There is a huge amount of small mill sawmilling information scattered about on this forum, WM magazines, other magazines, some books and in peoples heads. Wouldn't it be nice if someone wrote a book, "You've bought a mill, not what are you going to do with it and how will you maintain it."
I'm not talking a gloss over the main things book, but a detailed book with gobs of info. It would be more on the order of a text book.
Does anyone remember an article in the WM news about the guy who took damaged tobacco bales and sawed off the damaged part? I remember the story, and I thing it was in the WM news. How to solve problems and satisfy customers with a sawmill.
A detailed explanation of all the strange things woodmizer owners have done with their machine would be very informative and get the creative juices flowing.
I think getting the info in one place would be helpful.
Any good writers out there?
Sounds like a great idea to me...most sawing textbooks appear to be written in pre-historic times. We our fortunate to have knowledgeable sawyers that are also good writers. I was gonna nominate a few to write the book but we have many that could do an excellent job.
Of course if the book is written by any of the characters here it will need a food section and a humor section.
There is a wealth of information in the USDA websites.
but yes, I agree, a good book with diagrams and whatnot could help a beginner out a lot. I know that without reading things on this forum, there are many things I'd have never known to do while sawing.
Why don't we save time and just put together a compilation from the forum and the forum can be the author? ;)
I think this forum is a big book ... There aint much that is not covered on here . If one took time to make a search he would be suprised at the info available . ;)
For me there is nothing like a good book that is well indexed and I can take with me where ever I go. Its just different.
once written I'll buy a copy !!!!
You need two copies, one for the workshop/truck/etc, and one for the throne room ;D, is there a way the forum can benifit in a monetary way?
iain
I've been pondering this some...
there is a lot of info in the knowledge base, but I don't think the knowledge base has been updated for a while, and doesn't have many pictures.
a book covering setup basics, like band tensioning, trouble shooting bandsaws, how to fold and unfold bands (with pictures), optimal board sizes from logs, how to center the pith or saw to the taper. the same could be done with circle saws with info on hammering, swaging, grinding or filing. A chapter could even be made for homemade saws, with particular attention shown to loading methods and cant turning and clamping.
there is probably enough info on the forum to make for a good book, it would just need edited and compiled.. hmm...
what we need is a student in forestry writing a thesis ;D
Well, in the right situation with the right person, I certainly could offer up the information on the forum to convert it to a book form. Of course the book title would have to reflect the forestry forum in some fashion. :)
Theres enough info here to make a series of books . :)
Jeff, have you seen how wikipedia.com does their articles?
we(you ;)) could set up a database with different chapter layouts, and then members could go in and edit each other's text. i could see where that could cause a few issues, but doubtful around here, this site isn't big on ego like some are :)
but anyways, an outline could be detailed and a writeup for each bullet could be done, including pictures and all of that good stuff. after the info is put together it could be edited into a book format, and sold via online sales of pdf files or i'd imagine it wouldn't be terribly hard to find a publisher.
I've been working on this very thing for about a year. Kind of a book of things I wished I knew when I bought my saw. I was thinking about seeing if WM would market it as their saw is where I have my experience. Maybe I need to travel to some other sawyers with other brand saws to broaden my view.
