Well, Tammy and I sawed our first real logs. 3 pretty nasty 8 ft white oak that Chet cut out of the first of two trees he took down for me this last week. Previosly we cut some cedar out of some 5 foot bolts Tom and I picked off a trail in da U.P. last year.
The saw cut great. I hope all the white Oak I ever saw, saws as well as this did. I could go through it as fast as the sawhead would travel. (dont know if my mill head travels that fast, it is 20 years old after all. :D I didn't find any nails in my first yard tree either. :D Still on my first blade, dont see any sign of it getting dull yet either. The photo of the lumber below came out of the 3rd log and it still looked very good. I even got a chance to use our FOrestry Forum Board foot calc for the first time on my OWN WOOD! 8) I'm pasteing my total at the bottom. Looks like a ways to go to a million. :)
Aint life cool? ;D
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10001/white_oak.jpg)
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10001/white_oak1.jpg)
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10001/white_oak3.jpg)
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10001/white_oak2.jpg)
Lumber and Board footage List
#1 5.5 x 5.5 x 8 3pc(s) 1 pac @/Mbf 60.5B.F. $0 Oak, white
#2 1 x 5.5 x 8 6pc(s) 1 pac @/Mbf 22B.F. $0 Oak, white
#3 1 x 8 x 8 4pc(s) 1 pac @/Mbf 21.33B.F. $0 Oak, white
#4 1.5 x 5.5 x 8 2pc(s) 1 pac @/Mbf 11B.F. $0 Oak, white
#5 1 x 5.5 x 5 17pc(s) 1 pac @/Mbf 38.96B.F. $0 Cedar, n. white
#6 1 x 3.5 x 5 14pc(s) 1 pac @/Mbf 20.42B.F. $0 Cedar, n. white
#7 3.5 x 3.5 x 5 1pc(s) 1 pac @/Mbf 5.1B.F. $0 Cedar, n. white
Total Board Ft: 179.31 Total Price: $ 0
Customer: Our Own Wood
Printed from the Forestry Forum Board Footage Calculator www.forestryforum.com
Must feel pretty satisfying to KEEP the wood you sawed up ;D eh? Jeff 8)
Nice work, any of the neighbors started to move yet? :D
Quote from: Kevin on May 14, 2005, 08:37:35 PM
Nice work, any of the neighbors started to move yet? :D
Had two there helpin by the third log. Carol took control of the lawn chair while Joe took over Tammy's job and pulled slabs and lumber and loaded them into his pick-em up to burn in his shop stove. :)
(not the lumber) :D
Where's the action photos of Chet felling a tree?
Jeff, Looks like you made some nice boards there. Tom
Quote from: Kevin on May 14, 2005, 08:42:27 PM
Where's the action photos of Chet felling a tree?
Will these do? :)
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10001/chet_felling_tree.jpg)
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10001/chet_felling_tree1.jpg)
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10001/chet_felling_tree2.jpg)
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10001/chet_felling_tree3.jpg)
Way to go Jeff!
sure looks like a couple of happy campers there with that saw 8)
You got a whack of lumber Jeff ! Boy you took to that woodmizer fast . Chet is brave up there on that tree . Two old pro"s havin a good time ! I am very very happy you are havin a blast !
A fellow could get a nose bleed up there. Not only are y'all wa-a-a-a-ay up there in the North .....brrrr-r-r , but Chet has been run up that big tree.
You're hooked now. :D Michigan will never be the same. Have you cruised the neighborhood for trees yet?
The old guy still has it eh? ;D
I hate trees with branches. :D
Cool dude! 8) 8)
Your'e star of the party now Jeff ;D
With Chet sawing them down and you sawing them up, the neighbourhood will be like a prairie soon :D :D
That last picture looks like he went a little heavy with the pruning. :D
Looking good Jeff. With an experienced sawyer operating an experienced mill we should expect the sawing to go good. 8) If the saw can cut white oak that good it will cut almost anything.
I see you have a new flag pole and a new mascot! ;D
Way to go on the lumber! 8) 8) 8)
I did my first couple of WO's a few weeks ago and they sawed soooooo easy and FAST!
