What are the big slabber mills that are available?

[Okrafarmer]

Sometime in the future, I would like to be able to make the nice big wide slabs, like scsmith does, for instance. I am looking to find out, just who all the companies are that build sawmills (say, for less than $50,000 new) that can contend with logs 5' in diameter or more and slab them.

I am aware of Peterson, Lucas, and Logosol, though Logosol seems to be not as wide as the other two. So what are the other options, if there are any?

[logboy]

Here in the states you typically only see the Model 8 slabber like mine (which I love). You can get the Lucas Model 9 super slabber and cut to 9 feet wide.

http://www.baileysonline.com/itemdetail.asp?item=DS9+SUPER&CAT=

[Ianab]

Woodmizer makes the WM1000 bandsaw that will handle 67" dia.
It would cut much faster than a chainsaw style, but of course it's costs a lot more. To justify one of those you'd need a lot of big logs lined up.

I've seen the Lucas extra wide slabber running. It's a beast  ;D Anything that involves pushing a chainsaw through a 5ft+ dia log is going to be a bit slow, but it gets there.

The slabs from this log would have pretty much paid for the sawmill


Ian

[Satamax]

Hi Okra.

I don't know if this type of saw exists in the us.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rNzpbpAf9CI

But they can slab pretty wide, can cut faster than shown, and don't need any atention. I mean, you set it up, have a stop switch at the end of the chariot's rails. When it gets there, the whole thing stops. You could even devise a horn or flashing light to tell you the cut is finished. You could then do other things in the mean time. Over here it often consisted of drinking a bottle of red wine with friends passing by, and horror stories of cut fingers. Over here, you can get one in the 1000/1500 euro range. You could even build yourself one.


Bye.

Max.

[fishpharmer]

Okry, a relatively inexpensive slabber would be a granberg mill.  I think they come with a free bottle of elbow grease :D


I do know a fellow with a big bandsaw  mill, 48" cut capability that hasn't been used much since he got a lucas slabber.  He might part with it.

[drobertson]

Satamax, nice vidio feed,  that is pretty ingenious, old school, but very effective.  thanks,

[fishpharmer]

Max, neat video indeed.

[scsmith42]

Max, neat video indeed.

+1 - very cool!

[Satamax]

Hi guys!

Well, that's just next door from me, but it's a guy from the FF who showed it to me :D After i showed some adds and other videos.  It's strange for me that thoses are not known on your side of the pond. Theses were the standard type besides bandmills and circular which were more expensive. May be even more popular than circular ones. Bandmills were for posh people. I know they're twenties and thirties machines mostly. the latest one i've heard about was built in the early 70's.  The beauty of theses, they're slow, but you can do something else in the mean time. Blades can be made of pretty much anything, and you can sharpen by hand. I'm thinking hard to make a modern one. If i could make it extremely light and mobile, even better.

[Satamax]

Okra.

One question, you want to slab whole trees? Or make one big slab every now and then? Because, for the later, a swingmill can do a single big slab out of a log. This could also be an option to consider.

[Okrafarmer]

Okra.

One question, you want to slab whole trees? Or make one big slab every now and then? Because, for the later, a swingmill can do a single big slab out of a log. This could also be an option to consider.

Oh, I am definitely considering that option. I would love to have a Peterson or Lucas with a slabber. You must have some big old trees there in Europe, nice video. My wife grew up in France. She went there with her parents when she was 2 years old, first Marseille, then Limoges, San Priez, and now her parents still live in Laon.

[Okrafarmer]

Okry, a relatively inexpensive slabber would be a granberg mill.  I think they come with a free bottle of elbow grease :D


I do know a fellow with a big bandsaw  mill, 48" cut capability that hasn't been used much since he got a lucas slabber.  He might part with it.

Wow, really? Willing to part with your masterpiece? Well, I'll keep that in mind! That's about 20" wider than I could cut right now.

[POSTON WIDEHEAD]

Okra....I wished you would get a slabber.   

[Okrafarmer]

Okra....I wished you would get a slabber.   

