The Forestry Forum

General Forestry => Sawmills and Milling => Topic started by: Modat22 on May 30, 2007, 02:37:41 PM

Title: Can anyone recommend a blade for sawing black locust?
Post by: Modat22 on May 30, 2007, 02:37:41 PM
I got my hands on some black locust logs they're still green and I've cut very little locust in the past. My mill is slightly underpowered at 20hp so I have to take that into consideration.

I usually run WM 1.25  10 pitch and 9 pitch.
Title: Re: Can anyone recommend a blade for sawing black locust?
Post by: ely on May 30, 2007, 02:49:21 PM
i am going to cut a small one this eve.
why do you think your mill is underpowered.
Title: Re: Can anyone recommend a blade for sawing black locust?
Post by: Modat22 on May 30, 2007, 02:56:04 PM
My blade speed drops really low when cutting anything 30 plus inches in diameter. I lined up 45 inches of pine cants two weeks ago to resaw them into 2x6's for a guy and my saw barely had enough power to do the job. I ended up loading 3 cants at a time.

My engine is an old wisconsin 4 cyl 20 hp at 2500 rpm max, I bet a 20hp kohler running 3450 rpm with different pulley's would make a better power plant. I'd like to put a 30+ hp motor on there  :)
Title: Re: Can anyone recommend a blade for sawing black locust?
Post by: MartyParsons on May 30, 2007, 03:02:24 PM
9 degree hook 1 1/4 width. .045 thick. 20 hp is good. 4 degree would be my next choice but the 9 will work. You should check the band speed, I do not know the RPM we run the blade at, they say it is not given out? Maybe some one here knows?
Marty
Title: Re: Can anyone recommend a blade for sawing black locust?
Post by: mike_van on May 30, 2007, 04:38:19 PM
I sawed some a few weeks ago for a guys sills. I used the same blades [Red Streaks, .045, 7/8" ts, .020 set] that I use for everything. It sawed well, you really have to saw around the heart, and a lot of the boards just peel up like skis.  I needed 4x6's, and at one point had a 6x8 I was tempted to split in half to get two, but past practice has shown me this won't work, they'll bow away from each other something awful. Last year I cut some that was dead standing, that will heat up your blades, dull them fast too.  I read they used to use locust for the pegs in barns, the old timers said it would last two years longer than stone. :D
Title: Re: Can anyone recommend a blade for sawing black locust?
Post by: GF on May 30, 2007, 04:40:05 PM
Modat is that a VH4D Wisconsin?  I thought the VH4D Wisconsins were rated at 30HP.  Used to run one on my mill, and it would bog down on big cuts, ended up putting a new Brigss 31HP V-Twin on it, now when it gets a good load on it you can hear the govenor kick in and it keeps cutting.  I also drive a 18GPM hydraulic pump off the same motor.

GF
Title: Re: Can anyone recommend a blade for sawing black locust?
Post by: Modat22 on May 30, 2007, 04:53:24 PM
Mine's a VE4 one of the original wisconsin 4cylinder motors made back in 1953 or 1956
Title: Re: Can anyone recommend a blade for sawing black locust?
Post by: Tom on May 30, 2007, 07:35:50 PM
Have you guys offered black locust to the fellows in the timberframe section to use for pins?  It seems someone is always looking for pin stock.
Title: Re: Can anyone recommend a blade for sawing black locust?
Post by: Part_Timer on May 31, 2007, 09:31:36 AM
microkerf  ;) ;D ;D
Title: Re: Can anyone recommend a blade for sawing black locust?
Post by: Modat22 on May 31, 2007, 03:31:44 PM
Quote from: Tom on May 30, 2007, 07:35:50 PM
Have you guys offered black locust to the fellows in the timber frame section to use for pins?  It seems someone is always looking for pin stock.

I wouldn't mind cutting it but having time to get it together and shipping would be too difficult for me.

Since you mentioned it though what type of cut and dimension is timber frame pin stock?
Title: Re: Can anyone recommend a blade for sawing black locust?
Post by: jackpine on May 31, 2007, 08:55:26 PM
Glad you asked the question as I have about 50 black  locust logs in the yard right now, half of them are 18 footers to be sawn into 6" x6" timbers. I was planning on and will use 9° blades. They will be sawn sometime next week  and I'll let you know how they come out.