Learning....

[OlJarhead]

Did that on my SMLT10 one day....hope to not do it again! 

[WV Sawmiller]

Did that on my SMLT10 one day....hope to not do it again! 

OJH,

   You can do it a lot faster and cut a whole lot deeper now.

[GAB]

Did that on my SMLT10 one day....hope to not do it again! 

OJH,

   You can do it a lot faster and cut a whole lot deeper now.

You got that right.
Gerald

[Magicman]

And when you least expect it....... 

[OlJarhead]

Got to the mill today early enough that I was able to use the tractor to clear out the area I needed to move the mill too and move it 90 degrees to the log deck.  Then after setting it up I moved a couple logs (after dropping one off the forks which then rolled into the mill and gave it a nice bump causing me to cringe and then reset the legs to make sure they were tight.

Once set up I milled a 70bf log in 20 minutes then a 100bf log in 20 minutes.  Felt pretty good to start to get a system down and get used to milling with this machine.  I can see doing logs this size in about 15 minutes once I get rolling which should get me pretty close to 350bf/hr and I'd be happy with that

Not that I'm trying to rush, it's just that I know the mill is capable of doing that and more and I just need to learn how to get into a groove on it   So far though I'm pretty happy.  Here's some pics for ya:


New position (much better) and the last log finished -- I ended up 1 1/2" off the deck once I finished making my 2x's so I milled that last bit into two 1x's (thanks to simple set it was an easy transition) and was left with one 'shim' ;)

 
Having the tractor where it is seemed a decent place to pull lumber off the mill onto the forks to move to the stack.  Works but I'll be removing some of those trees around it to make for a better work space.

 
I'm loving the mill, I won't lie   Can't wait to get some more milling done!

Now for dinner and some relaxing

[Peter Drouin]

Nice setup.

[drobertson]

Looks good,, I figure you are pretty satisfied, but want to push it more,, speaking from a small amount of experience,, take it as it comes,, things get cold, and behind we think, gotta catch up to speed, I say not really, steady as she goes, makes more and better usable lumber and beams,, without the orange paint on the blade tips,, I get caught up, did today trying to have a head start on when I get back from a break, not worth it,, steady as she goes, stay with in the plan,, much better results.  You are jammin' and I am jammin' with you, it's fun, steady as she goes, lots less stress, and stock that winds up being a B##$%# to work with,

[Chuck White]

Looks like you're really "gettin' there" Eric.   8)   

[OlJarhead]

Now I just need to move the rest of the log deck so it's no longer 90 degrees to the mill (which is partly why I pulled it up the hill to start, that and the pule of slabs and snow that was in the way) and get my drying bunks built so I have a better system for drying all the lumber I'll make

I have many trees to thin on the property for beetle and fire protection which will become sleeping cabins or other projects and then there are the neighbors who see the mill and say "hey, can you come over?" not to mention that my old mill had plenty of attention and potential customers reaching out to me to come mill for them...that list is getting longer by the day it seems and I'm going "whoa, wait just a darn minute!  I have work to do yet." 

Ahh yes, life is good   Today I plan to take a half day off from my 'day job' so I can get back to the mill and get a few things done, maybe I'll even get to make sawdust before dark ;)

[4x4American]

It's like having a new girlfriend lol

[OlJarhead]

Sure is   Dying to get back to her ;)

They are calling for a 10% chance of rain today...I'm hoping it's more like 0% and I'm dying to get back to the cabin so I can get those logs moved and get my drying stacks set up right...if I can get that done in an hour or so I'll have the rest of the day to finish milling up the 2x8's and 2x6's I need for the deck extension and roof.  8)

I figure by the time I've milled these 30 or so logs up I'll be much more familiar with this mill   So far, 4 logs in, I'm getting to where I feel I'm getting the hang of it.  I just need to watch the scale more and pay a little more attention to the log rather than the mill ;)  Right now I'm spending too much time playing with the mill and I'm losing some product to it -- like forgetting to lower the toe board on one cant already DOH!  or slabbing too deep (a few times).

I like the fact that I can easily rotate the log 180 degrees after opening the first face!  That's so much better than doing it by hand which meant I didn't do it as often as I should have I think.

Anyway, the wood looks downright awesome though it was on the ground for over a year!  Heck I just milled up some ponderosa that was down 2 years ago (I think) and it looks fantastic!  No blue stain on 90% of it and clear as a bell

Can't wait to start using it actually

[YellowHammer]

That's great, keep on sawing. 

