Hello everyone. I just picked up a mill and am beginning my learning curve - with the mill and this forum.
I think it is custom fabbed twin (dual?) blade (21"H, 18"V) with 25 HP Kohler twin, power raise/lower, 24' power feed/auto return on 12K tilt trailer with 12K winch. Looking to get some idea about how I did.
Photos below (i hope).
https://forestryforum.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=190344#top_display_media
https://forestryforum.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=190343#top_display_media
Also have couple of questions.
It has fittings (no tank) for coolant feed on the vertical blade only. Wondering if circulars need it just like bandsaws? Any popular coolant recipes? Mainly looking at pine and cedar.
We did a maiden voyage on small (14"-16") log and after several passes (past halfway down) horizontal blade blade was chewing into prior pass. We are thinking we didn't have clamps tight enough and maybe the cutting action dried the core enough for it to curl up 1/8" on cut side. Anyone experience something similar? Trailer, tracks and carriage seem solid and no troubles on earlier passes.
Link to video (running out of gas) below:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/io1t105rh9toug0/video-2015-09-19-15-13-18.mp4?dl=0
Thanks for any suggestions/ideas.
Dale
Welcome to the forum, sorry I can't assist you with your circle mill! Good luck. Others will be along that can help.
I can't help either, but it looks like it should work, there is always a learning curve, and dont' tell anyone else, but I ran out of fuel one time too ;D
Welcome to the Forestry Forum, fermentor. :)
Is this where you live? State of Jefferson (http://jeffersonstate.com/) ?
As Rush would say - for those in Rio Linda. Northern California.
I've only seen a few double cuts run, and I don't recall seeing them use a coolant on the blade. Did you sharpen your blade before you started cutting? Dull blades can do all sorts of things, especially ruin lumber and cuts. Feed rate is also important. Too fast, and you'll have problems as there is too much dust for the gullets to handle.
Welcome aboard!! Nice looking mill. Uou got the pics to uour gallery, now just scroll down the screen a bit more and hit the add pic to post button, or copy and paste the url in your post like this (https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/40843/blades_-_Copy.jpg)
Welcome to the Forestry Forum, fermentor!
I'm willing to bet a swing blade guy might have some good fft (food for thought) for ya.
Thanks everyone. Appreciate the welcomes and tips. I should probably start hanging with the circle/swing folks.
Quote from: Magicman on September 24, 2015, 07:57:30 PM
Welcome to the Forestry Forum, fermentor. :)
Is this where you live? State of Jefferson (http://jeffersonstate.com/) ?
Only in spirit, although my grandmother was born in that area. There is a current effort by rural counties to split off from SoCal and Bay Area over differences concerning gun control, bullet trains, twin 40' tunnels to steal our water and stuff like taxpayers funding sex change operations for guys doing life in prison.
Quote from: Ron Wenrich on September 24, 2015, 08:39:56 PM
As Rush would say - for those in Rio Linda. Northern California.
Hahaha... back when he had nicotine-stained fingers. Most of the time my ISP would show as a geosynchronous orbit.
That's interesting that only the vertical blade has the coolant feed as the kerf on that blade should leave plenty of room for the blade to pass through without generating heat on vertical cuts. It's on the horizontal cuts where the log can bite the blade that coolant is most necessary. I use water, windshield washer fluid, dish soap and a touch of Pin-Sol in various combinations.
My first guess on your problem with the horizontal blade not matching its prior cut is exactly what you suggested -- log movement. It happens all the time. I only have a single blade swing mill but I like to flatten the top of a log and then turn it so it has a nice, wide surface contacting the mill. Then I can see what it is doing.
Nice mill you found there.
Welcome aboard Fermentor,
I suspect the log was moving as well,
for lube I use a little Pinesol and warm water.
Make darn certain the teeth are sharp and filed square to the blade body,
looks like a Lucus blade, not many teeth so they have to all work well together.
Best
Dan