Even with a dull blade AND after cutting through a 8 penny nail! :D
Very professional looking job, looks like you know what you're doing. 8) 8) 8)
Looks like Jeff is about to discover the protable sawyer's perenial question -- where to put all the wood ;D.
Yup!
Look at it this way......we won't need tables at the piggy roast! :D
Welcome to the forum Jeff B, lots of great people here ! Thanks for sharing pictures of your first log sawed too ! :D :D oops me in trouble now smiley_wavy
Hey it's such a great feeling isn't it Jeff?
Your own log, your own mill and your own sawdust!!! WHOO HOOO 8)
For me, the thrill of actually USING some of the lumber I made was as great as making it. When I get some time & figure out the posting process for pics the list is endless. 8)
Go Jeff 8) 8)
Will
Way to go !! 8) The most satisfying feeling in the world is when a plan comes together. Good luck and best wishes
Way to go Jeff glad to see you got your own mill. GOOD LUCK !!!
Fred
That Chet sure is a "cut above" the rest of us. But thats ok cause I feel much better right here on the ground.
Jeff it looks like that new mill works just fine.
Way to saw it, Jeff!
But y'oughta let them baby trees grow a bit longer ;)
Did ya count the rings? How old was it?
Da Boss will soon be bleeding ORANGE like some more of us here on the forum ;D Have fun Jeff.........Tammy seems to be enjoying herself too.
Sandmar
Congrats on the new mill. Sawdust may be the worst disease a person can get......
Looks great, Jeff! :)
QuoteI could go through it as fast as the sawhead would travel.
How many inch/sec. is that?
What type of guides do You have? Plates over and under the blade+bearing behind or just bearings pulling the blade down? Or............?
Every sawyer with a WM I have seen has the blade strength gauge on RED. You too?
Asking for that reason I always wish I could feed faster. ;D
Swede.
Nope, won't be bleeding orange. I bleed sawdust. I am proud to have a sawmill, be it this Wood-Mizer or if it was anyone of the mills built by anyone of out fine sponsors. I'd love to have one of each. Maybe I could be the first portable sawmill Collector. 8) Why not? I collect all sorts of other things. ;D
Actually, the saw I got was such a good deal for me that I would have bought it even if it were whitepe pink. :)
Swede, her is a photo of the guides before I cleaned them all up and lubed them.
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10001/guides.jpg)
I have the hydraulic tensioner. I set the tension at 2200, and it floated down to 2000-2100 while I sawed. Dont know if this is optimum, but I learned it here on the forum. :) I have no idea what my feed rate is.
Jeff,
Looks like you are having fun plus entertaining the neighborhood. Your lumber looks good. White oak is usually one of the harder woods for a band mill to cut.
After looking at the pictures of your mill closer, you have a late model 86. You have the new cutting head (new at that time) on the old style frame.
If you have the hydraulic blade tensioner, then someone added it at a later date. It was not available when your saw was new.
When you get down to some serious sawing, take your fenders off. It is easier to get around the tire and they do not get beat up when you loalogs.
If you have not done so already, weld the two center supports in place.
You will want to take those two sliding end supports off and replace them with the swinging supports. You will pinch your hands with those sliding ones because you don't alwats know where they are at.
The blade tension will fluctuate as you saw. If it drops to much crank it up a little, otherwise do not worry about it to much.
Your doing a fine job for a rookie. ;D :D You are getting closer to that million board feet.
White oak is usually one of the harder woods for a band mill to cut.
KILROY, Haven´t You ever saw knotty soft wood?
In Sweden we use to say there is ONE thing that gives a man his right to cry. Trying to put a furniture from IKEA together. :D
I think there is one more; Sawing knotty soft wood! ;D
I saw ~60% spruce and ~25% pine. When a blade is too dull for soft wood I can still use it for some cut in hard wood less than Ø10-12". Most of it is oak.
Jeff; One of my guides was difficult to find when i get the used Amerika-Sågen home. Biologic bar oil+saw dust=asphalt! ::) Took me some hours to find what was in that black lump and make it rotating again.
Swede.