Thanks, that's kind of you. Were you hoping I would bring it over to your house to play sometimes?

[Satamax]

Okra.

One question, you want to slab whole trees? Or make one big slab every now and then? Because, for the later, a swingmill can do a single big slab out of a log. This could also be an option to consider.

Oh, I am definitely considering that option. I would love to have a Peterson or Lucas with a slabber. You must have some big old trees there in Europe, nice video. My wife grew up in France. She went there with her parents when she was 2 years old, first Marseille, then Limoges, San Priez, and now her parents still live in Laon.

Okra, even without a slabber, you can get a big slab, returning the log when you want it.  There's plenty of trees in europe. Thought, the forests have been exploited on a regular basis since 2000 years. Where i live, there isn't that much biguns. Too high. Well, two valeys away, they have monstruous ones, but full of metal from German and Italian shells from cannons. Shame! Did you ever come over to France?

[Okrafarmer]

No, I haven't been to Europe yet. I would love to some time. It's just so costly. If we ever go, I will want to see as much as I can. France, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, England (I have a sister in England), Scotland, Ireland, Finland, maybe other places. A lifetime of stuff to see. Castles, museums, mountains, battlefields, mansions, forests, food--
         
Oops, another thread turned to food.

[fishpharmer]

Wow, really? Willing to part with your masterpiece? Well, I'll keep that in mind! That's about 20" wider than I could cut right now.

Figure someday (hopefully, not soon) I will part with all my earthly possessions ;).  May just let someone get some good out of it.  I would entertain offers.

[Okrafarmer]

Well I will definitely keep that in mind. Not ready to make (another) big purchase real soon, though.

[shelbycharger400]

chain bar over 6 feet seems almost non existant..lol
Even here in MN, Their is trees bigger than that if you know where to go  ;D
When I get enough saved up to build one, I will go forest exploring , until that im stuck in that 28 in max diameter range.

[Okrafarmer]

I'm sure a lot goes into deigning a bar that will hold up to that kind of thing, but I wonder whether an enterprising machinist could make custom bars? Or if the metalurgy is too complicated for individual manipulation.

[Dave Shepard]

I believe the WM1000 has 67" between the rollers, so a bigger log could be cut. WM now has a hydraulic bed for it.

[Ironwood]

I have a double ender 9' bar here. You gotta put it under tension if laid horizontal if you gonna cut that way. I have not used it yet. Might be the "longest bar East of the Peco's" I want to power hydraulically from a 3 cylinder John Deere out of a dozer  :D (that motor is here, actually have two motors for it). All just pie in the sky unit the welder starts buzzing....... I want to cut long crotches.

Ironwood

[shelbycharger400]

Ironwood, what did you pay for that bar?   any ideas for tensioning the bar?

My current mill has a 36 in bar,  mounted so their is only 28 in between. IT dose like to flex when the chain gets dull. and one side dose get dull more than the other, and it likes to climb even with 250+ lbs

[Ianab]

any ideas for tensioning the bar?

Looking at the Lucas design, you can see the big green steel truss across the top of the alloy mill frame. That's what's keeping the tension on the bar.

Ian

[JustinW_NZ]

I believe the WM1000 has 67" between the rollers, so a bigger log could be cut. WM now has a hydraulic bed for it.

A thing of beauty isnt it?

Does anyone know of one of those out in the wild?
Even with the larger tree's we do find in NZ here I doubt there would be much work to wear one out!

Cheers
Justin

[shelbycharger400]

in the manual what dose it tell you to do to shim the bar?

[Okrafarmer]

Hi Okra.

I don't know if this type of saw exists in the us.

That works on the same principle as a sicklebar mower. I have not seen a sawmill of this type before, neat video.

[redbeard]

this has been posted before but its a big slabber www.talaricohardwoods.com  anyone in Pa. Ever seen it in action?

[Ironwood]

I have seen pics of Talericos, that is a good starting point. Big tension is possible with that "backbone", I would do something lke that but not quite as arched and a few other ideas.

I dont remember what I paid, likely 800-1000 plus the chains and support stuff.

