Whatcha Sawin' 2021 ??

[TimW]

I have an order for lots of 16 foot and 20 foot 2x8s and 2x6s.  Last Friday, I cut 2x6s for this 16 foot pallet.  Saturday and Sunday I cut the 41 2x8s sitting on it.  

 

Now I am (in the process of) cutting 74 sixteen foot 2x6s.  After that, it will be 74 twenty foot 2x6s.  I like cutting 2x6s way better than 2x8s.  It's way harder to get two stacks of 2 bys with 2x8s from the medium size logs.  Some where in all that cutting I did this.......

 

I got woke up this morning, at 7:20, by my land clearing friend's excavator operator.  Said he had long logs for me.   He cut them to 21 feet.

 I was glad to see they were medium logs, as my telehandler, Bull, is in the repair shop getting it's leaning front wheel assembly fixed.  The Mahindra was able to lift them off the trailer and slowly take them to the "over 20 foot" log bunks.

I had to use my new Magic Hook 8) to lift one log, as it was wedged in between the other logs.  It was tight and all my pocket stakes were wedged by the outer logs.  I blocked one end up and moved the hook to the other end.  Lifted like designed, where I could get the grapple around it.

Then I cleaned up and took a nap.  Who says working in retirement doesn't include naps?
     hugs,  Brandi

[longtime lurker]

A catnap has been part of my work day for most of the last 35 years - I'm looking forward to retirement so I can get serious about it.

[firefighter ontheside]

Started cutting some of the ERC logs I picked up last week.  Yesterday I cut about 50 mostly 1x6, but a few 1x4 as well.  I put out an ad to sell them for $2/bf and also a buy all price.  I usually do the buy all price  because I know if people come and look thru them that some of them won't sell anyway.  They're never all perfect, but useful for something.  The first guy replied in about 15 minutes and wanted me to deliver.  I told him $40/hour plus fuel, he ended up replying that was fine, but not before someone else said they would pick them up the next day.  Long story short, guy is picking up these today and I will saw more tomorrow and deliver to the other guy.  I suspect I will be able to do the same with all of the logs I have.  After I saw all the cedar I have, I'm gonna saw white oak 1x6 and see if I can move them quickly.

[WV Sawmiller]

Brandi,

  That's real pretty wood. The 20's are going to be a bear to handle I bet.

   I'm sure glad I never nicked a clamp like that. : People ask me how come one tooth on my claw turner is shorter than the other and I tell them it just came that way I guess.  :D

[Brad_bb]

 

 

 Believe it or not, there is occasionally a log I can't get anything useful out of except Firewood. This Osage log was split every which way naturally. I have no choice but to just slice it into 2 inch thick pieces and then trim them to Firewood Length.  This is the first log that's been trash out of 79.

[GAB]

Brandi:
There are less expensive ways of dusting the top of the log clamp such as a fox tail brush.
If it is any consolation you aren't the first to do that.  I know as I done dooded it myself.
Most apt to happen when you are tired or not yet awake.
GAB

[WV Sawmiller]

  I sawed a small red cedar for a customer similar to that a month ago. I ended up with a piece that looked like a trident on the end tapering off as it ran out at different angles. The customer was going to fill in between with epoxy. It turned out real pretty but was a pain to clamp and saw.

[TimW]

Brandi,

 That's real pretty wood. The 20's are going to be a bear to handle I bet.

  I'm sure glad I never nicked a clamp like that. : People ask me how come one tooth on my claw turner is shorter than the other and I tell them it just came that way I guess.  :D

Howard,
 Thanks!  The pallet is placed right were I can slide the long ones right off the mill to the pallet.  Only hard part is the first board on a new layer's loose stickers.  Then I have to slide it as far as I can, then lift it to position it on the stickers.  No problem and it makes me sleep harder! ;D
              hugs,  Brandi

[TimW]

 

 Believe it or not, there is occasionally a log I can't get anything useful out of except Firewood. This Osage log was split every which way naturally. I have no choice but to just slice it into 2 inch thick pieces and then trim them to Firewood Length.  This is the first log that's been trash out of 79.

Brad,
    What brand of forklift is that.  How about a better photo of it?  Please?
             hugs,  Brandi

[TimW]

Brandi:
There are less expensive ways of dusting the top of the log clamp such as a fox tail brush.
If it is any consolation you aren't the first to do that.  I know as I done dooded it myself.
Most apt to happen when you are tired or not yet awake.
GAB

GAB,
   I know I am not the first one to do it.  I did it before when I cut a 3/8 inch slot in it.  But the dust was hiding it in the photo.  It seems to always happen when someone is watching or upsets my train of thought.  Guess I should of looked one more time to make sure it would clear.  It's amazing how it looks like it will clear before you cut into the wood.
              hugs,  Brandi

[trimguy]

@Bindian do I remember right , that you attach the pre-made pallets to your pallets ? I know the 2 x 8's were for an order, but if you air dry wood on that set up do you have an issue of them bowing down in the middle ?

[Southside]

Brandi - there are two types of sawyers.  Those who try to saw off pieces of their sawmill - and those who deny having tried to do so....  :D

[TimW]

@Bindian do I remember right , that you attach the pre-made pallets to your pallets ? I know the 2 x 8's were for an order, but if you air dry wood on that set up do you have an issue of them bowing down in the middle ?

