The Forestry Forum

Ok.  After all the excellent advice I got for my reality check the time is here to start in earnest.  Woo hoo!  8)
A brief refressher of my goals:  Saw on average two weekends per month ::), dry the lumber in a DH kiln, develop a market for kiln dried hardwood products.

 Time line:
By Dec 31, 2002
  purchase mill - probably a used WM LT40HD
  purchase a DH kiln - probably a Nyles L200

Sometime in the very near future:
  construct kiln chamber
  erect a building to house kiln, mill and store lumber.
I intend to use treated 4x6 poles for the basic structure and saw aspen and poplar for the purlins etc.  Sawing the lumber for the building will be a major part of my learning curve.

Down the road:
  develop a market for custom sawn kiln-dried hardwood
  lumber
  harvest trees on my property (70+ acres in forest with a number of qualtiy trees remaining after the harvest that is bankrolling all this)

Everyday:
  enjoy learning to become a sawyer  :) :)

Of course I have a few questions for the learned sawyers on this list:

What advice do you all have for finding a good used WM? I am sure there are more than a few people who have embarked on this adventure only to find out it was not really what they had envisioned?  How do I find them?  I will of course post a wanted item on the forum.

Do you have other recommendations for a sawmill and kiln?  I will be doing this virtually as a one man show at least in the beginnig.

TIA,
Robert

A good place to start is right here.  Lot of WM owners that know a lot of other WM owners.  With the new LT70 and LT80 mills coming out, there could be many wanting to upgrade.

You can keep your eye out on Sawmill Exchange (http://www.sawmill-exchange.com/) and TMS Sales (http://www.tms-sales.com/equipment.asp).  They have a big list of Wood-Mizers.  But the middleman will get 10%.  

You can also call Wood-Mizer (http://www.woodmizer.com) 1-800-553-0182.  They generally have a few used ones in stock.  I think the go through and replace any defective parts and re-align.  From what I've seen,  they've taken them on trade to help a customer upgrade and does not look like they are trying to make much if anything on them.

Another place to look - keep in contact with your Wood-Mizer field office manager.  He probably knows most every Wood-Mizer owner in his area.  He is in a good spot to know who may be looking to upgrade and can get you connected.

Nearest competitor in bandsawmill sales to new Wood-Mizers are used Wood-Mizers! :o

Lot of good ones out there. 8)

Bibbyman is right about the Wood-Mizer field office manager.  Believe it or not,  they will put you on mill that a customer is trying to sell as quick as they will sell you a new mill.

I've only one other comment.  I would, seriously, take that comment "develop a market for custom sawn kiln-dried hardwood  lumber " out of the Down-the-road column and put it right after the "purchase mill - probably a used WM LT40HD"  line.  :D

You will find that you will have more friends and custom sawing customers, when they find you have a mill, than you will have time for.  The Kiln is going to be a project that you will have to "fit in-between".   :D :D

The Kiln is a very good idea.  I think we all, who haven't one, wish we did and had aspirations of installing one years ago.  It is one of the neglected parts of custom sawing.  I am asked continually by customer, "where can I get my wood dried".  I should make it a project to install one during my normal sleeping hours.  It would be worth it. :-/

Another thing you should do during the period before you get the mill is try to take a course on grading that could give you some official capacity for retailing graded wood.  To retail construction wood it is almost a necessity unless you only deal with farmers building barns. To ship hardwoods, you need to know the industry standards so that you and your customers are on the same page.

I am looking forward to following your adventure.  Now for the philosophical advice. ;D

Keep your plan fluid so that you don't get hung up on something that is not working at the moment. Stress isn't what this is all about.

Above all, don't forget to have fun. If it gets to be work and you find that you don't want to get up in the morning to saw another log, then you need to slow down, smell the roses, catch a few fish and reallign your priorities.   :) :)

Tom's comment about "keeping the plan fluid" is good advice.  It's like my momma once told me: "Life is like a box of chocolates.  ....  (Well, maybe I heard that someplace else.) ::)  Anyway,  our business is always evolving.  

For example,  we keep talking about getting a WM five head moulder and making mouldings out of our own KD grade lumber. Maybe someday.  But we've got an opportunity to make wedges and blocking for the local mobile home setup industry.  If I can figure out a way to change low grade oak shorts into more valuable pieces without investing a bundle in new equipment,  we can achieve about the same return. ;)

It's something new every day.

Where might I find a course on grading lumber?  Tom, you are definately correct that the certification would definately be value added :P

I have placed a call in to WM to get a lead or two - did that directly after I posted to the wanted section here.

Robert,

I got excellent literature and videos (just had to pay return shpping on videos) from the Mo dept of Cons. forestry div.

I don't know id they send them out-of-state or not.

Your state might have the same stuff.

Mo. has a forestry and sawmilling video library that was extremely useful to me.

Noble

If you want the information about hardwood grades, you can go to http://www.natlhardwood.org/createorder.asp?action=start

This is the catalog section of the National Hardwood Lumber Assn. and they set the standards for hardwood grades.  For $16, you can get a grade book specifications.  To be "certified", you would have to go to their school for 6 months.

It isn't necessary to be certified, but it is wise to know the difference between select and 2 common lumber.

It isn't something that you can read about very well.  In most areas, there are short courses that take either a couple of days to up to a week.  Contact your state forestry office or the forestry school at your state university.  They should be able to tell you when and where one is being held.  It's time well spent.

Robert,
The Indiana Hardwood Lumberman's Assn. puts on Lumber Grading Short Courses every so often.  I took it a few years ago and it was well worth it.  The one I took lasted three days and was in Indianapolis, they may have other locations.  Below is the contact information.

IHLA Headquarters
3600 Woodview Trace
Suite 305
Indianapolis, IN 46268

Phone: 317-875-3660

Dewey Powers

Robert,

If you can, why dont you come up to Madison for the lakes states logging congress. You can talk with industry people from all over. Most of the portable mills will be there. There are all kinds of eductional materials to be had, plus, fun stuff! Something I will be looking for is the virtual simulator for some of the logging equipment.

Here are some of the activities going on.

Thursday, September 5
Noon-5:00 p.m.  Prentice International Open Loading Contest
 
Friday, September 6
8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.  Prentice International Open Loading Contest
9:30 a.m.-2:00 p.m. Log Grading Short Course
10:00 a.m.-Noon Eliminations Stock Chain Saw
11:00 a.m.  Ladies Bowling Pin Throw
Noon Judging of Industry Loads
1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. Stock Chain Saw Finals
Bowsawing
Jack and Jill Sawing
0-5 Cu. In. Hot Saw
Underhand Chop
Two Man Sawing
National Chain Saw Championships (5 cu In & Over Hot Saw)
Relay Event
3:00 p.m. Contest Award Presentations
4:30 p.m. Tug-O-War Michigan vs Wisconsin

Saturday, September 7
8:00 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. Prentice International Open Loading Contest
1:30 p.m. Prentice international Open Loading-Contest Winners are awarded with Trophies and Cash Prizes

 

And,  if you miss that one,  there will be the Paul Bunyan Show in Nelsonville, OH October, 4,5,6.

Here is a link to info.  I did notice the link on the page still goes to the 2001 schedule. :(

Paul Bunyan Forestry Show info (http://www.nelsonville.net/bunyan.cgi)

Paul Bunyan Forestry Show info (Thru Ohio Forestry web site) (http://www.ohioforest.org/paul02.html)

Here are pictures I took at the last Paul Bunyan show.

Pictures of Machinery 2001 (http://www.cartogra.com/home/ViewMyAlbum.asp?coll_id=1074281)

Pictures of Sawmills 2001 (http://www.cartogra.com/home/ViewMyAlbum.asp?coll_id=1072557)

Pictures of Scenery (http://www.cartogra.com/home/ViewMyAlbum.asp?coll_id=1072710)

Pictures of Firewood Processing Equipment (http://www.cartogra.com/home/ViewMyAlbum.asp?coll_id=1074311)

  Pour the slab for the kiln first thing.  Saw out the lumber for kiln and drying sheds first thing.  It is better to do this at night with little light as possible.  Then saw out and build shed for saw mill to sit under.  After all construction is done and kiln is ready to go them put the word out you have the mill.  It is very hard to get your stuff done when some one is standing there with a hand full of cash begging you to saw some pecker pole, ;D   I have had a saw shed sawed out for almost a year and it is not standing yet.  No kiln yet and a half built solar kiln just setting there.  Over a quarter million bdft sawn and not a stick on the place :-/
  Learn, learn and then study some more :P  Get out and look at other operations and saw mills no matter how large or small.  And never stop wanting to be.
ARKANSAWYER

I thought I would update this thread with a progress report on how I am doing with my business plan.  There have been a few modifications.
Originally I was going to try to buy a used WM but after searching I found that a new mill was not much more than a used mill so I purchased an LT40HDG25 on November 1 of 2002.  At the same time I bought a WM DK4000 DH kiln (a Nyle 200 with Honeywell Controller).  Both the mill and the kiln have been sitting in my workshop waiting for the weather to get good enough to start on the sawbarn.
Today I broke ground for the sawbarn 8) 8) 8) 8)
Here are some pics of the saw barn site and me breaking ground with my JD450.
Argh!  I will have to get back to you with the pics.  I have tried to optimize but I cannot get it smaller than 39,000 bytes.

Wow.  There's some really good advice in this thread.  The "fluid" idea is an important one.  I think I'm going to rethink the kiln idea, I've been relying on air drying, and I'm thinking about an outdoor boiler to burn my slabs and heat the kiln.  Is anyone doing this?
Andy
http://www.petersonmills.com

You bought a NEW mill in Nov. and haven't cut a stick, YET ??
  Good Lord, hook it to yer truck and "come on down". I can't keep up, and I ain't even in Timber country ?? ::) ::) :D :D :D :D
   Good luck with yer toys. I wanted a WM, but, my funds were non-existent. ::)

Patience has been the virtue that has made this all possible for me.  I had to wait a good ten years for the market to realize what a great wood maple is.  It just so happened that I wanted to thin some maples to release some oak and cherry when the market for maple was up.  The tax man was going to take a chunk of the proceeds if I did not purchase the mill and kiln when I did.  After reading all the posts on this forum and talking to other sawyers in the area I knew that if I started sawing I would never get the sawbarn and kiln built the way I wanted it.  Unless disaster strikes I will be sawing the lumber for the kiln chamber before July  8)  8)  8)

OK here are some pics I hope.  The first is the sawbarn site.  I intend to build it between the three trees. The white oaks at the back won't be a problem but I will have to maneuver around the black walnut to get the mill in and out of the buliding.
(https://forestryforum.com/images/04_01_03/Site%203%20trees%20email%20Opt%2060.jpg)

Breaking ground  8)  The northeast corner will require a six foot depth for the swale
(https://forestryforum.com/images/04_01_03/Breaking%20Ground%20e-mail%20Opt%2060.jpg)

And just because I am feeling lucky here is another
(https://forestryforum.com/images/04_01_03/Breaking%20Ground%202%20e-mail%20Opt%2060.jpg)

These pics were taken a couple of days ago when I started. Today I got about 1/3 of the grade dug when I started loosing fluid to the bucket so I had to stop and do a repair.  Repairing the crawler has become a standard way to spend my time.  The lemon yellow paint scheme is fitting.  If I am ever able to complete a job without a breakdown I will paint it camo.  I hope to finish the swale tomorrow.

OneWithWood,

Good for you. It sounds as though several of us are at about the same place in our lives. Pretty site for your sawbarn. Looking forward to seeing it go up.