VA-Sawyer
Introduction
History of sawmills
Pit Saws
Circle saws
Water powered
Steam powered
Engine powered
Logging History
Pictures of Jeff's dragsaw collection
Safety
Sawmilling
Bandsaws
Saw maintenance
Band Tension
Problems associated with incorrect tension
Too much tension
Too little tension
Airbag tensioning
Screw tensioning
Hydraulic tensioning
How much tension
Flutter method
Gilman's caliper method
Band Maintainance
Band Sharpening
Commercially available sharpeners
Home made sharpeners
Band setting
Folding and unfolding bands
Home made saw designs
Sawhead designs
Metal wheels
Rubber tire wheels (car tires)
Frame/Rail designs
Rigid Vs Flexible
Log Loading
Cant turning
Clamps
Backstops
Sawing into clamps and backstops
Circle Saws
Swingblades
Conventional circle saws
Mobile Dimension saws
Doublecut saws
Material Handling
Dragbacks
Handling flitches
Disposing of slabs
Chainsaw Milling
Slabbing
Sharpening
Urban Logging
Metal in trees
Loading methods
Parbuckling
Smashed Fenders
Fla. Deadheader/DanG method
Destroyed Trailers
Log arches
Sawing Methods (Lots of pictures and diagrams here)
General Information
Log Scales
How boards are graded
Thickness of boards
Grade sawing
Quarter Sawing
Woodmizer method
Scott Banbury method (for lack of a better term)
Flip the face method
Dimensional Lumber sawing
Resawing
Tie sawing
Food
GrItz
Jeff's picture of him enjoying GrItz
Marmite
Sweetin' water
Maple Syrup
Wow! Thats a lot of work accomplished already! :D
:D
hah, there's more, that was just what was rattling off of my head
there's a lot of legwork that needs done for a book, to avoid copyright infringements and such. but it's nothing that can't be done.
A well written book on this subject could explode the hobby of backyard sawmilling!
of course, I just put up a great outline for somebody other than me to get rich off of :-D (i'm not too worried, i don't know of any rich writer's other than stephen king)
And then there is all the peripheral equipment to make the operation go smoother. I think one area that needs to be addressed is mill site organization both portable and stationary.
Then there is the whole area for another book. "All the different ways to make money with a sawmill". Another one could be "All the different ways to make money with your woodlot". Most people think only of selling logs. They forget about split rails, mushrooms, grapevines, firewood, etc.
Oh, "How to make money drying your wood"
We might have a shelf full of books when done. :P :P
I dont know anything about getting a project of this type going but it sure does seem like a good idea.
Dan, you forgot to include a section on tree felling, bucking, and skidding. And then there should be something about Scaling (with all the different scales), grading, drying, and finishing lumber. Just had to put my .02 worth into this huge text book. :D :D
I like the sounds of this. If JeffB would like to run with the book I'll buy some stock in it.
Whitey PS I'll buy 2
Bucking, felling, and skidding could be added, but i purposefully left those topics out. They are inherently dangerous and a mere mention in a book doesn't do justice to the work involved to do the job safely. Also, there are numerous publications out there now that cover that topic. however, a few paragraphs in the introduction might be of good use.
Drying and finishing are similar topics, there are books devoted to that sort of thing. I had a blurb about grading in there.
Jeff, if we have a database that "approved" members could modify, it could get us along the way to a book :) it could be called the forestry forum handbook, but without the food
No food! I don't know if that would be right. ;D
See I told you there would be enough to get a series going ;D ;D ;D
And there needs to be a camp fire chapter for the lunch break ;) :) :)
Take a look at this. http://www.efiction.wallflowergirl.com/index.php
Found this with a quick search but there may be something much better out there?
its a freeware program that possibly we could adapt to our needs? Maybe other s have some ideas as well. Our first step to do this would certainly be to set up the structure to hold our information.
I could not disagree with you more.
I really like the idea of a book. I'm allready allocatin my next change jar proceeds to buying it. But if this book is coming directly out of the FF then there MUST be a section on FOOD or atleast grits! Mabe spaced between sections there could be notes from the FF about our ongoing food fight.
kinda like'
" Now when you have a manual bandmill a good thing to do before you enter your cut would be to take a line of site down your blade and make sure your dogs are out of the way. Cause when a band hits a log dog the sawyer will get a look on their face just like that time Jeff tried grits!"
Jon
If done right, it would certainly need to contain humor from the forum.
If we are going to write this book n sawying then we are going to also have to write a cook book. It could be named Forestry Forums Favorite Recipes. :) I have already got many of them typed up on the computer (my favorites I should add).
