Whatcha Sawin' 2025 ??

Magicman · December 30, 2024, 04:22:19 PM

I started the original Whatcha Sawin' ?? topic with this picture back in 2014. Wow, how many of our logs have become lumber and sawdust in the past 10 years??

I already have 10 firm sawing jobs in the "schedule book" for 2025. Those plus the usual "tire kicking" jobs that result in maybe 25% actually being sawed.

I have sawing scheduled for Thursday the 2nd and it looks like I'm gonna have a busy start for my 22nd year of sawing, at least during the first few months. Gonna be cold!!

So Whatcha Sawin' in 2025 ??

terrifictimbersllc · December 30, 2024, 07:35:52 PM

My first job of 2025 will be on Saturday for a contractor nearby. Was supposed to be on the 2nd, Thursday, but warm and rain through Wednesday and he doesn't want to mess up his side yard.

He's got a dozen or so 20 inch red oak logs that he wants me to make 8 x 12 beams for mafia block substitutes. Real concrete is too heavy for him to pick up. I told him the logs are too nice to throw away the side lumber so I think it will be a nice job.

Saturday will be a cold start 23° or so. I don't like cold nor my machine either, but I am looking forward to getting started. On a nice break now for a few more days.

Magicman · December 30, 2024, 08:32:16 PM

Today I looked at my logs scheduled for sawing on the 2nd and they could easily be some of the best SYP logs that I have ever sawn. They are 16' & 18' and the two butt logs are 32". The cut list will be 2X6's and 2X12's with a few 2X8's for ridges.

Getting tailgunners is the main obstacle for customers. I have talked with three different customers today and have moved sawing schedules out into February and March when help would be available. They are scheduling around the two week on-off oil field schedules.

Dave Shepard · December 30, 2024, 11:48:18 PM

I finished my last custom job today. I have a bunch of timbers to saw for a spec timber frame to start the year off. I'll be waiting for good weather days. Last week I had to get the tractor and sawmill running at 8⁰, with below 0⁰ overnight. I have Anderson connectors on everything at the mill. I park the tractor next to the mill and plug them together. When the tractor is running, then I get the mill started. The tractor generally is a good starter but the not very old battery must be weak. The sawmill is not a good starter, but with two group 31 batteries and the tractor alternator, it still start at any temp that I plan on milling.

Magicman · December 31, 2024, 07:16:58 AM

We have 34° forecast for the 2nd which will be my first sawing job for 2025. That is cold for us.

Big_eddy · December 31, 2024, 06:35:38 PM

Looks like I will be sawing my first log ever in 2025 now. Have spent the last 3 days assembling and then levelling my new HM130Max. Would have cut its first log today, except I didn't have any 10w30 in my collection. Have 0w20, 5w20, 5w30, 15w45 and several gear and chain oils but ......Kohler wants 10w30.

So off to town I went and it was dark when I got back.

I have about 40 cord of hardwood logs available, all sizes and types. Any recommendations for the first one? I've got a few straight ash logs about 14" in diameter on the end of the pile, so that was what I was thinking of grabbing, but there is lots of choice if another size or species would be better.

Magicman · December 31, 2024, 06:56:46 PM

Congratulation on your first anticipated log to be sawn. I would suggest that you saw and keep a two live edge flitch which you can later have engraved as a memento.

KWood255 · December 31, 2024, 08:14:17 PM

More 8x8's and a variety of custom timbers for a local contractor by the end of the week. Delivered 100 of the 8x8's this morning, with another 100 scheduled for Thursday.

Lucky enough to see a cow and calf moose on the way home today.

stihltoomany · December 31, 2024, 09:26:48 PM

Gotta question for all you millers. Some point in time i want to buy a trailer load of decent cedar logs. Closer the better. I'm in eastern Iowa. Magicmans picture reminded me. In this area very hard to find cedars worth sawing. Thanks

stihltoomany · December 31, 2024, 09:35:13 PM

Sorry realized wrong forum

barbender · December 31, 2024, 11:46:57 PM

Why is this the wrong Forum?

I know from personal experience there is nice Eastern Red Cedar in northeast Nebraska, on the breaks of the Missouri River. I do believe there are some harvesting operations operating down there. Closest town would be Niobrara.

cutterboy · January 01, 2025, 07:06:18 AM

Quote from: Big_eddy on December 31, 2024, 06:35:38 PMI have about 40 cord of hardwood logs available, all sizes and types. Any recommendations for the first one? I've got a few straight ash logs about 14" in diameter on the end of the pile, so that was what I was thinking of grabbing, but there is lots of choice if another size or species would be better.

