Unscheduled Day Off

[Magicman]

My helper questioned me Monday evening as I was picking up and loading my tools, about why I bothered because we would be back sawing Tuesday morning.  I explained then that we never know what tomorrow may bring.  I may not be back for a week.

This morning my customer called with an emergency situation and would need my helper on another unrelated job today.  I get a day off, and the helper finds out why I always leave the sawmill covered and secure.  We just never know.

[clww]

A great example of being prepared for the unexpected.

[thecfarm]

That sounds just like me at my house.  :D  Meaning you just never know what will happen.I am kinda slack on somethings,but when I get done,I usually pick everything up and and put it under cover as if I was going to get a big rain storm.

[sealark37]

A few years ago I purchased the contents of a shop that had been left with the doors open for 15 years.  The previous owner had gone to his house for a few minutes and never returned.  You never know.   Regards, Clark

[thecfarm]

And I thought I get side tracked.  :D  The wife is just about done believing my,I'll be right back, story.  :D

[Peter Drouin]

My helper questioned me Monday evening as I was picking up and loading my tools, about why I bothered because we would be back sawing Tuesday morning.  I explained then that we never know what tomorrow may bring.  I may not be back for a week.

This morning my customer called with an emergency situation and would need my helper on another unrelated job today.  I get a day off, and the helper finds out why I always leave the sawmill covered and secure.  We just never know.

I do the same thing, and sometimes the mill comes home too 

[Chuck White]

I never leave tempting items at a sawsite, always put them back in the truck at the end of the day.

The fuel tank, and sometimes, if it's near empty, the water tank goes on the truck too.

[red oaks lumber]

isnt  that just comonnsense? or am i missing something?

[Chuck White]

My helper questioned me Monday evening as I was picking up and loading my tools, about why I bothered because we would be back sawing Tuesday morning.  I explained then that we never know what tomorrow may bring.  I may not be back for a week.

This morning my customer called with an emergency situation and would need my helper on another unrelated job today.  I get a day off, and the helper finds out why I always leave the sawmill covered and secure.  We just never know.

This is the part I was responding to.

You never know what might happen.

[Magicman]

I believe that we are discussing commonsense shutdown procedures ROL, so I doubt that you are missing anything. 

In the OP, my helper was questioning me about why I took the time to clean up and put up "knowing" that we would be back the next morning and just have to drag it all back out before we could begin work.  I have read where some sawyers even leave the blade on the sawmill overnight.  Not me.

[POSTON WIDEHEAD]

My mill is stationary and I have to clean up. Just something as simple as a pair of gloves. The Dang Coons stole them this past fall and I found one in the pea field where they dropped it.  >:(

[terrifictimbersllc]

I often get questions too about why pack up if I'm coming back in the morning.  The mill gets covered with the head chained to the front. Tools go back in the truck.  Gas and water too, often refilled by the time I come back.  I guess it's just the way I do things so I am not worrying about things all evening I say.  I like to know where things are and tidying up is what I do.  Hate to imply that I don't think the customer's place is secure but after they've spent a day with me I think they understand I have some habits.  :

[Chuck White]

I've also had the customer ask "why are you taking the blade off, it hasn't been on very long"?

Then I'll explain to him that if I leave it on any length of time, it will rust wherever the blade is in contact with the blade wheel belt!

[JustinW_NZ]

  I have read where some sawyers even leave the blade on the sawmill overnight.  Not me.

umm I might be guilty of that the odd time  smiley_dunce

Cheers
Justin

[Ljohnsaw]

I've also had the customer ask "why are you taking the blade off, it hasn't been on very long"?

Then I'll explain to him that if I leave it on any length of time, it will rust wherever the blade is in contact with the blade wheel belt!

I never thought about that (not a sawyer yet) but makes sence because its been soaking in water all day.

[Magicman]

As Chuck stated, I think that it has much to do with the tannic acid in the sawdust that is trapped between the blade and the B57.

Another blade item involves safety.

[POSTON WIDEHEAD]

Another blade item involves safety.

Good point M&M's !  The very first week I had my mill I left the blade on and the head was raised. All the teeth were exposed to whoever would run into it. I had not closed my blade guide. (rookie).  My mill was new and a neighbor just had to see it after dark. Took him to the mill and low and behold I just about ran my forehead into the blade when I rounded the mill and ducked down. 
I take my blade off......for safety and I just like to start the next day with a sharp one.

I'm glad my head didn't hit the blade....ya'll would be telling me to stick a HOT paper clip in my forehead. ;D

[ely]

i only take a blade off to get a fresh one on. i run the band at high speed without any water until its dry then loosen it off until next time.

[drobertson]

there is no doubt that when portable, every evening should end with a complete wipe down, shut down. No one knows what tomorrow will bring.  In the shed I have had some slacker moments at the end of the day.

[red oaks lumber]

i completly got the original post. isn't that just common sense? to me you are trying to make this a teaching lesson on how to be prepared. sorry just my opinion

[Magicman]

No, not making a teaching lesson at all, just stating that my helper found out why I do put everything up at the end of the day.  He and I will have a good laugh tomorrow.  The unscheduled day off put a wrinkle in my plans for this week.   :-\

I was planning to finish that job tomorrow morning and resaw some beams and timbers for Dodgy Loner tomorrow afternoon, but now we will have to reschedule it for later when we can get our schedules to coincide.

[POSTON WIDEHEAD]

Maybe this thread should be a teaching lesson.

When I first got my mill, I had NO idea what to do. There are a lot of newbies's, as they call themselves that need to learn a routine.
Learning a good routine from seasoned sawyers is not a bad idea. Being prepared IS being prepared for we do not know what tomorrow holds. I've learned a few things from this thread and have enjoyed what others have shared.  Thanks Guys.

[Red Clay Hound]

I've had a mill for about five years.  My first mill was a stationary LT15.  Now I run a portable LT40HD.  I have to admit that I have not been in the habit of taking the blade off at the end of the day - I release the tension but don't take the blade off.  This is why I love the forum.  I learn something every day from experienced sawyers!  Thanks guys. 

[barbender]

I'm the guy that has too many irons in the fire and doesn't always pick up cause I'll be back in the morning. You'd think I'd learn : So no Redoaks, it's not common sense, good work habits is what I would call it. Even if the MagicMan was giving a lesson, I'd come to hear it ;)

[Tronvik]

Thanks Magic for the lesson I did not think of the safety and rust issue. I do rest the head on the bed to relieve the up down chain. Ten years of running woodmizers and still a lot to learn.