And YES there would have to be a whole section dedicated to Grits. ;D ;D
I like the idea of the recipe book . :)
all right, all right, I edited my list to include food ;D
this could turn into a huge project. while I question humor in technical publications, there is certainly room for a human factor. The old foxfire series did that very well with the interviews and stories they included in the books. the same could be done in this effort.
Actually, I think a cook book should be a seperate volume, but would be much easier.
I have a cookbook started with most of my favorite recipes that range from wild game to fish to beef to pork .............. I think that I have somewhere in the neighborhood of 50 recipes so far. I would be willing to share these recipes with our members and would send them to whomever will head up this cookbook. I would be more than willing to help in any way, shape, or form to get these books started. ;) Boy I can't wait..... new recipes from the world of Forestry Forum Members. I can taste it already....... ;D ;D ;D
The cook book is where the knock down draggen' out is gonna be ;D ;D
I just realized that I might be able to create a board with permissions where any member (or members group) can edit any post. Would that be something that might do it?
I don't know about the cook book idea? My cooking is heating a can of beans or beef stew. There are already a zillion cook books. How about a short chapter called cooking and serving ala sawmill/ ;D ;D ;D
Whitey
I have had a few dear brave souls who have came and sawed with me for a few days. Most said that I should write a book. Knowing enough to not think that I know everything has kept me from the challange. I know that Bibbyman has played with this some.
Now when it comes to portable sawing with a hydralic mill it could be said that I have cut my tooth. But the million bdft I have sawn on a circle mill aint a chip of sawdust in the pile of what is needed to know.
To write the book someone needs to be in charge of each section with a head editor overall. Then members can add their wealth of brain fodder to the areas that they know. Tips, tricks and foresite in terms that are proper and someone like me can read is the key. I have read books by PhD,s who think that by sawing you lumber 1/32 thinner will increase you profit by 4 %. Been in the sawdust pile for a spell now and what looks good on paper does not always prove true in the woods.
If we got all that we know down on paper it will take a 24 inch 8 ft log worth of paper to write it all.
If you should have cheesey grits left over after dinner you can slice it in the morning, coat it with egg white and cornmeal and fry in bacon grease and have a quite teasty meal.
Jeff, I think a seperate board would be an excellent idea. Arky has a good idea on having individual sections or boards with each one its own moderator.
I think of all the knowledge that is spreadout throughout everyone would have an excellent home on the forum. Being able to add some bits of personal knowledge and experience would make a suitable knowledge base. Or as happens to most knowledge it will be lost.
Farmerdoug
Sawmill book.....cookbook....humour ....ahhhh. Titles like"Jeff's Foodmizer Adventure series".... Or "Tales of grits & sawdust" parts 1 & 2. " Home cures for sawdust addiction & why I own a sawmill" :D :D :D (come on boys & girls help me out ....I'm over my head....I'm drowning here...HHHHHEEEEEELLLLPPPPP) ::)
We should have chapters written or contributions from each member, find an editor who would be willing to take on the task of putting it all together in a readable format (something between a textbook and 'Sawmills for Dummies'), make sure to include recipes, humor and the occasional cartoon.
As for striking it rich - forget Stephen King, call the book "Harry Potter and the Magic Swingblade" or something like that - sure to make somebody at least $1.47 after taxes and copyright infringment settlements. :D
This is a good Idea . Most of what I have read is lacking in proper procedure to scale a log useing the various scales . Many do not even tell of all the differant scales.
How to grade the lumber is also a subject short of info in most books.
I hate too read a book that has all info down to the point stuffy info with no humor dashed about . Abook like Roy Underhill would publish would be too my likeing.
The section on food should be midday,,er ah midway through the book . And a blerb or two about cutting branch wood for the smoker at the end of the book .along with info on recipies for brines and such.
