Hey Guys!
Well the boss came to me yesterday and wants me to begin spending some time in the head rig and begin to learn the processes! Looks like I might be air sawing by Friday. Looking for any and all advice.
We are running the new McDonough Head rig with Tilt Carriage and inovec setworks.
Here take a look .... www.wlumber.com
I am very confident in that I will do well producing grade lumber etc. but I know there is more to it than just cutting boards...Help! :D
As a grader, you have learned to look for detail. As a sawyer, you'll have to learn to hear. The way things sound will tell you if your saws cutting right, or a bearing is going out, or there's a piece of wood rubbing, etc.
It will take a while to learn how to run the equipment. Don't rush this process. One really easy thing to remember is to NEVER set into the saw. You'll find that to be easier said than done when you pick up speed.
And remember, when you think you have all the answers, they'll start changing the questions.
Another word of caution. Once you think you know what you are doing, you have become the most dangerous guy there. You will be wrong.
Once you think you know what you are doing you lose caution. Someday you will Know what you are doing, but that will take years.
Ron,
I was wondering what you meant by never set into the saw.
Just asking for curiosity sake as I will no doubt never go near a head saw.
Thanks,
Mike
I don't know nothin about running sawmills, but where I grew up it was easy to spot the fellas who were sawyers because most of them had parts of their hands missing. I asked this one fellow who I knew a long time why this was and he said it was from reaching over to pull chunks/slivers/pieces (?) of wood out when they got caught between the blade and whatever they could get caught on. I can't remember what he said they got caught on but it was in an area of low clearance adjacent to the blade. Apparently you can get your hand pulled into the saw by doing this. So anyway don't do that Woody or we might be calling you Stumpy :(
Mark
PS - this probably isn't even possible on today's big commercial saws. Maybe someone who know something might speak up.
My old uncle once told me it took 20 years to become a sawyer. He said you'd do enough studying to get a BS degree and the rest was on the job training. He was always sharing little bits of wisdom and as I didn't expect to every be a sawyer so I just stored that statement in a little back corner of my brain. I'm beginning to get an idea of what he meant.
Today's new bandsaw technology, backed by good factory training and support, gives a novice a good jump-start to turning logs into lumber. Learning is continual process and we are fortunate to have good training courses available and tools like this Forum. :P
Bibbyman,
I agree with what you are saying the new bandsaw technology and sharing of information gives you a good headstart. It also makes you think you know what you are doing but reality is somewhat different.
I think after running my mill for a while I have learned how to run the machine, not mill good quality lumber. I am not a sawyer.
I always try to pay as close attention to things as possible when sawing a log. I also try to make a point of learning something from each log. It could be I have learned a good thing or perhaps what didn't work or what not to do. For me each log must be a bit of training course. Some days I am better at this than others.
I feel pretty lucky to be able to see all the good info on the Forestry Forum. I appreciate those willing to share their experience.
Mike
Don't saw into front log dog:causes much loud noise,screaming and yelling,unnecessary running by the other chaps in the mill.You can't run,you'l be staring in dumb disbelief,at least I was
It is a funny feeling cutting that front dog isn't it dail_h. I did it aswell but not very hard and it made the blade cut better! :D Don't know why it cut better but it did! I might have to ask the guy that sharpens the blades what kind of tooth set it's at now and get him to make me a new one just like it.
Steve
Well today turned out to be the day. Spent about an hour watching my boss saw and than he popped up and said "Cut your first long!" I kinda looked at him with big eyes and said "Are you serious?!" He sure was...sat down in the seat and we ran through the steps and bam I had cut my first log. Just squared it up for the linebar. This afternoon I cut a few more boards off a log I squared up. A lot to learn!
As far as sawing the dogs, our computer system will not allow this to happen as when the computer scans the log and it reads you are too close it will scream at you and tell you that your limit has been violated! Thats a good thing!!! :D
On all automatic carriages, you are able to make a set at any point. When you make a set, your carriage advances the log forward a certain distance, depending on what thickness of lumber you want.
You want to be behind the saw when you make that set. If you set while the carriage is in front of the saw, you will force the log into the saw. Major damages can occur and the saw will surely be bent.
