Board Feet per hour on LT15

[Brad_bb]

I think the numbers the manufacturer give our sort of like the towing numbers the truck companies advertise. The only way they ever get that tow number is with a strip down truck with no options and no frills and just the towing equipment. In reality, 98% of the pick up sold, Would not be able to tow those numbers given that most have an option packages that reduce the tongue weight in the GVWR  of the tow vehicle.  The point is that it's misleading to a new person considering a purchase. You need to be very skeptical and scrutinize and find out exactly under what conditions those numbers are created. It doesn't give you a true sense of what you are going to be able to do.  If a guy is basing his purchase and how much he'll be able to produce to sell and pay back, and they can't hit the expected numbers based on the manufacture, then that could definitely be a problem for them.

Also, I think I've said this elsewhere, I can almost never work eight hours milling. Six hours is typical and I'm tired after that, good and tired. If I push it to seven hours, it will affect my ability or the next day. If I pushed it to eight hours or beyond, I'm probably going to need a recovery day after that. That's a lot of time on your feet and a lot of lifting and moving on a manual mill.

[LeeB]

The point is that it's misleading to a new person considering a purchase.

Misleading to a potential customer also that has gone to the manufacturer's literature and thinks you can saw this output for them. 

[Magicman]

I would love to be able to average 300bf per hour.  My all time best sawing day ever was 3060bf which averaged about 380 bf per hour.

The fact is that I have never concerned myself with bf per hour or ever per day and I had to go back to find the above numbers.  My only objective is to complete the customer's cut list to his satisfaction and move on to the next job.

[WV Sawmiller]

   Can't say for a manual LT15 but I have been pretty anal about keeping up with my bf and engine hours since the day I got my mill and I am cutting an average of just over 175 bf/hr on my LT35 hydraulic. That is a mix of live edge 8/4 slabs, 4/4 boards and everything in between. That is working alone or with client provided help. That does not include any prep work, clean up, stacking when the mill is not running, etc. so actual numbers are way less than that.

[Stephen1]

I remember reading on here years ago, actual sawing is 25% of your time. The rest is material handling!

[Sixacresand]

I suspect a maximum capacity size log on a LT15 would be a two hour job with good help and a FEL. And an all day job if working by yourself and no support equipment.  

[Magicman]

I can tell you that a 40"+ Red Oak log that scales 800+ bf, will take almost 3 hours to whittle down on my sawmill.  I have never bothered nor taken the time to actually scale the lumber that those monsters produce, but it is a whack.

Of course this has drifted from the LT15 question, so how about food?? 

[B.C.C. Lapp]

.  My only objective is to complete the customer's cut list to his satisfaction and move on to the next job.

I agree with that. Quality workmanship resulting in quality nice lumber  and attention to detail will make you more money in word of mouth advertising in the long run than more bd ft per hour ever will.
And doing a job the very best that you can is satisfying and a reward in its own self.

[Nebraska]

I suspect a maximum capacity size log on a LT15 would be a two hour job with good help and a FEL. And an all day job if working by yourself and no support equipment.  

It is a big chunk of a day with an EZ Boardwalk jr, a decent tractor and loader and no help. Especially if you clean up your mess and stack/sticker and store properly. 

[Southside]

It may be quicker and physically easier, but a max capacity log on a Super 70 is still a miserable thing.  I won't buy logs that big, there is zero production opportunity when dealing with the monsters.  

[Machinebuilder]

I finally watched the video.

I thought his setup is strange, I think there are a lot of less efficent ways he does things.

I am strictly a hobby miller, I am still learning almost every time I mill a log. I don't worry about how slow I am.

I have pushed the limits on log size, both large and small. I learned too small is a waste of time and too big is just too much effort.

I have a few 10-16' long 36-46" red oak logs I don't know what to do with. the trees were dead and dropping 8" branches.
They are  nice and straight, I cut them winter 2021.

I tried splitting them with my chainsaw, not happening, I don't want the wood that bad.
Nobody I know wants to deal with that size for firewood, I have a hard time giving the branches away.

I have no way to even move them, by Bobcat just says NO!

I have gotten them out of my way but it will take decades for them to rot.

Do any of you have an idea?

[Southside]

I would not saw a log with knots that large, the value of the lumber just isn't there. 

[rjwoelk]

I can tell you that a 40"+ Red Oak log that scales 800+ bf, will take almost 3 hours to whittle down on my sawmill.  I have never bothered nor taken the time to actually scale the lumber that those monsters produce, but it is a whack.

Of course this has drifted from the LT15 question, so how about food??  

Talking about food, Brad told me about a new recipe for guacamole, it was a better part of  day percuring said avocado, to various mechanical manipulations. To produce a fine product in the end. It may be a top secret procedure,  digin_2 digin_2

[Brad_bb]

Sent to rjwoelk:

Yesterday I tried a new method for making guacamole.
1. Take one large ripe Avocado and place it in the leg pocket of your work pants.
2. Hitch your trailer to your truck and drive 125 miles.
3. Load your forklift  onto your trailer and chain it down.
4. Place your large set of keys and your new set of timbersport gloves in the pocket with the Avocado.
5. Drive another 50 miles and then unchain and unload the forklift from the trailer.
6. Reach in the pocket and retrieve the smashed Avocado, add salt and lime juice and enjoy!
Bonus step 7. Clean your hands, your keys, your gloves, and your pants thoroughly and place in front of fan to dry.

I was going to be gone for 2 days and the Avocado was ready and would be bad by the time I got back, so I took it with me.  I was planning to eat it (guac) that night.