I am currently constructing an air drying deck next to one of my outbuildings. This will create a level place for my inventory. Next to that, I plan on placing a 28' refer to serve as my chamber. While I would like to have a building with side entrance, space and cost have led me this direction.

So...the next step in MY plan is the DH4000, and probably a used skidsteer. I also need to get into a heavier duty truck. I have use of my dad's Chevy 4x4...when he isn't traveling. Seems that is always when I am needing to haul some logs or lumber ???

Good luck with your plans...

hawby

This is about the fourth time I have read about problems with end loading "Chambers".????  Haven't y'all heard about SAWS?? and HEADERS ????
   Shoot fire, It wouldnt take a couple of days to put side doors in them trailer boxes ???? ;) ;D ;D

I think I'd prefer an end loader.  I can't imagine the headaches that you would have trying to seal up a set of 28' doors, 'specially after you had hacked up the side of your reefer with a Sawzall. The reefer comes with doors that seal, so why not put your time into building carts?. You can pull'em in like a train, and pull'em out the same way, and have another train ready to go in. Seems efficient to me. :)

Carts sound good to me too. You will get a much better seal if you just use what is there.

AWwwww, DanG. You're jist parshul to carts cause ya found a woods full of 'em a couple of months ago !! :D :D :D
  WAYYYYY back, I agreed to using the carts from the mill through the kiln was the way to go. I was just pointin out that if ya want side doors, That's NOT a big deal. They could be sealed up fairly easily. ;) ;) :)

Actually the setup I have drawn up (in my mind's eye) will initially be an end loader with carts, but will be in a configuration that will be easy to convert to a side loader. But, if I use swival castors I may even continue to use the carts.

I agree that it would be possible to re-seal the side doors adequately if I decide to go that route.

My biggest concern is creating enough "flat" space for air drying prior to loading the chamber. I am currently constructing a 12' by 28' deck. I see that as being a staging area for the chamber.

As my inventory grows, I have another 40' on the back side of my shed that I could also deck. I have toyed with the idea of "solarizing" that area, as it has a Southern exposure. What do you longtimers think of pre-drying with solar, then DHing. I have not had time to look at the archives to see if there has been a discussion on it before.

I am anxiously waiting for the financial aspects of this adventure to get taken care of.... next month!!!  8)

hawby

How swale it is!  8)  Well it starting raining before I could finish taking the site down to grade so I did not get the swale finished the next day.  
Here is a pic of the site now with the swale dug out and the batter boards in place.  This weekend I am renting a mini excavator to dig the trenches.  I hope to have the footers in next week.  It all depends which way the storms blow. . .

(https://forestryforum.com/images/04_01_03/Swale%20with%20Crawler%20e-mail%20opt%2014.jpg)

Looks like your making good progress with your site. I have been debating trying to do the same here as our shed is open on one side. Not sure I want to tackle that big a project by myself. Are you hiring help or doing it all yourself?

I get a lot of help from my close friends me, myself and I :D :D  :D

Originally I was going to hire out the grading and foundation work but the bids came back so high I could not afford ot go that route.  Doing everything myself means the project will take considerably longer but the price is right. :)

And you can always look at and say to yourself "I DID THAT"
 8) 8)
Noble

You betcha!   ;D

OWW,
You find out real quick that hired labor gets very expensive.  Thought you might enjoy a few pictures of the live in shop I am building.

Year 01.  Site work begins late in the year.  I am building on a sloping ridge but I didn't want to build on fill dirt.  Thought I would cut the top of the ridge off and build a 3' tall stem wall at one end.  Got a few bids and decided to learn how to lay block.  All I got done was the slab and the stem wall before winter.

Year 02.  Got the building closed in.

May this year.  Mostly done on the outside and about ready to put up paneling and drywall on the inside.  I am building in Arkansas but decided to go with indoor plumbing so that is taking a little extra time. ;D

Site work begins.

(https://forestryforum.com/images/04_01_03/shed12.jpg)



Trusses going up.

(https://forestryforum.com/images/04_01_03/truss12.jpg)



Late November last year.

(https://forestryforum.com/images/04_01_03/shed2.jpg)



May this year.

(https://forestryforum.com/images/04_01_03/shed18.jpg)

Should be completed by this winter.  I am building 300 miles away from home so only work as time and money permits.  So far the only hired help I have used was concrete guys to pour and finish the slab.  Also hired a crew to put the tin on the roof as it was 27' long on one side.  The labor bill was almost the same as the material bill.  I did everything else by myself.

Got the timber frame sawmill shed and kiln laid out with most of the white oak cut.  House is also laid out so that will give me something to start on next spring when I move into the shop.










 

VERY nice Larry

Looking good, Larry!  I will need some help finishing the slab.  I do not think I can screed the large sections by myself.  How did you go about setting the trusses yourself?  
I have decided to go the stick frame route as I think it will be easier to raise the walls than to set posts myself.  With a little luck I will get the footers dug, formed and poured within the next few days.  Then it will be time to set block - my least favorite part of the whole project.
If any one has any suggestions on how a one man crew should approach the various aspects of building I would greatly appreciate the advice  :P

Larry
Very nice looking building!

OWW
Glad to hear things are progressing.  The one area I hired help was with the concrete, I had everything ready and hired a friend of mine to bring his crew and power screed(boy are they nice) to pour the job.  It was money well spent, trying to pour that much by yourself or with well intentioned but inexperienced help is very difficult.
On the trusses could you make a boom to fit your dozer's loader to lift them up into place?  We used something like that to put our rafters and headers into place. This might be another area to have someone around to help if possible.

Good luck!
Dewey

OWW,

There is a product available for blocks that anyone can use. You dry stack the blocks and plaster this stuff on both sides. It has fiberglass strands in it making it really strong. I have laid a lot like this and it is still there. One was a trap shoot house, which was partially underground. Another was a long farm building that we moved and raised 4 ft. with blocks to accomodate taller equipment. Another application was a double wide mobile home. I poured a shallow footing under it and stacked the blocks and just coated the outside since it was not a load bearing wall. All these were say 15 years ago and are still looking good. OH, I also stuck some rebar in the footing at the corners, doors,  and periodically and after the blocks were laid, I poured concrete in the holes where the rebar was.

Haytrader

Thanks, Haytrader.  I will look into it.  If it is easier to mix and stays workable longer than mortar it would be a blessing.

OWW,
To raise the trusses I knocked together an upside down "U" that I bolted to the frame of the log forks on the FEL.  At the top of the U put a block and tackle to hold the top of the truss.  The bottom chord of the truss sets on a 2X4.  Tied the sides of the truss to the frame so the wind wouldn't blow it when I raised it.  I have seen a few other ways of doing it like a fabricated boom pole that fits on a front bucket and know one guy that built something similar in design to an engine hoist which goes on his three point.

To set the trusses I left a 10' section out of an end wall to drive the tractor through.  Put blocking up on the top plate to keep my spacing.  As soon as I got the truss against the block climbed the wall to adjust the side to side spacing.  Usually only had to pull the truss about a 1" one way or another but that was always the hard part.  Nailed in my hurricane straps on the bottom of the truss, through a purlin on top and ready for another one.

A note on trusses.  They are all identical if you keep them in the order that they come off the truss jig when made.  Turn them around end to end and all kinds of errors pop up.  Makes it very hard to get a flat roof.

I stick framed my walls on the slab.  For the long walls 16' sections.  After they were framed lifted them with the log forks and set them over my anchor bolts.  That really worked slick and it was fast.

A lot of times it took longer to figure out how to do the work than the actual work itself.

The best advice I can give to anybody working by their self is to have plenty of "C" clamps.  Cell phone on your hip and somebody to check on you once in a while just in case you get in trouble.  Did I mention plenty of "C" clamps?

Send me an IM if you get stumped.  May not have the answer but might have a different idea.

OWW,

 The advantage to this product is you don't have to know how to lay blocks (which I do). You just stack them up like Legos and smear this stuff on. You don't have to worry about mortar thickness or for that matter, mortar at all. Just use a cement finish trowel and spread it on kinda like stucko (upward motion). It is a lot quicker too.

Haytrader,
I only need one course of block.  Do you still think it would be advantageous.  You have my curiosity piqued.

Larry,
Thanks for the play by play.  I am thinking along the same lines and it is nice to know someone else has done it.  I know what you mean about the C clamps  :)

OWW,

Hmmmmmmm....If your footing is smooth, this stuff would be the thing but if the footing is not perfectly smooth, then the mortar under the block would take care of that.
Or.........why not form up with 1x8 or rip some 1/2" ply and just pour a short stem wall. That way you don't have any blocks to cut at doors or corners.
I should find out the product name, I suppose, instead of calling it STUFF.  ha
I had a lady with a leaky foundation once and I dug down bout two shovels deep, let dry, wire brushed the remaining dirt of the wall and applied this product and it solved her problems. It has just been to long ago to remember. Guess my age is showing, huh?
 ;D

As usual it has taken longer than I wanted to get the drains in, footers poured, and a course of form blocks laid.  Here is the status of the saw barn as of now.  I hope to get the slab poured before thanksgiving.  Need to put in the blueboard for the kiln the vapor barrier and the reinforcement wire down before the concrete.  As soon as I get back from a business trip I will get back to it.
(https://forestryforum.com/images/04_01_03/Foundation%20opt%2014.jpg)
(https://forestryforum.com/images/04_01_03/Foundation2%20opt%2014.jpg)
I know the pics are small but I think you can make out the openings for the doors.  The rough section in the middle on the left is where the kiln will go.  The mill will be located just inside the 20' opening in the upper right.  
It won't be long and I will finally be making sawdust!

And the plan continues . . .

Today I completed Cutter I and Cutter II training for the Game of Logging.  There were about 15 in the class with the majority being active loggers and forestry personnel.  One of the active loggers brother won the regional game of logging last year.  The training was excellent.  There were two absolute novices, one had never cut a tree down and the other had cut only one.  I was the lone wannabe in the crowd.  Well I must have paid attention and learned some things because I won the competition! 8) 8) 8) :D :D ;D :)
Now I may have won the competition today but I ain't got no swelled head.  I know I need to practice everything I learned a lot before I can consider myself an accomplished feller.  But I do feel real good at the moment  8) 8) 8)

OWW,
Between now and the time you return for cutter 3 your surposed to cut a few trees.  Write down your questions and why something didn't work like it should have.  That will be the first question the instructor asks when you return.  I wish I had cut more trees and written all my questions down.

Congratulations on your good finish 8) 8) but if the pros are sharp they will practice to and won't be losing points due to drop starting, no ear muffs, chain brake, and etc.  

Hope you do great in cutter 3 & 4. :D 8)

Congrats OWW!!  I'm about to start heading down the same path I hope by the first of the year.  Keep the info and pics coming, I'm enjoying seeing your progress!  It looks great!

The long wait is over!

After owning the mill for one year and 8 days I finally am at a point where I need to make saw dust 8)

Here is a pic of me milling my first stick.  8) 8) 8)
 It is a small poplar that I salvaged from the harvest debris.  I am making 2x4 form boards in preparation for pouring the slab.
(https://forestryforum.com/images/04_01_03/First%20Stick%20Opt%2014.jpg)

Once the slab is down I will begin milling in earnest, cutting out the dimension lumber for the barn.