Big eddy, the best species and size of log to saw is the one that's on the mill.

A note on ash; ash tends to leave a buildup on the blade. Don't think there is something wrong with your mill or the blade if that happens.

Enjoy!

doc henderson · January 01, 2025, 08:32:18 AM

@Cedarman how far are you guys apart? @stihltoomany Check out the custom wood fibers folks below in the sponsor's bar.

Home for custom wood fibers

Magicman · January 01, 2025, 04:44:02 PM

I went earlier this week and looked at tomorrow's logs. They are only two miles away from home and will all be sawed into framing lumber.

There are seven logs total, two with 32" butts and 28" top ends. Those two big logs calculate @~4700lbs each. These are not beetle killed but fresh felled.

Do they make my sawmill look little?

These are for the same customer that I sawed 7644bf of framing lumber for last May.

jpassardi · January 01, 2025, 06:20:50 PM

Lynn,
What do you figure - have them knocked out in time for morning coffee break?

kkcomp · January 01, 2025, 06:28:39 PM

Quote from: Magicman on January 01, 2025, 04:44:02 PMI went earlier this week and looked at tomorrow's logs. They are only two miles away from home and will all be sawed into framing lumber.

There are seven logs total, two with 32" butts and 28" top ends. Those two big logs calculate @~4700lbs each. These are not beetle killed but fresh felled.

Do they make my sawmill look little?

These are for the same customer that I sawed 7644bf of framing lumber for last May.

You going to let that SYP drip for a while or cut them fresh?

kkcomp · January 01, 2025, 06:30:22 PM

I only saw for myself. Right now I have some pecan kicking my butt like it owns me. Got some red oak coming to make cabinets out of next week.

Magicman · January 01, 2025, 06:48:48 PM

Quote from: kkcomp on January 01, 2025, 06:28:39 PMYou going to let that SYP drip for a while or cut them fresh?

These logs have been down for 6-8 weeks so they are not sticky/drippy. If you zoom in on the log ends you can see that the sap is white/crusty. They are also virtually knot free so they should make some #1 lumber.

cutterboy · January 02, 2025, 07:06:07 AM

Quote from: kkcomp on January 01, 2025, 06:30:22 PMRight now I have some pecan kicking my butt like it owns me.

kkcomp, the last time I sawed hickory it was the same with me. Pecan and hickory are in the same family. Cousins, very pretty but not well behaved.

Magicman · January 02, 2025, 07:26:00 AM

Quote from: jpassardi on January 01, 2025, 06:20:50 PMWhat do you figure - have them knocked out in time for morning coffee break?

Yeah I wish, but hopefully that top log will be sawn by 9:00 and we have moved on to that first 32 incher. The problem is help. Neither of the two grandsons that will be helping today have ever seen a log, but if they can work we will be OK. Tomorrow is supposed to be a neighbor that has previously helped me.

This actually should only be a one day job, but when we finish really does not matter with me. It's only two miles from home.

Hackeldam Wood Products · January 02, 2025, 03:04:37 PM

We went from rain and 45 yesterday to high winds and 30 with a dusting of lake effect snow this morning. It does reach down this far sometimes.
Cut some Pine 1x4 trim and a small curved Cherry that I took down to make room for my RV shed.
I have to say I have to double my speed to keep up to M.M. slowing down....

Happy, Healthy New Year.

Rich

Ljohnsaw · January 02, 2025, 03:18:33 PM

It's gonna be a while until I'm sawing again. Snow, rain, snow, rain. On and on it goes. Central Sierras are at 100% of where they should be right now. Northern is like 160%. It's just skipping north of me. If this keeps up, I might be sawing early, like end of April. But ... If it's starts tracking a little south, it could be June or July.

Magicman · January 02, 2025, 07:14:32 PM

I made relatively good progress with today's sawing but no barn burner. Those two 18' X 32" butt logs took some extra time but I did not figure that we would finish today anyway.

I did not scale yet but there are 16, 6X6's plus 2X4's, 6's 8's and 12's stickered in the background. The three remaining logs will be sawn into 2X4's, 8's & 12's.

Dan R · January 03, 2025, 12:24:34 AM

MM
Looking at those stacks of lumber I would think your helpers did a pretty good job.
Dan

Magicman · January 03, 2025, 07:47:41 AM

Yes, they did quite well. They are cousins; one is a HS junior and the other studying Diesel mechanics in trade school. The high school-er has school today but we will manage with only 3 logs left and none are fatties.

We will probably be sawing by 8:30 as we were yesterday. We shut er down at 3:30 yesterday afternoon. I know time was wasted, but it really did not matter because this one is a "peanut job" only 2 miles from home.