First Whack!

Ugly Tree · January 17, 2015, 11:10:41 PM

Struggling with picture posting. Obviously not the first to do that. Anyway, got most of my SYP on the ground a couple weeks ago. New Woodland showed up Friday. Assembled today and hope to make the first cut tomorrow morning. That's 72 12'ers I scaled them at 6100 feet.

golddredger · January 17, 2015, 11:15:47 PM

Sweeet!!! Pictures will get easier to do with practice. You will be a pro like when you finish that wack of logs. 8)

YellowHammer · January 17, 2015, 11:26:15 PM

Those will certainly keep you busy for awhile. Congratulations on the mill.
YH

BCsaw · January 18, 2015, 12:38:39 AM

What are we building??

Now that you can post pics, you can keep us up to date!! :D :D

Magicman · January 18, 2015, 07:03:02 AM

Now that is a Whack.

8)

Congrats on the mill and Happy Sawing. :D

WDH · January 18, 2015, 07:40:35 AM

Ugly, that is not ugly :D.

Hookpilot · January 18, 2015, 07:47:31 AM

That is a lot better than my first wack 8) 8) have fun it is a steep learning curve, or maybe I'm just slow. :D :D

Chuck White · January 18, 2015, 07:49:14 AM

Those are some beauties! 8)

POSTON WIDEHEAD · January 18, 2015, 10:58:12 AM

Let us know with a good story when you get to the last log. ;D
Those are some really nice logs. Thanks for posting.

78NHTFY · January 18, 2015, 12:25:42 PM

Good looking whack-o-logs ;D. You will know what you're doing when you're through with those. Happy sawing, in "rock valley"(Felsenthal) :P.! All the best, Rob.

Tree Dan · January 18, 2015, 02:40:30 PM

Wow nice whack of logs....I want to see the Mill now ;D :snowfight1:

Ga Mtn Man · January 18, 2015, 06:10:46 PM

Very NICE! You should have your lube formula worked out by the time you finish that wack o'pine.

pineywoods · January 18, 2015, 09:48:27 PM

Congratulations neighbor 8)

StimW · January 19, 2015, 12:59:22 AM

If you are just getting started grab the shortest, ugliest log to practice on.
Once you get the feel for the mill then move on to the cream of the pile.

RM Farm · January 19, 2015, 03:48:36 AM

Nice logs, sure to be a lot saw dust

Ugly Tree · January 19, 2015, 07:39:50 AM

Wow! Thanks for all the replies. Made this post at work late Saturday night. Worked off graveyards, got me about an hour nap and got right to work on the mill. Had the mill mostly put together but had to set the blade tracking and guides, oil up the motor and I wanted to check level again. Being a former machinist, I had to use the transit. I shot it in to what I thought was okay.(~3/16") Tractor was low on diesel, so back to the gas station I went. A dime waiting on a dollar. Finally got my first cut. Wow! I dont know what crack cocaine is like but it can not be more addicting than making boards. That pine is absolutely beautiful. Well, no more so than down at the lumber yard but its mine and was cut from my trees on my land. There's just something really fulfilling about cutting ones own lumber. Now to the good stuff. Lessons learned-

1. There's alot more to cutting up lumber than just running a band saw through a log. Really need to study up on how to plan my cuts and keep the pith centered. Cut lists will be an essential part of future milling.
2. There's a big difference in cheap cant hooks. ( i suppose) Because the one I have is awful. Need to look in to a Logrite. Turning the cant finally came down to a five foot bar and some muscle.
3. Help is great! My brother is a former saw miller and he's home right now from the pipeline. It's awesome having someone else around that gets things and is mechanically inclined. I won't say that I could not have done it without him but having him around certainly moves things along.
4. The wife loves pulling slabs!
5. Pine slabs make excellent yard fire material when the time comes around in the evening to pass the jar.
6. Remember that 3/16"? Well that runs out to an inch and a half if it is your center bunk that's high and you have a 12' log. After the first log I noticed my last board had insane taper. I was so caught up in making nice grain pine boards, I was not really watching quality control on dimensions. Halfway through the second log, we shut down and broke out the transit again. Got the mill +/- 1/16", resquared the second cant and went back to work. All is good.
7. Would HIGHLY recommend the Woodland Mill HM 126 to anyone that is budget minded and entry level. Awesome little machine for the right price. Missing alot of bells and whistles of the bigger mills, but there's alot of room for mods for the mechanically minded. I see a trailer and come custom hydraulics in my near future.