Swede,
Have I cut any knotty softwood before? Definately. I am presently sawing the lumber for two houses out of southern yellow pine. Those green 20 foot full 2 by 8s are plenty heavy to move.
You are right about being able to cut oak with a blade that will not cut softwood. That band always wants to take the path of least resistance.
Welcome to the forum Jeff B we always knew you had it in you. :D
QuoteYou will pinch your hands with those sliding ones because you don't alwats know where they are at
Tammy already did that yesterday. Smashed her finger pretty good. I take it that there is a swinging support upgrade available from Wood-Mizer?
Jeff,
Yes, you can order the supports that swing. They are the supports Wood-Mizer used for years on all of the saws. I ordered an extra set to put my 40, to help support long logs. I do not have my book handy to give you part numbers. Just call Wood-Mizer and they help you. In the mean time take those sliding ones off.
I am sorry Tammy hurt her finger. That probably did not help her first sawing experience with the band mill very much. It really does not happen that often, but does happen. Wear gloves around the mill.
Jeff,
I hope you take this in the right way big guy, but I don't see any ear or eye protection. I know you were just kicking the tires and taking a test run on the saw. Please do wear safety glasses or something. That blade will toss debris back at you. Plus sawdust can get in your eyes.
So if Arky is bringin a WRC for you to whittle at the Pig Roast, what am I to bring ???
Looks good, Jeff. Are ya looking over the neighbor's trees for more candidates??
Captain
The first wood that any sawmill owner should cut should be the boards for a new garage to store everything in. I thought i remember there being a calculator on here somwhere for figuring the size of building you need.
Something like this....
Size of building you think you need x 2 x 30% = building you build.
A ridiculously large garage is the best support equipment a guy could ever use.
Once you peg out your building as per Norwiscutter's formula and visualise it completed, you will obviously find it way too small, just push the corner pegs out about 10 feet in all directions and you will be getting close to something that will last you for about 2 years :D :D
Quote from: Ernie on May 15, 2005, 11:58:09 PM
Once you peg out your building as per Norwiscutter's formula and visualise it completed, you will obviously find it way too small, just push the corner pegs out about 10 feet in all directions and you will be getting close to something that will last you for about 2 years :D :D
Just like buying a computer -- out of date before you get it home ;D.
Way to go big man
you got to look after Tammy or it will end like a certain other family on this forum
Pro sawyer Tammy and her odd job Jeff (grease monkey, slabber, mill shifter,etc,etc,etc :D
iain
I wish I could get my wife to run the mill some. I ALMOST feel bad when she tries to help by pulling those 18' slabs off the mill. ::) She says she can't break the slabs, but I try to assure her that SHE could and I can't fix them as easy as I could the mill. ;D
KILROY, are the swing support add-ons bolt on or do they have to be welded?
Jeff,
They bolt on. They are known as pivoting auxiliary bed supports. There are four bolts. Your frame will not have the holes already drilled, so ask them for a drawing for proper location.
This is all so cool, JB. First you get a mill from a very nice FF member, then you have another very nice FF member saw you a few logs, and then you get your beautiful wife Tammy (yet another very nice FF member smiley_hairbow ) to help you saw your first logs. It just doesn't get any better than this JB. smiley_hellow_im_here
Congratulations! 8)
Congrats on the saw, nothing like making sawdust and opening up a log to see whats inside. The way it looks around you place you may have alot of stumps for people to sit on during the piggy roast. :D
I have 2 questions.....
1) What did you do to your shoulder to be healing up (I think I caught this in a thread somewhere)?
2) How much you charging for that fine looking stack of fresh sawn lumber you got in that pic there?
Now the answer to number two would bring the whole thing full circle. You got a nice, well working mill at a good price, sawed logs off your place and made some fine lumber out of it, and then sold said lumber and made some bucks for your effort (fun!).
Doc
I donated the lumber to the family cabin for replacing some boards on a walk across part of the swamp. :)
Today I hit my first iron with my first blade in the remainder of my first real logs. :) I dont think I am going to have to worry about saving this blade to resharpen.
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10001/first_iron_blade.jpg)
Hit a couple nails, but since we were sawing boards for a board walk, I kept sawing, as other then the roughness, it was still sawing O.k. The 1/4 inch lag bolts, they pretty much demoted what was left of the last log to the firewood pile.