If you are ahead of the saw and make a set, then bring the carriage back, you will drag your board splitter into a running saw. Many sparks, many pieces, major damage.
I've done this twice. My set button is next to my reverse button. I hit the wrong button. The saw had to be hammered twice to get it balanced again. $200 worth of repairs for one little mistake.
I did drag a board splitter into a saw one time. The weld on the board splitter broke, it wasn't from setting. I derailed the carriage (another thing to watch for), and broke several shoulders on the saw. It took about 2 hours to get the carriage back on track and the saw had to be repaired.
I know of one guy who used to push his headblocks front to dump off his cant. He had a habit of not pulling his headblocks back before passing the saw. His limit switches were broken and he dragged his dogs into a running saw. The saw shattered. The bearings broke and large holes were in the roof. No one hurt but lots of brown underwear.
We also had an 18 year old sawyer in our area who was running a hand mill. The offbearer released the cant, and set the dogs high so they wouldn't hit the saw. Unfortunately, he didn't push the dogs back or they were broke. On the return, the dog fell out of the holder and onto a running saw and back to the sawyer. He is lucky to be alive, has major brain damage. His dad sold the mill and quit the business.
A gruesome story, but, when you're running a saw, you have to be aware of everything.
We also had 2 guys who ran a mill and drank all day. They never had an accident. Go figure! :)
Quotethis probably isn't even possible on today's big commercial saws. Maybe someone who know something might speak up.
It's possible to do something stupid and get killed on a commercial mill too. For the same reasons. You still have to go out and manually remove sticks or wood that wedges in and around the saw. I use a long stick to do this. (5 foot long) If it does not come out right away with the stick, DON'T GET CLOSER AND USE YOUR HANDS!! Power should be killed and locked out, the saw needs to come to a complete (I SAID COMPLETE) stop then you can do the removal or maintenance needed.
I Have never been injured by a moving saw blade. I am however still in a crippled state from one that was standing still. I may never get the feeling back in my hand and that is from a saw that was NOT running.
Setting into a log means hitting your setworks button either while you are in the log or starting into the log while the log is still moving forward in the set. NOT A GOOD THING!
DanG he beat me by 3...
Woody
Do you have a metal detector? Sawing your first nail is a real treat. :D
Hey woody what you've got to understand is that my puter is a womans voice and I'm a guy and when she screams I do what all guys do and I just don't listen! When she was screaming *WATCH OUT FOR THE DOG!* I thought she was asking me if I wanted a hotdog! Then she screamed *VEER RIGHT! And I thought she said *You want a beer right?* I really must start listening to her and not thinking about other things!
Hey I saw those monitors that you have in front of you and was wondering if you can watch the hockey games on them while the saw is cutting?
Steve
Yes, we do have a metal dectector but just like all new fang dangled machines it always doesn't do its part!
No hockey games! Just a few naked women here and there :D :D :D Thats when the boss isn't around! ;D
Did have the chance to hear some noises today as I cut my second long right at the end of the day when the saw was dull etc...The log I cut had some dry rot towards the end...got into it slow and as I started to pick up speed she started to yell at me! Good learning tool!
Thanks guys and keep the info coming. Also if you guys know of any books or videos I could pick help to help that would be great also. I have watched "From the Sawyers Perspective" with Dr Gene.
In 1995 our primary logger bought a new Sanborn 6" band head rig.
He sawed with it for about two weeks.
He showed up at our place one day all dejected, he could not figure out why he was getting wavy lumber on a "big" band. Daily production was less than 2000 feet.
We had sawn for him for a year and a half on our WM.
I agreed to run his saw for a while and try to figure it out.
Sure enough, wavy cuts on a big band. We were using Olson bands with Stelight tips, and having Menomonee saw in Wisconsin sharpen.
We were having trouble sawing, so around noon we put a fresh resharp on and tightened the band. Up next was a 18-22" Red Oak.
I made the opening cut, came back, indexed the log, entered the log and the band pulled away from the guide blocks about 3" and caught the iron were the log sits.
This broke the band and wadded it up. Took the rest of the day to dig the band out.
Turns out the blades were not getting sharpened right or tensioned. When we switched to another sharpening service and changed to a swedge tooth, we went right to 5-6K in 7 hours.
The blade can make ya, or break ya.
ElectricAl