Least expensive way to increase sawmill production

Magicman · November 08, 2010, 08:59:08 PM

Welcome Jaylord. I like to be set up and visible from the road, street, or highway.

My customer this week is a 4 time repeater that simply stopped one day last year to watch me saw. I sawed Cherry, Sassafras, and Cypress today. We'll finish the Cypress in a couple of days, and then work on his huge White Oaks. I haven't measured them yet, but they are mid 30's.

pyrocasto · November 08, 2010, 09:05:55 PM

Reading old posts is a way I've learned lots of little and big things. I dont post much yet, but I'm up to page 117 of the Sawmill forums. Havent got too far into the others yet. I dont expect to make it through all 800 something though! That's a heck of a lot of reading!

porcupine · November 08, 2010, 09:46:18 PM

I suppose this is a good time for me to come out of the shadows and rid myself of virgin posting status. I too have spent many hours reviewing the old posts and reading a high percentage of them.
As I learned more I narrowed down my wants and desires of the mill I was to purchase. After a month or so I registered as a member and have continued to log on and read the new posts and review old threads as I dug deeper into questions I had and yes, look at your pictures. They are so beneficial and as everyone says "pictures". Please post them it really helps.
The photos of the forum's member's mills were very helpful in comparing them to the videos and promotional material that the sawmill manufactures put out. Their marketing departments use photos that present best "side" of their product and that's ok but I want to look closer and in more detail. There is a reason for that because I am out of the country and am unable to see "hands on" the machines I was comparing. Your forum provided the tactile inspection that I could not do first hand. I was able to make my decision.
On a second note; because I absorbed the discussions from the members, I was able to grasp a tiny bit of personality of each of them. Great group you got here.

Magicman · November 08, 2010, 10:11:13 PM

Welcome porcupine, to The Foresrty Forum and your first post. I too lurked for several years before I finally joined. There is a wealth of information (and opinions) here. :D

paul case · November 08, 2010, 10:34:04 PM

welcome to you jaylord and porcupine. pc

i have been trying to wear more paint off but that stuff must be industrial strength. matches my new logrite though. pc

Okrafarmer · November 08, 2010, 11:03:13 PM

This is an excellent thread, I'm glad it got brought back up. Thanks for leading us through this, Bibby.

I would be one of the closest resemblers to your remarks. I tend to be perfectionist (within my realm of understanding). However, I retail and direct market my lumber, so maybe I have more excuse. Let's see. Saturday, I spent about 3 hours from start to finish (including cleanup) and milled only two small logs, around 100 bd ft or so. One was walnut, one was chestnut. I had the walnut preordered and half prepaid, and it was $126, at $2 / bf. The chestnut I have an interested buyer who may or may not buy some of it, but if I sell all of it I should have $90-130 out of it, whether now or over time. $200 of wood milled in 3 hours is not too bad for me. Had I been sawing tulip poplar or oak or sweet gum or pine, I would have gone a lot faster and not been very painstaking.

Meadows Miller · November 10, 2010, 05:44:08 AM

Gday

Welcome to The Forum Jaylord & Porcupine ;D ;D 8) 8) 8) With reading alot of posts before joining I never bothered as I joined the first night I found this great place and Jeff im with you on not beeing able to keep up with all the goings on around here sometimes on a daily basis too Mate ;) :D :D ;D There is an awesome amount of info atm but it will grow even further just think of what will be on here in 2o/30 or 50 years time

;) ;D 8) 8)

Regards Chris

weisyboy · November 11, 2010, 05:12:41 AM

i went away on a job for 3 days and there has been to many posts to read them all.

Okrafarmer · November 12, 2010, 12:40:49 AM

Quote from: weisyboy on November 11, 2010, 05:12:41 AM
i went away on a job for 3 days and there has been to many posts to read them all.

Happens to all of us, mate. ;D

ARKANSAWYER · November 12, 2010, 07:33:52 PM

" I was able to grasp a tiny bit of personality of each of them. Great group you got here."

What an understatement! Porcupine if you ever get to come to a Piggy Roast you will know "Personality" and find "tiny bit" is not part of anything with this group. Welcome aboard!

I have tried closing the gate, it does not work any more here.

KyTreeFarmer · November 13, 2010, 10:06:41 PM

I spend so much time "catching up" on posts that I hardly ever post anymore.......ahhh where does the time go?
KTF

park ranger · November 13, 2010, 11:54:40 PM

I just read that ElectricAl loads the new log while the saw is on the tail end of the mill. I have for the last 10 or 15 years brought the head back and then loaded the new log on. Then I'd get the tape out and measure the end of the log to check for the first cut. I am all excited! I can bring the blade up and watch it on the end of the new log instead of measuring with the tape. This little tip is going to save lots of trips back and forth, thanks!

paul case · November 14, 2010, 12:16:06 AM

Quote from: Tom on August 03, 2002, 09:10:00 AM
My favorite layout

When working alone

tom,
i cant help but notice that your favorite layout dont make ANY sawdust????? :Dwhat do you do eat it all and then

????

pc

terrifictimbersllc · November 14, 2010, 07:41:10 AM

The "favorite layout" also keeps the helpers off of the danger side of the saw in case a blade fragments and goes shooting out. Don't have this safety distraction and can keep working faster.

This the one I used yesterday, with the board return only a very short wait while the guys picked up the board and cleared the end nearest the saw. Happened just because of the circumstances, sorry hard to remember what I read google is making me stupid.