The slab has finally been completed.  We finished pouring the last three sections Jan 24 when there was a brief window of decent temps and no rain or snow.  Here is a pic I took today of the slab under 8 inches of snow.(https://forestryforum.com/images/04_01_03/Slab%20under%20snow%20horizontal%20Opt%2014.jpg)

I cannot do a whole lot in this weather and the slab will take a bit longer to cure given the sub zero temps of late (20 below yesterday morning).  So I decided to go out and shoot some pics of the trees in the 'before they were lumber' phase.  Here is a pic of a grove of aspen that I need to remove for a wildlife project.  It remains to be seen how much usable straight lumber I can extract from these stems.  It will be a good lesson in relieving stress  :D
(https://forestryforum.com/images/04_01_03/Aspen%20Grove%20behind%20pond%20horizontal%20Opt%2014.jpg)
 
Here are few more pics of aspen trees that need to be removed and will become dimensional lumber for the barn and kiln chamber.  
(https://forestryforum.com/images/04_01_03/Large%20Aspen%20by%20Entrance.jpg)
(https://forestryforum.com/images/04_01_03/Leaning%20Aspen%20by%20entrance%20Opt%2014.jpg)

Obviously there are more than aspens in these pics.  I hope you can pick them out amoung the poplars, oaks, hickories etc.  The aspen are the lightest trees in most of the pics.  Many of the aspen are 20 - 22 inches dbh.
When the snow melts I will set up the Mizer on the slab, fell the aspens and begin the fun part of this project  8)

  I can really feel your anticipation ;D  Must be eating at you pretty bad :D :D  Spring is nearly here in Fl. You can't be far behind.  Looks like you will have a good set-up, when you finally get things organized.  Good Luck. ;)

The snow is receding, I felled some of the aspen and a bore infested poplar so yesterday the fun began in earnest 8) 8) 8)

Here is a pic of the set up.  The mill is positioned where it will be in the finished building.  The logs are staged on temporary decks consisting of sassagrass boles from trees I felled when I cleared the site many years ago.  Luke, my hired hand when he is not studying to be a geologist, is in the foreground where he has just placed some stickers on the cants which will be the bases for the lifts of dimension lumber.  Luke has been a great help.  He has worked with his brother-in-law, Sawyerkirk, for a number of years.  He has provided valuable pointers for me as I learn to saw out lumber.  Many thanks to Sawyerkirk for sending him my way.

(https://forestryforum.com/images/04_01_03/Cants%20Luke_0006%20Opt14.jpg)

It is amazing the nice looking lumber that can be brought forth from some extremely ugly logs ;D

I sure feel good  8).  This is fun!!!!   8) 8) 8) 8) 8)

OWW

Glad to hear that things are progressing for you.  Now that the sawdust has started to fly in earnest you will be badly bitten by the sawdust bug.  Sometimes I wonder if I am sawing to make lumber or just to saw.

Good luck with your building and be safe.

Dewey

It's looking good oww, you sure picked a nice spot. Before you know it you'll say to yourself "gosh remember building the sawshed". What kind of crawler is that sitting there, looks handy. :)

Dewey,
Oh yes, I have been badly smitten by that sawdust bug.  Got up this morning wondering how I could blow off work and the eye doctor so I could get back to turning ugly trees into beautiful lumber ::) :D ;D
Norm,
The crawler is a 1976 or so John Deere 450CA.  Sometimes referred to as 'Ole Yeller' and sometimes referred to as 'The Big Lemon' :D  I think it knows I am serious now and it has been behaving itself for a change.  I am using chains on the bucket to move logs right now becasue I still need to move that mound of dirt behind the barn.  Once I finish roadbuilding and landscaping I will put the logging forks on it.

Cool, did you notice that when your drawing up plans and then pour the pad how small it looks. Then when you put up the walls and put a roof on it'll look huge again.

They have some JD crawlers around here for a low price, what do you think of em?

I had a 1974 Deere 455 here for a time when we were clearing pastures and building the barn.  It had the split front "clamshell" bucket and a backhoe.  LOVED IT.  Tried to buy it from the owner, but the price was too much.  

Nice work, OWW.  You've got something to be really proud of there.....we are all looking forward to more pictures!!

CAPTAIN

The 450 is a workhorse.  If you are thinking about buying one be sure and take someone along who knows something about them.  I bought this one because it has the setup I wanted and could not find anywhere (bucket and big timber winch).  I ended up totally rebuilding the transmission in it.  Now I have so much in it I could have bought a 550G with a clamshell bucket.  I really do wish I had a clamshell bucket.  The solid bucket is limiting.  That big timber winch though is a great attachment!

The slab looking absolutely huge when we were pouring and finishing it :o
Now it does look a bit small with the mill on it and hopefully soon, stacks of lumber. :)

Well here it is July, 2004 and I still have not got the barn up.  I have not been sitting on my hands.  Things have definately taken longer than I ever imagined and life's little distractions just add to it.  Here are some pics of the activity over the last few months.  Remember those aspen trees I took the pics of in February.  Here is what they looked like soon after I could get int the woods.  The challenge was to make decent lumber from these narly sticks
(https://forestryforum.com/images/03_21_04/Ugly%20logs%201%20Opt14.jpg)
I felled somewhere around 50 trees, skidding them out behind the crawler from various locations around the property two at a time to the log yard where I bucked them into 20, 16, 13, 12, 10 and 8 foot logs.  Once bucked I was moving the logs to the mill one at a time using two chains on the bucket of the crawler.  It was going to take me forever just to move the logs to the mill  ::).  I had to find a better, more efficient way to move trees and logs so I spent the last of the proceeds from the harvest for this JMS rig that I bought through Bailey's.
(https://forestryforum.com/images/03_21_04/Log%20trailer%205%20Opt14.jpg)

Finally in June I milled out the last of the structural lumber for the barn.  A bit over 6600 bf ft.  Here is the last cut.  The lumber is 16' 2x4s.
(https://forestryforum.com/images/03_21_04/2x4s%20end%20of%20run%20Opt14.jpg)

Here are the flights of stickered lumber.  I feel pretty good considering the shape of the trees I cut this stuff from.  
(https://forestryforum.com/images/03_21_04/stickered%20lumber%20looking%20east%20Opt14.jpg)

I am letting this stuff air dry for about 6 weeks and then the construction commences.  I will mill the siding after the walls are studded out and the roof is on.  After spending forever to fell, skid and buck the aspen I am seriously considering buying poplar or sassafrass logs for the siding.  Dollar-wise I think I will come out ahead and I know it would be a huge time savings.  I needed to clear out these aspens so the time spent was not unwarranted.  

This adventure is taking much longer than I had anticipated but I am having a lot of fun and learning a bunch along the way.  The barn will get built.  The kiln will get installed and the rest of the plan will unfold at a reasonable pace.  I am no where close to hanging out a shingle though I have received numerous requests for lumber and custom sawing.  I did saw out some poplar ground sills for the neighbors who helped pour the slab and I picked up about 40 white pine logs from a fellow who wanted them moved bad enough to pay me $ and give me the logs. :)

How do you like the trailer from baileys?  Bought a Majaco trailer with a loader on it but i'm dissapointed with the lift capacity. Wonderin if you had any input.

I opted for the Farmi 51D loader and almost immediately wished I had scrounged up enough dinero for the 65D.  I could not lift a 24" 8' red oak up off the ground and hold it. Had to pull it onto a trailer one end at a time.  

The majaco is a little better than that but not much.  Thanks fer the feedback.  We just talked the salesman into taking the thing back.  the trailer we got had the log bunks not the flat bed so you couldnt even do it your way.

Finally put some sticks together 8)
Here is a pic from the same perspective as most of the previous ones.  The walls have just been erected and braced.
(https://forestryforum.com/images/03_21_04/Walls%20looking%20east%202%20Opt14.jpg)

The trusses are on
(https://forestryforum.com/images/03_21_04/Trusses%20lkg%20se%20Opt14.jpg)

The roof is on
(https://forestryforum.com/images/03_21_04/Under%20roof%20lkg%20ne%20Opt14.jpg)

Another view looking west
(https://forestryforum.com/images/03_21_04/Under%20roof%20kiln%20wall%20lkg%20nw%20Opt14.jpg)

In the last pic you can look into the barn and see the wall for the kiln.  The mill will be positioned inside the south 9x9 door with the 11x21 door accepting the logs.  Lumber will be offloaded from the mill to carts located on a track (not yet installed) that will run into and out of the kiln.  Dried lumber can then be offloaded through the 9x9 door on the west end.

This is where the project stands at the moment.  I need to finish my wife's greenhouse and get in the firewood before I get back to the barn.  At least I now have a roof over my head. ;D

Looking good! :)

Good job, OWW! 8)  That's gonna be one fine barn!

Nice! I'm green with envy. :)

Did you mill your own dimensional wood for it?

Man, that looks terrific!  And all from wood you milled yourself!   8)

I somehow missed this thread in the past, so it was fun reading the progression of your experience from "time to stop being a wannabe," formulating your plan, and seeing in fast forward all the steps that got you to here.  Gives me some hope with my plan for the future too!

Way to go!

WoW, OWW!  Exceptional job  8).  

Certainly a candidate for WoodMizer's personal best contest!

OK no more pics ;D

Its driving me nuts looking at this awsome progress while I sit back and dream of making our final move to the farm.  I was supposed to be out of here months ago and it seems that little things keep backing my schedule up.

Keep up the great work.

Where in Indiana are you located?

Kirk

Heck of a job, OWW!  Great to follow your progress from start to finish.  Keep up the good work.

    Man am I jealous   8) 8)

  NICE job, OWW  8) 8) 8)

Thanks guys.
Some days I think I will never get where I am going but I find if I keep plodding along I eventually get there. :D

Norm,
I felled the trees and milled all the lumber with the exception of the treated sill plates, top plates, and the trusses.  I wanted to use treated sill plates because aspen does not do well if it gets wet to often.  The top plates were not in the plan originally but the double band boards were moving too much to keep things straight and true.  The local box store had a sale on trusses that I could not pass up.  Big time saver too.

Kirk,
As long as you have the vision of what you want you will get there.  As you can see it has taken me a lot longer than I thought it would to get to this point and there is a lot to be done before I hang out a shingle. ::)  Oh, yeah I am southwest of Indianapolis and north east of Bloomington.

Stay tuned, there will be more to come!!!

I went back and reread that you were going to mill the dimensional stuff out of aspen yourself. Sorry for not paying attention, Patty can testify my attention span is pretty short. Last week I kept complaining I'd lost my new CAT hat that she won at the piggy roast. A couple of days latter I happened to look on the top of my dresser and there it was. I commented my grasp of the obvious was almost scary. :D

One of the things I'd really like to have is a greenhouse for growing our own produce during the cold months, since I know you're not that busy ;D  when you get a chance I'd enjoy hearing about it's construction too.  

OK, Norm.  When the house is completed I will post some pics and a brief narrative of the construction.
Sheesh, now I have to remember to take pics - when will it ever end  :D :o ;D

I'm kind of like having a second wife OWW...do this do that.... ;D :D

Hey there OWW the building is looking great except 1 thing I dont see the mill in there or am I missing it ??? 8)

The mill?

Oh, yeah, The Mill

Here it is back in place.

Looking West
(https://forestryforum.com/images/03_21_04/WM%20in%20Frame%20W%20Opt14.jpg)

Looking East
(https://forestryforum.com/images/03_21_04/WM%20in%20Frame%20E%20Opt14.jpg)

Looking South West
(https://forestryforum.com/images/03_21_04/WM%20in%20Frame%20SW%20Opt14.jpg)

Looking North East
(https://forestryforum.com/images/03_21_04/WM%20in%20Frame%20NE%20Opt14.jpg)

And finally looking North West
(https://forestryforum.com/images/03_21_04/WM%20in%20Frame%20NW%20Opt14.jpg)

Good call Stump_Jumper.  Having the mill in place helps put things in perspective.  Do you think I'll get enough air circulation? :D ::)

Wow

 :o Plenty of ceiling clearence  good deal  8)

I have learned that my celing clearance needs to be a minimum of 12' for anything I build.  Cuts down on the wear and tear of everything.