[WV Sawmiller]

Eric,

   You mention rotating the cant 180 degrees. Lots of times I bet you will find it is easier and faster to just rotate them with a cant hook as the claw/turner often tends to lift the far end instead of rotating them, especially smaller diameter logs/cants. My turner actually seems to turn/rotate larger logs/cants better than the small ones. I keep a second cant hook on/under the rail near the front of the mill for that purpose and keep my heavy duty Logrite over by my log pile for loading logs on to the arms of the mill. Also on real pretty wood you may want to turn the cant from the end to make sure the claw does not scratch up one of your nice boards.

   Keep us posted. We are all reliving our first milling experiences through your pictures and posts.

[ncsawyer]

I agree with WV.  Many times, especially on smaller logs, I can turn the cant with a cant hook faster than I can with the claw turner.  If I am sawing on a mobile job I always have two cant hooks and keep one at each end of the mill.  When I get my help "trained" all I have to do is unclamp the log, they turn it with the cant hooks, and I clamp it back down.  That is considerably faster than using the hydraulic claw turner. 

If I had a LT50 with the chain turner, that might be a different story.

[Magicman]

This is when a Logrite 24" or 30" Mill Special comes into play.  Mill Special

[bkaimwood]

Flipping cants that are small is even easier with the log clamp then it is with the claw, or cant hook...when I saw big dollar stuff, and don't want cant damage, I also use the log clamp...I pretty much only use the claw when it it hitting an exterior part of the log, or when I'm sawing low grade. I also often use the claw when I have an open face on the bottom, and bark on the right side...I drop the claw so only the top or second tooth grab the cant at the top... This usually works good, and not damage the nice face on the bottom, but I always have the clamp standing by in case of tearout, or not enough umph to flip it all the way...

[Greyhound]

More videos!!!  Since I can't afford a mill and can't afford to retire, I am forced to live vicariously through your's and other's milling experiences.  So, PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE keep posting.

[Brucer]

Eric, you're stirring up some old (and pleasant memories). Just shy of 10 years now, since I brought my shiny new hydraulic mill home. There was about the same amount of snow on the ground as well.


Thanks for sharing!

[OlJarhead]

https://youtu.be/JjneKQDe9O0
Here's a video I shot today -- my first log after moving the log deck and making a bunk to stack and sticker the lumber I am making on.

You can see some goofs here and there ;) but I milled this pine in 20 mins despite my mistakes.  Still learning but getting better

I have a couple more I'll post tomorrow.

As for turning the cant with a logrite -- yes!  I'll do that in the future but for now am getting the hang of the controls and this is a good way to learn what it will do and what it wont -- but my short logrite would likely be faster ;)

[OlJarhead]

More videos!!!  Since I can't afford a mill and can't afford to retire, I am forced to live vicariously through your's and other's milling experiences.  So, PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE keep posting.

I can't afford to retire either ;) but this IS my retirement plan   I hope to get my small business going well enough to be my retirement

[Chuck White]

Lookin' Good, Eric.   8)

[OlJarhead]

Thanks Chuck -- couple goofs there like leaving the loading arms up all the way then forgetting that I had to draw the head back first before putting them back down ;)  Set the debarker on the log once too.

I'm also wondering if I should slow down a little on entry? and while debarking?  I only have the throttle/speed control at the - on the diagram (so maybe 11 o'clock position) at most when milling so far but am wondering.

https://youtu.be/wDtQD3LMnNs
Here is the second video I did

[Magicman]

I did not see anything wrong with your speed.  Your goal now is to develop your rhythm. 

Unless you are looking for random width lumber, always know your target before opening any face.  That should always determine the opening height.

[OlJarhead]

I did not see anything wrong with your speed.  Your goal now is to develop your rhythm. 

Unless you are looking for random width lumber, always know your target before opening any face.  That should always determine the opening height.

This is where I'm working now really.  I can make charts and things to tell me what to do but on the mill I tend to experiment when making lumber for myself.  Maybe cut the first flitch just enough to leave 4" of clear (no bark) wood face so I can trim it down at least to that...but I often find myself opening up the log and saying "I just just drop and inch and give myself some 1" flitches"...down I go, flip 180 and do it again and think "ok, that's a such and such cant and I'll get so many 2x's out of it"....

My guess is that experienced sawyers either just know where to start no matter the cut list or they plan every cant ahead of time figuring in kerf as they do....you tell me

I hope to get to that point but I'm far from it now.

[Magicman]

No matter where you are going, you need to know your destination before you leave home.  Your targeted cant is your destination.  You can either mark it mentally or with a lumber crayon, but you always need to know where it is and that is before opening any of the 4 faces.  Dropping ¼" on the 1st and 2nd face opening can make a huge difference in the first flitche's quality and will make very little difference in the log's yield.