OldJarheads Milling Thread...

OlJarhead · January 21, 2022, 08:06:42 PM

Thanks Bud! I'm really looking forward to warmer weather and some serious milling!

OlJarhead · February 01, 2022, 08:34:58 AM

No new milling lately but I did spend some time at the cabin and produced this video (Part one of two)
The old jarheads cabin build | Fireside discussion - YouTube
I discuss the cabin build and in part two below I specifically call out FF for their help and turning me on to Wood-Mizer!

The Old Jarheads Cabin Build | Fireside discussion continued - YouTube

I have had a few calls for potential milling gigs this spring so with luck I'll be back in the saddle this year! I'm planning on quitting my job (which darn near gave me a heart attack last year from all the insane stress they began to pour on) and just do my milling and wood working and cabin stuff :D

OlJarhead · February 09, 2022, 08:57:07 AM

Winter is killing me!

-- at this time I can't get the mill to the cabin and even if I could it wouldn't do me any good as there is a foot and a half of snow still! Even if the tractor's four wheel drive worked I still wouldn't be able to do much....and down here no one is ready to get milling it seems. So I sit and twiddle my thumbs ;) Actually, I'll head back to the cabin soon and I'm starting a new woodworking project.

For anyone interested, I finally finished the coffee table I started a few years back! Here is from when I started it ;)

My sister's pre-school class learning about the life of trees and what happens to them when they start to die.

Ready for the 230+ mile haul home after milling up her English Walnut.

Quick stop in Hillsboro for a tax free purchase (always take advantage of the tax savings when in Oregon :D

This is the slab I made the top from...before it was dried and planed of course.

Stacked and stickered for nearly a year.

The 'sorta solar kiln' -- just 6 mil plastic on a frame with a dehumidifier inside and a small heater for when it got colder. It did seem to help as the dehumidifier was always releasing water by day.

And after drying, planing, setting bowties (I'm a rookie) and then moving, building a shop, doing other things etc etc etc I finally got it done! WhooHoo!
Live edge slab coffee table | Simple but amazing! - YouTube

Resonator · February 09, 2022, 02:04:46 PM

Nice!

Walnut Beast · February 09, 2022, 03:46:05 PM

Nice Pictures 👍

Crossroads · February 09, 2022, 07:17:41 PM

Cool idea on the mini kiln, I have a small order of blued pine that I need to dry.

OlJarhead · February 22, 2022, 08:48:30 AM

Quote from: Crossroads on February 09, 2022, 07:17:41 PM
Cool idea on the mini kiln, I have a small order of blued pine that I need to dry.

It seemed to work ok but there were some challenges:
1. Household dehumidifiers only go down to about 30% -- however, every day there was water coming out of the tent from it so it had to be helping.
2. Try not to do it in the late fall early winter even if where I am

it got too cold after a while.
3. It would be better to just have a fan moving the air out of the box and an air inlet on the sun side.
It did help lower the moisture a bit though.
As for blue pine, I air dry it only. But I am in a very arid climate so that helps but in about 8 weeks of air drying it's down pretty low already and useable at that point for construction use, paneling etc.
Cheers
Erik

Crossroads · February 22, 2022, 11:28:48 AM

It's definitely cold now, 6° this morning. I may end up cheating, I spoke to my old boss yesterday and they are running their kiln again and said I can send my stack of pine through. I am also buying a piece of CLT to use for the floor of a kiln that I will build this year. Right now I have some clear plastic over the stack with both ends open.

OlJarhead · February 22, 2022, 08:57:18 PM

That's a tad chilly! But glad you can take advantage of the kiln!

OlJarhead · February 26, 2022, 01:46:03 PM

An Introduction to Mobile Milling - YouTube
Made this one for the WSU extension Forest and Range Owners training.

Peter Drouin · February 26, 2022, 08:20:46 PM

I'm sick of the cold too.

OlJarhead · March 01, 2022, 08:54:01 AM

I am seriously getting tired of it!

I am planning on going into Semi-Retirement (i.e. quitting my full time job) and running my mill part time and I want to get some cabin logs milled up and it just aint happening right now!

Magicman · March 01, 2022, 01:35:34 PM

I absolutely recommend being fully retired like myself. Then you will never have another day off.....ever !! :D

Crossroads · March 01, 2022, 09:17:18 PM

I like your video, you did a good job.