I took a couple of days off from chopping firewood to fell enough tulip poplar to side the saw barn and make some 4x4 legs for bench supports in Linnea's greenhouse.  Here is a pic of the logs piled up at the mill.
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10273/Poplar%20SB%20Siding%20Logs.jpg)

I piled them up so I could use the trailer to collect the tops for firewood.  I have since taken all but three layers down and placed them back on the trailer so I did not crush myself or the mill when I rolled a log onto the loader.  I acquired a pretty blue A.S.S. to assist in moving the logs to the loading arms. :)

These particular trees needed to come down anyway to open up the canopy in the classifed wildlife section of the property.  As a bonus there were a number of good stems of oak and cherry in the understory that are now free to grow.  I love it when there is no wasted lumber or motion 8)

Sure can't mistake those logs for 'yellow' poplar.  ;D

Nice stack of logs, and should be great fun sawing.

oww how did i miss this one  :D  great looking building and a good pile a logs there too.
thanks for bring this to the top again.

Quote from: tnlogger on April 08, 2005, 02:47:49 PM
oww how did i miss this one  :D  great looking building and a good pile a logs there too.
thanks for bring this to the top again.

What he said! I am looking forward to following somewhere closely in those same steps very shortly. The plan is formulating!

Doc

OWW, that is a good looking saw barn you've got going there.  What size is it?

I really like using different colors of end coating, like yelow for poplar, red for red oak and cherry, white for white oak and aspen, blue for beech, etc.  It livens up the yard some  :)
The building is 30' x 72'.  Adequate but I am already wishing it was a bit bigger.  I am sure when I start putting up the siding I will wish it was a bit smaller! :D
Doc, as you can tell my plan is in a constant state of evolution.  The basic premise has not changed but the time line has undergone many revisions. :)

I like the color coding idea.  What type of sealer are you using to get different colors?   OWW, do I understand the time line revisions.  Now that concrete is $100 per yard delivered, not poured, we are really revising. ;D ::)

I use UC coatings Anchor Seal end coating. 

THE SIDING IS UP  8)

Here are some pics of the siding portion of this adventure.

I began by wrapping the frame with Dura-Skrim reinforced plastic.  This ought to keep the cold winter wind at bay.
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10273/Siding%20W%20Wall%202.JPG)

Here we go around the building:
view from the NW corner:
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10273/SidingNW2.JPG)

view from the SW corner:
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10273/SidingSW.jpg)

view from the SE corner:
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10273/SidingSE.jpg)

view from the NE corner:
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10273/SidingNE.jpg)

I had just enough 1 x 6 tulip poplar boards cut to get it all done.  Some of the boards had a bit of mold stain from being dead stacked so long but the stain will fade out as the boards oxidize to that nice barn gray  :)

Here is a pic from the inside showing the framing for the kiln chamber sans the ceiling joists.  I wanted to post this so you could get an idea of the 'drive through' design.

(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10273/Kiln%20door%20frames.JPG)

Maybe the next time the joists and doors will be completed and I will have moved those boxes! :D

That will have to do for a while.  It is time to cut firewood and build benches for the greenhouse.  When I get back to the barn it will be to install all the electrical.  Then I will only have the kiln chamber to finish and the doors to build and install before I am out of excuses to start making some dinero ::)

I am still pretty much on plan I think. :-\

DAT looks GOOD.  8) ;D ;D

Nice, real nice. I really like the way Popular mills and looks.

What kind of finish are you going to put on the outside?
How wide is your mill side opening?

Jon

Jon,
I think I will just let the boards weather naturally.  next summer I will put the battens on after the wood has stopped shrinking and moving about.
The mill opening is 21'.

WOW, OWW!  That is some kinda fine looking saw shed! 8) 8)

now that is a class a numberone saw shed  8)

OWW
VERY nice.I love to see a "REAL" barn..with wood so much nicer than a pole building :)

Great job Robert! Thanks for the update. :)

What a great shed!!!!!!

I was just going to make a plastic tunnel house but you have inspired me to greater heights.  We have loads of pine (radiata) trees that are 25 to 27 years old and perfect for milling, we have a mill so why not :)

I could cast the mill tracks into the floor so I could just throw a tree at the shed and drag out the milled stuff.  or is there a bit more to it :) :)

Time to start planning.

Earnie, I would not want my mill that LOW. I poured a 32 x 24 pad for my mill shed then traded that pice of property to my brother, now I have to move my mill BUT it was level so I thought just put the mill rails flat on the floor but my back hated it. Ya see as I been getting older I have also been getting taller! Must be, because it is soooo far down to reach the floor these days;D

Quote from: OneWithWood on July 05, 2005, 10:51:20 AM
THE SIDING IS UP 8)

Well hot DanG dar Robert, I was beginnin' ta think ya had give'n up on dat project.    ;D

Quote from: Weekend_Sawyer on July 05, 2005, 05:52:42 PM

Earnie, I would not want my mill that LOW. I poured a 32 x 24 pad for my mill shed then traded that pice of property to my brother, now I have to move my mill BUT it was level so I thought just put the mill rails flat on the floor but my back hated it. Ya see as I been getting older I have also been getting taller! Must be, because it is soooo far down to reach the floor these days;D

What kind of mill do you have, ours is a twin saw and we put the tracks on the ground now with not too many problems.

I am not coveting our friend OWW's saw barn but, I am J.E.A.L.O.U.S. It looks so fine!!! Nice, real nice!!! :) OWW, did you create a floor plan with measurement's you could share. Though I never went to Kindergarden, one of the first things I learned in life was to share? :D

Earnie,

I have a norwood lumbermate 2000, pretty nice mill, though thinking about it I have never used any other except a chainsaw mill.

The rails are on top of the bed beams which are, i beleive,  8" and I set the beams on 8" blocks. The log sits on bunks that are a couple of inches above the rails so the bottom of the log is around 20" off the floor. And while I am typing this I can look out my sliding glass door and look at it, atleast until I move it to my back yard ::)

thats a nice looking saw shed,looks to nice to saw in and get it all dusty ;D

That is a very nice building ! You going to show pics here of the kiln or in the drying category . That will be awesome !

OhWW,
ya ain't no wannabe you be da man!!!

Real nice mill building !!! lots and lots of room  8) fur now anyway  ;)

you know how it goes... coulda... shoulda... woulda...  oh well you do have a mill and logs so there's that open spot over yonder for another  :) with sawing comes the yearning to build  ::) it's a vicious cycle ain't it ???

Chris, I will scan in my rough plans and attempt to post them here.  If I get it figgered the basic floor plan will appear in this thread in the near future.

Rod, I gots a big vacuum  ;)

Unclebuck the finished kiln will appear in this thread - film at 11 or hopefully sometime this fall

Pappy, I already think I need to build a lumber storage or air drying shed or something  :D

Chet, I guess it is because in yooperdom the building season is so short you all feel you need to complete everything as soon as you start it.  Here in the tropics of southern Indiana we take a much more measured approach to life.  It'l git dun when it gits dun an' not afore den. :D

Ernie, the plan is the most important part of the project.  Take your time and be sure to stay well hydrated as you draw up those plans and figure out how many trees it si going to take and what kind of support equipment you are going to need and what new tools you should acquire and what . . . ;)

Quote from: OneWithWood on July 07, 2005, 10:19:11 AM
Chet, I guess it is because in yooperdom the building season is so short you all feel you need to complete everything as soon as you start it. Here in the tropics of southern Indiana we take a much more measured approach to life. It'l git dun when it gits dun an' not afore den. :D

:D   :D  :D  :D  :D  Yer right dar.  ;)

Ain't nottin' more inspirationally ta gittin' a project done, den da threat of Black Flies or Snowballs.

OK, Chris it is raining so I took the time to scan in the floor plan.  I hope it is legible.

(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10273/Sawbarn%20layout.jpg)

Just in case your eyes are more mature, as mine are, I will describe the dimensions.
The slab is 30 x 72.  The walls are constructed of 2x6 aspen, sided with 1x6 tulip poplar.  The doors on the east (right) end are both 9'x9' (2 4½' sections) swinging out.  The west end has one 9'x9' door and a 3' entry door.  In the middle of the north half is a 13' x 21' kiln chamber with 9' doors on the west and east ends.  Imbedded in the concrete slab are angle iron rails that run from east to west through the kiln.  I will mount my kiln carts on these rails so that I can load them off the mill, pull them into the kiln with an electric winch and offload them on the west side of the kiln.  The mill sets in front of the 21'x10' opening on the east end of the south wall.  The opening will have a sliding barn door consisting of two 11' halves.  The hydraulic loading arms of the mill line up with 8x8 cants on the ground for staging logs.  The area in the southwest corner will be used for woodworking equipment or lumber storage.  There will be some lumber storage over the kiln chamber as the chamber is 8' high and the trusses are 12' off the floor.

I hope all this is somewhat legible and makes sense  :)

Makes sense to me, only one question............
Why didn't you make it bigger?  ::) ::) ;D

 :D :D ;D  I dunno  :-\

Do you plan to sticker and stack on a kiln cart as you offbear from the mill?

Yes, that is the plan.  I will be fabricating a unit to insure the stickers and the load are kept straight.

So do you think a 40x112 would be big enough?

In a word.....NO!
But you "might" be able to get by for a little while. ;D

Kirk, I think that is what I should have built to start with!  I just was not sure how I was going to keep a clear span over 30' economically.  Not being the engineer type it was beyond me  smiley_headscratch
I wish I had ben more willing to spend some $$ and put some tubing in the slab like the greenhouse.  Of course then I would never get anything done becasue I would need firewood for another wood boiler :-\

Broker_farmer asked to see updated pics of the siding on the barn so I took these during a brief moment when the sun was attempting to break through the clouds.

This pic shows the contrast between the west facing gable end wall which gets full sun in the afternoon and evening and the south wall which is somewhat protected by the large eave.  As time passes both walls will take on a grey patina.  I did not use any coating or preservative on the siding.
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10273/SWsidinggrey.jpg)

Here is the west facing wall by itself
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10273/Wsidinggrey.jpg)

This pic was taken of the west wall on the inside to show the amount of shrinkage as the boards dry.  When first installed the boards abutted.  I chose to put the double outlet box in the pic for scale.  I will probably put up the battens during the fall of 2006, but I may just leave it as it is.  The plastic vapor barrier blocks the wind and I kinda like the look.
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10273/outletsidingspacing.jpg)

While I was taking some pics I snapped one of the roughed out kiln chamber in its current configuration.  I should have it insulated by the end of next week.  The operant word being 'should' :D
I still have not decided how I am going to correct the poor concrete finishing job.  If you look close you may be able to see the string indicating where the rails will go.
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10273/Kilnchamber.jpg)

The electrical inspector came out Tuesday afternoon and tagged the meter base so I can now contact REMC to bring power to the building from the pole.  Soon, no more extra long extension chord! 8)

Nice looking building and layout, OWW.  ;)

I like the poplar siding!  'Couple questions:  are those pre-fab trusses or did you make them yourself?  If you didn't, did you consider building them yourself out of your own lumber?  On the 21' opening  what  did you make the header out of?  Is it wood or steel?
As far as trusses go, does anybody make their own anymore?

