OldJarheads Milling Thread...

OlJarhead · April 23, 2025, 02:58:26 PM

Ahhh yes "Weakness is just pain leaving the body".

In truth, it's taken a lot of work to tell myself NOT to ignore pain because, yes, the Marine Corps teaches you to ignore it and they do that well...so well that at 59 (60 in July) I'm only just learning and it's not easy!

But yes, I must be careful and continue to work on strengthening the body. I want to hold off surgery as long as possible!

In the video you might notice the log loader arms were often all the way up ;) I learned something from Lynn's mishap! I don't think I've ever done that before but I thought "this bugger will decide to throw me a loop so I'm going to take precautions!"

Took some work but was a good feeling.

My friend Robert not only operated the chainsaw but once, when I said "I can do that" he said "no, you shouldn't!" and insisted that he let me...I realized I was about to make a mistake.

It's tough when you feel good to stop and say "I want to keep feeling this good" and NOT do the dumb thing. Perhaps that's the hardest part.

Magicman · April 23, 2025, 03:11:17 PM

Yes, I noticed where your loader arms were.

Fact is that I have never not left my loader arms up when manipulating a log on the sawmill bed, but I sorta question whether mine were all of the way up when that mishap happened.

doc henderson · April 23, 2025, 04:39:03 PM

yes, we love our big logs, but sometimes a little more size or weight can take all the fun out it. It is all fun, till someone gets hurt. I am glad we are all here to tell our stories.

OlJarhead · April 24, 2025, 08:31:46 AM

It's the logs that you look at and go "Hmmm....I sure hope I can turn this one" that make it not so much fun at first and a ton of fun when it's milled off the deck! lol

I only put the loader arms all the way up when I'm worried about a log rolling back on them, otherwise I keep them half way up for safety until the logs done.

Jeff · April 24, 2025, 09:33:10 AM

As a commercial sawyer that had production schedules I HATED big logs. Big logs are a whole different world on a circle mill. A 56" saw actually only has a 20" cut. The largest log I ever sawed was 54". Getting it rolled up on the carriage, and then dogged, hopefully securly enougn it did not let go as it looms above and then engulfs the saw completely. My top vertical edger blade would be set to release the slab. Seeing those type of logs looming above that saw as you gigged back to try and get some turn to do it again created a huge pucker factor. Anything over 30" guaranteed to screw up production and unless it was a hifh grade log, cost more to saw than it was worth. 16 to 20" logs were optimum.

Magicman · April 24, 2025, 12:27:37 PM

I have sawed several huge Oak (45-6") that have taken upward of 3 hours. I reckon the fact that it produced 1Mbf+ made it OK, but it's still a strain on me and the sawmill to deal with the monsters. Yup, love those ~20-25" logs.

OlJarhead · April 26, 2025, 09:58:21 AM

I've done 3 42" logs on my LT40 standard a d they took as much as 5 or 6 hours! It was a challenge but not what I wanted to mill lol.

One I could turn and had to have it plucked off the mill with a excavator, trimmed with a chainsaw and put back on. 7 nails, 6hrs. No fun!

jpassardi · April 26, 2025, 02:19:03 PM

If only most were 18" - 24" - right in the sweet spot...

OlJarhead · April 26, 2025, 08:48:49 PM

Right? 🤣

OlJarhead · May 03, 2025, 09:15:42 PM

Had some help at the cabin 😀

OlJarhead · May 04, 2025, 09:03:27 AM

now I can hopefully mill those logs up into something useful. Though I have one more trip to get felling done.

Peter Drouin · May 04, 2025, 12:12:40 PM

I like it.

OlJarhead · May 05, 2025, 08:09:53 AM

We're heading back this weekend to do some more falling and drag more logs out off the bank/hillside. I've also informed my neighbors they are welcome to buck up the smaller Doug Firs into firewood for the winter since they typically use a lot. This can save them a few bucks and time :D and me the clean up :D

Win win!

