I'm nervous! Send help

[daltonk58]

Okay guys to get started Im still new the forum and going to make this as short as possible. So everyone knows I bought a norwood mx34 23hp motor that'll cut 12'6" lumber...  Had a guy call me last week asking if I could come look at some logs he wants sawed. ( very eager to go work for people with my mill) So I went over this morning to look. He took me in his house to show me what he wants. He wants new floor joists 2x10x18. And yes the 18 is feet. (Pre 1900 house) so we jump in his rtv and go for a drive to the back woods. We're walking around and points to the trees he wants sawn. (Still standing all red oak) not a problem still standing. We talked about an agreed price to spend a day to come in and cut them and get them drug out to the sawing location. Now... The problem is they're 3,4, and 5 foot in diameter. I will spend the money on extensions for mill to get the 18' length. I'm worried about true square sawn lumber at that  length. I will have to split the logs 2 times in order for it to fit through my mill. I'm very nervous about making the best product for this guy as possible. Did I bite off more than I can chew? Do you guys saw 18' cants? Is it more of a pain than worth it? If it to heavy for mill? I would rather turn a job down because of gut feeling rather than fail and have an upset customer. I've only been sawing for 2 months Any opinions will be greatly appreciated. Sorry for the essay!

[Kbeitz]

After working with really big logs I say no more... It's just not worth the extra work.
You better have a BIG tractor and a BIG saw and some BIG arms....

[daltonk58]

After working with really big logs I say no more... It's just not worth the extra work.
You better have a BIG tractor and a BIG saw and some BIG arms....

I mean honestly I don't even know if I could flip a quarter of a 5ft red oak log that's 18 foot long with a peavey or can't hook myself. Let alone loading them

[WV Sawmiller]

D58,

   IMO yes.

   I'd be nervous too. Not sure what the extension will cost or how hard it will be to set up. Do you have experience as a tree feller? How did you get roped into that? Do you have saws with bars that long and motors that powerful? Ever try splitting a tree that big with a chainsaw? What kind of support equipment do you have to even turn the logs? Do you have a super sized Logrite cant hook to turn a 5' diameter log?

   Before I ever cut a project for someone I first cut a similar or more difficult one at home to be sure I could do it. Can you delay cutting for the guy till you do a dress rehearsal on similar stuff of your own?

   Good luck.

[Wallys World]

According to the FF toolbox, the weight of a 18 foot 36 inch red oak log is 8142 pounds. You better have some mighty big support equipment.

[JustinW_NZ]

As others point out, you need some really good support equipment to load/unload for that sizing.
We use a ten ton wheel loader and find that to small some times!?!

Cheers
Justin

[bkaimwood]

I'd say you bit off more than you can chew, and say congratulations at the same time. I often bite off more than people think I can chew, but, so far, have ALWAYS gotten the job done. I've had a few I haven't made money on, and some I've lost on...but they were all positive learning experiences, none of which I regret, so you have my vote...I sense determination under your anxiety, so I think you got this. If handled correctly, events like such can be great for your reputation... Your customer will be sure to tell others what you did for him... Good or bad, so make it good. We do these things when starting out, to, well, start out... The longest can't I've sawn us 21', white oak...the largest diameter, 42"... It sounds like you are in  an area with big, long trees, if so, I'd consider extensions. I do not...your are lucky if it's straight 16' out!!!  There are other ways to do it...saw to length limit, shuffle the log back to saw more...some recent great posts on this. As for weight... Firm, solid, sound base, and be careful, you should be OK...

[Cazzhrdwd]

As someone who handles big logs daily it all depends on the money. Its going to take you three times the normal amount of time to process them, not including cutting down. I would see if he was willing to cut other trees to get the job done. I doubt he'll pay for what it's truly worth for you to fell, quarter then saw. So in essence, you're probably going to lose money on this job if he isn't willing to pay more for cutting those big trees.

[Cazzhrdwd]

double post

I'll add though if you really need the money or just want to do it, you've only lost the blood and sweat.

How long will your mill saw without extensions?

[Kbeitz]

Your going to use up some real chainsaw gas....

[daltonk58]

D58,

   IMO yes.

   I'd be nervous too. Not sure what the extension will cost or how hard it will be to set up. Do you have experience as a tree feller? How did you get roped into that? Do you have saws with bars that long and motors that powerful? Ever try splitting a tree that big with a chainsaw? What kind of support equipment do you have to even turn the logs? Do you have a super sized Logrite cant hook to turn a 5' diameter log?