Also the differant tecniques for sawing ,quartering ,flat ,with the taper ,How to get the most wide boardswith the best grain patterns ,etc Maybe a stupid mistakes you don't want to make chapter . Life is too short learn from others mistakes .
I like reading a good book every now and again, and have many I refer to often. But it is impossible to ask a book a question like I can this forum. I am sure there is a whole series of books could be written on the subjects discussed here that would sell. I would invest in that venture ,unless cktate is the chief financial officer, I have almost got took on some of his shell games. ( but if he gets to write the forward I will double my investment)
Until then I will keep visiting here and learning on my own to maybe contribute to the series.
Well I think the first step would be to iron out wether this should be done in volumes or as one big book.
Big books can be intimidating sometimes.
I'm sure other hobbies and such are the same way, but some of you may know that B.A.S.S. has a series of books that they get HIGH $ for. Each one is a different technique or skill. Some are cookbooks, and some are more general like Rivers, Lakes, and so on.
I'm thinking that would really be the way to go, that way it can be ever changing and evolving. The first book could be an overview to milling in general and then the next one focus on types of mills, techniques for each mill type, log types and so on.
B.A.S.S. has some "Showcase" books that are kinda cool, and I could see us having a "Showcase" of pics or different projects and the like.
By doing this in different volumes, one book could be on the market right away while others are being worked on, and different folks could lend a hand on a volume that was more along their expertise.
Back to reality, we would all read it (like we do here for free) . But how to market it to the others? Furby is right about the glossy mags with the big fish. But I personally know 1000 fishermen and 10 sawyers. Jeff, you have a relationship with the sponsors, they reach interested people every day with the catalogs they send out selling thier product. I have bought from them, and I know some of the 3000? other members and members friends and friends of members friends... have too. Production is easy, the knowledge here is growing every day, marketing is the key. The info listed here can be split into 1000 issues as is stands (with a few pics and recipes) and more issues added daily as we plant, harvest, saw, dry, build, sell... None of my posts are copywritten or patented. I have not met a guy/gal here who was not willing to share or they would not do so freely.
If I remember right, WM has sold over 30k mills.
That's just one manufacture.
My point behind the volumes was we don't "need" to stay with milling.
There could be chainsaw volumes, timberframing, forestry, and anyone could buy the volume they wanted.
That sure would open things up a bit more.
The book should be soft cover, large size
with good quality pictures, as most of the poeple on the forum have a good amount of common sence, and can learn as much from a good pic as reading the article, which should be well written and to the point, with humour through out,
it needs to be the book you want to take to the throne room, to and read/flick through, and learn some thing new each time you look in (even if you have read it before), a book you have a personal affinity with,
250/ 280 pages 37/4 x 48/4
that will have enough space to cover the topics you need to get you from beguinner to about stand alone, with referances back to the forum,
a good quality distilate of the sujects,
But then the real need would be for the individual subjects in a lot of detail, from beguinner to stand alone and up to kick ass miller, with every thing covered in a series off books like Taunton press whip out, the currant forum headings aint far off what you need, and at 15/20 or 25 bucks apiece they would be a seriously good investment, and tax deductable
does any one now how or who to collate and edit, it would be a lobour of love for me but i know my limitations in the terms of patience,
but i (Linda)would be more than happy typing up all i know, along with how, but just as importantly why it works this way and not that, at the moment i cant think off anything i do that i would want to retain permission over,
i would hope that the forum sponsers would want to add to The Knowledge, as a book purchased along with a mill, would give their customer more of a leg up, even if they are only sawing for their own use
i think that there would be a market for about 25 two 30 thousand (of the core book) over 6 years around the world, by which time it, would be time for the up dated version to hit the wallet
iain(still full)
Perhaps a pamplet approach would work well? Often here in the tropics that works - small books that give really useful information, not very expensive, but very worthwhile.
Many pamplets would be great - allow for PDF download for those who want to buy, but don't want to pay more for shipping than for the book itself.