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10001/first_iron.jpg)
Don't through dat blade away. :o Dat's da perfect candidate to hone yur sharpening skills on when ya set up da sharpener. ;)
That hardware strike is a lot less tramatic with a bandmill than a circular ...eh boss ;D We all got side bets on when you start sawen parts of that mill :D :D :D Your going to have to change you signature to :"& experienced bandmill sawyer"
:)
My mill is already experienced, does that count? :D Every one of the back stops has deep saw cuts in them.
I recommend that you get out the Bondo and spray paint before somebody thinks you did it. :D
Hey Tom we already did. :D :D :D :D
Will
Chets my witness. He saw them before I got the mill started for the first time. :)
Congrats, there Boss! 8) I think the highlight of the next Pig Roast will be firing up the WM and making sawdust! 8) You're gonna have a ton of tailmen to help out! ;)
??? Seen What...... :D :D
Just to keep the record straight....
Not once did I saw orange metal.
-Doug
(Still grieving over my loss)
Quote from: Jeff B on May 16, 2005, 07:36:19 PM
Today I hit my first iron with my first blade in the remainder of my first real logs.
Time to go read the current discussion on metal detectors, Jeff. Jeff? Jeff? DanG, he can't hear me -- that saws makin' too much noise ;D.
Quote from: DouginUtah on May 17, 2005, 12:38:43 AM
Just to keep the record straight....
Not once did I saw orange metal.
-Doug
(Still grieving over my loss)
I knew you didn't do it Doug. :D Pretty sure we can blame those on a Missouri sawyer. :)
Jeff,
Like Chet said, that blade will be a good one to practice sharpening. Once you sharpen and set that blade it will saw again. If to many teeth are missing, it will mark a little. Save that blade for yard trees. :D You never know what could be in some of them. I sawed an old wrench someone put in the crotch of a walnut tree.
Were those side supports to tall? Just trim them back a little or did you get creative and hit something else.
I counted up and that blade is missing 14 teeth completely, so I think it may be good only for sharpenin lessons. :)
Jeff,
My dad hit a flint in a walnut stump. It took nearly every tooth off that blade. The flint was not even scratched. Some indian had lost it many years ago.
:D I have this vision now of a log bursting into flames as flint and steel come together.
Congrats on the "new" mill. ;) Be safe and enjoy.
Jeff,
I was not there when it happened, but I am sure sparks were flying.
Well it took me a while to find my way to this thread. Congratulations Jeff on sawing your first real log. Were all those millions of fake logs you sawed up on that other mill useful knowledge wise? IOW, how much of the knowledge you gained at the big mill transferred over to this one?
Burnign question number two:
What did Chet say to Tammy to make her try to pull him out of that tree? :D
QuoteIOW, how much of the knowledge you gained at the big mill transferred over to this one?
Actually, I think there will be quite a bit. Two things very important. I am very aware what steel does to steel, and very aware what steel and mass of any kind can do to flesh. I have a good sense of the dynamics involved in sawing wood which translates well to listening and feeling the relationships between the saw and the engine and the rate of cut.
There is one thing in paticular that the bandmill has reminded me of that I sort of forgot. Wood is HEAVY! :)
Quote from: Jeff B on May 17, 2005, 11:49:27 AM
QuoteIOW, how much of the knowledge you gained at the big mill transferred over to this one?
There is one thing in paticular that the bandmill has reminded me of that I sort of forgot. Wood is HEAVY! :)
Have you reinjured your shoulder yet? ;)
I will be interested in hearing if handling stressed logs is different now that you do not have hydraulic dogs to hold the stick straight. I am still learning how to deal with stress in the log, but I am getting better at it.
My idea of handling stress will be to only saw nice straight logs with the pith perfectly centered. ;D
THe shoulder is a real problem yet. I hope it comes into it. I can deal with pain, but weak is weak. I hope it strengthens as the more I am able to do things
Congrats on the mill!
