Whatcha Sawin' 2020 ??

[WV Sawmiller]

   Thanks Rich. I'll miss him. He was my fishing buddy when I was stationed at Albany Ga and those are my fondest memories of him. If there is fishing in heaven I expect he is watching his bobber moving right now. Looks like the memorial will be Saturday week so I'm trying to finish small projects here now.

   I got out this afternoon and sawed 6 small 7' and one tiny 4' spruce log to test out my new coil we put on 2 days ago. Thanks to Dennis at WM Indy for pointing me in the right direction. I ran the mill for 2.5 engine hours and never had a repeat of the issue so hopefully that was the cause. now I still have to track down the problem with my debarker. I am sure it is a simple electrical issue but finding it may take some time.


 First batch - see little 4' piece already on the mill. It made a couple of 2X6's and a couple of 3" battens for future bus stop/deer blind.


 Next log 21' and I bucked into 7' sections. I sawed up the 17 butt for an order at the start of the week. I cut these into 3/4X6" & a few 3/4" X 8" boards and about 3 dozen 3" wide 1/2" battens all for future bus stop/deer blinds.


 Total yield approximately 265 square feet (I don't cite BF when under 4/4 thicknesses). This will side a couple of 4' square buildings. I will mostly cut the rest of the top up into 2X4 framing which I use in 6', 6.5' and 4' lengths.



This is the last one I built. It is disassembled and on strapped down on my trailer for delivery to the customer this Saturday.

[firefighter ontheside]

Do you guys know anything about sawing exotic hardwoods.  I have a buddy who has been working for a flooring dealer.  Apparently the owner asked my buddy about milling a log of cocobolo he has and of course my buddy mentioned me.  If the guy buys me a carbide blade would it be a good idea or a bad idea.  

[caveman]

When we had the lt-28 with the 25 hp gas engine we were told by members here that we did not have the hp to run the carbide blade.  We ran 4° Kascos and WM blades when sawing Ipe and live oak.  

WV, I am glad to see you have your engine troubles sorted out.  Also, sorry for the loss of your brother in law.

[firefighter ontheside]

Thanks, I was wondering about the hp issue.  I only have 15 hp.  

[Ianab]

How big is the log? Cutting a 15" log needs less HP than a 30". 

And wear a dust mask / long sleeves etc. A lot of those exotics can cause an allergic reaction. 

[firefighter ontheside]

Thanks Ian, I did read about the dust being toxic and causing an allergic reaction.  It is not a large log from what I saw.  Appeared to be about 5' long and maybe 12" diameter.  If I were to do it, do you think I should get the carbide or just use my double hards.

[WV Sawmiller]

@caveman ,

   Thanks.

[teakwood]

Do you guys know anything about sawing exotic hardwoods.  I have a buddy who has been working for a flooring dealer.  Apparently the owner asked my buddy about milling a log of cocobolo he has and of course my buddy mentioned me.  If the guy buys me a carbide blade would it be a good idea or a bad idea.  

I have sawn cocobolo here in Costa Rica, you'll be fine with a bimetal blade, go slow. I had just 20hp also, probably less

[doc henderson]

take some pics! ;)

[JRWoodchuck]

I run the carbides on my mill and am really happy with them. Mines a 19hp diesel. 

[Bruno of NH]

Load of 4x8x14 hemlock bridge planking heading out today.
Big Bob on the load up.

[GullyBog]

That's an awesome sight/site.

[Peter Drouin]

So bruno Did you buy the logs or just cut them for the customer. Why I ask is if the logger has more Hemlock.

[Bruno of NH]

Peter,
I bought the logs.
I was lucky this was his last load off the lot.
He was moving to a hardwood lot.
If you want I can send you his number.

[cutterboy]

Bruno, that must be a good feeling to see the results of your hard work heading out to be put to good use. Of course getting paid for it is even a better feeling. ;D

[Bruno of NH]

Cutter 
It was a well needed completetion and pay day.
When my help shows up on time or even shows up we can get some things done.
Red oak fence boards today and 12" firewood for a special order.

[Peter Drouin]

Thanks, Bruno But he's going to a hardwood lot, 
I will keep looking. 
This sawmill thing is ok if you can get logs.
With so many small mills out there giving lumber away I have to rethink this sawmill thing.

[Resonator]

Aromatic Red Cedar.



New customer brought me a trailer load of Red Cedar "logs" to make into 1" boards.



Though some of the "logs" left a lot to be desired. (A certain phrase about chicken pie comes to mind...). :D



I did manage to carve out few hundred board feet of sweet smelling pinkish-purple planks, which the customer was happy with.

[Darrel]

Red cedar arrives in a red wagon and gets sawn on an orange sawmill. Good deal. 

[doc henderson]

what is the plan for the lumber.  

[Resonator]

My customer was going to pass them along to his customer that is going to use it for fence material. He originally asked if I would saw telephone (utility) poles for him, which I turned down.

[Barney67]

Sawed my first pecan, the tree was a lightning casualty. Ended up with a mix of slabs, 1, 1.5 and 2.25 lumber. Soft in some areas, but also good figure and spalting.



 




 




 



 



 



 

[WV Sawmiller]

   Not sawing today but I pulled my 750 hour service on my mill yesterday. Tightened the drive belt a little but everything else looked fine. My debarker had quit and I was chasing problems with it yesterday. I did find a small wire going to the solenoid had pulled out of the ring connector so I put it back in a re-crimped it. Still no power to the debarker motor. It would spin when I jumped power across a couple of poles in the solenoid. I called WM this a.m. and set it up for them to call me back at the mill. I went out and uncovered and removed the covers and turned on the switches and it worked properly. : I still don't know if was a loose wire or what and no real good way to check till I try to use it again. I hate intermittent problems! If the problem continues you can find and fix it but if intermittent you never know if or what fixed it or if it is fixed. I know the loose wire was main problem.

[firefighter ontheside]

I finally ran my mill today after almost a month of my tractor being down and this was apparently the best time to have my first broken band after almost 4 years of having the mill.  When I went change it I found that the saw shrouds were very full of white pine dust.  I've never had that happen before.  I guess white pine is worse than anything else I've ever milled as far as pitch goes.  It was caked in there solid.  I guess the blade got really hot and then broke.

[WV Sawmiller]

FFOTS,

   When I've had that with EWP I soak a rag in WD40 (I bought a one gallon can of liquid) and start scrubbing with it. There may be better solvents to get rid of it but that works for me.