I still think about adding an edger on. Change my mind day to day. I was watching Cook's youtube and on the 9 minute mark he ran a board thru and returned the board back over to adjust the movable blade and ran it thru again. Never ran a edger but why would he not adjust the movable blade and do both sides the first time?
He misjudged the cut is why and had to take more off...or was just demoing the roller returns. Either way that happens less and less with practice and how often you figger the sales guy is running the edger
It's easy to misjudge and when the infeed grabs it, it's better/easier to just let it roll and do it again.
As 4x4 mentioned, experience helps, but I think lasers do a LOT also. I want to get green lasers on mine asap.
Having an edger changes everything: faster, easier, and more efficient. I have a Baker that is converted to a small diesel. It's a beast of a machine--eats up boards like a Japanese movie monster! You won't regret having one.
Of course, if your game is mobile sawing, then it could be a logistical issue.
I would think that adding lasers would be helpful. Don't hear much about people adding them. Cost or hard to see outside in the sunlight?
There was a thread here a few months ago about it. Someone had my exactly machine (Baker) with some lasers on it which looked awesome.
I contacted the laser manufacturer in Canada about getting some and they said they'd send me some on demo to test out...kinda stalled-out, but not sure on my end or theirs. Gonna pick it back up as I have some edging to do soon. (soon as it gets a reasonable temp outside!) :o
Once you get an edger and make you stickers with it you will never go back.
You can make a stack of stickers so fast.
We run a lot of 3.5'' with our edger. Our fixed blade is 3.5'' from the side. That makes it so that we can run a straight edged board thru and come out with 2 3.5'' boards. We sometimes have to run the first cut on the moveable blade since the board may have a knot,flare, or bend that will not straighten up in 3.5''. So we would run it through to get a straight edge and run it back through to make boards.
PC
If it's a board edger with one fixed saw, all you really need is one laser or shadow lite over the fixed saw. The 2nd shift saw guide lite is much more complicated but great for an inexperienced operator. On my edgers, I learned with no guide lites and added one later; what a difference it made because you learn to follow the line.
Quote from: PA_Walnut on January 04, 2018, 06:45:14 AM
Having an edger changes everything: faster, easier, and more efficient. I have a Baker that is converted to a small diesel. It's a beast of a machine--eats up boards like a Japanese movie monster! You won't regret having one.
Of course, if your game is mobile sawing, then it could be a logistical issue.
Baker makes a portable version of their edger that functions the same, but comes on a trailer package for easy transport and setup.
If I decide on getting one I don't do portable sawing, only saw here. But it would be nice to be able to move it around if needed. I was going to get one last year but decided on buying a slabber instead. New Year new toy.
If you don't think you want to be mobile consider electric. I have a Baker edger with lasers and would never want to saw without the edger. But even if you are mobile an edger is a great step up. A straight edge lined up with the stationary saw the board can pass under would not have the limitations of a laser in bright light. So a quick measurement from the straight edge will let you judge the proper width for the movable blade.
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/39234/IMG_1455.JPG?easyrotate_cache=1508179359)
Kbeitz,
Good idea about making stickers. I use breeze-dried fluted ones so haven't made any lately, but I really need to. Purchasing them is making me poor. They are AWESOME for troublesome material (like maple) but I have probably $10K in stickers tied up right now. :(
What's everyone using for sticker material?
PA Walnut, when you use fluted stickers on maple can you leave them until it's dry or do you stack twice?