Now that you are getting some "free" logs you are going to be needing a few things. If the wife balks then just tell her that it is free lumber. This is what I do when I need some more hunting equipment, I just tell the wife that it is free meat.
Here is a partial listing:
understanding wife
Winches (note the pural)
cant hook
logging chains
moisture meter
chop saw
planner
1 ton truck
flatbed truck/trailer
pole barn
land in country
kilns
kiln chambers
forlift
bobcat
understanding wife
skidding tongs
lifting tongs
another chain saw
log trailer
several tons of stickers
metal sheeting to cover lumber piles
understanding wife
outdoor wood boiler to heat kiln and pole barn
air compressor
insurance
come alongs
blade sharpening stuff
Most important thing is a large credit card. But remember, it is free logs!
Jeff,
on the shoulder side of things. Humans have a huge potential for adapting to any and all strains placed on the body. The only requirement we have to fulfill for this to take place is allowing the body the time it needs to adapt to these stresses.
Don't know if I am preaching here - so bear with me pls. The body adapts to new loads by being 'brocken' from the load which was applied to it, then the repair will fix it to a point that the same load won't break it again. So with this theory in mind a little pain is ok, but remember the reapair has to be allowed to happen before the load is applied again.
Most often you will find you feel worst 24-48 hours after you have stressed your body, not 0-24 hours after, so if it works out for you (in the early days) try and saw around this timing, it will give you the best oportunity for adaptation and recovery.
Allan Seagrave B.App.Sci (HMS) Occupation from what seems a lifetime ago
Jeff, I recall from your surgery that you had PT inplace at the time, are you still consulting with qualified professionals regarding your fantastic new step in life? If not and you come across any issues or have queries whatsoever - we are online 24/7 due to Wifeys business, so you can get hold of me anytime, via urgently marked emails or FF PM's
(PLEASE feel totally free to take up this offer, as damage caused to pre-existing 'weak' components is the worst to try and repair and recover from)
sigidi,
I have been going to my P.T. religiously, In fact I have a session later this afternoon. The prescription is still 3 times a week, with a regimen of home exercises. The last 2 weeks the Doctor said "Its time to pull out the stops" so things have gotten tougher. Weights have gone up, reps have increased and more forms of torture are now in place. :D
I have missed only 3 Therapy sessions prescribed since this all started late last spring. The Therapy started before I had any surgery, was supposed to help. It only ripped me up more. Finally the first surgery in October. Arthroscopic. The surgeon proclaimed me fixed, only needed to heal and go through therapy. I did everything I was told and ended up worse. I questioned the Surgeons work and he dismissed me as someone who was trying to pull something.
The employers insurance sent me for an IME. A "Independent Medical Evaluation" because this surgeon told them that there was nothing wrong with me, so they needed someone to agree. Well, the IME doctor said, HEY! there is something really wrong here, get this guy to a new orthopedic Dr. Well, this new Surgeon had me retested and guess what? I still had a torn rotator cuff and impingement in the AC joint.
This time in February, they opened me right up, repaired the tear, smooth out the joint and did what is called a Mumford procedure, where they trimmed of the end of my clavicle to help in operation of the AC joint. So, I have been doing P.T. since they took me out of the sling in March. Things are progressing now. Before, P.T. just screwed me up more, simply because I was still broken, now that I am repaired, things are getting better, however slowly.
My damage was caused by repetitive stress, it was brought on over a long time, and them I continued to work with it everyday for months after the damage was done. There were days when I had to "Carry" my arm out of the mill as I would push it until it simply would not even work any longer. It would recharge over night and I would go at it again the next day. I was misdiagnosed for several months initially. MRI's of my neck show all kinds of damage so they said all my problems came from there. I had to beg them to do the first ones of my shoulder and they said "By golly, there is a problem there" :-\
This has been a long and miserable road. On the plus side, I think the world of my Physical therapists. I have two. Mitch, who's dad is a retired DNR forester, and Amanda, who's dad was chosen as Timbermen's logger of the year this year. Amanda had won a scholarship several years ago from the Michigan Association of Timbermen. I found out all these things after I started therapy. They recognize where my troubles lie, the type of work I do, and have a good handle I believe on how my treatment should go now, much more perspective then the Dr.s.
