For all that may have worried that we'd accidentally cut our selves up or sumptin' here's a little update on the Midtown Logging and Lumber Company.
Sorry for not sharing for so long, but we been busy and I just got enough time to do some pic processing which takes a bit 'o time now that I'm back to Windows2000 on a P2400. :'(
I had a capacitor meltdown on my P4's motherboard and haven't taught myself how to solder yet :P
Anyhow, here's some shots of our new shop at work and a little urban loggin' . . .
This is my cousin, Austin, shufflin' jobs in our 20' wide by 150' deep driveway--a real pain in the butt due to many of those WRC beams you see bein' 22' long :(
(https://forestryforum.com/images/03_21_04/100804shop01.jpg)
Here Austin demonstrates log unloading with our super deluxe 19?? ?000 lbs Towmoter. :-/
(https://forestryforum.com/images/03_21_04/100804shop05.jpg)
And stacks 'em high :o
(https://forestryforum.com/images/03_21_04/100804shop10.jpg)
It's not a huge yard, but we're makin' it work. When the brush thins out in a couple weeks, we're gonna start clearing and leveling the 50' x 50' space we have out back overlooking the lake. When we get it good and level, the cement casters next door are gonna hook us up with the makin's for a slab ;)
(https://forestryforum.com/images/03_21_04/100804shop11.jpg)
Otherwise the shop has worked out real well so far, roughly 1200 sqft is dedicated to my office and woodworking shop, 2700 sqft for dry lumber for sale and use and 1500 for sawmill, machine tools, etc (this space will also be home for a DH kiln soon).
The only problem I have is not enough 1 phase. :-[
All I currently have is a 60amp edison, soon to be upgraded to 125amp 12-24. We have alot of 3 phase so I figure I'll be switching everything over as I go through motors :D
On to our most recent adventure in Urban Logging . . .
This Oak was only a little over 100 years old but measures 48" at the small end of the first 10' log (the only one worth sawing). It grew up in the yard of E.H. "Boss" Crump, longtime mayor of Memphis and political boss of Tennessee from the 1910 to the 1940s. The current owner of the Crump home has subdivided the lot and the tree came down to make way for a new house. Neighborhood treehuggers have been protesting its removal and we'll likely get a nice plug in the weekly paper (my wife delivered the reporters baby) for sawing the log into QS flooring for the Crump house.
(https://forestryforum.com/images/03_21_04/crumpoak01.jpg)
The big machine in the background was also used to demolish an abandoned house near mine. The fella drivin' it is a regular blues song. Calvin is an expert operator who gets paid good cash everyday and drinks the same every night so his ex(s) don't get any of it. It only took a 12 pack to get him to let me play with the thing--even taught me how to make it spin around the bucket 8)
Here's the log on our trailer :-/
(https://forestryforum.com/images/03_21_04/crumpoak05.jpg)
We didn't actually take it back to the shop since several of the 3x3 angles I used for the crossmembers on the bed bent all the way to the axle when Calvin dropped the log 6" off the bed >:(
I guess I discovered the maximum capacity of my homemade trailer as currently designed :D
But the welds all held ;D
The developer is letting us mill the log on site since we couldn't safely haul it away. Now if it will only stop raining ::)
Thanks for the update Scott, boy you guys sure run into some big logs. Looks like it'll make some nice flooring though.
Norm, I think there may be a conspiracy to break our backs :o
Thanks for the pics UL. 8)
Glad to hear ya really have 3 phase. Used 3 phase woodworking machines and motors are a lot cheaper to acquire than single phase.
Couple of questions. I know what WRC is but you don't have any growing in Tennessee. What kind of oak is that humongous log? :o
:D :D :D :D
Scott, I ain't laughin' at ya, I'm laughin' with ya...on second thought, I'm really laughin' at ya. ;D ;) Just how was you plannin' ta get that log off the trailer, on the off-chance that ya got home with it? Reminds me of the day that Fla-Deadheader, Swampy, and I went and got the Hootiemobile. It weighs something over 10,000, and my trailer is apparently rated at somewhat less than that. Turned the springs inside out, and the frame set right down on the axles! :o It was only 4 miles, so we brought it on home. When I unloaded it, the trailer was about sitting on the ground, so I just drove ol' Hootie right off the end. When the weight came off, the springs righted themselves, and the trailer jumped straight up in the air. The butt end of it whacked ol' Hootie right in the 'nads! :o :D :D :D I thought FDH was gonna have a litter of kittens right there in my log yard. :D :D The Hootiemobile and the trailer don't seem to be any worse off for it, though. They was both ugly to start with, and they ain't got no prettier. They shore do me a heck of a job, though. ;D
YEP, like I said before, ole DanG is an Event, all by hisself :D :D :D :D :D BUT, that WAS funny :D :D :D :D
If them forks was 3" lower, they wooda stuck in the ground and flipped him right outta the seat. :D :D :D :D :D :D :D
One of my suppliers had an alley as narrow as that driveway. He used a straddle lift to carry units of lumber. It was about 2/3 the size of this one in the link.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=26224&item=3843839162&rd=1&ssPageName=WD1V
Good for puttin 16 foot stuff through 12 foor wide doors also.