I know my wife will kill me for this - but she is a professional editor. We might be able to convince her to help. Sad to say, she does like Grits... (oh the shame, the shame)
She likes WHAT?
you must have found that out, after you made the commitment,
you a BIG, BIG man for holding on in there
is it just me or anyone alse feel weird not working?
iain
Quoteis it just me or anyone alse feel weird not working?
Well, I got this friend...
I mean today
Linda or the boys wouldnt mind if i slipped of the work shop to play
but i'm staying put, just thinking how crap it is
day and a half off and cabin fever,
iain
It Feels GREAT not going to the office for the rest of the WEEK!!! :o :o :o
Mabe this book could be a book of tips and how to's drawn straight from the FF.
You could read it cover to cover or go to the tip you could referance the section you like.
Jon
Regarding my wife and Grits - her family has been in the North for 350 years - I thought I was safe!
The secrets that are held back before marriage... ::)
CR, Everyone has their problems. ::)
Farmerdoug
CR, would that be grounds for a deevorce? ;D
And bearing with the situation would require true grit...
Quote from: iain on December 26, 2005, 10:25:50 AM
is it just me or anyone alse feel weird not working?
iain
Only normal people have holidays...people with sawmills never get holidays.
Rained all day Saturday so nobody wanted to pick up there weekly fix of firewood. They started showing up at 8am. :) Little later the local woodworkers and loafers started showing up to tell about their Christmas presents. ;) Finally got a sawmill customer. He wanted me to saw honey locust....out of his black locust logs. :D
Had plans to make a couple of Bibby sawhorses...got em mostly done even with all the interruptions. One don't quite set level. ;D ;D
Maybe it's one a dem ''All Terrain'' Horses, Larry ::) :D :D
I got real excited when I saw this post -- until I found out that Cedarman wasn't actually writing the book :(.
I wasn't on-line on Christmas day, but I thought a lot about the idea. It appears a lot of other people had similar ideas. I set out to write a technical/text book when I "retired" 8 years ago but I didn't get very far. I just kept uncovering new material to research so instead of moving toward my goal, I kept pushing the goal further away. On-line collaborations can be tricky, but it could very well work with this group.
Some thoughts on the content ...
- Keep the focus on subjects immediately related to sawmilling.
- For stuff that's indirectly related (e.g., tree-cutting, kilns) provide a real quick overview -- just enough to let the person know they really need to learn more. Add a reference section to steer readers to the best books on specific subjects.
- A little dry humour works fine in a text book. Silly humour doesn't.
- Sorry, food doesn't belong in a book on sawmilling (it makes the pages stick together :)). A Forestry Forum cookbook, on the other hand, is a great idea.
Making the collarboration work ...
- For something on this scale you need to start with an outline. That's the key to co-ordinating it.
- Figure out what chapters you'll want. Get everybody's input. Try different ways of organizing it. Revise it, again and again, until it looks like it will work.
- Outline the content of each chapter. Get everybody's input again. You'll probably end up going back and re-arranging the main outline. That's the way the process works best.
- As the project starts to take form, there should be an editor-in-chief to ensure consistent style and to bring the whole thing together. Kind of a benevolent dictator.
- Each chapter has a volunteer editor, otherwise the task becomes too much for one person.
- Editors can -- and should -- call on other members for expert advise, research, etc.
- The whole process is open and visible to members (but not the public).
Legal and publishing issues ...
- Copyright applies to arrangements of words, not ideas. Copyright automatically exists when the work is created. The only people who can claim copyright are the ones who do the actual writing.
- With so many contributers, how do you distribute any income fairly? I suggest avoiding the whole issue. Have all contributing writers agree to assign copyright to The Forestry Forum. All income from sales goes to support the forum. Individual authors retain the right to publish their own contributions independently as well.
- Final version is available on-line, to members only.
- Hardcopy book is the main form of distribution.
- Do we use English English or American English (colour, color)? Metric measure, foot-pound measure, or both?