Here is a link to Amands Dad's award page.
http://timbermen.org/excellence.shtml :)
Jeff,
You have really been through a lot of not very nice problems with your arm. I guess I don't understand how repetitive motion could tear your rotator cuff. I would think that a tear would come from exceeding the limits of what your body could stand, like lifting too heavy or being in a car wreck. Are you working against hydraulic force operating the mill controlls? I would think that the greater the force required to operate something repetitive the faster the body parts wear out. I know a couple of truck drives that have major neck problems from just turning there head all the time to look out of the mirrors, they were only dealing with the weight of there head!
Any way, sure am glad that you are seeing the "light at the end of the tunnel" for getting your shoulder back in shape. Glad you are having fun with your new mill, just take a extra cut or two to reduce the weight of the slaps so you don't screw up your back.
This makes 1000 for me.
D. Fred,
Congratualations on post number 1000! 8) 8) 8)
If I was more computer literate I would figure out how to do moving fireworks.
Note to Jeff:
When you are not doing exercises or undoing your PT by playing with your toys, perhaps you could come up with a way to recognize an individuals milestone posts. You know something like the cascading cards when you win a game of computer solitaire, or rockets red glare, or something similar.
Well, sometimes you grow a tree... :)
D_, my understanding of what happened was that the years of repetition had caused the joints to become misshapen, causing bone to rub and wear on soft tissue where it shouldn't be. Some places the tissue was "impinged' causing roughness, and eventual tearing, through what would be normal movements for most people. Continuing to work with the injured parts for several months caused even more damage, not only to my shoulder but to my "average income" By trying to do my job when I couldn't, and even trying to advertise for my own replacement, My average hours at work declined every week to the point where when I did go in for the first surgery, the insurance company averaged my time at less then half of my healthy time, and then pay me on 80% of that. so I get 80% of 50% of my pay until the dr. says I am better. Now, the "owner" says that "Hes not having "this" (meaning my shoulder, as he pointed emphtically at it) again". So, when I do get better, I dont have a job. Nice reward for doing your job so well for 25 years that you wear your self out. :-\
Jeff,
Good deeds never go un-punished. Have you thought about going to the state insurance commission for help to get what you should be recieving or are they the problem?
Jeff,
Glad to hear that your new Dr. finally got it figured out. At least now you can progress towards improvement and stop damaging yourself.
A Dr's arrogance & ignorance can be a dangerous combination, not like you don't already know this. Not only can it delay the healing but it can really harm a person, physically, mentally and financially.
Your right about a good PT. I got in a car wreck and ended up trying 4 PT's before I found a good one. The first on tried to convince me to sign up for a pyramid vitamin scam. I'm still mad at him 9 years later, what a jerk!
Great news you found a good PT to help you back.
Gilman
Quote from: D._Frederick on May 20, 2005, 02:35:12 PM
Jeff,
Good deeds never go un-punished. Have you thought about going to the state insurance commission for help to get what you should be recieving or are they the problem?
Our workmens comp is paid into a self insurance group fund through Timbermens. I have never argued the amount of money I am getting, because my focus was always just to ger er fixed and get back to it. Now, as it seems, I may not be able to do the latter. At this point I am still mending and progressing. Financially, we get by, but the lost income aint pleasant. I hope I dont have to seek some sort of help to make sure my medical needs are met. I still have apparent issues with my neck and the other shoulder. My hope is that these things will be taken care of and I am not just heaved into the dumpster like a worn out bearing.
Boy that would really smoke me if I give it all I had for 25 years and someone said that to me ! No wonder you enjoying your mill , satisfaction,peace of mind, pride ! I blew my neck out once and the nagging pain mentally and physically beat me down . 1000 milligrams of motrin a day until I got tired of experts and found that 2 bayer aspirin took all the pain away . Doctor told me find a pill that works . But even so I have to watch myself and lift smart . If I had all your experience I would open up a 1 week school teaching people how to saw logs into lumber using a circle mill and a band mill. I would be the first on your list . I dont know of any place in the country that would teach me and school me how to run a efficient circle mill from a professional . Dats You !
