The Forestry Forum

General Forestry => Sawmills and Milling => Topic started by: stumpy on December 01, 2005, 06:31:38 PM

Title: I HATE HICKORY
Post by: stumpy on December 01, 2005, 06:31:38 PM
I sawed a Shagbark hickory today. This was the worst sawing log I've ever done. The blade would dive, rize, wave, or even cup so the board had a hump in it from side to side. It's not the blade, as I changed it at least 4 times. It's been cold here for a couple days, so it was probably just frozen, but wow, I'm glad that's over with.
Title: Re: I HATE HICKORY
Post by: SAW MILLER on December 01, 2005, 06:36:45 PM
The first job I done with my new LT 40 was 1400 of hickory....80 ft/hr but I have to say it sawed real nice...I think it should be sawed by the hour don't you? ??? ???
Title: Re: I HATE HICKORY
Post by: Brad_S. on December 01, 2005, 06:38:43 PM
Hate to say it but everything you describe sure sounds blade related. Were they fresh from the box or resharpened? Resharpened usually cut better than new ones.  That said, semi frozen logs of any species can be buggers
Title: Re: I HATE HICKORY
Post by: Fla._Deadheader on December 01, 2005, 07:26:02 PM

If'n you cood scrape all the bark off, the rest wood saw real nice. That Shagbark will throw sparks, if ya saw in the twilight.  ::) ::) :o ;D ;D
Title: Re: I HATE HICKORY
Post by: Larry on December 01, 2005, 07:44:14 PM
Sawing ain't bad with a 4 degree band...just little slow.  Wait till ya try to dry it...that's where it gets to be fun.
Title: Re: I HATE HICKORY
Post by: fencerowphil (Phil L.) on December 01, 2005, 07:59:30 PM
The devil to saw, but boy do those waste slabs burn good in the old heater!
8)
I cut a couple of hickories with a chain saw mill a year or more ago.
(Yes, I am serious.)  Broke three chains. :-[

I stacked the thru cuts in-the-bole - as they came off the log, stickered
with tiny stickers at 2' intervals and strapped the logs back together with
cargo straps - TIGHT.   It dried pretty well, but that was extraordinary measures!

Phil L.
Title: Re: I HATE HICKORY
Post by: mike_van on December 01, 2005, 08:06:34 PM
24" lengths in the stove sounds  like a lot less trouble  :D
Title: Re: I HATE HICKORY
Post by: PawNature on December 01, 2005, 08:16:17 PM
The board make nice abstract art as they come off the cant. I whatched a nice 12 incher split from one end to the other the other day right before my eyes :o
Title: Re: I HATE HICKORY
Post by: Bibbyman on December 01, 2005, 08:52:25 PM
Pignut or smooth bark hickory always saws better than shagbark.  But we've had real good luck sawing hickory - then, at times, it saws real mean.  I think it has to do with the sap content.  If the logs are a little dry,  I think they saw better.  Thick .055 blades with 4 degree hook will work better'n anything else.
Title: Re: I HATE HICKORY
Post by: Engineer on December 01, 2005, 08:53:50 PM
I had an ash board do that to me after sitting in the stack for a couple months.  Grabbed it off the top to restack in a new pile and BANG like a gunshot the board split in two right down the middle.  Scared the p%p right outta me. :o
Title: Re: I HATE HICKORY
Post by: woodmills1 on December 01, 2005, 10:45:02 PM
It was the blade. :D
Title: Re: I HATE HICKORY
Post by: Faron on December 02, 2005, 08:25:00 PM
I've been sawing hickory the last couple of days.  .055 blades and some soap in the water, along with pulling the debarker in pretty tight, and I've got some real nice lumber, and not so shabby on time, either.  The customer wants hickory flooring and trim.  I suspect that may be where I decide I hate hickory.  Anyone have experience along those lines?
Title: Re: I HATE HICKORY
Post by: pigman on December 02, 2005, 10:05:40 PM
I have built some furniture with hickory. The wood is hard, but with sharp knives on the planer it is workable. I had some tearout on some of the cross grain boards. Did I say it was hard.
Title: Re: I HATE HICKORY
Post by: Don K on December 04, 2005, 10:41:34 AM
Had some hickory cabinets built to go in my log home. Sawed nice, stank like  horse p :-X :-X, dried like it was alive, Busted a 24"planer pulley, used alot of glue, and plenty of brads, but the end result was very nice indeed. Get many compliments on our unusual looking cabinets
Title: Re: I HATE HICKORY
Post by: sawmillwill on December 05, 2005, 07:54:47 PM
I saw about 4000' per day of Hickory when on that species.  How many ponys on your mill?  What pitch blade and how wide. 

sawmillwill
Title: Re: I HATE HICKORY
Post by: ScottAR on December 06, 2005, 01:49:56 AM
Welcome Sawmill Will!!!   
Title: Re: I HATE HICKORY
Post by: PawNature on December 06, 2005, 07:38:16 AM
Quote from: Bibbyman on December 01, 2005, 08:52:25 PM
Pignut or smooth bark hickory always saws better than shagbark. But we've had real good luck sawing hickory -.
Why do you suppose they call it pignut. ;D ;D