We are starting a cut list today for some lumber and equipment sheds. Next will be joists, studs and rafters for a stick frame house, then siding, then inside wall boards, trim, etc. (Basically anything that will save me a trip to the lumber yard). A ton of work ahead, but as I said, very rewarding.

BIG thanks to everyone on here. A wealth of knowledge posts on this board daily. I have spent countless hours researching everything about everything to do with forestry on this site. I have not found any better source of information anywhere. And that's saying alot because we live in the heart of the logging industry in South Arkansas/North Louisiana. I'm having to learn to process helpful hints from visitors and neighbors with courtesy, because some things people will tell you about what you "ought" to do are simply not best practices that I have learned on here. Seems everyone knows how to cut up a tree in to lumber. Like I said to begin with, its a whole lot more than just running a band saw through a log.
Trying to transfer some pics from phones to chromebook right now, but patience is wearing thin as I see rays of light through the trees to the East. Got some added to the gallery but having issues sticking them in this post and I need more coffee. Back on graveyards tonight so now to the mill I go. Happy MLKJR day everyone!

Again, many thanks for all the kind words. Time to make sawdust.

Ugly Tree · January 19, 2015, 07:57:07 AM

Ugly Tree · January 19, 2015, 07:58:05 AM

dboyt · January 19, 2015, 09:53:21 AM

Congratulations on the mill! Pretty logs & mill, but ugly tractor! Looks like it has spent a lot of time out in the woods, with all that extra protection over the top. Good help (and a good cant hook) around the mill is always welcome. Keep an eye on those wood blocks for signs of settling that could throw your mill out of true. Looking forward to pictures of the mill in action.

StimW · January 19, 2015, 11:59:05 AM

You can't check the location of the log stops often enough!!
That will cost you your first blade. (and more even after you get use to the mill)
Find a routine and then follow each step, it will help you to not cut the stops.
Also do not try to back up the mill with the blade running. It will come off of the wheels with little pressure.

Nomad · January 19, 2015, 07:52:41 PM

Your wife likes pulling slabs?!? 8) Hang on to that one!!!

Ugly Tree · January 19, 2015, 09:21:02 PM

YellowHammer · January 19, 2015, 10:58:33 PM

There lots of things in life that require deep and contemplative thought....log hooks aren't one of them. ;D. Just get a Logrite (or 2).
YH

MSSawmill · January 21, 2015, 10:49:09 AM

Congrats on the mill! Good luck with it. That SYP is fun to cut, but wait until you slice open an oak or a cedar! Then you'll really be hooked!

pineywoods · January 21, 2015, 11:49:29 AM

Ugly tree, now you have a real problem..You'll ~~work~~ play with the new mill all day, don't get any sleep, and then have to work graveyard shift. ;D When you get ready for hydraulics, come visit me.

5quarter · January 22, 2015, 12:02:22 AM

Quote from: Ugly Tree on January 19, 2015, 07:39:50 AM
...My brother is a former saw miller...

No such thing. ;) :D :D congrats!

Ugly Tree · January 22, 2015, 08:23:59 AM

Will do, Piney. Might be coming sooner rather than later. Worked off graveyards yesterday morning and spent many hours trying to re-level after the mill had settled. Has me ready to put it on a rigid trailer frame to make everything easier. Will definitely need those hydraulics then. Very interested in your's and Planman's solar kilns too. Is that your place on the right leaving Marion heading to Sterlington?

pineywoods · January 22, 2015, 02:18:04 PM

Quote from: Ugly Tree on January 22, 2015, 08:23:59 AM
Will do, Piney. Might be coming sooner rather than later. Worked off graveyards yesterday morning and spent many hours trying to re-level after the mill had settled. Has me ready to put it on a rigid trailer frame to make everything easier. Will definitely need those hydraulics then. Very interested in your's and Planman's solar kilns too. Is that your place on the right leaving Marion heading to Sterlington?

Nope, that would be LeroyC, super nice guy, runs a fully loaded woodmizer LT40 super. Take the next left to my place, behind the old abandoned school. 500yd on the right, mill is in the back yard. Planman is a bit harder to find ;D

fishfighter · January 22, 2015, 02:33:16 PM

Hi there tree. New member here and yes, I live in Louisiana. I see you have a Woodland 126. Well, I just order one today. How you like it? Treating you right? If you were closer, I would of like to come by and check out your mill. I live about 35 miles north of Baton Rouge.

Ugly Tree · January 22, 2015, 08:01:42 PM

Fishfighter,love the mill. Being level is critical. Nice price for entry level. Not a money maker but will cut some lumber up for personal use,no doubt. Best of luck.