I've been passing over this topic for a while and didn't see it turn into a conversation about your shoulder injury and recovery. Sounds like you're on a steady course of recovery – at least in some degree.
I sometimes marvel at what modern medicine can do and other times I get so frustrated at what can't be done. Too, many doctors and other heath care professionals have some degree of arrogance about them that blinds them into thinking they are right all the time and that they don't need to listen to what the patient is trying to tell them.
Mom just had a metal hip ball joint replaced after she broke her hip falling off a chair. The operation itself only took about an hour. They had her standing the next day and walking the day after – if only a couple of assisted steps.
A month later she's still recovering but her hip is apparently fine – it's the other injuries (broken wrist and twisted ankle) that is still mending. Considering her age and general poor health conditions, they have worked a miracle.
In the case of my poor Aunt Nellie – she had some problem with the disks in her neck. Time and again over years they operated on her – grafting in new bone, etc. Each time she become more paralyzed – first loosing the use of her arms, then her whole body. She spent the last years of her life a complete vegetable from the chin down. I don't think medical science helped her and suspect they contributed to her medical problems.
I think anyone over 50 that's worked at the same job day after day knows the pain of repetitive motion. I've set with my hands on a keyboard and mouse for 8-10 hours a day for the past 20 years – manual drafting board 15 years before that. My old hands have about had it. Once I was pretty good at pencil art and now I can't sign my name.
When Mary and I saw, she wants me to run the mill. People think that's odd seeing me do the "easy part" while she does all the lifting. But standing at the control box for a couple of hours at a stretch starts to wear on your shoulders, arms, knees and feet. I'll offset this by doing some of the slab pulling or go run the Terex while she saws a log. As soon as I get back, she says, "Here.. You saw." and turns it back over to me.
Quote from: Jeff B on May 20, 2005, 01:41:34 PM
Now, the "owner" says that "Hes not having "this" (meaning my shoulder, as he pointed emphtically at it) again". So, when I do get better, I dont have a job. Nice reward for doing your job so well for 25 years that you wear your self out. :-\
Just read this whole thread and Congrats on the mill Jeff. Now the quote above has me more than a little concerned. If infact this is the case(he may have just been shooting his mouth off), get it clearly written down from the jerk and make alot of waves with anyone with clout that will listen, At this point, you dont owe him anything(including respect).
The way you run this site tells me you arnt a slacker or a free loader or a whiner at all. He kept you for 25 years and if he doesnt realize your value to his botton line(even now that you cant operate your machine) he's heading down a slippery slope. The rest of his people see whats going on and will react in a self preservation type manner that he is gonna regret some day.
ON THE POSITIVE.....your shoulder is getting better, you have a mill, and alot of people here willing to help. Some times these situations turn out to be blessings in disguise. They force you to make decisions that you wouldnt make otherwise. With the resources you have created through building this website, you could start your own milling business that could support you quite nicely. Id go for it...... ;D ;D ;D
Jeff I'm with Uncle Buck.
With all of your experiance and now you have a mill you might think about offering a class on sawing. How many mill owners would send people to a class to learn what you know. At least if they sent them to a school the learning curve would not be so steep.
Where I work we send our electricians to a PLC class or two then start them out on stand alone equipment for awhile before they program on a 25 million dollar machine.
If you do decide to offer some kind of class let me know. I would not be able to get away for a week but if you had a 2 day class to start on the basice let me know I'll sign up.
Tom
I am really good at squaring up a log and sawing 1 or 2 inch boards for siding , you want all 2x material well did I tell ya I am really good at sawing siding ! :D :D When does class begin ! ;D
CK-,
I agree with you a 100%, the insurance companies generally ownly offer you 50% or less than you have coming with the hopes that you will settle for that amount. If you want more, you have to fight them for it and it means hiring an attorney. The only problem is the attorneys are just as crooked as the insurance companies, they will take a 1/3 of the total to increase your take by a 1/2.
Sounds like a job for our own Lawyer-Sawyer smiley_contract_point smiley_contract_point smiley_contract_point
Jeff,
on the rehab side - TERRIFIC, keep with the good PT's
Chronic injusries have all the possiblity to 'tear' as when one thinks about it it, it is an overload to the system concerned which causes eventual breakdown, except in most peoples case, the breakdown presents much earlier than in our Jeff ( :-\ ) as most will not push themselves the way Jeff described it.
