big logs on lucas mill?

[scmilling]

Hi all. This is targeted to you lucas mill owners specifically.
Currently having a great time cutting macrocarpa - lovely wood to cut and the smell is glorious.  Having difficulty though with logs over 50"  at 15' long. Even with the endstands set at the end of the rails I'm having to thread the saw carriage under the top cross bars in order to flip the blade.  This involves taking off the swing handle, standing on top of the log and stretching the crossbars upwards whilst squeezing the mill through the gap. This is done repeatedly until I've taken the height down by several layers. What I've cut so far isn't even the biggest of the logs.
I'm considering swapping to the slabbing bar first- a pita to keep doing this at height, or is there some other technique that I should be using ?
Look forward to some wild and wacky answers.
Shaun

[longtime lurker]

Back in the good old days when I was humping up and down hills in Bougainville and the Solomons with a Lewisaw, we used to set the mill up on top of 200L (44gal) fuel drums. That enables milling of logs out to 9' diameter or so.... any bigger then that and we'd bust them with a chainsaw and wedges first.

Now that I'm back in the developed world with (a) liability issues and (b) access to heavy equipment I just dig a hole and roll the log into it. When you can't cut any further just pull the log out the hole and set up over it again.

[dgdrls]

Hi Shaun,

You can block the end stands or dig a pit as LTL indicated,
Other option is to pull the handle as you have and just keep it
off and slide it back in as you need it, or fabricate a shorter handle.

I have not had that issue yet but hope to soon,

Best
DGDrls

[fishpharmer]

A few times I dealt with a similar situation using the 618 Lucas.  Putting blocks under the corners was the solution for me. 

[scmilling]

Thanks guys. Sounds good, though a bit concerned about thought of an already flexible framework standing on wobbly supports. Invested a lot on this new mill, dont want to see it crashing to ground and self destructing.
Digging log down simply isn't an option I'm afraid.
Just thinking how the hell dya get a lucas mill complete up onto barrels on ya own without a crane and back down again once at a more sensible height?

[scmilling]

Just another negative thought, this limits the length of log to whatever fits inside the endstands. Not an issue at moment but for future would be great to have a whole bucket of good answers.
Thanks again
Shaun

[terrifictimbersllc]

I've set my Peterson on cement blocks before (one under each of 4 feet, this log was less than 7' so I could use a 13' section and not worry about support in the middle of the span).  I put a board under each foot to begin with, so I could swap out the 4 blocks when things got lower and not lose the alignment of the setup.  It helped to stake straps to the feet to keep the mill from walking.  In these pix I was slabbing.



  



 

[scmilling]

Them petersons are fine lookin mills. I like the idea. One issue I've got though is that I can lift the frame at the oposite end to the carriage, but I cant move the carriage to centre of rails or opposite end until I've lifted that frame too -quite a substantial amount to lift and get blocks under. Top of log and crossbar stops me rolling it to the other end, to ease the load. Maybe a job for the hi lift jack but don't want to go twisting anything (both me and the mill !)

[terrifictimbersllc]

My frame goes up pretty high when I set the weight on the jockey wheels.  And Peterson also gave me even longer struts for the jockey wheels (for use in loading the mill into the back of my truck), so I have no trouble setting the mill up high.

[scmilling]

That little extra is probably the bit that makes petersons more expensive than a more basic lucas mill, I like the ratchet strap idea though.  Will remember that one.  Thanks

[Ianab]

Local boys going high with the Lucas extra wide slabber. The end stands are about 3ft off the ground, and they have erected a temporary scaffold to work from. Small step ladder to get up to the work level.

[scmilling]

Cool.  Helps to have two men on site to get it up there.

[logboy]

I'll agree with the others. Use some cribbing to raise the framework. Obviously you need to use something stable so the mill doesnt fall over. In other words, do a better job than what I did in this photo. It worked, but wasnt as stable as I would have liked.



In terms of the swingblade pivot handle hitting the upper endframe pipe, check with Lucas. If memory serves me correct they have a special handle for your exact purpose.

[Ianab]

Cool.  Helps to have two men on site to get it up there.

The orange thing behind them is a Hiab crane on the back of their truck. That probably helped the most  :D

[drobertson]

All I can say is thank you to you swing blade and slabbers,, I could get lost in watching you guys whittle those monsters.  thanks for sharing your end of biz.   As to the first question on raising the frame, the thought came to me once seeing how you guys do it was would it be possible to have hydraulic jacks with some form of mounting bracket to secure to the frame?  Or is this not feasible in this case?