Yes, those are pre-fab trusses.  They were on sale so I grabbed them.  I  had planned on making my own but the difficulty of getting a straight 18' 2x4 out of green aspen convinced me that purchasing ready made units was the better option.  I also used treated lumber for the lower sill plates and store bought SYP for the upper sill plates.  The header for the 21' foot opening was built up using 2x12 SYP and 3/4 plywood.  I wish I had made it longer than it is.  I am planning on putting steel I-beams up to further support the rafters that bear on it as well as using them as a base for an overhead crane or chain hoist.

Not really a big chore to expand the opening  ::) Got I-beam ??

FDH I don't need to expand the opening, just beef up the header.  No, I don't have the I-beams yet.  Waiting for the salvage yard to acquire some.

I thought now that I have my precious green tag on the meter base I had better get crackin' on cutting in the road section that will allow access to all sides of the building and let trucks drive around the barn so no backing would be required.  I need to cut in the road before REMC digs the trench for the power feed as the trench traverses the roadway.

Here is a pic of my good start on the road
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10273/Circle%20Road%20Cut.jpg)

The job was going great and the crawler was performing as it was supposed to.  Replacing the supply and return lines and rebuilding the selector valve made a big difference.  Yes, this was ging to take a lot less time than I thought.  But no-o-o-oo.  As I was rotating the bucket, trying to knock some sticky clay out, I heard a very loud cra-a-ck.  Suddenly hydraulic fluid was pouring out of the right bucket cylinder by the gallons! :o  DanG good thing I had replaced the old fluid with bio-degradable fluid  ;)
Kinda looks like a broken arm . . .
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10273/Broken%20Cyliinder%20JD450.jpg)

Here is a closer look.  I think this cylinder is history  :-\
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10273/Broken%20Cyliinder%20JD450%202.jpg)

So much for getting the road in this weekend.  I located a used replacement cylinder (new cylinders for this vinatage crawler are not available) and should get it early next week.  I could still get the road cut in and the shoulder graded out before Christmas but I probably won't have power until next year.  Oh, well I can always make up the rest of the outlets, finish the kiln chamber, and make and hang some doors while I am waiting.

I am getting close!

That's a bummer OWW

 

QuoteI wish I had made it longer than it is.

??? ??? ???

  Thought this is what ya wrote.  ::) ::) ;D ;D :D

  Broke the piston off our homebuilt punch press cylinder one time. Never made a sound, that we know of  ::) ::)

A hydraulics shop could fix that.

Corley, the outer casing is stripped beyond repair.  This cylinder has been rebuilt many times before and I'm afraid this was the last straw.   :(

FDH, yeah I did say that in reference to the header, not the opening.  But that's OK, I know you were just 'seein' the big picture'  ;D 

Some days it's two steps forward and one step back.

I replaced the broken cylinder, filled up with hydraulic fluid and proceeded to work on the road cut.  Here is a pic of the new used cylinder installed
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10273/NewUsed%20Cylinder.jpg)

I should have been able to complete the job by evening.  But after only two bucket fulls of dirt I heard a loud cr-a-ack and the hissing of antifreeze escaping the radiator.  DanG!, DanG! and double DanG!  :o  The fan chucked a blade and threw it right into the radiator >:(
I limped the unit back to my workshop by adding a gallon of water every so often.  It still had some coolant in it when I tore it apart so hopefully the engine did not overheat.  Here are some pics fo the damage.

Broken fan
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10273/Broken%20Fan.jpg)

Holed radiator
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10273/Holed%20Radiator.jpg)

I have come to the conclusion that by the time I have the saw barn and kiln done I will have totally rebuilt this crawler.  Good thing I enjoy a little mechanical adventure.  Just wish I could do it at a time of my own choosing  ::)  At least it was relatively warm today at 34°F and not bitter cold.

I guess I will go back to working on the kiln chamber or cutting firewood while I await parts. ::)

!  indeed :D :D

You're not havin' very good luck !

Breakdowns are disappointing, but consider what it would be like not having your machine. :(

OWW,
Consider yourself lucky.  My luck is that the fan would do that after I have just replaced the radiator. ::)

Farmerdoug

Update time   ;D

Well I fixed the crawler once and for all time - I traded it off for another one!  Goodbye to that sorry chunk of metal.  I think the new-to-me one will have a better service life.  I managed to find another JD450CA of the same vintage but a lot less wear and tear.  I took the winch and risers off the lemon and put them on the newer machine.  I will be back to finishing that road in no time.

Meanwhile I finished the kiln.  8)

Here are some pics of the kiln chamber tucked inside the barn.

Here is the chamber before I coated it with aluminum roof coat.  The angled bit accross the top of the wall where it joins the ceiling will help turn the air from the fans, directing the flow through the pile.  The baffles are suspended from the fan wall and are controlled with a rope and pulley system so the baffles can be raised and lowered from the DH side of the pile.

(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10273/Kiln%20Int%20air%20turn.jpg)

Here it is after coating

(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10273/Kiln%20Int%20coated%20sealed%20W.jpg)

looking through the chamber east to west

(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10273/Kiln%20Thru%20E%20to%20W.jpg)

west to east
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10273/Kiln%20Thru%20W%20to%20E.jpg)

southeast corner so you cna get an idea of the orientation within the barn.
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10273/Kiln%20SE%20corner%20ext.jpg)

The exterior south wall doubles as a place for the compressor, tool box, desk with the Woodmizer/Honeywell controller mounted on the shelf above the desk, and info center.
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10273/Kiln%20sout%20ext%20controls.jpg)

I thought I had taken pics of the wall construction of the kiln showing the 4" of rigid foam board covered by overlapping layers of ½" celotex, then overlapping layers of 6mill plastic sheeting, then the ½" CDX plywood with high temp caulk sealing all the joints.  Everything got coated with aluminum roof coat and gaskets were placed around all the doors.  I cannot seem to locate those pics so you will just have to see it in your minds eye  ;)

Oh, yeah, speaking of doors here is the inspection door I built into one of the larger doors
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10273/Kiln%20Insp%20door.jpg)


So I am getting close to finishing the building.  Now that I have a crawler I can depend on it is time to saw out the siding for the barn doors so I can secure the place.  The next steps will be installing the rail system through the kiln, building kiln carts, setting up the table saw, planer, jointer and SCM.  My goal now is to be in production by June of this year. 

That is one nice setup!  Gives me an idea.  The wife is going to be ticked.  Good going.

Andy

It certainly does look good. 8)

Well, OneWithWood, I am certainly fortunate to come see this thread this morning.  It is refreshing to 'see' my own 2 to 3 year 'prospectus' in action, so to speak.  Though my program is of a smaller design (due largely to reasonable financial capability), it fits very much within your (perhaps not your initial intent) realisitc application.

Ultimately, I am intending to move all my operations (gunshop, cabinet shop, candle and incense making, classroom for self-defense and/or firearm training and/or tactical handcuffing,  office/application for domestic violence/sexual assault/legal advocacy, etc.)(oh, and soon to be custom milling)(after 20yrs or so, I started phasing out the building and remodeling business years ago) out to the place, and quit keeping the city paid up with continual rising taxes, fees and utilities (which I have been paying on this building since '92).  ;D

After losing trees to Rita, doing serious inspection to property, and having bought a bait of lumber/materials from the Barn for the first time in many years (to add about 400 sq ft to the house), finding that my trees had really grown since the last time I took that view of them (like when you realize your children are driving), and various other indicators, I found that it is time to start toward that end.

You have done an excellent job of keeping focus and application, while maintaining your habitat.

I have already increased the size of my initial 'shed'  ;) for the milling arrangement in my mind's building, at least three times in the last couple of weeks.  
Finally, after 10-12 yrs, I have replaced the tractor/FEL I sold (and needed ever since).  I have the mill ordered (Logmaster LM1, manual, 30 " throat, trailer, extention and blades) and should be ready in about 6 weeks.

I have to build forks for the tractor (couple other odds and ends there, too), at least dry in the addition, cut trees, work for a living, etc., maintain vehicles and equip., raise the two remaining house children/teenagers (I think), wait for the mill.  As/if it keeps this drying trend, fix the hole in the pond (since that was/is one of the rational  immediate necessities for the new tractor)  ;) wait for the mill,  clear/shape land, call Herman about my mill... ;D

You have made marvelous accomplishment, OneWithWood.  

Nice, nice, nice... Neat access door as well.  Lots of thought went into this project.  Keep the pics coming so I can 'borrow' your good ideas ;D. 

awesome kiln !!

what is the blower on the top of the kiln for?

The blower is for sawdust removal.  There will be two runs going to it.  One for the mill and one to service the woodworking equipment.  It will exhaust out the gable end to a dump truck.

Pink Room

I found the missing pics of the installation of the insulation so here they are - I hope I am not messing with your minds too much by having the story out of sequence  :D

I built the kiln chamber out of 2x6 material with one wall being common to the barn.  I installed 2" spacers on each stud to allow an airspace and to get the double layer of 2" polystyrene fulsh with the interior stud edge.

(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10273/Spacers%20for%20insul%20kiln%20wall%20X.jpg)

I had to cut the rigid board so that I had a good friction fit.  The studs are on 24" centers so the 16" precut breaks were of no use to me  ::)  Here are some pics of the installed polystyrene

(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10273/Polystyrene%20kiln%20walls%20X.jpg)
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10273/Polystyrene%20kiln%20walls%202%20X.jpg)
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10273/Polystyrene%20kiln%20wall%20X.jpg)

from the exterior of the chamber
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10273/Polystyrene%20ext%20kiln%20wall%20X.jpg)

After the rigid stuff is inplace the next step is to install 2 layers of 1/2 inch celotex.  The layers are taped and staggered.
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10273/Taped%20Celotex%20kiln%20wall%20X.jpg)

After the celotex layers a layer of 6mil plastic goes up
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10273/CDX%20Plastic%20kiln%20chamber%20X.jpg)

After all that everything is covered with 1/2" CDX plywood.  All joints are cualked with high temp silicone caulk
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10273/Kiln%20Int%20air%20turn.jpg)

You can now go back up in this thread to catch the coating of the CDX and the finished product  :D

Whew!  I hope you have been able to escape the loop I put you in  ;D

Exterior doors

I finally got the exterior doors up.  The swinging doors are poplar on aspen frames, the sliding doors are sassafrass sawed 1/2" thick to save on wieght on aspen frames.
SE view
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10273/Door%20SE%20X.jpg)

View from the south
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10273/Door%20S%20X.jpg)

View from the NW - well I will have to get back to you with that one!  ::)

Dust Collection and Shop Layout

Gotoverit wanted to know what the blower mounted on top of the kiln chamber was for.  Here are some pics of the finished dust collection system.  All main duct is 6" with 4" feeds from the jointer and planer.  I tried to follow the info on Bill's Cyclone and Dust Collection site.  If I was to do it over again I would not use the gasketed fittings as the fittings are very expoensive and a PITA to put together. I think a would use normal S&W fittings with screws and aluminum tape.

Pic of the equipment drops
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10273/%20Dust%20Collection%20X.jpg)

Pic of run to the mill
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10273/Dust%20Collection%20Mill%20X.jpg)

Pic of the blower connected up
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10273/Blower%20Installation%20X.jpg)

Exit from the building into a waiting dump truck (not shown  ;) ).  I attach a tarp to the downtube that covers the box on the dump truck and keeps the majority of the dust in the box.  The force of the blower is such that the center of the box stays clean while the dust piles up on the sides.  I am still thinking of the best way to slow down the dust.  I may need to breakdown and build a cyclone if all else fails. :)
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10273/Doors%20NE%20X.jpg)

Those with sharp eyes will be able to make out the replacement crawler for the Big Lemon parked on the south side of the building.