I have a book, "Moving the Earth", that is practially a model of what we're talking about here. The introduction includes the following paragraph: "Moving the Earth has been written primarily to fill the nees of those closest to the atual earth moving: the small contractor, the foreman, and the operator." When I bought the book in 1978, it was in it's 3rd edition and had been through 21 printings. It has 1760 pages, 1800 illustrations, and 3200 drawings. Of course, this is much, much bigger than the first edition.
I think it would be possible to do this within the existing framework of the Forestry Forum. Personally, I'd prefer to see it in the Members Only section, if only to ensure that the potential market doesn't help themselves as the work evolves.
So, watcha think? Is it going to happen?
I may get killed for saying this but i actually knew of another place where a group of people were going to write a book. One central author and editor to take the writings and put it all together. It started out as a real good idea right up until it came time for some of them (i was NOT involved until near the end but I watched the proceedings closely) found out they would have to, do as you said, sign away copyright. Now, it was a whole different kind of people in a whole different kind of deal. Before it was over I saw friends become enemy's and there was a ton of arguing over who owned what copyrights, and how the funds would be distributed. In the end it all broke up. I just dont see those problems happening here thank goodness.
I'm not trying to discourage anything and i would love to see a book. I'm just reporting what I saw happen one time.
How about a consolidation of the best tips from the forestry forum? It can be a mix of great insights into sawing, etc - and perhaps how to avoid grits...
This way it can be built quickly, continually grow (each year, a new volume) and be a nice volume of practical hints.
Regarding legal messes - START with the legal agreement, don't do it as an after thought. When there is no money yet, people act sane, but once they believe something might be available, it can change people.
Yep money makes people act funny. I don't have a lot of it and that is fine with me exept when the realestate tax comes due. them fools think that my income goes up each year and that the property also increases in value. So if anything I say is inspireing you are all welcome to it and if it will help the forum and make a book posable , grabit and go.
I tend to agree with what Brucer has stated, and cktate as well.
What do you say, Jeff, want to try to get the ball rolling?
I think maybe it should be permission only to add to the book. To get prmission you need to agree to the copyright terms up front so there is no arguments later. Kinda like the terms you have to accept to use a new program you just installed.
Different editors for each chapter would be a great idea too. That way it will not overload one or two people.
Farmerdoug
Quote from: crtreedude on December 28, 2005, 07:42:47 AM
How about a consolidation of the best tips from the forestry forum? It can be a mix of great insights into sawing, etc - and perhaps how to avoid GrItz...
This way it can be built quickly, continually grow (each year, a new volume) and be a nice volume of practical hints.
Regarding legal messes - START with the legal agreement, don't do it as an after thought. When there is no money yet, people act sane, but once they believe something might be available, it can change people.
Some of us have tried to work at collecting stuff and putting it in the Knowledge base. But I don't think there is but a few that even know it exists.
This is a great idea . It has been done on a carving forum that i go to. The book was published from posts that about 120 carvers made about a whole range of things. It is for sale at Baileys and a lot of other places on the net. It was done kinda on the side without a lot of people knowing. Then they were asked if they wanted their posts in the book or not. Made some mad others happy. Each carver that was in the book was listed in the index . Honestly I bought the book just to see. but never read it or go to it for anything.
Dale
Seems to me if I was a green horn with a new mill, a sawmilling book from experienced folks from this forum would have me reading every page. These folks would make it a down to earth experience. Whereas others would make things complicated. I've also bounced some thoughts around a couple of times about preparing a booklets for woodlot owners. Something that would take the mystery out of forestry. You can't even go to a local library here for anything on woodlot forestry. When you go to the city library it's usually textbooks written for another part of the world. I remember when I took mensuration in University, the professor took something simple and tried to make rocket science out of it. And when I took a tree physiology course, the professor took something that can be very confusing and technical and made it easy to understand.