[Magicman]

I am continually amazed and entertained by different sawing methods.   8)

[sigidi]

I haven't really had the happiness of slicing logs too big for the mill. Once had one too wide, but not too tall.

For the swing handle, I replaced the Nylok nut holding the handle in with and R clip drilled through the bolt, this way when up high I can quickly slip the handle off and put it back either side of the top rail.

Getting the mill up high...I'd build it on top of some 'stable' supports, but Log boy shows smaller stuff does work - if your milling right the frame doesn't move around. Once the mill is built, I'd raise one end to the middle of the post and lower the other end to the bottom, then it should be easy to throw the power head on.

Doing oversize stuff with any gear is going to be lots of added work, you have to charge right for the extra work, anyone can slice up the easy stuff, its when you have to to this kind of extra stuff that it brings out the operator in ya ;-)

Make sure you show us some pictures.

Oh also Lucas do sell an attachment for large logs so it makes flipping the handle easier

[scmilling]

Thanks Allen and all others.
Seems everyone is coming up with basically the same answer,though I really like the idea of digging the log down, but won't suit many worksites. To be honest I really dont envisage this happening again in my milling life, trees of this size just don't happen here in Ireland ! However I still have the issue of getting the carriage up high enough to clear the log. When I've wound the winch up high enough, -a, I'm left with a dead arm, and -b, I'm looking at the carriage on the wrong side of the crossbar to do any work, and can't pass it through if ya see what I mean. It sounds like the rails are going to be at a super extreme angle to pick up the carriage if ive got it on anything more than about foot high blocks- not easy to load on my own. I may still see if using the slabber attachment makes life any easier at this height. At least I won't have to look for extra clearance for blade swinging. Also I wont have the height of the blade guard getting in the way. Now if I could only make the engine low profile I'd be there.!
When I've worked out how to get pictures loaded I'll show my work, but I aint too hot on techno stuff so you could be waiting a long time
Shaun

[Seaman]

Set up mill as usual,
roll carriage to one end,
block up other end a foot or so,
roll carriage up to high end,
block up low end two feet or so,
roll carriage up to high end,
block up low end till level......

Just a thought

FRank

[sigidi]

Shaun, I've got just the thing to fix ya dead arm....I'll post a video if I can get one taken today at the mill...I'll chuck it up on my "Lucas mill questions" thread here on the forum.

As for logs this size, they certainly are a challenge and one that most of us don't come across every week. With slabs so big are you using machinery to move them once cut? - my bobcat could load the carriage onto the rails at a pretty good height.

[scmilling]

Thanks Allen.
I'll wait to see what the labour-saver is.
At the moment I'm working the smaller logs, 3-4'6" diameters with the circular blade. Producing 8"x2 planks 15' long. Its superb timber to work,and the aroma is just heaven.  I'm swinging the logs in with a 15 ton digger and two offbearers strip the finished boards. The client doesn't want slabs just dimension timber for sale and for a construction project on the estate.
Regarding the biggest log that I'm leaving to last, I was going to use the slabber to strip off large lumps in rapid succession as it doesnt need the extra space required in swinging a blade, till I get down to a level where the mill will pass under the crossbars, then use the circle blade again, throwing the previously slabbed pieces back on the log for resawing. I don't know if thats a logical answer?
Why hadn't I thought of lifting the carriage onto the rails with the digger! Perhaps the brain needs sharpening!
Thanks  to all who've given their thoughts.
Shaun

[sigidi]

Shaun, video taken yesterday, just gotta get to my computer to load it now. I tend to always be where the computer isn't....

OK, now ya thinking, use the Ekky to put the carriage on the rails over the big one. Also this way you can build the frame high enough so you can get under the end rails and swing - no need for wasted time with slabbing attachment, swing all the way.

With some of the customers 8*2 you are cutting you can construct a nice solid platform beside the log so you can get high enough to swing the blade easy too ;)

[sigidi]

Hey Shaun, I've managed to get all my ducks in order and post that video for you on my thread dealing with all sorts of questions/tips I've been asked in the past about Lucas Mills https://forestryforum.com/board/index.php/topic,60602.0.html

[scmilling]

Hi Allen,
Thanks for that. A good simple solution.  I can imagine that I'll quite rapidly learn to keep my head well out of the way. Or keep the forestry helmet on all the time !
Shows the adaptability of the lucas mill.- a guy could spend all day dreaming up whizzy technical solutions to problems like this, when the most basic answers are there in your own toolshed.
Thanks again,
Shaun.
And yes still cutting macrocarpa, now at 20' recovering 10x3 boards, man they're heavy.  My off bearers are really struggling, I'm almost chasing them up the log with the saw in the next cut!