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General Forestry => Sawmills and Milling => Topic started by: mrector on June 11, 2015, 09:57:47 AM

Title: Maximum cant width on LT35HD
Post by: mrector on June 11, 2015, 09:57:47 AM
I was thumbing through my owners manual on my 2014 LT35hdg25.  It seems they state maximum cant width is 25" from stop block to outer guide. This however is untrue on my mill, max cant/board cut width is around 22.5"-23".  It would hit guide with any wider cant. Wondering if it was a misprint or has my mill shrunk? :)
Mikey
Title: Re: Maximum cant width on LT35HD
Post by: SawyerBrown on June 11, 2015, 10:31:46 AM
Well, I've got B57 belts shrinking ... maybe the whole mill is shrinking!   :D

Seriously, same with my 2012.  I've live-edged slightly bigger (about 24"), but that's with the log positioned perfectly and slightly hanging over the stops, so as just to clear the inner guide.  I don't believe there's 25" between the guides, let alone being able to saw a cant that big.

My book says the same thing -- says there's 26" between guides.  I don't believe it.
Title: Re: Maximum cant width on LT35HD
Post by: mrector on June 11, 2015, 10:44:07 AM
Same here, I can squeak out some 24" live edge stuff from top of log If everything is perfect.  How old is your mill/manual?   Maybe it is a misprint. ... but id sure love to have those 2 extra inches... (new old saying)  :)
Mikey
Title: Re: Maximum cant width on LT35HD
Post by: millwright on June 11, 2015, 11:28:31 AM
I made a jig to go onto the bunks to basically move the block toward the mast, then I trimmed the square edges off the guide roller mounts , this gives you a little more width
Title: Re: Maximum cant width on LT35HD
Post by: SawyerBrown on June 11, 2015, 12:10:57 PM
mrector, the mill is 2012, the manual is rev A2.00, dated October 2010.
Title: Re: Maximum cant width on LT35HD
Post by: mrector on June 11, 2015, 12:57:03 PM
Hmmmm interesting.  My manual is revision A5.0.  And still says 25".
Title: Re: Maximum cant width on LT35HD
Post by: jmouton on June 11, 2015, 09:56:37 PM
on our lt-25   we can cut about 25 and a quarter or so ,, i know its  not a 35 but,,,  its tough to cut that wide , its slow going even with a 24 honda ,,,


                                                                                                                  jim
Title: Re: Maximum cant width on LT35HD
Post by: shakebone on June 11, 2015, 10:13:39 PM
You can cut 25" BUT you will have to block up over stops and that's maxed out ! I know my 35 won't cut but about what you said 22\23" against stops
Title: Re: Maximum cant width on LT35HD
Post by: Ribsy on June 14, 2015, 02:38:17 PM
22" guide to guide. 23" get stuck! Don't know what the manual says but thats what my 2013 LT35 gets...
Title: Re: Maximum cant width on LT35HD
Post by: jmouton on June 14, 2015, 08:31:16 PM
the lt-35 must be different than the lt-25, cuz after i posted  i went to our mill  sat and did measure between the guides  and its  28 inch  ,  and we can cut  25 and a quarter ,  cuz i have some slab s that are 25 and a quarter ,


                                                                                                  jim
Title: Re: Maximum cant width on LT35HD
Post by: 4x4American on June 14, 2015, 08:48:00 PM
The thing I noticed with my mill, even though it has 28" between the guides, I am pushing it at 24-25" cant, because the cant is held off to the right a bit by the dogging system so I can't get a 28" cant, even though the guides are spaced that way. 
Title: Re: Maximum cant width on LT35HD
Post by: Chuck White on June 15, 2015, 08:48:37 AM
Quote from: jmouton on June 14, 2015, 08:31:16 PM
the lt-35 must be different than the lt-25, cuz after i posted  i went to our mill  sat and did measure between the guides  and its  28 inch  ,  and we can cut  25 and a quarter ,  cuz i have some slab s that are 25 and a quarter ,


                                                                                                  jim


I don't know about the LT-25, but on the LT-40's when you're talking about how wide you can cut a cant, you don't measure between the blade guide rollers.

For maximum cant cutting width you would need to measure from the face of the log stops to the inside edge of the movable blade guide roller.

There are ways to "cheat" and cut wider by raising the cant on a board and sliding the cant toward the mast to gain width, but you have to be careful doing so.  Moving the cant over like this will gain you about 4 inches.


Title: Re: Maximum cant width on LT35HD
Post by: jmouton on June 15, 2015, 10:59:26 PM
very true   chuck ,,  we have done that a few times ,  moving the cant over the edge ,,its still a wide cut and hard to do , cutting that wide ,, especially  when its oak,,  our main business


                                                                                                                                    jim
Title: Re: Maximum cant width on LT35HD
Post by: Brucer on June 15, 2015, 11:29:39 PM
LT-40 = 28" guide to guide, but ...
- subtract 4" if I've got a cant up against the 3/4" stop blocks.
- subtract another 1/8" if I've got the side stops raised.
- subtract yet another 1/8" if I've got stainless sleeves on the side stops.

Then, of course, one of the adjustment bolts on the outer blade guide will just touch the side of the wood if I'm sawing 2" or thicker.

I also have to watch the position of the handle on the nut that holds the outer bandwheel cover on. If the handle is pointing up it will interfere with a tall cant.

I can make a set of simple wooden shims to push a cant out beyond the stop blocks in order to pick up some of that 4" between the blocks and the inner blade guide roller. Then I have to watch out with interference with the nut handle that holds the inner bandwheel cover on.

With a taller cant  pushed out over the rail, I also need to watch out for interference with the autoclutch housing.

Some of these measurements are a little different from my first mill, which was only a year older.

Bottom line: take the actual measurements on your mill.