First log cut!

[Smakman]

Here's what I learned today.

1. Sawing is work.

2. You MUST raise the blade before bringing the head back.

3.  A cant hook is a necessity.

4.  When the dust is flying, the breeze will always shift in your direction.

5.  Everyone thinks they know more than you do about sawing even if they have never done it.

6.  Perfectly good looking logs can have surprises inside.

I know I learned more, but those came off the top of my head.   It was a 13 inch Eastern Red Cedar, and it took me about 2 hours!  :-\

[Jeff]

Nice! 

[Bibbyman]

I bet everyone commented on how nice that ERC smelled!

[beenthere]

From the pictures, doesn't look like you are having any trouble at all, and what a great looking first board that came off that log (not a bad looking log either). 
From what I hear, be sure to save that first board. ;)
8)

[twostroke_blood]

Smakman.... I laughed so hard when i read your post  :D :D :D......I guess the saying is true..."Misery loves company"  ;D     How many blades did you wreck? I went through 4 blades on my first log.  :D I'm a complete greenhorn beginer myself. Good luck, and thanks for the pics. Nice looking mill.

[Smakman]

Believe it or not, I didn't ruin any blades.  I did throw it off twice and killed the mill once though.  Whatever I am sawing, I think I will have to do a cedar log a couple of times a day for aroma therapy..........

[pigman]

Smakman,  you are a fast learner. Took me two days to learn that much. :

[Larry]

Amazing the rich red and purple colors you see when opening a ERC...most people have no idea of what it looks like fresh sawn.

We love them pictures but take it easy on us guys with dialup...had enough time to wash my truck while the pics loaded. ;D

Read a article in the Rural Missouri yesterday that made mention of the Smak Zone...think I can understand where you can put that mill to good use. ;)

[Pete J]

That quote about the wind shifting in your direction is so true.

Was the ERC log covered with poison ivy vines? Most of it I've seen in CT is. I don't know the reason why though. I had to think twice about inhaling a big whiff with poison ivy dust mixed in with it.

Looks great. I think you're hooked now!

[Bibbyman]

LogRite...  Did you notice in one of the middle pictures Smakman had one of those ol' timey wooden handle cant hooks?

Don't you make one in a color that almost matches his mill?  You know,  that "odd" color? ;D

[Jeff]

I missed that huge file size on my cable connection this time. Smakman, you need to learn how to use the forum gallery and limit your photo sizes to less then 20k a photo, and no more then 400 pixles wide, just for the reason that Larry mentioned. As cool as seeing everones photos is, its no fun at all for the folks with slow dial up connections to be forced to wait a half hour to read one thread.

[Tony]

  Man just looking at that log made my head stop up. :'( :'(

  It seems I have to relearn everything everytime I move my mill, but it sure is fun   .
Keep up the good work it does get better and you ought to see the look on the bystanders faces when you do break a blade.

                                      8) Tony 8)

[Smakman]

I missed that huge file size on my cable connection this time. Smakman, you need to learn how to use the forum gallery and limit your photo sizes to less then 20k a photo, and no more then 400 pixles wide, just for the reason that Larry mentioned. As cool as seeing everones photos is, its no fun at all for the folks with slow dial up connections to be forced to wait a half hour to read one thread.

Sorry about that.  I took them down.

Yes, Larry, Smak Zone Paintball is me.   

[sandmar]

AAAAAAACKKKKK!..I didn't get to see the pictures  :'(

Sandmar...who can relate to your learning curve  ;)

[Dan_Shade]

eh... my sawing adventures have been good, from absurdly "misdiagnoses species" (I don't really talk about this one ) to sawing into my backstops with 2 blades in a row!.... to getting the blade stuck halfway through a log sawing it in half....

wow i don't know why this stuff is so much fun!

[Smakman]

I will try to get the pics back up within the proper parameters.

7.  A Stihl 025 is not a big enough chainsaw.

[Gilman]

8. Blades don't saw very well when turned inside out.

[rebocardo]

Your first log was a ERC ! Man, what a nice first log to cut.

I think one of the major benefits of tree work is the nice smell of cut wood. It beats being a mechanic and getting a 80w140 gear oil bath from a transmission.

[populus]

Smakman - Great and familiar words of wisdom. All of us can relate.

For the swingers out there, I'll add (blush):
9. Don't forget to swing the blade at the end of the cut, especially in front of  a crowd!

[woodmills1]

like my ex neighbor the farmer said repeatedly  If it was easy everybody would be doin it. :D

[UNCLEBUCK]

Congrats on your new mill and your first log sawn !  It all looks great !

[GF]

Congrats on the mill, my first log was also a ERC, there was nothing like opening up the first log on your mill to see how it looked.

[iain]

pigman on the thumb nails i though this was a log, and also though WHOAH TREEEEEE

nice though while it lasted







iain

[pigman]

iain, that is a 5.5 ft diameter by 30 ft "hay" log. I will have to get a swinger to cut it up.  The hay mover would be great for moving large logs. Back over the log and use the hydraulics to raise the log. But of course the log would have to be over 4ft or it would fall between the carriers.  :

[iain]

You got many logs that size?


  iain