Larry, I'm mighty relieved about the 3 phase myself since that's what we'll want to run the kiln and moulder we're anglin' for :)
The WRC came from Oregon somewhere--we're just sizing it for a contractor which we may or may not ever do again depending on whether or not they accept me doubling our usual rate. We usually get 30 cents a linear foot fro resawing, but that WRC gave me a splitting headache even though I was wearing googles and a mask most of the time. :(
We have gotten a Port Orford Cedar (5 10' logs) here in town. Evidentally alot of folks planted them around the turn of the century.
The big oak is a Shumardi/Scarlet hybrid as best I can tell from the acorns.
FDH, you need to be takin' pictures of these things! >:( ;D
DanG, you go on and laugh at me all you want--cuz I know I've had a few at yer expense ;)
But seriously, we thought we'd just quarter it up on the trailer and and take the pieces off with Hootie Jr.
Last time we hauled a log that big was that 7000lbs Pecan you see my daughter standin' next to. I didn't even think about how we were gonna get it off the trailer when the crane put it on but fortune had it that a Clear Channel sign crew was puttin' up a new billboard next to the BBQ joint we was takin' it to and they picked it off for a 12 pack o' sandwich fixin' and a pitcher o' beer. 8)
Our trailer didn't do too bad once we got the log off. The bent angles sprung back up some and left the deck with a nice slump in the middle--I figure it'll help keep the next load of logs from wantin' to roll ;) :D ;D 8)
trim4u2nv,
We've looked at one of those machine before--we thought it'd be great for gettin' logs outta backyards until we figured out how much it weighs :o
What we've been doing to work around our limitations is shuffling long stuff up and down the drive on the trailer--kinda a pain in the butt with forkin' on and forkin' off, but hey, forkin' around is what we do best :D ;D
UrbanLogger:
As Red would say, 'where all in this togther, so keep your stick on the ice'. :D :D
That's some mighty big wood to handle on little home made trailors. :D
How many times did Calvin try to back into the shop with them extra long timbers? :D
Look out here I come boss. :D ;)
All in good fun. ;) Take'r easy and play safe. :)
SwampDonkey,
That trailer was my first shot at welding--built it from free scrap and plans that accompanied the axle/hitch/fender/jack kit. Whole thing cost $450, including the welding wire. 8)
It was supposed to carry 7000lbs which might be close to the weight of that log. I think it woulda done it if the operator had set it on easy instead of dropping it--I believe the momentum it picked up in 6" of free fall was all it took to exceed the specs >:(
Anyhow, we're always learnin' and haven't got seriously hurt yet (knock on wood) ;D
We are seriously considering a big flatbed truck though if'n we can find one ugly enough to keep company with the rest of our equipment ;D ;D
:D :D
Some of you's southerners are gonna cause me to bust a stitch some day. If ya's didn't have bad luck, you'de have no luck at all, eh? :D :D
I always figured the load limit on trailers was a kind of subjective thing...there isn't a trailer going down the road around here that the wheels aren't all splayed out from overloading. I've got so many holes in mine it'd take a log that big to keep from falling through. :D
slitleyoff the subject but
about 4 years ago i was picking up a load of steel at a plant in chicago gross for the tractor-trailer is 80k liteweight is 31k
crain operator sets a "whack o steel bar down on my trailer i saw the springs flatten out and told him it was too heavy he said he had been loading for 25 years and knew what he was dooing ::) chained it down and scaled on the inhouse scale 135k gross only 55k over gross :o :o plant boss was walking by when i scaled next day they had a new loader and we had a new trailer ;D ;D