10:34:51 PM

If you're ever not comfortable with any aspect of the job, call the job!

If someone gets hurt I promise you are going to be considered the responsible expert as the customer and courts are going to think you do this for a living/income and the poor ignorant customer did not know better (even if he was doing something you told him not to do). JMHO.

Magicman · December 07, 2024, 10:36:17 PM

Yes it works; Cross hauling/Par buckling logs has been done for over 100 years.

barbender · December 08, 2024, 12:22:00 AM

Parbuckling works great. But yeah, even a 4 wheeler would provide some nice consistent power. 4 wheeler with a winch even better- but all hands clear of the log deck!

Old Greenhorn · December 08, 2024, 07:48:11 AM

Same way I stack my logs with my Mule. I put an extra reverse snatch block in there to be on the only side I have access to. Works just fine and the winch gives you control and time.

Look around on th forum and you can find several project where fellas have added a hand crank winch to the log stop side of theeir mill to parbuckle alone. The winch stick slips into a pocket and comes out once the log is set.

Magicman · December 11, 2024, 06:56:38 PM

I am set up to go to a "not very exciting" job tomorrow. The customer has throat cancer and has been taking radiation, etc. He was unable to take his scheduled radiation last week and is presently in the hospital with feeding tubes, etc. His nephew and one other will meet me and handle the tailgunning. It is 56 miles away.

These logs are from last year's drought killed Oak trees so I have no idea about the condition. I suspect that only the heartwood will be solid, but I will do what I can.

This is one where I will have to follow my heart.

barbender · December 11, 2024, 10:10:19 PM

That stinks

Magicman · December 12, 2024, 06:28:56 AM

Didn't get very much sleep last night pondering my decision. Anyway I am off.

SawyerTed · December 12, 2024, 07:12:21 AM

It's a hard situation. Prayers that all will turn out for the best.

Magicman · December 12, 2024, 08:31:41 PM

Quite frankly, the logs were much better than I realized from the pictures. Very little decay/rot and much larger than I estimated. I sawed 10 logs most of which were 22"-24" top end.

I drove the 56 miles, set up, and we were sawing before 8AM.

We had a topic about this last year. When the warmer sawdust contacted the 30° air a cloud of condensate made quite a fog. It was pretty with the sunlight shining through.

This is a nice sample of the mostly 1X12's that we sawed today. There is also one log's 5/4 there. Two 16' logs were sawn into 1X6's and we have one more 16' for tomorrow which will also be 1X6's. I did not take a picture of the lumber not stacked on the trailer.

We only have 4 blue painted logs left plus 4 junky ERC logs.

Hackeldam Wood Products · December 13, 2024, 08:25:58 AM

nice trailer of lumber M.M.

Magicman · December 13, 2024, 05:21:26 PM

I finished and closed my sawing down for the rest of the year.

I have 9 jobs in my schedule book for next year, 5 for previous customers.

I sawed 1808bf yesterday and today but when I finished putting my stuff up, the tailgunners had covered & tied down all of the lumber and I was not gonna ask them to uncover it, so no final picture.

As of this morning my customer still has the feeding tube but there was a possibility that it might could be removed this afternoon and he could come home.