The Forestry Forum

General Forestry => Sawmills and Milling => Topic started by: gates on November 04, 2009, 02:29:07 PM

Title: Low Hp blade choice for seasoned hardwood
Post by: gates on November 04, 2009, 02:29:07 PM
I have a LT15, 10 hp diesel. I am cutting some ice storm trees that are hard and seasoned. Red/Black Oak, Maple, White Oak. The bands I have been using cut good in pine, cedar, popular, and green wood. Is there a better choice for bands? My blades seem to be leaving alot of dust on the cant and dulling fast in these logs. I see Woodmiser recomends a 4 degree and a 9 degree for knotty, hard, or seasoned wood. What do you other small mill guys use? I need to order some extra bands anyway. What do you all sugest?

Thanks,
James
Title: Re: Low Hp blade choice for seasoned hardwood
Post by: Ohio_Bill on November 04, 2009, 03:44:25 PM
James : I have had very good luck with the 4 on my LT40 25hp  I am not sure how they would wook with the lower HP  . There is a lot of talk about the new 7 but I think they require a little more power . I would give Woodmizer a call before I ordered some .  Hope this helps .

Bill
Title: Re: Low Hp blade choice for seasoned hardwood
Post by: Mo on November 05, 2009, 10:17:40 AM
James, feel free to give me a call. I'd be happy to help you out.
You can reach me at 1-800-522-5760 ext. 1610

Gary
Title: Re: Low Hp blade choice for seasoned hardwood
Post by: NMFP on November 05, 2009, 12:07:07 PM
A friend of mine has an LT 15 gas mill and he is running 7 deg bands on his and is cutting hickory, white oak and rock oak.  I typically only run 4 deg or 7 deg and havent found anything yet that these 2 bands will not cut well.

Do you sharpen your own bands?  If so, you can modify a 10 deg down to a 7 and see if that does the job for you.

Best of luck and let us know how you make out with your sawing
Title: Re: Low Hp blade choice for seasoned hardwood
Post by: ladylake on November 05, 2009, 07:10:11 PM
  Over here I buy 10* blades, run them on easy to saw wood the first time then sharpen to 4* with the same gullet dept. Sharpened at 4* they cut anything good.  Steve
Title: Re: Low Hp blade choice for seasoned hardwood
Post by: tyb525 on November 05, 2009, 09:35:36 PM
I run 7 degrees with good results. They seem to be a happy medium for anything from poplar to hard maple to hickory to locust.
Title: Re: Low Hp blade choice for seasoned hardwood
Post by: gates on November 06, 2009, 09:54:02 AM
Thanks for the replys. I am going to try the new 7* bands from WM. I will let you all know how they work. I have my bands sharpend at WM Re-Sharp. The next box I send in I will try to have some ground to the 4* and try that also.

Thanks again,

James