Taking the Mystery Out of Forestry ;)
I will gladly give all my high-tech tips away like :
1) 12$ drywall stilts
2) DanG Solar Heater
3) Harolds "How to not go Boom" gas barrel welding course
And on and on , priceless factual information :)
Quote from: cktate on December 28, 2005, 04:27:54 AM
... Before it was over I saw friends become enemy's and there was a ton of arguing over who owned what copyrights, and how the funds would be distributed. In the end it all broke up. I just dont see those problems happening here thank goodness.
I'm not trying to discourage anything and i would love to see a book. I'm just reporting what I saw happen one time.
It's a good point to bring up, and that's why I mentioned the copyright issue right up front. If you don't get those things settled at the beginning, it only takes one person to sabotage the whole effort.
Another thing to think about right off the bat is the editing. I've worked with editors before, and it can be downright painful when they want to hack out huge portions of your precious writing. Even editing my own stuff, I sometimes get into a fight with myself about cutting parts or rewording them. Fortunately it's never come down to physical violence :).
People who want to contribute will have to have thick skins. Editing will make or break a book.
QuoteIt's a good point to bring up, and that's why I mentioned the copyright issue right up front. If you don't get those things settled at the beginning, it only takes one person to sabotage the whole effort.
You're right. Even then there are things to be aware of.
This is a portion of the letter that most of the members wound up sending to the author editor at the other site.
Quote
Do to rule changes after I joined which I feel would severly limit my freedom and creativity in writing and my ability to make friends there, or adding to a storyline..........and also considering
the fact that I also have written nothing on the _________ site that could be of interest, or publishable. , I hereby withdraw my permissions to any releases, and do not give you permission to
publish anything that I may have written on the ___________ site, or anywhere else. I am no longer interested in being an ________, or participitating with anything concerning ________.........or
________.com.........
Please don't mistake or think I'm trying to make trouble here. It's just that there's a lots of facts to consider and yes, a lot of details to be worked out.
Charles,
I suspect the best approach will be to have those who have something to contribute decide that they would like to - and give permission to use whatever they post. If a person doesn't want to - then their stuff is off limits for the book - plan and simple.
Reasonable compensation might be a section of the book for information how to reach some of the authors for business. Just like here, we post, and we have our websites as part of the compensation - as well as the way for people to reach us.
As long as it is all thrashed out in the beginning - it tends to be okay, but if the rules change in mid-stream, people tend to get upset.
I can positively tell you this. if there was anything I could be smart enough to contribute here, for a book or otherwise, I'd be GLAD to donate it, if for nothing else just to be able to say i saw my name in print. I think that that in itself would be great! :)
Same here cktate - of course the likelyhood of me writing anything about sawing worth reading is fairly slim...
I am primarily here as entertainment... and to learn from the rest of you.
Of course my opinions about grits should be taken as the Gospel truth! ;D
"Of course my opinions about GrItz should be taken as the Gospel truth! "
Me thinks this view is more than enough to get you access into the forum LEGENDS board
iain
I think you guys should do a book throught the forum and have the money go to the fourm.
Mr Mom
I also think that any money that could come of this should go back to the forum ... And for myself if there is anything that I can or could bring to it , I will and would give all copiewrites to Jeff .. or what ever he goes by today ;D
You know Jeff - that is an issue. If you are going to have a copyright on something, you are going to have to stop changing your name all the time... No one will know who to give credit to. ::)
Some additions to Dan's list, at random ...
Material (organized by region)
Species identification
Behaviour of different species during sawing
Problems with certain species (e.g., pitch)
Lumber handling near the mill
Stacking & stickering.
