Whatcha Sawin' ???

[Magicman]

Some more nice sawing Jim. 
Very innovative with the niche market Lawg Dawg. 

My plans changed and I am sorta glad.  I sawed every log that my customer had on the ground and since he was busy with new construction, I was reluctant to leave the sawmill for an unknown period of time especially since I have a couple of local jobs that need sawing.  Anyway I will post some pictures tomorrow after I get some rest. 

[longtime lurker]

Slabbed out a headlong that came in with a load this week. I hate slabs, but its a waste to leave them rot at this size so what else can you do with them? 



 

 

 

Silkwood Maple Flindersia pimenteliana  one of the less famous of our rainforest species

[longtime lurker]

And thats a serious question guys: It's not a sawlog, and once upon a time I'd have left it to rot because its not suitable for lumber and there's not much market for smaller slabs either. But I cant just waste it knowing what its going to cut either. Yah, its a headlog.... but it's 15 foot long and around 24-28" or so ignoring the branch stubs

Any other ideas for things to do with them besides slabs?

[Nomad]

I think you did the best possible thing with it.  Really pretty wood and very unique slab.  Somebody will fall all over themselves to get that, sooner or later.

[PA_Walnut]

Bourbon can only be made in a new barrel....so after that it comes to me or goes to the scotch makers or rum makers

Don't forget the craft brew makers also...bourbon stout. This way some bearded hipster can try to explain the complications and justify to me how my beer can cost $10 and come in a thimble, rather than a pint glass. :-[

[Magicman]

That is an eye popper Lurker.  Sometime we just gotta saw them maybe because we can. 



 
Another 4 condos being prepped for concrete.


 
And they were pouring concrete as I was leaving.  No timbers have been sawn for these condos so I will be sawing somewhere soon for sure.  Sorta "job security".  ;D


 
I know that I have continually mentioned sand.  You can see my "buck line" on the left side that has been wire brushed before bucking.


 
Did I say sand?  What my sawmill looked like after extracting it from the milling site. 

[Southside]

Magic would it be worth it to try a carbide saw chain? Probably $150 - $200 but it might save a lot of brushing. Maybe the customer would pay for one since it could save him labor too. 

[WV Sawmiller]

Longtime Lurker,

   That's some pretty wood but what is a "Headlong"? That is not a term I am familiar with in the sawmilling and logging industry or what little I have been associated with it. 

   I am betting it is a special term from places where people drive on the wrong side of the road, cars have boots and bonnets and people use wheel braces to change a "tyre" instead of a tire. :D :D

[GAB]

Longtime Lurker,

  That's some pretty wood but what is a "Headlong"? That is not a term I am familiar with in the sawmilling and logging industry or what little I have been associated with it.

  I am betting it is a special term from places where people drive on the wrong side of the road, cars have boots and bonnets and people use wheel braces to change a "tyre" instead of a tire. :D :D

I had the same question and I came to the conclusion it was their term for tree top.
If I'm wrong that'll be the first time today.
At least I got my exercises by jumping to conclusion.
Gerald

[Magicman]

Magic would it be worth it to try a carbide saw chain?

Actually, this is working pretty well now.  I can knock the top layer off fairly quickly, and the tailgunner also has a brush.  No picture, but I started sawing through the "near" half first, top to bottom, then moving to the opposite side and doing the same there.  That way the chain is always coming out and doesn't dull too fast so I am now making a day before resharpening.  Of course the customer is ahead in that regard because I am using my chainsaw but he is buying the chains.

I will only have to make one more trip to this "sand pit" because there will be no more trees/logs there.  

[Crusarius]

MM looks like you need mudflaps on your truck

[tule peak timber]

And thats a serious question guys: It's not a sawlog, and once upon a time I'd have left it to rot because its not suitable for lumber and there's not much market for smaller slabs either. But I cant just waste it knowing what its going to cut either. Yah, its a headlog.... but it's 15 foot long and around 24-28" or so ignoring the branch stubs

Any other ideas for things to do with them besides slabs?

The signage market. Find the guys that use this look as sign backgrounds and they will keep coming back. That maple is stunning.

[Magicman]

MM looks like you need mudflaps on your truck

 
Got mudflaps.  ;D  Grandson is coming today to give the truck and hopefully the sawmill a good washing.