Here is a pic of the shop layout showing the jointer, planer/moulder and cabinet saw.
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10273/Shop%20Layout%20X.jpg)

I am getting dangerously close to production.  I still need to install the rail system in the kiln and build the kiln carts.

WOW!
Looking Good!!! 8) 8) 8)

Great pictures Robert!

Now not to scare you or anything but we have almost identical shop tools. If we didn't live so far apart I'd think one of us was peekin in the others shop. :D

That is one way nice shop you have there, and I realy like the kiln.

Awesome job on the shop OWW !  Be sure to let us know how things go after everything is finished.  Now that I see how  you are handliong your sawdust problems, it gives me some ideas on my own woodshop.

Keep the pics rolling ! :)

Beautiful OWW!..  8)

What are the specs on that blower?

MPH?

HP?

here is the missing pic of the sliding door on the west side of the barn

(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10273/Doors%20W.JPG)

JP the blower specs as near as I can remember are

MPH - 0   It just sits there  :D

HP - 5

CFM - 3840

It has plenty of power for what I have in mind  :)

Norm, you know what they say about great minds  ;)

PT, thanks.  I think you would like the walk through the woods to get there too.  Just far enough and muddy enough to keep the womens away.  Furby can vouch for that.  Need to protect the man cave you know. :D

OWW 

WOW !   Very Nice

looks so clean and organized    your not actually going to bring dirty nasty logs in there  are you  ?  :D

keep up the good work

RED

Red,

Sure am.  Already have.  The fine dust from the sassafrass bark gave me an idea for a mod to the dust collector for the mill.  I posted it here

https://forestryforum.com/board/index.php?topic=7789.340

The shop will get dirty but it cleans up.  I once worked in a museum carpentry shop and the shop manager taught me a valuable lesson.  He said "keep thy shop and thy shop will keep thee".  I always quit about 30 minutes before I drop and use the time to unwind and clean things up before I trek back through the woods to home and my sweet wife (think of a line from a Dylan song "his clothes are dirty but his hands are clean".  ;)

Do you have the rail system and kiln carts finished?  Update with pics?

If you were to change anything in your shed what would it be?  Your place looks purtin near perfect to me. 8)

Asking lotsa questions because I'm thinking about starting a shed this spring if possible.  Might be placing more emphasis on secondary processing...or possibly building two separate sheds.  The shop I built few years ago has turned into temporary living quarters and office space.

Hi, Larry.

The kiln carts and rail system have not been fabbed yet.  I got caught in some unexpected activities that ate up a bunch of my time.  I will be getting back to it yet this month.  When it is done I will post pics here.

The only thing I would change at the moment is I would make it bigger!  The kiln takes up a lot of floor space - half the building if you include the rail area which needs to be kept open most of the time.  I have a serious lack of storage space for finished lumber.  I will be builidng some racks on top of the kiln to store lumber between projects but putting it up and retrieving it is a pain.

A note of interest:
One of the things that occupied my time was that I was nominated for the Charles Deam Forestry Stewardship award by my district forester.  I had a great time showing the two selection committees around the woods and the shop while explainong what I was trying to accomplish.  The award is sponsored by the Indiana Forest and Woodlands Owners Association.  The state is split into five districts, each district selects a district winner and an overall state winner is selected from those five.  I won the award for my district but I did not win the state award.  That is ok because the other district winners were really impressive and the state winner was most deserving.  Maybe another year.  I was just excited, overjoyed and humbled to be recognized by my peers for the work I have done managing my little patch of the earth.  :)

Congrats on the district award.   8) 8)

Way to go Robert!

   8) Yes, definitely congrats.  8)

Congratulations on your District award.
Great project.

Thats a fine achievement for a deserving recipient.  Or in other words. Too Cool! ;)

OWW
Congrats from here too. That award says a lot about your accomplishments and stewardship.

Is there an article about the competition and about yours in particular?  Sure would like to get pointed to it if there is. Thanks.

Congratulations, OWW. That is SO excellent  8) 8) 8)

I hope that someday my woodlot will be worthy of consideration for similar recognition.
But I have a long, long way to go.......

Congratulations on your accomplishment OWW.  I suspect you have spent many hours in thought, planning, and actual work to win the award. 8) 8) 8)

You done good managing your little patch of the earth.It is good to be recognized.  8)

Congratulations, oww.   That is quite an accomplishment.

I do not know af any articles I could point you to.  The presentations were made at the annual IFWOA banquet.  The Purdue extension agent took pics of each of the properties when the committee toured.  He presented a slide show of each property as they handed out the awards.  I will check to see if any hard copy was produced.  You would think in a state that touts its quality hardwood resources like Indiana does that there would have been some media coverage.

You could always hold up a piece of paper and stand in front of one of your trees with your camera on "timer".

Maybe the picture will show up on the Random Pictures on the Front page of the forum and we will be proud.  ;D 8)

Too wet to stand in front of one of the trees.  Hopefully this will suffice.  It is a pic of the plaque given to the district winners.  The overall winner got a plaque and a huge sign to display on their property. 

(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10273/Deam%20District%203%20Award.jpg)


Here is a link to a blurb on the award:
http://www.fnr.purdue.edu/ifwoa/deamaward.htm

That's pretty DanG cool, OWW! 8)
After seeing the work you have done to your woodlot, I can tell you the award is well deserved!

Beenthere is a some background on the award.  Sorry it took me so long to dig it up.

CHARLES DEAM FOREST STEWARDSHIP AWARD
Sponsored by the
Indiana Forestry & Woodland Owners Association
Charles Deam was one of Indiana's early pioneers in the awareness for the need to protect woodlands from fire and livestock, and to encourage forest landowners to do a better job of managing their woods. Deam was concerned, early on, that the needs of Indiana's forest industries could not be met if forest landowners did not begin to take a greater interest in the proper management of their forest resources. Even though botanizing was his first love, his involvement with other early conservationists and with the Forestry Commission (forerunner to Indiana's Division of Forestry) was instrumental in laying a firm foundation for the practice of forestry in Indiana.
Deam experimented with tree planting soon after the state purchased its first State Forest in 1903. The remnants of many of his early planting can still be found at Clark State Forest where he also experimented with woods improvement. He was very much involved in encouraging the legislature in 1921 to pass the Forest Classification Law. Because of the incentive offered by this program to private landowners, it has been the backbone of forestry in Indiana.
Though Deam was a pharmacist by trade, he became Indiana's first State Forester. He laid the foundation for Indiana Forestry. Realizing his limitations and the fact that he wished to devote his full time to botanizing, he received permission in 1926 to hire the state's first professional forester as the Assistant State Forester.
In its appreciation of Deam's contribution toward many of the forestry programs and information that we now enjoy, the Association began sponsoring the Charles Deam Forest Stewardship Award Contest in 1992 which seeks annually to find the forest landowner who is carrying out the best forest stewardship program within that ownership
IFWOA annually honors the outstanding Indiana forest owner who follows Charles Deam's example and demonstrates exceptional management of their woodlands.
Every year candidates are submitted as nominees for district winners. The local forester and the IFWOA forestry committee then nominate district winners. As a district winner, a landowner will compete with four other district winners for a $100.00 award, an outdoor sign, and plaque to be presented at the IFWOA annual meeting held in the fall. The five district finalists along with their spouses are invited as guests of IFWOA at the banquet and awards ceremony. All runners up will be presented with a plaque as well. The nominating foresters are also invited as guests.
The Deam Award has been a successful way to promote excellence in the woodlot and we want to continue finding and honoring these people. IFWOA's goal is to bring these standards to the attention of other woodland owners and the general public via the Deam Award.



Past Charles Deam Award Winners
2006 – William and June Erwin
2005 – Robert and Betty Miller
2004 -
2003 -
2002 – Art Bowman    District 1
2002  - Woody & Ann Barton District 3
2001 – Wayne & Betty Bessinger District 1
2000 – Phil Etienne & Family – district 5
2000 - Lowell Miller – district 2
1999 – Cornelius R. & Sandra Collignon – district 5
1998 – Aloysius J. & Aggie Ubelhor – district 5
1997 – Dr. &Mrs. Douglas C. Wier, DDS – district 3
1996 – Dr.Allen W. Butler, DDS – district 5
1995 – Dr. George F. & Dorothy Parker – district 2
1994 – Hubert & Esther Raver – district 4
1993 – Archie & Blanche Burnett – district 2
1992 – Robert Kern – district 1

OWW
Thanks for the update. Good on ya! :)

Who needs the Oscars?

Somebody loves me  8)

Last night I was recognized by the Hoosier Heartland Resource, Conservation and Development (RC&D) council as the recipient of their Forestry Stewardship Award  :)

Here is a pic of the plaque given to me:

(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10273/HHRCDAward.jpg)

I am feeling pretty good right now  :)

Congrats, Robert. Well done.  8)

Great award. Good on ya, as it took a lot of hard work.

Well deserved Robert, congratulations. :)

Congratulations on seeing your efforts come to fruit. Your shop area is mighty nice as well. This spring, how about some pics of the award winning place. ;)

Donnie

Congratulations on your hard work and foresight.  Nothing like seeing a caring individual make it to the big time...and I'm jealous.

`

Great job OWW! 8) 8) 8)

Time for an update on the business end of things. 

I have been slowly-but-surely making headway on the kiln. 

Here is a pic of most of the metal that will becoume the kiln carts

(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10273/Kiln%20Metal.JPG)
The 4" channel will comprise the base of the cart.  Those 6" wheels go inside the channel.  The 3" box steel will be the foundation for the stickers.  There will be no warp induced by the cart!

Here is the rail system the carts will ride on

(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10273/Kiln%20Rails.JPG)

the anchor system for the rails
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10273/Kiln%20Rail%20Anchor.JPG)
The plans from Nyle call for 1/4 x 4" flat iron to serve as the base for the rails.  It would be the best set up but I am cheap so I just made these anchors and welded the rails to the anchors every ten feet.  The anchor is affixed to the concrete with 3/8 concrete anchor studs.

When I get the carts welded up and operational I will add those pics to this thread and start a thread on kiln carts in the Drying and Processing section.

Nine Pages! I wanted to read but I settled for looking at the pictures :) That looks like a great place your building. One nice thing about building something yourself is you take the time to think about it and do it right, instead of a crew getting it done quickly but getting it wrong.

Well all that steel finally got it together  8)

Here are a couple pics of the finished cart.  The cart was built in two 9' sections to allow for easier transport from one end of the building to the other.  These puppies are heavy so I am curious to see how difficult it will be to move them.
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10273/Kiln%20Cart%203.JPG)
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10273/Kiln%20Cart%204.JPG)

I fashioned a jig to help me lay stickers in a vertical row out of 1" channel and 3"x¼" bar stock.  The jigs slide in and out of the ends of the 3" square stock on 12" feet I fabbed up out of some scrap angle with 1" channel toes.

(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10273/Sticker%20Jig%20Feet.JPG)


Well this was the last major component of the saw shop to be completed.  It is now time to put all this planning and construction fun to work. smiley_anxious

Very, very soon I will begin milling some soft maple that has been down for a while.  I want to get as big a load in the chamber as I can so I can begin to learn how to properly dry wood.

Who knows, I may actually begin to make some money  8)

The adventure continues . . .

Looks VERY professional. Should make some of the drudgery of stacking a kiln load a bit more pleasant. The results of straight sticker alignment (at least on one side.. :) ) will be a benefit.
Good job. Anxious to see the next step with lumber.