Mill layout for different numbers of operators
Log handling near the mill
Shifting logs without machinery
Finding the balance point of a log
Types of operations
Production management
Site layout
Flow of materials
Identifying factors that limit production
Startup
Criteria for buying a mill
Checklist of support materials
Business plan
Marketing
Advertising for different types of operation
Signage
Business cards
The internet
Maintenance techniques, common to all types of equipment
Lubrication
Inspection
Records
Tools
Electrical systems
Hydraulics
Mechanical systems
Electronics
Financial planning
Production rates
Expanding the business
Risks
Taxes
Preparing estimates
Employee issues
Hiring
Screening employees
Training
Employee handbook
Compensation
Legal issues
Insurance
Accidents
Liability
And the list goes on ...
Recipes around the sawmill !
asy"s prawns and scallops
ck"s hushpuppies & ketchup
DanG"s Gritz
U.B."s specks & taters
Paschales mallard omellette with fresh berries
Norms hot buttered biscuits with pond raised free range fried bass fillets
oh the list goes on and on $$$$$$$$ ???
I'm starting to think we should scrap the milling book and just make a Forum cookbook!
Thinking that might just go over pretty good. ;)
Quote from: cktate on December 29, 2005, 05:37:09 AM
I can positively tell you this. if there was anything I could be smart enough to contribute here, for a book or otherwise, I'd be GLAD to donate it,
WELL How about how to castrate a cat......not everyone knows that CK :o ;D ;D
Quote
How to castrate a cat......
That the "zipper overshoe"
trick method? ::) I worked for a vet in the 50's that used that method, except for one angry Siamese tom that wasn't about to let his head go in that boot. An alternate method was employed. ;)
I believe it( cat in boot method) was originally suggested for our buddy Duh-Wayne......and launched CK's business with him........ ;)
I can only think that you guys had alot of cats taking over your barns. My grandfather's method was the .22 calibre. Oh, the stories he could tell. ;D
I prefer the elstorator but you need a bowel of good viddles and a somewhat tame tom for that to work.
If I were to write it , it would be a pretty small book, I have had people come to me with problems numerous times, almost invariably it was either out of level or wasn't filed right. Any more I have a pat answer, then tell them if that don't work I will come over and help.
#1 Set it up more straight and level than anything you ever built in your life. You have about 1/32 inch on each side of that saw, if it rubs wood it ain't gonna saw right. Should be able to put a level on the headblock and run it through without the bubble moving.
#2 File a little more hook into it and make sure that them thar corners are sharp, My old uncle used to say, " IF YOU AIN'T GOT CORNERS YOU AIN'T GONNA SAW).
#3 Check yer lead, I always run from a 1/32 to 1/16, yes it has to be that close.
#4 If the above don't work, scratch head, stomp hat, go get help.
Just a little humor guys, the book is a great idea. Wish I had had one when I started . Probably was one, I just didn't think to look.
Sawmills are 99% COMMON SENSE and 100% WORK.
The best way to become a millionair with a sawmill is to start with 2 Million;
Skytramp
I'm actually in the middle of writing a pocket guide to forestry specific to my province. I find alot of books that are available only dwell on one subject and Joe woodlot owner wants a guide to help him out from dirt, to silviculture, to cash in his pocket. I'm hoping to make it a small format (half-letter) and under 200 pages. I want it as concise and down to earth as possible without alot of the unexplained jargon found in some books. It will include a glossory with bolded text throughout the guide explained there. I'm still struggling with the layout/format of some subjects. I'll probably change it a zillion times. :D You take something like this on and you'll soon realize that there is alot to it my friends. ;) I've chosen Adobe InDesign 3.0 CS for the layout, even though I hate the limited drawing tools it has. Not even a triangle tool. ::) I like being able to export to PDF.
My hats off to ya SwampDonkey, a real job you are taking on there, I wish you the best. I doubt if I could be of much help, the only thing I really know is circle saws, but will try if called on.
SkyTramp;
Happy NEW YEAR to all. :o :o ;D :D
That's a major undertaking SwampDonkey. Hope you atleast have fun and learn some with that large project. 8) 8) Let us know when you get that pocketbook done.. I would be interested to read the compilation of your work. :D
Brad.