Lucas mill questions

[Tucknj]

Hello everyone,
I am new to the forum.  I have always wanted a sawmill growing up and was fortunate to purchase an 825 Lucas a few years ago that hadn't been used. I went this way becsuse there are a number of bandsaws in the immediate area and the big circle mills aren't too far away.  Does everything i want it to do just maybe not as fast as others for certain things.  I have the slabber and siding attachment (haven't used it yet) and just got the crank for the head but haven't thrown it on yet.  I took a few years to try and learn the mill and really started sawing for customers last year.  I mainly do slabs.  I struggle trying to figure a good production rate.  Normally only get 300-700 brd feet of 4/4 a day depending on "log" size.  I usually saw by myself.  Slabs usually take about 15 minutes in a 8 ft log.  That includes off loading.  I have been asked numerous times why the slabing chain doesn't have more teeth.  Seems it would cut faster.  Currently emergency shut off not working and i need to get that fixed.  Anyways long enough intro.  Is there specific sections in the forum for different types of Mills?  Would really like any ideas about setup or tricks to try with the Lucas. I have the manual and video have bunk and the log dogs worth the money in my high opinion. 

[Magicman]

I have no Lucas experience but Welcome to the Forestry Forum, Tucknj. 

[barbender]

    Welcome to the forum, Tucknj! There are quite a few Lucas guys on here that will be able to give you advice.

[Chuck White]

Welcome to the Forestry Forum, Tucknj.

There are several forum members that run Lucas mills, member "dgdrls" (Dan) comes to mind.

[dgdrls]

Hey Tucknj,

I have an 827 and saw mostly dimension lumber from my own logs, starting to branch out to saw big stuff for customers and have a little following of furniture guys
  (I have been in mothballs for a while but am close to getting back to sawing this year)

Glad to hear you like the Lucas, I don't have a slab head for mine but I believe @terrifictimbers does.
Sawing alone your numbers seem reasonable, remember the bigger the log the happier your mill will be.
One thing that helps is some roller tables to help move lumber away from the log.


Dan

[Seaman]

Welcome Tucknj to the Maddness !
I do quite a bit of slabbing with a Lucas, and just traded a 8/27 for a dedicated slabber, which better compliments my Woodmizer. Yous rate sounds about right, there is a WHOLE lot of difference depending on how hard that particular log is.
The chain has so few teeth because it has to move so much sawdust so far to get it out of the cut. I tried a full comp chain once, it had so much bite it about ripped the engine out of the frame! It was TERRIBLE. I have used the F/C chain to cut cookies ( sharpened at 35% ) and it worked well.
There is a Lucas thread on here, but I do not know how to make a link to it.
I pry up each end of the big slabs with a short bar, and slide two dowel rods under each end, then roll the slab off onto my forks, tends not to rock the log so much.
Feel free to throw up any questions on here, these guys are the best !
Franke

[Tucknj]

Thanks for the welcome everyone.  I do see the Lucas mill portion of the site now that I have spent a little time here.  Another issue I have is what to charge.  Most band Mills around me are at .30-.35 a bd ft.  The Amish is around .25.  I have been charging .3 bd ft but 60 an hour for slabs.  I see some guys charging as much as 150 an hr for slabs.  Also say they want 4/4 the guy I have been recently cutting for has me do it at 1 1/8" plus saw curf that's included in the scale.  Says due to circle mill the saw marks take more to clean up than a band mill.  Anyone else have this issue?  Thanks again

[terrifictimbersllc]

Welcome Tucknj to the Maddness !
I do quite a bit of slabbing with a Lucas, and just traded a 8/27 for a dedicated slabber, which better compliments my Woodmizer. Yous rate sounds about right, there is a WHOLE lot of difference depending on how hard that particular log is.
The chain has so few teeth because it has to move so much sawdust so far to get it out of the cut. I tried a full comp chain once, it had so much bite it about ripped the engine out of the frame! It was TERRIBLE. I have used the F/C chain to cut cookies ( sharpened at 35% ) and it worked well.
There is a Lucas thread on here, but I do not know how to make a link to it.
I pry up each end of the big slabs with a short bar, and slide two dowel rods under each end, then roll the slab off onto my forks, tends not to rock the log so much.
Feel free to throw up any questions on here, these guys are the best !
Franke

I find the thread or post ("earlier post") then copy what is in the browser address box while I am looking at it.  Then paste that into the post I am working on, it will show as a link (to the "earlier post").

[sigidi]

G'day mate, and welcome to the Lucas fold.

I started a thread a while ago regarding all things Lucas I had experienced - take a look

https://forestryforum.com/board/index.php/topic,60602.msg887821.html#msg887821

Happy to help out if there is anything specific you want to know, I can't say I'll definitely have the answer, but I will probably have an idea ;)

[longtime lurker]

Also say they want 4/4 the guy I have been recently cutting for has me do it at 1 1/8" plus saw curf that's included in the scale.  Says due to circle mill the saw marks take more to clean up than a band mill.  Anyone else have this issue?  Thanks again

Rule number 1: the customer is always right
Rule number2: if the customer is wrong, see rule number 1
Rule number 3: if adhering to rule number 2 is costing too much money, make them a former customer, but only after the check has cleared.

If the saw is tuned right and if you know how to drive it the depth of the teeth marks from a circle will be less then the allowance needed to compensate for band wander with a thin band. You can easy check yourself on this by dressing a few boards yourself.