Quote from: beenthere on April 17, 2007, 09:43:02 AM
  Anxious to see the next step with lumber.

Lumber?  Lumber?  Oh, yeah, almost lost my focus there for awhile.  I was beginning to think the reason I got into this was because I like to build stuff and learn new skills.  Yep.  Lumber.  That is what I have been aiming for these last oh so many years.  I'll get right on that!  :D :D

Actually begin to make money ?

that will definately take all the fun out of it  :D

Being an accountant I am sure you will be able to figure out a way to not make too much money.  One great way is to have a great "need" for more and bigger, better or whatever adjective you use to describe all of the additional equipment that you require.  The possibilities are endless. :) :) :)

Best of luck!

Dewey

DWM  II requested some pics of the woods.  So Sunday, while looking for mushrooms, I took the following pictures:

Waterfall on Rapid Creek
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10273/Big%20Falls%20opt35.jpg)

geode atop conventional water bar
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10273/Geode%20opt35.jpg)

Horsedrawn plow jsut where Mr. Harris left it by the side of what was then a hay field
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10273/Old%20Plow%20opt35.jpg)

Mixed hardwoods
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10273/Midridge%20Oaks%202%20opt35.jpg)

some more
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10273/Midridge%20Oaks%20opt35.jpg)

New leaves for spring
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10273/New%20Leaves%20opt35.jpg)

Opening to promote oak regeneration
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10273/Oak%20Regen%20Clearing%20opt35.jpg)

Rapid Creek
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10273/Rapid%20Creek%20opt35.jpg)

This is an access road I am constructing.  It is hard to see in this photo, due to using a wide angle lens, but what I am doing is reducing a grade that was 45° in places to about 30°.  I should have parked the crawler on the road for scale.  The lower section where the silt fence is is the crossing over Rapid Creek.  It is about 100' to the top of the dirt.  This is about 1/3 of the way to the top of the ridge.
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10273/Midridge%20west%20road%20opt35.jpg)

Showy orchid in the leaf litter
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10273/Showy%20Orchid%20opt35.jpg)

small waterfall on a tributary to Rapid Creek with wildlife opening in background
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10273/Tributary%20Falls%20opt35.jpg)

small wildlife opening by dry creek bed - the creek actually flows underground in this section.  It reemerges about 100 yards down stream and joins Rapid Creek
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10273/Dry%20Creek%201%20opt35.jpg)

stand of white oak, hickory and maple
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10273/White%20Oaks%20opt35.jpg)

same stand from top of ridge
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10273/White%20Oaks%202%20opt35.jpg)

large widlife food plot viewed from within the woods
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10273/Wildlife%20Food%20Plot%20opt35.jpg)

Note to Jeff:
Thanks for simplfying the upload procedure and increasing the pic size  :)

I must confess that I had an alterior motive for taking these pics.  I have been selected as the overall winner for the Tom Wallace Forestry Farm Award  8)
The award is given out annually by the Louisville, KY Courier-Journal to the individual who bests demonstrates forest stewardship.  The forest service personnel of Kentucky and the 10 most southern counties of Indiana nominate individuals for the award.  The winner and runner up are selected by a team that includes senior forest service personnel in both Kentucky and Indiana.  My sweet wife and I will be attending the awards banquet at the Galt House in Louisville to pick up a plaque and cash prize  :)

The advice and support that I have recieved on this forum is instrumental in my winning these awards this past year.  Thank-you all!!   8) 8) 8)

Now back to making lumber, building roads, watering facilities and just having an all around ball  :D

  Wow, OWW, The trees grow tall and straight where you are!  Makes me wonder why GGGrandpa came to Kansas.  They came from Washington co IN. near the Blue river.  Never seen it, but bet they have big trees there too.

Sure do, Andy.  Washington Co. is just south of here and there is some beautiful timber there.

Beautiful place, Robert.  Congrats again  8) 8) 8) 8)

Thanks for the pic's Robert, it sure is a fine place well worth the acolades. 8)

Great thread, congrats on the awards. Been following thisnone from the beginning. Oh yeah, excellent pics. 

Robert,
Congratulations on the Tom Wallace Forestry Farm Award.
That's really cool.  It looks like you have been busy lately building the kiln and carts.
Maybe someday I will "retire" for good so I can stay at home and work
on projects around here.

PEW

I wanted to post these photos of the Tom Wallace award sooner, but my trusty old computer suffered hard drive failure so I have had to replace it and learn a new OS before I could post again.

The Courier-Journal's award ceremony was a first class event.  The Tom Wallace Farm Forestry award was one of many awards distributed at the luncheon.  All the other awards were presented to youths aged 9 to 18 for various scholastic and leadership achievements including 4H, FFA and various citizenship and environmental endeavors.  It was humbling to be in the presence of such intellegent and focused young people.  Definately restored my faith in the younger generations.  The forestry award serves as an example of an achievement further along in life.  I hope the other award winners were inspired as much by the presentation of what I have been able to achieve by way of stewardship of my little plot of ground as I was by their achievements.  I wanted to link to the award articles in the paper but as you would imagine it requires a subscription to view.

So in lieu of the print media here are a couple of attempts to photograph the award.  I can't really call the award a plaque because it is actually a beautifully curved and etched piece of crystal.  The parbolic shape made for an interesting challenge to photograph it.  Here are my two attempts.  I changed the background to try an minimize the reflection and keep the inscription focused.

(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10273/Tom%20Wallace%20Award%20Opt30.jpg)
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10273/Tom%20Wallace%20Award%202%20Opt30.jpg)

I did manage to get some rock on the road I am building and some paint on the kiln carts.  I will get some pics of those projects in the near future. 

OWW
That sure is a sharp award.....and I like the reflection pic. Getting one without the camera in front of your face would be a good one, albeit a bit difficult.. ;D
Good on ya.
Look forward to the kiln cart pics.

Sure proud of you for the recognition.  What you did requires a heck of a lot of work and dedication. 

DanG Robert,

I just saw this thread....  Incredible!  I am blown away by what you have accomplished with your barn/mill/kiln/shop and equally so with how you are managing your property.  Can't wait to meet you and hear all about it :). 

Finally I have some lumber stacked on the kiln carts ready for the kiln 8)
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10273/first_charge_%282%29Opt35.jpg)

The charge consists of about 1500bd ft of spalted red maple and 500 bdft of quarter sawn fresh red maple.  Somehow a few basswood boards found there way into the pile.  I had a long talk with my helpers about that.  We decided after having stacked the pile twice already we would just let it go and see what happens.

Here is the charge just before pulling it into the kiln
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10273/first_chargeOpt35%7E0.jpg)

My original plan was to use the winch on the tractor to pull the load in but that winch decided it was on vacation.  I had to get the JD450 and use the timber winch on the back of it to pull the load into the chamber.  Not nearly as much control and I ended up doing a bit more with a levering rod than I wanted to in order to center the load in the kiln.

So now I move into the 'learning how to operate the kiln' phase of my adventure.

My intention was to take pics of the load sitting in the kiln ('cause without a pic some will doubt I actually put the lunber in there  ;) ) and a couple of pics after I placed the baffles and sealed it all up so the air could only flow through the pile.  I will try to remember to take those shots when I am done cooking the load.

  Nice looking kiln carts OWW.  I hope mine turn out half that good.

Besides the great job on the carts, I notice the great job on the stickering...one above the other, and stickers directly above the cross bolsters. Stickers aligned are a big step towards getting straight lumber when drying.
Sometimes there are only two or three bolsters under an airdrying pile, and empty spaces below some of the sticker columns. Not so on your loads. And everything else is so neat too....

Hey BT,
OWW is a neat guy  :D.

Danny, it is time.  ;)

2007 is rapidly coming to a close . . . and so too is this thread  :'(

I have enjoyed documenting my journey over the past five years as I aspired to become a sawyer and actually make some money doing it.  I don't feel I can honorably wear the mantle of sawyer just yet but I do think it is time to drop the 'wannabe' part of the dream. 
During the past month I sold my first big whack of lumber - the spalted maple - to a local company that specializes in high end furniture, flooring, and panelling for the rich and famous.  We hit it off remarkably well and I know I have a customer who will be around for some time.  I also reached an agreement with the urban forester for the city of Bloomington to mill and dry all the trees they need to remove in the course of caring for the trees in the city.  And I have sold lumber to a few individuals around the country.

I know one big customer, an urban forester and a few sales here and there do not add up to a going concern.  But, I am on my way to doing what I set out to do.  I am not quitting the day job (those health bennies are hard to let go of) but all my debts will be a thing of the past in a few short months so my priorities can easily be re-arranged to focus more and more on my small patch of paradise and improving it while making the TSI pay for itself.

This thread may have come to an end but my participation on the FF definately will not be ending.

I owe so much to all the wonderful folks who make up this forum.  I thank you from the bottom of my heart for the wonderful words of encouragement, sound advice and friendships. 

And now to the real McCoy  8)

 8) 8) 8)

Onewithwood is the Onethatcould.  :) 8)

 :D :D 8) 8)



Dave

I think that many of us are impressed with how much you have progressed since starting this thread. Both of us started out about the same time and I've learned much from reading how you have tackled sawing and milling. Keep up the good work. :)

One with wood reminds me of the old joke the two bulls on the hill.Young bull says I'am going to run down and mount one of those cows.Old bull says I'am going to walk down and mount them all.As they say in the navy hearty well done.Frank C.

Well...I've really enjoyed reading about your journey. It is one of the reasons I decided to join this site, stories like yours! I particularly liked that you followed your plan through from start to where you are now. It just goes to show that planning ahead and following through on the plan pays off. There are many people on this site who have bitten off huge projects of various natures that many people would have quit before they started, from building a business to home made sawmills to enormous timberframe homes.....My hat is off to all of you who tackle these projects!

Wow. just....wow.

I'm about where you were five years ago...but with much less ambitious plans..

Bryan A,I want to welcome you to the forum.I guess you kinda sneaked in on us.  :)


This has been quite the adventure to follow.You have done very well for yourself.

Well I guess I can't put this thread to bed just yet.  There has been another development that for continuitiy sake I wish to report. 
Watch this space

I will have something to post here after February 6 but it would be premature to put it up now and besides I won't have any pics until then.

I know how you all like pics  :D

Brian and Zopi welcome to the forum.  I am glad you have enjoyed this little tale. 

OWW,

Isn't it amazing what happens in 5 years? Congrats. We too started a little over 5 years ago and now we have some trees almost ready for first thinning! We have a sawmill, a working woodshop and I do believe 30 employees.

And about 1 square mile of land.  :o A bit scary in a way since your early years are supposed to start slowly.  ::)

 8)One with wood, Great story & waiting to hear your Feb. update with pics. I'm where you wer 5 years ago. Wannabe a sawyer too. Worked with wood my whole life but won't be fulfilled until I take the tree from the stump to the mill,then the kiln & through the moulder. I have the land, trees, shop, tractor, strong back & will soon have the mill. Looks like an orange one. I have been trying to buy a good used one but everyone thinks there still worth what they paid for them 4 or 5 years ago. So,The orange folks have a pretty good promotion going on now so & put a deposit down. Now I'm headed to the woods to get a stockpile of logs so I can learn with my own wood. I haven't told anyone I'm buying a mill yet because I want to have lots of practice and learn before I do anything for anyone else. I'm keeping my day job like you. I have no expectations of making money. Just wanna break even and have a little fun. 

JD, hide that mill so you can get your stuff done ahead of everyone else's stuff!