Ironwood 

[shelbycharger400]

Thanks REDBEARD!!!
Look at the wood porn...  That dosnt Help me ,  trying to figure a way to finance my "new" mill I need to build now.     I do know what im doin with a 4 ft dia hollow red oak stump now,  just have to qter it to fit it in my mill.
I was stunned when I read he is asking $20 /bd foot for 16 to 24 in wide oak.
My mill will do 27,  and I DO have a 24 in dia red oak on the ground at the neighbors, gettin my behind over their come spring!!! Id be lucky to get $5 / bd foot green Im thinkin.

I have never seen a dolmar saw quite like that one in their webpage!

[Sawdust Lover]

Went to a show this weekend where I usually just sell my furniture. I brought some walnut slabs with me and a few maple slabs that I had to quater to fit on the mill. I took some orders on furniture but I sold all 9 slabs at $200.00 each. So it looks like I have my wife talked into buying me a new Lucas slabber for our anniversery. Just kidden! I'm going to buy her one for her birthday.

[logboy]

The lumber market is down, but the slab market has been better in my experience. A Lucas slabber will treat you well.

[logboy]

A thing of beauty isnt it?

Does anyone know of one of those out in the wild?

If I see one in Ohio this week I'll take some more photos. That one was last year.

[hackberry jake]

I have been wanting a slabber for a while. The cost of the bar and weight of the flitches have kept me at bay though. My mind rolls around ideas for a cheaper slabber, but it hasn't quite found the solution yet.

[nas]

When your woodmizer gets old you can do this to it :D


 
It will cut up to 54" wide

Nick

[hackberry jake]

Band knowledge would play a big role is cutting that wide. Perfect hook angle, set, tension, and luck would all come into play to get straight cuts. I don't guess the cuts would have to be quite as straight to recover the same amout of good boards though, since you are taking a lot less kerf.

[Okrafarmer]

When your woodmizer gets old you can do this to it :D
/quote]

:D :D :D :D :D :D

My Woodmizer is old enough to vote, and drink ethanol without showing an ID. Still going strong, though.
8) 8)

[logboy]

I looked into a wide-cut portable bandsaw for the kerf savings over a chain. There are a couple threads here on the wide cut bandsaws, but for the life of me I cannot find them.  It can be done, but as the previous commenter mentioned, you really have to have things set up perfect.  I know after a quick sharpen my Lucas is going to cut straight and true with absolutely no wave.  I've cut wide walnut for customers before. Never worried about things going astray. I have cut some very gnarly, hard stuff that dulled the chain in a single pass. It still cut true. 

[hackberry jake]

I had a 48" bodark or Osage orange log milled on a Lucas and I don't think he had the frame braced enough. The whole thing was shaking side to side and the surface of the lumber looks rippled.

[logboy]

Sounds like he didnt have the mid-rail center-brace down, or braced properly. The moment I get a shake like that I stop and fix the braces. Usually its because the stake is in soft ground and has worked loose.  I have unintentionally experimented with the surface finish by grinding the incorrect angle on the chain. In fact, if you look at the side of Oregon box of 27RX chain for the diagram and angles, it looks like they want you to grind them at a different angle from what they do at the factory.  It will kind of cut, but leave a terrible finish and shake the mill and try to pull the log across the deck. I have a hunch thats what happened.  The Australian Lucas owners over on the Woodwork forums have experimented to no end with tooth angles, raker heights and surface finish (guys like Sigidi, who is also here on this forum). I've learned a lot from them (and my own mistakes).

http://www.woodworkforums.com/f132/changing-cutter-angle-97498/

[Brad_S.]

The problem with the Lucas and Peterson is that they are limited in depth of cut.
This unit below was priced at about $30K when I checked a few years ago but isn't limited by depth. One model will handle 5' diameter, the other 8' diameter.

http://www.lmsaws.com/chainsawlog.htm

[Okrafarmer]

That is a neat machine, but I don't see why you say a Peterson or Lucas slabber has a limited depth of cut. They can cut any depth. In theory, if their built in height range wasn't enough, you could dig a hole to lower the log, or build up the saw frames higher than normal. They can do anything that machine can, as far as I can tell. I do like the monorail design and the moving, protected operator station. It looks a little safer, perhaps, than a Peterson or Lucas slabber, and the hydraulic feed suggests you may be able to set the feed going and come back to it later, which would be a handy feature to have.

