I did a bit of searching and didn't find an answer for this one. What would be the best spacing and number for log dogs on a 20' mill?
Thanks
Sam
Opinion again :D
I would only use two dogs. If you use more than two, you have to line up all of them and hope that the log is perfectly straight. Two will just catch each end of the log.
Most lumber cut is 8' short. I would put the dogs at about 6' or 6'6" to catch the ends of an 8' log but still give you a decent target to shoot for when loading a large log.
The little 1/2 or 3/4 inch nubbins that are welded on most mill beds, on the dogging side, are all lined up pretty straight because they act as dogs on a squared cant. Being on all of the bunks they provide dogging for even a 20' long board.
i'm kind of with tom. 2 only gives you two to saw into as well.
I'd maybe opt for 3, one at like 6 feet, and one at like 15 feet from the first one.
Two dogs...and adjustable spacing if ya can figure out how to do it. Sure helps with short logs, crotch sections, roots, and big swelled butts. Yea, I know...I saw weird stuff. :o
I have a sawing capacity of 18'6". I have four dogs/backstops. They are independent and rotate 180 degrees, bow to stern. I can use as many or as few as necessary. I like the set up because it allows me utilize the best holding pattern for a particular log/cant. I can reasonably saw a 40" length (using 2 backstops/dogs).
Of course, mine are manual.
thanks for the fast responses everyone. I'll see if I can make 2 adjustable location dogs for the mill. I've got a couple hydraulic cylinders from a boat drive unic and the electric pump. I may try to use those if I can find the hose locally and cheap.
Thanks again
My WM LT40 (manual) has 4, I usally only use 2 at a time. I wished the 2 inside ones were closer together and spaced in equal distance from the clamp. I recently ran into some sort peices of elm and have been trying to cut them into turning blanks. The short log pieces are a little to short to sit on the rails so I had to make up a jig (piece of 3/4 plywood and a 4x4) to hold them, so I can get them clamped down tight enough to saw. I know I shouldn't be messing with such short pieces, but the turners love the wild grain. I wished I had a whole dumptruck load full, I could make a fortune.
Keep this in mind when your building the dogs for your mill, you may never know what you run across.
Around here squared up firewood sized chucks coated in Ancorseal sells like hot cakes, I'm amazed.
Nothing wrong with cutting shorts if you can get something out of'em, Dad. :)
My mill has 5 bunks, spaced about 4 feet apart, with a clamp on each. I made one of them movable so I can adjust for odd lengths. I can move it within a foot of the first bunk and clamp anything down to about 15 inches or so.
The mill I am presently building, I spaced the bunks at 33" centered and the log stops are at 66" centered. One screw type clamp just off center of the stops.