I noticed the 16 foot pallet bowing a little this morning.   I have not had that problem with the 12 foot pallets. 
After the customer picked up the 2x8s, I added another 40x48 inch pallet under the middle.  He picked up less than half the order today, but paid for half of the total.
Good thing he came and picked up what he did.  The little car carry trailer and the "mini" pickup were groaning when they left with 41 sixteen foot 2x8s and 42 sixteen foot 2x6s.   I told him he may want to get a bigger trailer for the rest, or make two more trips.   His remaining order is 74 twenty foot 2x6s and 32 sixteen foot 2x6s.
             hugs,  Brandi

[TimW]

Brandi - there are two types of sawyers.  Those who try to saw off pieces of their sawmill - and those who deny having tried to do so....  :D

I can neither deny or support any accusation that I was trying to saw off ANY parts made by Woodmizer. say_what
             hugs,  Brandi

[TimW]

Brandi,

 That's real pretty wood. The 20's are going to be a bear to handle I bet.

  I'm sure glad I never nicked a clamp like that. : People ask me how come one tooth on my claw turner is shorter than the other and I tell them it just came that way I guess.  :D

Okay Howard.  I just snapped to it after replying to what Southside wrote.
My 2018 LT40HD has the backstops up when the claw comes up.  How in the heck can you hit the claw and not the backstops???????????????????????
hugs,  Brandi

[Crossroads]

Brandi,

 That's real pretty wood. The 20's are going to be a bear to handle I bet.

  I'm sure glad I never nicked a clamp like that. : People ask me how come one tooth on my claw turner is shorter than the other and I tell them it just came that way I guess.  :D

Okay Howard.  I just snapped to it after replying to what Southside wrote.
My 2018 LT40HD has the backstops up when the claw comes up.  How in the heck can you hit the claw and not the backstops???????????????????????
hugs,  Brandi

My claw is missing about 3/4" of the first  point on the front side🙈 I was using it to help hold a monster maple crotch in place while I was slabbing it. Then I forgot it was higher than the side supports, but I got reminded 🤓

[WV Sawmiller]

Crossroads,

   I have his twin brother. WM must have got a load of defective claws that year and we both got one. :D

[Brad_bb]

@Bindian Brandi, It's a John's forklift conversion.  
https://forestryforum.com/board/index.php?topic=65543.msg978924#msg978924

97% of their conversions were done using Farmall BN's, but they did do some other tractors.  I just picked up an Allis Chalmers WD45 John's forklift.  
https://forestryforum.com/board/index.php?topic=114992.msg1815211#msg1815211

John's forklift are very hard to come by.  They were located just outside Grand Rapids Mi, and most of the converted forklifts have stayed in Mi with the Veggie, apple and cherry farmers.  They rarely give them up.  I got these two for a very good prices $4400 back in 2015, and $4500 three weeks ago respectively.  They are both missing their original ROPS.  I will fab new ones eventually. If you do find one of these, you're more likely to pay $7500-maybe $12,000 in good to excellent condition.  They are super handy with rough terrain capability, tight turn radius, and a 2500 LB lifting capacity, maybe a little more  with some.  It will lift about 98 percent of the logs I've dealt with.  I've had a WO log that was probably just a hair over 3K LBs.  I got it in the barn one end at a time and after about a year, it lost enough water that I could pick it up normally. 

[firefighter ontheside]

I sawed ERC all morning.  I had some really disappointing logs.  Almost every log I sawed had heart rot and hollow centers.  My pile of boards is smaller than the pile of waste, but still not bad since I got the logs free and I've already sold this and the stuff I cut several days ago.  I still have 5 big 20' logs to saw.  I'm hoping that they are better quality. I've never delivered lumber before, but this guy asked If I would deliver, so I'm going to charge him by the hour and for fuel.  He was OK with that and I don't mind being paid to drive.

[Brad_bb]

@firefighter ontheside , don't forget to get full payment before any material comes off your truck.  I'm sure you've read the posts here about some of these characters?  Once it's on the persons property, they can tell you to pound sand and leave and you won't have any recourse without engaging an attorney which would cost more than the wood.

[firefighter ontheside]

Thanks Brad.  I was thinking about what exactly I would do.  I was thinking about suggesting that he pay me for the wood before I leave home and then pay me for delivery when I get there.  Maybe as you say, I will just take payment before I take any wood off the trailer.

[SpaceBus]

I am thinking about advertising my services as a mobile sawyer, but with my lower throughput on the Logosol F2+ I'm not sure how to charge. With the slower speed on my mill charging by the board foot seems the most logical, but I don't really know where to start. I'm not from the area and don't know any other sawyers. Not trying to make a huge profit, just perhaps pay for my mill with some side work. 

[Southside]

A board foot is a board foot, no matter how fast it was made.  With the current price of lumber and the state of things I don't see $0.45 / BF being unreasonable for portable sawing.  The question is does your production rate justify you working for that price?

[SpaceBus]

A board foot is a board foot, no matter how fast it was made.  With the current price of lumber and the state of things I don't see $0.45 / BF being unreasonable for portable sawing.  The question is does your production rate justify you working for that price?

Thanks! Logosol estimates the F2+, assuming everything is going well I assume, can mill "Three to four logs per hour" which I find to be a bit of an exaggeration. Maybe 3-4 logs per hour if they are all under 16" DBH. Still, going by the 3-4 logs per hour I should be able to produce 100+ bf per hour, assuming I have logs to do it. Definitely not the kind of profit I would like to see, but $30+/hr isn't too bad after fuel costs. I'm in a few "homesteading" type groups on FB and I see people ask every so often about clearing land. Perhaps I could build a niche market out of being able to get out to remote areas with the mill. 

[terrifictimbersllc]

Spent a third of the day yesterday sawing 3"-8" ERC poles into live edge 1" and 3/4"
Regular customer, had 1200 bf of other nice ash and tulip. 

Hours for 398 BF log scale of logs having 3 to 27 BF intl log scale each in them.  
That's what he wanted. Good practice with the clamp.  :