[Brad_S.]

A lucas or Peterson is limited to the depth of cut the machine is rated for... say 6 or 8 inches. That one I posted can go to much deeper. It could serve to quarter a large log for quartersawing as well as slabbing whereas a Lucas or Peterson can't get to the center of a large log to quarter it.

[fishpharmer]

The top support bar, as you can see in this video limits depth (thickness) on my 618 slabber bar.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zUxU3_WW_3w&feature=youtube_gdata_player

[Satamax]

Brad, that's a monster ;D

And if priced around 30k$ it's not completely mad. I bet this type of machine, if fast enough could raise good money.

[shelbycharger400]

On my slabber, I took that into consideration. I can cut a slab 11 inches thick .
I can do up to 28 in dia log, but only 9 ft max.      Problem is I have found bigger logs than my mill can do.

I run 55 deg, 10 and 10 deg.  Kudo's to logboy and helpin me with grind info, it is confusing as all get out.  a setup with 75 deg and 10 deg, with 50 thou cuts like mad but I had issues keeping the belt and clutch from slipping, and with my positive clamps it still wanted to TEAR out of the clamps, the grind I run now works out well without all the issues as long as I dont push too hard or have a dull chain. I have yet to run another ash but red oak and elm, and pine cut like a dream.  O, almost forgot my rakers are at 28 to 30 thousandths,  my customers like the finish so I cut everything that way now, chain sharpness time has largely inproved in more board feet production between sharpenings.

[logboy]

A lucas or Peterson is limited to the depth of cut the machine is rated for... say 6 or 8 inches. That one I posted can go to much deeper.

I have the Model 8 Lucas dedicated slabber. The max cut depth is 11 inches. I have yet to have a customer ask me for anything over 4" thick. Drying slabs thicker than that takes forever without a $100k vacuum kiln.

It could serve to quarter a large log for quartersawing as well as slabbing whereas a Lucas or Peterson can't get to the center of a large log to quarter it.

The whole point of a swingblade mill is cut cut large logs without moving them, quartering them, or chunking them down. When I want to cut quarter sawn lumber I cut vertical boards on top, horizontal through the middle, then switch back to vertical on the bottom.  Want flat sawn? Saw the other way. It takes the same amount of time.

How does the machine you posted not have a limited cutting depth? I see a big orange beam on top of it that will eventually hit the log.

This unit below was priced at about $30K when I checked a few years ago but isn't limited by depth. One model will handle 5' diameter, the other 8' diameter.

My model 8 is $13k and will cut 5' diameter.  The super slabber can cut a 9' diameter log and costs $18k. Both are portable.

[Too Big To Fail]

seriously guys, what are you going to do with a 5' x 8"+ thick slab anyway? 

Although it's not a slabber exactly, once I worked out the kinks I've been pretty happy with my Hudson 48.  I can get 43" between the Cooks bearings x 20'6" long and still take 'er down the road.  Seems like a decent "best of both worlds" arrangement to me.  While I see logs bigger than I can handle here and there, it's not very often.  Works for me right now anyway.

[Okrafarmer]

Ok, I see. I never watched one work, so now I see what you mean about the Lucas or Peterson. That LM machine (not sure why they call it a splitter) does look rather good for quartering, etc. No, I normally would not need a slab more than, say, 6" thick at the most. But it is good to be able to quarter stuff for a bandmill.

[shelbycharger400]

seriously guys, what are you going to do with a 5' x 8"+ thick slab anyway? 

SELL IT!!

I think Id break MY undercarage even with a few friends tryin to pick one up,  Some people more wealthy want thick tops for their center islands, breakfast nooks, Giant kitchen tables and what not.   They sell for premium cash!  I do like sellin stuff the poor people like me , I make deals, cause I know they have friends!