OlJarhead · May 30, 2025, 08:15:08 AM

Got so busy I forgot to update you all! Man, we fell (ok HE fell) a load of trees! Of course, almost all small ones but I think about 70 were dropped on our last trip. I hope to get milling those soon but first have to head way up North to Chetwynd BC to see my kid and his family and GK #7 :D (and 6 but 7 is new to us).

My back is doing 'ok' so it isn't likely I'll be doing ANY heavy lifting but I can run the sawmill. I've also scheduled a weekend of concrete work with the same guy who did my falling. Nice guy and works super hard! He and his son and brother will dig out my foundation under the cabin (I started it years ago and it's half filled back in) and build forms, set rebar and pour concrete to finally get the foundation put in around the front and rear of the cabin. Then I'll get the stem wall built up under the cabin (with help I'm sure) and skirt it before the winter.

With all the trees down around the cabin we'll be cutting firewood or D-Log (but most are too small for anything but the woodstove) and I've told my neighbors they can cut up all the small ones down below the cabin for their use. I don't need that much and they do so I figured "why not" they'll help me get rid of the logs and waste and I'll help them stay warm in the winter :D

There is a big chainsaw carving contest in Chetwynd each year and I believe it's next weekend. I plan to go watch the carvers (it's amazing what they can do) and film it since I'll be there :D Should be fun!

We'll be heading up 97 and camping on Lake Okanagan and at Ten Mile out of Quesnel so if you're around those places and have time, maybe we can grab a Timmy's :D

On the way back we're headed to Mt Robson. Wanted to see it last year but the weather wasn't great to opted out. Then we'll had down to Vernon before heading home. Should be a fun trip and I'll get a chance to fish for some north pike again :D

OlJarhead · June 24, 2025, 07:23:28 PM

Darci and I had the absolute pleasure of being at this amazing event and being a small part of it (filming and interviewing carvers etc). It was so awesome. I hope you enjoy this as much as we did!

caveman · June 25, 2025, 02:31:28 PM

Thanks for sharing that. Some folks' skill just amazes me. I suspect the artists appreciate your video and promotion of their craft.

OlJarhead · June 25, 2025, 03:38:56 PM

Thanks! and yes to the last. I put out shorts during the competition (something I don't generally do anymore as a rule other than rarely, like this) and got them a ton of views.

They were all awesome people, very humble and incredibly hard working as well as talented!

It was an honor to be a small part of it and very fun!

OlJarhead · June 25, 2025, 03:41:01 PM

I should mention that Nathan's assistant runs a Wood-Mizer LT50 Wide. I don't know if they make a super LT50 but I believe he called it one, or a super wide. Anyway, good chatting with hi. and he runs in full time in PA but doesn't come on the foru. (of course I asked).

OlJarhead · July 02, 2025, 10:22:26 AM

Haven't been back to the sawmill and cabin in over a month now :( but will get back next weekend FINALLY and then I plan to do a lot more there as long as my back allows.

I'm going to install and AC unit in the cabin (after 16 years it's time) which I'm looking forward too and am hoping will make the summer months more tolerable up there :D

and who knows, maybe some more clearing with the tractor but I'll need to cut in fire breaks and break down all the area around the cabin again as this is that time of year: fire prep.

I should get the borax mixed up too and sprayed on my logs since I haven't been able to run the sawmill and have a large pile of logs to mill -- anyone ever just spray the logs?

doc henderson · July 02, 2025, 12:10:38 PM

I do not think it can hurt anything, other than the expense for the chemical. boards will need treated after milling if you think it is necessary. should slow down the critters. I have limited experience. Godspeed.

OlJarhead · July 02, 2025, 12:23:03 PM

Thanks. I have an issue with Pine Beatles so thought it might be worth doing.

OlJarhead · July 15, 2025, 10:44:18 AM

Welp, the boss gave me a budget to get the foundation work on the cabin done, finish getting all the logs moved up to the cabin location and bucked into firewood and saw logs, to get more of the thinning project done and anything else I can think of

I think I'll even get some sawmilling done as I can hire some labor help to do the heavy lifting. With luck, this will mean I'll get to milling again once the weather cools down, get the foundation work completed and the foundation walls and skirting done at the cabin before winter.

Pretty exciting!