OlJarhead · March 01, 2022, 11:01:09 PM

Quote from: Magicman on March 01, 2022, 01:35:34 PM
I absolutely recommend being fully retired like myself. Then you will never have another day off.....ever !! :D

that would be better than where I work now!

OlJarhead · March 09, 2022, 10:27:04 AM

8) I am getting close! Planning my last day at the 'job' to be April First -- not fools but they are to lose me

Don't matter though as I have a sawmill and a Jeep ;) So I plan to use both more :D

fluidpowerpro · March 09, 2022, 09:20:28 PM

Congratulations on taking the next step. I'm sure you'll have no problem keeping busy.

doc henderson · March 10, 2022, 06:52:18 AM

Joke is on them; I am sure you will be missed at work. good for you!

OlJarhead · March 16, 2022, 07:23:37 PM

OK, the first might be too ambitious but it's coming in April one way or another ;) I just agreed to take a week off (

) at the start of April (OK, I took it, they agreed) and then I will likely put in my notice after that ;) Couple things happening to delay it a little but I hope to be out of there by mid-April if at all possible, though it might be the end of April.

I have a job scheduled now for the 15th though the 17th about 100 miles from home and I think the wife will join me for that one. I also have a week of work planned around the same time (so I really need to retire so I can go to work

) and a couple other customers chomping at the bit to get their logs milled up...and I suspect I'll be busy in May and June as well but I am taking a week off in June and at least one in July and likely all of August :D :D

Can't wait to do something I LOVE to do vs something I just do because it's what I've done for over 25 years and paid well....it's time!

Crossroads · March 17, 2022, 02:57:15 AM

I doubt you'll regret it, I left my day job on April 2 last year to run the mill full time. I just couldn't bring myself to leave on April fools day, for fear the joke would end up being on me.

rjwoelk · March 18, 2022, 10:37:37 AM

15 years trucking ,covide headaches came so decided enough, so called it quite last April. It was too miserable winter this year to be driving anyway.

TimW · March 19, 2022, 12:49:46 AM

In 12 days it will be 2 years since I turned a wrench on an airliner. Haven't missed it at all. I miss the people I worked with, but not the drive or being on graveyard for 28 years.
Thank you covid, for the early retirement.

I highly recommend retirement. It's the only job you can work harder at than you did before and love it. Long lunches and siesta help. Waking up without an alarm clock is AWESOME. Setting your own hours is priceless.
hugs, Brandi

GAB · March 19, 2022, 10:02:48 AM

Quote from: Bindian on March 19, 2022, 12:49:46 AM
In 12 days it will be 2 years since I turned a wrench on an airliner. Haven't missed it at all. I miss the people I worked with, but not the drive or being on graveyard for 28 years.
Thank you covid, for the early retirement.

I highly recommend retirement. It's the only job you can work harder at than you did before and love it. Long lunches and siesta help. Waking up without an alarm clock is AWESOME. Setting your own hours is priceless.
hugs, Brandi

Go ahead: Rub it in, Rub it in, Rub it in.
You forgot about being able to turn off the ignition, and go fishing or hunting, or anything else your little heart might desire.
GAB

Ljohnsaw · March 19, 2022, 12:15:37 PM

Quote from: GAB on March 19, 2022, 10:02:48 AM
Quote from: Bindian on March 19, 2022, 12:49:46 AM
In 12 days it will be 2 years since I turned a wrench on an airliner. Haven't missed it at all. I miss the people I worked with, but not the drive or being on graveyard for 28 years.
Thank you covid, for the early retirement.

I highly recommend retirement. It's the only job you can work harder at than you did before and love it. Long lunches and siesta help. Waking up without an alarm clock is AWESOME. Setting your own hours is priceless.
hugs, Brandi
Go ahead: Rub it in, Rub it in, Rub it in.
You forgot about being able to turn off the ignition, and go fishing or hunting, or anything else your little heart might desire.
GAB

In June, it will be 9 years for me. I don't get to go fishing as much as I'd like - got too many other projects going on competing for my time!

Dakota · March 19, 2022, 12:38:15 PM

In 12 days it will be 2 years since I turned a wrench on an airliner. Haven't missed it at all. I miss the people I worked with, but not the drive or being on graveyard for 28 years.
Thank you covid, for the early retirement.

I highly recommend retirement. It's the only job you can work harder at than you did before and love it. Long lunches and siesta help. Waking up without an alarm clock is AWESOME. Setting your own hours is priceless.
hugs, Brandi

All the above X2