Whatcha Sawin' 2021 ??

[TimW]

I had to tighten my drive belt yesterday.  30 degree drop in temperature since I shut it down and drive to move it.
      hugs,  Brandi

[doc henderson]

I guess i had forgot to mention the Katts magnetic heater on the hydraulic tank.

[Andries]

Noticed that magnetic heater on your oil reservoir Doc. Which made me wonder; is it a low wattage heater which causes the belt squeal because the oil is still too thick?
Or are you milling in Canadian temps? 😉 ie: just too dang cold.

[doc henderson]

the pics are a little out of order.  so I could not even raise or move the gantry without belt slippage.  so the tensioning, and tank heater came next (first), and after that was the milling of the log.  It worked fine last week at 60° despite the belt not having been tensioned in awhile (since this belt was new).  I am not a fan of belt dressing unless the tension does not work (even then).  I started the pic order with the first cut in the log, but that was after the work on the belt, and adding the heat.  I decided it was the season to throw those pics in there as well.  the heater will set there most of the season and be plugged in as the temps demand it.  300W

[Andries]

Nice, thanks for the clarification. 
Some of those Kat mag heaters are available in 1200 W. ratings which will do the job when it's -20 C, but the problem is that they can overheat the oil in a localized spot, turning the oil reservoir into a fondue pot. It's better to use two or three 300 W. heaters spread out over a wider area.
Good work on milling in the frosty days !

[WV Sawmiller]

 

 Drove 45 miles to saw these 3 maple logs. I think they were an 8. a 10 and a 12 ft'er. Sawed it all 4/4 (1-1/8"). Charged my minimum fee but I did waive my mileage since my wife and I had to drive over there to get a dental cleaning anyway.

The client and his helper were very happy with the lumber and the fact I came to them. They were looking at having to rent a trailer and load the logs and figured this was a bargain. They really liked the wood. It did saw pretty good even with the knots. That longer one was a pain because of the stubs but I was able to spin it on the mill and saw them off. Maybe 400 bf of lumber and 1.6 engine hours used. They did have to ask me to show them how to use a cant hook as they had never seen one on operation so you came imagine the experience level. It was still fun other than my impatient wife wanting me to get finished and get moving toward home. (It didn't matter because I took her to lunch and she thought she had broken her new filling and we had to turn around about half way home and let the dentist smooth out the rough spot which was all it turned out to be.)

[caveman]

Monday John and I loaded and hauled a couple of loads of slash pine.  Yesterday we went and looked at a telehandler to consider bringing home.  Today we started the morning cleaning up slabs and burning some smaller stuff around the mill and loading the hot box with live oak.  Around 10, we finally started slabbing a few cypress logs, cut out a couple of mantles and slabbed out a short, spalted sweetgum log.  Tomorrow we will load the solar kiln with oak and sweetgum and saw a little more cypress.



 

 

 

[Dave Shepard]

Sawing white oak trailer decking today.



 

 

[caveman]

That white oak is too nice for trailer decking.

[Southside]

I was gonna ask if that was going into a house trailer.  

[Dave Shepard]

Custom job. 

[Magicman]

Good job!  Yup, the very best White Oak makes the very best trailer decking.  8)

[Nebraska]

 

 

 

Just making some 6x6 posts out of ERC. but I had hydraulics today. 8)  8)  Boys home on break from college.

[doc henderson]

they appear to be liquid powered, but not sure it is oil.  enjoy!

[Nebraska]

Diet Dr Pepper.  That's the pilot son.   I had to sneak the phone  out, to get a quick  picture. Amazes me how much more I get accomplished with even one of those two around. Oldest son and his significant other got there about dark.

[mudfarmer]

Have been sawing frozen hemlock in between other work. Yesterday freezing rain mist all day : About 600bf left, cut sheet is 8,10,12ft 1 & 2 x 4,6,8. 12ft frozen hemlock 2x8s add up fast but do not like handling them  ;D 

Had to increase blade tension a little more than normal. The WM 747s actually doing great, but dull fast and suddenly and will try something else next time...



 

 

Ordinarily don't keep much track of production but have been meticulous this time and all that did is point out the place for an edger, my biggest bottleneck by a lonnngggg shot. Edging on mill cuts my bf/hr in half consistently.

Stay safe and warm out there

[Bruno of NH]

Have been sawing frozen hemlock in between other work. Yesterday freezing rain mist all day : About 600bf left, cut sheet is 8,10,12ft 1 & 2 x 4,6,8. 12ft frozen hemlock 2x8s add up fast but do not like handling them  ;D

Had to increase blade tension a little more than normal. The WM 747s actually doing great, but dull fast and suddenly and will try something else next time...



 

 

Ordinarily don't keep much track of production but have been meticulous this time and all that did is point out the place for an edger, my biggest bottleneck by a lonnngggg shot. Edging on mill cuts my bf/hr in half consistently.

Stay safe and warm out there

Try the silver tips in 7°  or ripper 37's in 7°  I don't think you have enough engine for the turbo 7's  
747 dull to fast for me 

[mudfarmer]

Thanks Bruno!!

[Resonator]

I've used a kerosene flame heater in winter to preheat logs that were covered in ice and snow, helps the blades stay sharp longer.

[GAB]

I tried two 15 packs of 747 blades, and I won't be ordering any more as I find the beam strength of the teeth is not sufficient in my knotty wood.  I don't know if I was asking too much of them or what but I may have 10 left to get sharpened.  The teeth were breaking when in use.  I recently ordered four 15 packs of 739's those worked better for me.
GAB

[mudfarmer]

That mirrors my experience with the 747s as well GAB. Got a good deal on these but will not buy more. Broken teeth as well (not frozen logs). They do cut well when I get it all dialed and the right wood but should be able to saw faster than my mill can to get best results and was not looking for disposable blades.

[richhiway]

Have been sawing frozen hemlock in between other work. Yesterday freezing rain mist all day : About 600bf left, cut sheet is 8,10,12ft 1 & 2 x 4,6,8. 12ft frozen hemlock 2x8s add up fast but do not like handling them  ;D

Had to increase blade tension a little more than normal. The WM 747s actually doing great, but dull fast and suddenly and will try something else next time...



 

 

Ordinarily don't keep much track of production but have been meticulous this time and all that did is point out the place for an edger, my biggest bottleneck by a lonnngggg shot. Edging on mill cuts my bf/hr in half consistently.

Stay safe and warm out there

I have the best luck with 4 degree blades in frozen softwood and hardwoods.
26 hp LT 40.

[trimguy]

I tried the RRQS method yesterday for the first time. The log I had was too short to reach the toe rollers on each end Which made it harder with about 6 inches of taper in a 5 1/2 foot log.It also was not long enough for my hydraulic side supports.I was able to make it work with the manual ones, what they wanted to move when I was rolling the log. All in all it was a good experience, thanks yellow hammer. I wish I would have seen somebody do this in person first, but I'm sure I'll do better next time. Still got some nice boards.

 

 

[SawyerTed]

Back in the saddle!  Man it felt awesome to be sawing!  

My customer wanted 6x6s 12' long.  We made 12. We also made 8 6x6x8

He had a cute tractor or an awesome lawn mower, I'm not sure which it is.



 

 

 

[samandothers]

Back in the saddle!  Man it felt awesome to be sawing!  

My customer wanted 6x6s 12' long.  We made 12. We also made 8 6x6x8

Good job, glad the knee is healing.