Enjoy the ride.  I see you are still plenty young enough to devote time and energy to the journey.  8)

I will take some pics after I have mounted the nice big sign I was presented - hopefully this weekind.

Here is a link to an interview at the Tree Farmer Breakfast.  I hope you find it interesting.

http://www.brownfieldnetwork.com/gestalt/go.cfm?objectid=EFFA6DB7-C633-F72B-AD9916D624AC80D6


What a long strange trip its been. . .(Garcia et al)

Robert
That is fantastic...congratulations.  Great to hear and read about your success with all the work you've been putting towards these goals.
Will look forward to seeing the sign.

8) 8) 8)

Congratulations,
That's a wonderful acheivement & a great legacy to pass on.
jim

Robert, this blows me away!!!!  I am a Tree Farmer too, but I will never make Tree Farmer of the Year. 

I served on the Tree Farm Committee here in Georgia, so I know better than most the significance of what you have accomplished and the quality of your management program.

I can't wait to see it for myself, one day :).

CONGRATULATIONS 8) 8) 8).

Good job,One With Wood.You have been busy.Congratulations.   8)    8)

Congratulations Robert. I enjoyed the interview and cant wait to see the sign.
Donnie

Robert we're proud as all get out of you. :)

How about telling us some of the things you've done to deserve such a great honor.

The sign photo is going to have to wait a day or so.  I managed to catch whatever is going around so I won't be venturing far from the house today.

Norm, everything I have done is recorded in the various pages of the FF. Check out my photo links (however much is in the general photo archives, pre individual album days).

I believe the activity that set me apart from the other candidates is the outreach to people.  I have had, and will continue to have, numerous field days for people who are interested in conservation techniques (water diversions, wildlife plantings, wildlife and amphibian watering facilities, wildlife food plots, forest regeneration, etc.), forestry student tours, tours for students interested in public policy, and individual walks for other landowners and even environmentalist who regard active management with disdain.  Most of the mis-guided enviros leave with a better understanding of the tools and techniques utilized in forest management.  I also volunteer to serve on the county soil and water district board of supervisors, attend the monthly meetings of the state soil conservation board, volunteer for the board of directors for the Indiana Forest Education Foundation and serve on the Indiana Forest Advisory Board, which vets the INDNRs plans for managing the state forests.
In addition to the outreach, I have done 90% of the work on our land myself.  Many hire the work out and their engagement is merely administrative.  Not that there is anything wrong with that approach as for many it is the best way to proceed.  My active involvement sets me apart though.

In short, I love the forest.  I guess it shows  :)

OWW- How in the world do you manage your time to accomplish such great things?

I have a hard enough time tryin to keep up my energy and some dollars coming in....  ;D

I finally found a couple of minutes to upload some pics.

This is the sign post I made for the entrance to the mill

(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10273/Tree_Farm_Sign_Opt45.jpg) (https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10273/Tree_Farmer_of_the_Year_Sign_Opt45.jpg) (https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10273/Sign_Fence_Opt45.jpg)

The sign says it all! 

I have a timber stand improvement (TSI) project I will be working on soon, and I will post about it.  I would like to hear about current projects or initiatives that you have underway.

Currently I am in the process of an invasive species eradication program.  I have autumn olive, japanese honeysuckle, japanese knotweed, ailanthus, and japanese stilt grass that are scheduled to become toast.  I am sure this will be an annual crusade.  While I am going after the 'official' invasives I will be taking out any pawlonia I find and a good bit of the beech saplings sprouting in my prime oak/hickory growing areas.  My weapon of choice is a basal application of garlon4 and ax-it.

An ash harvest is under serious consideration.  Yesterday while looking over a pile of logs the City of Bloomington's urban forester dropped off we noticed a small hole in one of the ash logs.  It did not appear to be the D shaped exit hole of EAB but it stoked the embers of my formulating thought of harvesting the high quality ash I have sooner than later.

A 100% inventory has been in process for some time.  Finding the time to complete it is always a challenge, but it becomes a prioity as soon as the eradication effort is finished.  My goal is to have both the eradication of invasives and the inventory completed by April of this year.

Once I have the inventory in hand I will begin my crop tree release program.

The trees removed as part of the crop tree release will be milled, dried and either sold as lumber or some finished product.

That should keep me occupied for the foreseeable future  :D

I gatta admit that as much energy as I put into producing quality timber it still causes me a certain amount of anguish to take some of these beauties out of the woods  :-\

I feel your pain.........but, you will put those trees to good use and they will live on in another form.

'Warning: this topic has not been posted in for at least 120 days.
Unless you're sure you want to reply, please consider starting a new topic.'

I would have to start a new life to start a new topic :D

Anyway, just a brief update on the state of the farm.

I was notified yesterday that I have been selected as the Regional Ouststanding Tree Farmer of 2009 for the North Central Region of the US! 

I am a bit dumbfounded  :o ??? :) 8)

For more on the regional awards and the American Tree Farm System go here  http://www.treefarmsystem.org/cms/pages/19_3.html

What all this means is that Linnea and I will be going to the annual AFTS convention in Washington, DC in late September.  At the convention the 2009 National Tree Farmer of the Year will be selected from the four regional winners.

It also means I need to build a bigger sign fence  :D

In all seriousness I want to state here that none of this would have been possible if it were not for the good folks who make up this forum giving so freely of their time and knowledge to help educate a starry eyed wannabe and put him on a path to good stewardship.

THANK-YOU FORESTYFORUM FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART!

WOW!!  Now that's a biggie!  Congratulations Robert! 8) 8) 8)

Congratulations!!! 8) It's great to see one of our own honored in such a way :)  Keep up the good work and good luck in the national competition!

Wow, I hope ya can come to the pigroast still so we can say we knew ya when ya was atiull just a great tree farmer. ;)

Congrats Robert. :)

Congratulations, OWW, that is truly an honor.  I'll be rooting for you for the national award  8)

   Way to go! Congrats!

Mark

congrats, OWW!

congrats on all the awards and recognition. this thread has been kind of like an acorn. Starts small then...   ;D  smiley_clapping

 smiley_thumbsup

Couldn't happen to a nicer guy. :)

Wow Robert, that is ferocious 8) 8) 8).

I have my fingers crossed for a National Championship ;

Well done and Congratulations! Being a certified Tree Farm Inspector I know the effort you've made in your forest land management.

Robert,
  After reading of your latest award I re-read this entire post from the beginning.  The consistent, directed effort you expended has brought you to this place.  Many of us have begun large, longterm projects, but most of drop the ball long before the goal line.  Robert you've got magic hands.
\

Joe

Bringing this to the top to go with the thread in the General Board.

https://forestryforum.com/board/index.php/topic,38201.msg550410.html#msg550410

Quote from: OneWithWood on June 04, 2009, 02:22:17 PM
'Warning: this topic has not been posted in for at least 120 days.
Unless you're sure you want to reply, please consider starting a new topic.'

I would have to start a new life to start a new topic :D

Anyway, just a brief update on the state of the farm.

I was notified yesterday that I have been selected as the Regional Ouststanding Tree Farmer of 2009 for the North Central Region of the US! 

I am a bit dumbfounded  :o ??? :) 8)

For more on the regional awards and the American Tree Farm System go here  http://www.treefarmsystem.org/cms/pages/19_3.html

What all this means is that Linnea and I will be going to the annual AFTS convention in Washington, DC in late September.  At the convention the 2009 National Tree Farmer of the Year will be selected from the four regional winners.

It also means I need to build a bigger sign fence  :D

In all seriousness I want to state here that none of this would have been possible if it were not for the good folks who make up this forum giving so freely of their time and knowledge to help educate a starry eyed wannabe and put him on a path to good stewardship.

THANK-YOU FORESTYFORUM FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART!

Well, it was close but no banana  :D

Earl and Wanda Barrs from Georgia won the National Outstanding Tree Farmer of the Year for 2009.

The silver lining in all this is that Linnea and I got to go to our nations capital, meet with Senator Lugar and Legislative Assistants for Sen. Bayh, Rep. Hill and Rep. Ellsworth.  Pretty neat experience.
The winner commits to giving three speeches around the country and serving on a couple of committees.
The runners up have a ball and are free to go about the business of managing our farms with open calendars.   8)

What's not to like?

Well let me be the first to say that I'll gladly ship you a banana OWW - I'm sure you deserve one  ;D

Too bad about only being outstanding on a regional basis   ;)

Hmmmph!  No banana means no daquiri, so I'll buy you a beer when next we meet. :)  I'm just honored to be in the aquaintance of someone who has been a National Finalist in anything, especially for such a noble and prestigious award as this.   8) 8) 8)

Congrats for the near banana! I guess that leaves you more time to be outstanding in your field...  ;D

You may have come in second, but there are a lot of folks in the list who didn't bear mention.  At least, now, you know that you've done the RIGHT thing and deserve the recognition.  In this case, I'm glad to see that being LEFT out is being a winner.  :)

Heck I'll ship you a banana tree!

Did you mention to the judges that you knew us?

Quote from: Raider Bill on October 06, 2009, 04:26:17 PM


Did you mention to the judges that you knew us?

:D :D :D :D

Congratulations on a near win, Robert and Linnea.  8) 8) 8)

I didn't respond to this thread way earlier. I didn't want to put a jinx on your chances.  ::) ;D ;D

Congratulations on your near win!! I know you put a lot of effort into it. Just being considered is an honor to strive for!

Kytreefarmer

Quote from: Raider Bill on October 06, 2009, 04:26:17 PM
Heck I'll ship you a banana tree!

Did you mention to the judges that you knew us?

Why do you think he didn't win?  ::)

Well done and well deserved :)

I  know you'all realise that 2nd place in a contest like this is a huge accomplishment!!
Well done,

Joe

Bump

this is my Favorite posting of all time

Quote from: red on January 02, 2011, 09:46:09 PM
Bump

this is my Favorite posting of all time

Wow!

Red, hang in there, your patience will be rewarded.
I have been working on a big project for the better part of a year now.  I hope to have it mostly finished before the end of February if I can just get some cooperation from mother nature. :-\

I will post all the details and some pics when I have the first phase done.

Promises, promises.....

I try to keep my promises... :)

https://forestryforum.com/board/index.php/topic,51827.msg747260.html

Well it is that time.

Time to add to the barn  8) :D ::)

I am heading into town in a few minutes to pick up the building permit.  I begin excavating as soon as the weather permits.  The addition will be a 28x40' section to house dried lumber, a small office and a finishing room. 

Pictures to follow in the near future...

Promises, promises... :D.

Wow, that is ambitious!  I hope that whatever that you got is not catching  :).  (I am sure that it is, though  :-\).

I look back on this post often and remember some of the things like it was yesterday
Lots of good info here
Red

All this happened before I started reading the forum.  A lot of folks posted that are no longer with us.  One profile says age 112.  Very interesting thread.  Thanks for digging it up.

This is dang near the exact same thing im doing this spring. Bought a used lt40 superHD, and a Nyle 200. im not funded like some folks, so I will get one kiln up and running this year, as planned.  The final piece to my imediate puzzle is a skidsteer. Im holding out til after summer, because i have a couple houses I have to build to pay da bills. Might have some extra money to add to the skidsteer budget. My spring is full busy anyways. Wont be milling much, while building kiln house, and clearing a spot of land to work on. good stuff guys!

The story continues here:
https://forestryforum.com/board/index.php?topic=91067.msg1402425#msg1402425

Time to stop being a wannabe . . I keep thinking about this posting and the good Plan that Robert made and followed thru 

Yes, too bad he deserted the forum in 2016 because he thought we were all deplorable.