As a side note my tailgunner just called.  My customer just bought a Stihl MS661 C-M chainsaw!    Very much an overkill for the job at hand, but anyway they now have something to fell and buck my next trees/logs with. 

[Crusarius]

would have never guessed it with the way the mill looks. Thats impressive. I guess if your gonna do something you might as well do it right

[longtime lurker]

Sorry guys Autocorrect wins again: it was supposed to be headlog, and yah its anything that comes out above the first branch.... in this case about 80' above ground 8)

@ Rob. Theres no signage market here, or not that I'm aware of anyway. You dont see much if any wooden signs and when you do its mostly real blocky letters chiselled into a recycled 10 x 2. Its not lack of demand.... its a combination of lack of people with the skillset /vision / desire to do that particular thing, and a farmer economy. (farmers = people who invest a couple million dollars and work 80 hours a week for a year to make peanuts. Because they work for free they think everyone else should)

I got a slab leans on my shed wall, been there for years. People walk in and look at it and ask me why I keep that piece of trash - its got a few splits and a couple rot pockets - and I always say its got some nice wood in it and one day i'll rip it down then throw the rest out. Truth is its a stunning piece of timber, and that "piece of trash" is the guts of a $15 k George Nakashima style table. Just got to wait for the right guy who can look at it and see the right way. I got plenty nice wood, what I dont have is a sales organisation that can push this oddball "not lumber" stuff, or a list of customers that think outside the square or might be a little adventurous and maybe risk all on a butterfly joint. It's not that people wont buy the finished article - its a hole because the tradespeople wont do that, and thats because they're all old and dont want to learn new tricks.... and the real issue is the lack of young guys coming through because they cant compete with cheap imported junk.

[longtime lurker]

Sometime we just gotta saw them maybe because we can.  

THAT, is about the smartest and truest thing I might read all year.

[WV Sawmiller]

Lurker,

   Don't blame autocorrect because I would not have known what a headlog was either. Thanks for the clarification and translation into Aussie English. What is it they say about the UK, US, Canada and Australia - 4 countries separated by a common language. :D

    Anyway it sounds like your market is wide open for all kinds of woodworking techniques. The woodworker may have to embed a few little rubber or plastic crocodiles or such in their River Tables they make over there and maybe carve a few 'roos and wombats into the table legs. (BTW - my wife and I spent last weekend baby sitting our 2 y/o grandson while his mommy was the hospital with his newborn baby sister and we watched as many McLeod's Daughters episodes as we could squeeze in. Becky always refers to them as the show with all the crazy girls. It took me a while to remember a Ute was a pick up truck instead of an Indian tribe out in Colorado or such. :D)

[moosehunter]

Today and tomorrow it's WP. I do a lot of sawing for a guy that does a lot of woodlot management for Forrest owners. Often I am sawing the logs no one else wants. 

 
The big pile is firewood or going to a chip mill.


 
Half of this pile was WP, just a few left for tomorrow morning. 1600 bdft today, not bad for 6 hours.
mh

[Magicman]

 

 
Grandson Ben is giving the sawmill and truck a good washing this afternoon.  

Notice the Beech tree has new leaves.  ;D

[doc henderson]

What is he doing in a t-shirt??? it is cold outside.  MM maybe your long distance client will throw the 661 chainsaw in with the chains he has been buying you!!! one can hope.  It is nice that your grandkids will help out.

[red]

I see the sawmill has returned to its " normal " Salmon Color

[paul case]

I went from a 290 to a 660 stihl and it is the difference between a datsun pickup and a peterbuilt semi. You better get the tailgunner to start it for ya and you may need a wheelbarrow to move it around.

PC

[doc henderson]

Paul, have you not seen the movie, "true grits"  I bet based on his diet that MM can start it, carry it, and operate it with one arm.  lol

[Magicman]

I would never consider a MS660/661, but it does look like I might be driving a new MS311 which has a decompression valve.  I suffered this past week cranking the MS310.  It starts extremely well and one pop is all that is necessary to start it, but it's killing my right hand.

[TimW]

My first logs on the mill were SYP.  My only project so far is this dolly for my diesel generator.

 

 
hugs,  Brandi