   Before I ever cut a project for someone I first cut a similar or more difficult one at home to be sure I could do it. Can you delay cutting for the guy till you do a dress rehearsal on similar stuff of your own?

   Good luck.

as far as extensions go I'm going to have 1500 to 2000 wrapped in it. Jack's extensions log locks etc... Tree felling I can do. I've cut, got the saws and experience with confidence. (Not being cocky about it either) not sure how I got signed up for that job but more than willing to do it. It's just more money for me. I don't have the big hook and didn't know it existed till you brought it up. I can't get my self in that same situation simply because of the length. Just have a problem spending more money in it to see how it will work for my self.  I understand it's a limb I must be willing to walk and hope it holds.

[reswire]

Would he be better off to sell those logs (possible veneer) and cut or find smaller logs to work with??

[WDH]

I believe that you are in over your head with your current capability.  I would walk away from it. 

[daltonk58]

double post

I'll add though if you really need the money or just want to do it, you've only lost the blood and sweat.

How long will your mill saw without extensions?

12'6" norwood  extensions come in 4' lengths. So I would need 2. Not so much as needing the money as much wanting it and getting my business rolling. A bad word will travel twice as fast as a good word if you know what I mean and being new I can't afford the bad word

[daltonk58]

I believe that you are in over your head with your current capability.  I would walk away from it.

so far that's the majority of what people say. Between friends and family.  I hate to do it. It honestly puts my stomach in knots to say sorry I can't but I don't want an upset customer nether.

[thecfarm]

Are you saying the logs are 3-4-5 feet across.    

[daltonk58]

According to the FF toolbox, the weight of a 18 foot 36 inch red oak log is 8142 pounds. You better have some mighty big support equipment.

I
I guessed it between 8 and 9000lbs. Now I quarter that out and I'm still over a ton a price and that's a lot to handle my self on a non hydraulic mill

[daltonk58]

Are you saying the logs are 3-4-5 feet across.

yes there are very few I could put on my mill that I wouldn't have to split

[daltonk58]

Would he be better off to sell those logs (possible veneer) and cut or find smaller logs to work with??

honestly I'm not a timber buyer or seller. But from my experience Ive cut grade and veneer and I don't think he has any veneer. Even if he did (just my opinion) he wouldn't sell simply because he wants his floor joist. I tried finding smaller trees trying to convince him it would be easier but found the big oaks and pecker poles. Hardly anything in between

[customsawyer]

Cutting the big logs will be tough if you don't have the right equipment. I cut 12x12x40' most of the time and have seen my fair share of big logs. If the customer wants that kind of logs sawed with the equipment you have I would work by the hour. Remember you are cutting 2x material 18' long. If you don't have roller tables and a edger you are going to need some back pain meds. How are you going to move the logs to the mill?

[daltonk58]

Cutting the big logs will be tough if you don't have the right equipment. I cut 12x12x40' most of the time and have seen my fair share of big logs. If the customer wants that kind of logs sawed with the equipment you have I would work by the hour. Remember you are cutting 2x material 18' long. If you don't have roller tables and a edger you are going to need some back pain meds. How are you going to move the logs to the mill?

he tells me he has he equipment for the job. Now I didn't see it nor did I ask about it.

[thecfarm]

WOW!! That will take some equipment to move those 3-4-5 foot across logs. I have done some 3 feet,16 feet with a 40hp tractor and a 3pt winch. I have done some 4 foot ones too,but only 10 feet long,did a few that was almost the 5 foot mark too,but again only 10 feet long. This was also white pine,which does not weight as much. Takes ALOT of room to bring down a tree that size. We use to cut a "road" for those big ones. And I do mean a road. Took some time to clean out a place for them to fall. But we was fussy with the land and trees too. I have no experience on sawing something that size. But cutting and logging,we did it for 3 years on my land. Takes a while to limb out those big ones too.

[customsawyer]

If those trees are growing at the edge of the woods, with woods on one side and open land on the other there is going to be some stress in them.  ;)

[red]

There are many other types of wood for floor joists .  Get some normal size logs 18-20 ft long

[red]

Careful about asking for sending Help . . The Chainsaw Carvers are in Ridgway PA this week they may want those 3 4 5 Pythagorean Theorem Logs