longest one yet

[Den-Den]

My home built mill was designed with 8 ft hardwood logs in mind, I have cut a few 12 footers before.  This 8 x 10" pine beam is 14 ft long, there was about 5 inches of travel available in front of the blade and the back of band just cleared the end of log.  It would not be hard to extend the bed but I am loading and turning logs manually so longer capability could put me in a bind.

This is the first of four beams for Austin's porch.  The log was only 13" dia at small end and was slightly curved so there is a little wane in a couple of spots (< 1" wide).



 

[Chuck White]

Looks like a fine job there, Den!  8)

[Brad_bb]

Extend it, make a turner or get a piece of equipment- forklift or FEL.  The bigger you can cut, the more you can do.

[WV Sawmiller]

DD,

    Real pretty beam. Well done IMO.

    My mill is supposed to cut up to 21' but I have hydraulics. Biggest I have cut was some 2.5"X12"X20.5' and it was a pain. Hydraulics turns the log fine but then I had a 150 lb board to drag around. Even worse when I had to lift it up to the poles to nail it. Son brought big tractor up and helped lift them. I needed wide openings in front of the shed reason for long framing.

    I agree with Brad in recommendation to extend the mill. I'd want to be able to cut 17' log anyway as 16' boards with some trim pretty standard for much construction work. Install a winch or such to parbuckle logs if you need to do so to turn them. Keep up the good work. Be careful.