QuoteLawyer-sawyer and similar options
Sometimes you also have to take into account how this will effect your life at the time, it may not have been right for the fella to do what he has to Jeff, (and in no means am I saying he is right!!!) but also after everything Jeff has gone through, I can totally empathise with an overwhelmed feeling which brings about a decision to "just get it over with" and not pursue anything. I too have been in Jeff's boat (more of an acute massive injury- rather than a chronic re-injury cyccle) although I was only working for my employer 3 months, so maybe that is where I ended up being able to say "I just want it over with" where with you Jeff after the 25yrs you gave the place you would be perfectly understandably "madder than a wet hen" and nail the
';.'p2[p23. to the wall!!!
Good to hear you are maintaining your seesions - at the time of my rehab (with me being so pedantic and doing exactly what was prescibed - if they said 30 sec I got my stopwatch out, if they said 40 reps I kept a tally chart) my progress continually outstripped exprectations by months, which I put down to doing what I was told and not what most folkes end up doing. A Physio I once worked for in my early days, let me know she used to prescribe 20 reps when she wanted 15 and so on, as she knew people didn't do what they where told to do, but what they ended up doing was close to what she truly wanted them to do in the first place!
Just stick with it Jeff and keep us up to date, you'll find the healing will be good from here on in, now the joint is repaired properly. Just remember though your personality-type (from what you have already mentioned) is where you may come undone, there is a HUGE tendency for us (folkes who push and push) to outstrip/outwork the repair functioning of our bodies and set ourselves back a while. I'd say by the sounds your PT's are good and would have explained concepts like "
progressive overload" and "
momentary muscular failure" amongst others in such a way that you can work with them to produce enough stimulus to strengthen yourself without hurting yourself from over-stimulus.
I have experienced on several occasions,how employers treat you when you get injured,
they try to find a vet who says your fine.you return and get worse and maybe give up and quit ..I got a hernia that was never fixed "they couldn't get by with out me" could i just hold off and blah blah get it fixed later when things slow down....lor lifting things and your ribs pull loose from spine first muscles tear then tendons.....you play the pt game but still go to work......then spine knees hips neck etc mess up...you continue working to help them..... they chum you into working less hours so in the future when your off work their insurance won't go up as much cause you draw less if any...in my case it finally led to vets saying i would never return to work on an issue that you couldn't prove happened at work and because you will never return they cancel your insurance. and then you have the option of getting cobra.(you pay).and when your inthe hospital you get flowers from work then the shaft from then on.......debts you cannot pay etc.
but it teaches ya whom your employer is lookin out for It ain't you!
I am a bit negative in this area.. ;D
lord knows some times things turn out for the best even though at the time you cannot see how
as for myself I noticed my wife and I actually started talking to one another,just sitting on deck watching birds drinking coffee ,checking out trees sitting watching the river before it was rush rush in everythingcause it was when your not at work your thinking about or talking about it stressing
i could go on.this is long enough
Woodsyowl, you have just told a good portion of my story. I just recently washed my hands of this employer and the insurance companies. My story seems to be much as yours. The stress over the last 3 years had become more then I could endure. I have a story to tell at some point that will tell how where the almighty dollar is involved, trust and faith in the people you tried to do your very best for can be dashed and destroyed. Just like a worn out bearing, they will chuck you in a dumpster. Luckily I had the resources to drag myself out, and crawl to my feet where many in my shoes would not be able to, and I feel for those folks in a big way. I'm very bitter about what has happened to me but refrain from saying to much right now until I'm a little more rational and can state what I have learned from fact without the mix of emotion.
I've got a firewood customer who is going through the same thing with comp and he doesn't have the resources. He's been through several back surgeries and is crippled for life. He just ordered what he figures is his last load of wood as the bank is foreclosing on his home because he can't make the payments. He's going to move into senior citizen housing. Added to this insult is his wife died suddenly and unexpectedly before his first surgery :( :(