Whats the hardest lesson you have learned?

[Banjo picker]

I think one of the heardest things I have learned is not to fool around very long on a crooked log....I would like to say I have learned not to mess with too big of a log--but I can't.. ;D 

OK...somebody else spill the beans....Tim

[woodmills1]

how to be calm and cool and ask the right questions with customers.

[TimJr]

I have learned that a 16' pine 32" in diameter is not the easiest thing to roll over with one person and a 48" cant hook! Especially if you get it on a flat side.

[DanG]

Don't marry a crazy woman...oh, I guess you're talking about sawmilling. :

It is a toss-up between "scan the thing anyway" and "go ahead and sharpen up".  I have hit metal in the second of 20' logs from a pine, and have wasted countless hours trying to get a few more boards with dull teeth.  These are lessons that are thoroughly ingrained in my mind, but not always followed in my actions. :D

[Kansas]

Hardest lesson I learned-and it took time for me to understand this- don't be afraid to make money. Stop worrying about what someone else is charging. If you provide service above and beyond the standard, don't feel you have to keep your prices down. No apologies necessary. I still struggle with that sometimes.

[Okrafarmer]

I think one of the heardest things I have learned is not to fool around very long on a crooked log....I would like to say I have learned not to mess with too big of a log--but I can't.. ;D 

I think you mean you cant.

[paul case]

my hardest lesson hummm.
that would be if you are sure it wont happen, it will. 

example #1.   when the head is idleing down and rolling to the end, surely it wont knock the blade off when it hits the stop.

ex #2.   i am going to set this log on the mill even though the stops are down it wont roll off the back if i sit it down easy .

ex#3. if i pull back on the clamp when the log is leaning against it , there is no way it could mash my hand.

ex#4.   no one has ever stolen my stuff before.

ex#5.  i think i have the head up enough to miss the big but on the log when it comes back.
              (i should write a book on the million ways to knock the band off)

ex#6   i have that small piece clamped down tight. there is no way it could come loose and bend the band all up.

ex#7.  that log is not too big for my mill.

ex #8   heard this before?   i am just gona make one more cut then i will put the log stops down.

ex#9.  just when you think you have the right size log at the mill for every order.   wrong

ex#10.   real lesson to learn.   saws for wood dont do well on metal. chainsaws or bandsaws.


pc

[Piston]

I have learned that a 16' pine 32" in diameter is not the easiest thing to roll over with one person and a 48" cant hook! Especially if you get it on a flat side.

+1 but it was only 28" diameter for me, however I only had an old, wooden, split, and beat up 30" peavey.  Needless to say that didn't work out, ended up taking 4 hours to mill that ONE log with LT15.  There is a 60" peavey and 42" cant hook on their way from Logrite as I write this 8) (ALMOST sprung for the 72" but didn't, I hope I dont' wish I had)
Lesson learned.

OH also, not only did it take me 4 hrs to mill, but since I was so beat from trying to turn that log and not thinking right, I ended up messing up and coming up with a 7 1/2 x 7 1/2 timber when I wanted an 8x8.  turned it all into 2x lumber. 

[weisyboy]

when they say there was never anything nailed to that tree. you beta believe that you will hit nails.

if there is a power cable or watter pipe anyware near your fence line even thow your posts are 10' apart you will always hit it.

[customsawyer]

How to say "NO!!!" to a job that you don't really want to do.
I let myself get talked into some jobs that I have no skills for.

[jdtuttle]

How to keep your finger away fron an 8" x 8" oak cant on the mill bed
jim

[weisyboy]

i to have a problem saying no.

do you mind stacking the timber in the shed" its over there" customer points 50m away. sure no problem.


"can you cut this old telagraph post up for me." sure no problem


dont do favors. you will always break sompthing and end up costing yourself a fortune.

[bandmiller2]

That I'am not in my 20's anymore,take it easy.Frank C.

[paul case]

me neither frank,
when i was 20 i worked 18-20 hour days in the summer and i never remember smelling as bad as i do now when i get in the middle of one of those 3 shirt days. tmi probably.   pc

[Banjo picker]

. tmi probably.   pc

???   smile_banjoman  Tim

[JPM]

to say no to someone who wants me to saw just a few logs , it will only take a little time

[Chuck White]

. tmi probably.   pc

???   smile_banjoman  Tim

Tim;  "tmi" in computer/texting lingo means: to much information.
That meaning you didn't have to get that technical for me to understand!

[Okrafarmer]

And WTMI means WAY too much information.

[WDH]

Don't try to cut crappy logs.  I always think that there may be a few good boards in there.  Then after spending all that time and the time to dry the lumber, it is usually knotty, splitty crap that no one will buy and I can't hardly give it away.

[r.man]

The answer to the question, " will you help me move my piano?" is always a definite "no" followed by " absolutely not" which is followed by " not a snowballs chance in July". These answers should be used whenever another person is asking you to do something inherently dangerous to your physical well being. The reason for the multiple answers is so they do not think that they can talk you into it or that you are being coy. Works for me on pianos and other back breaking thankless jobs that should be done by professionals or machinery.

[Okrafarmer]

I haven't learned that one yet, but I've never hurt myself helping out either. I can lift things pretty well. I don't mind helping with piano's and such because I store up a bunch of iou credits and people don't say "no" very easily to a guy that helps them move pianos!

[Magicman]

Don't try to cut crappy logs.  I always think that there may be a few good boards in there.  Then after spending all that time and the time to dry the lumber, it is usually knotty, splitty crap that no one will buy and I can't hardly give it away. 

Ya can't make chicken pie out of chicken mess.

[Meadows Miller]

Gday

Magic We call it Turning Crappola into Jam Overhere but we use a slightly shorter second word Mate  ;) :D :D :D And yes ive done plenty of it over the years  ;) :D ;D 8)

Regards Chris

[pigman]

The answer to the question, " will you help me move my piano?" is always a definite "no" followed by " absolutely not" which is followed by " not a snowballs chance in July".

Does that mean that I should not call you when I need to move my piano upstairs? :-\

"Whats the hardest lesson you have learned?" To not save every crappy board that I saw.

[iffy]

I have learned when you have built a log shell that is assembled with 1/2" x 12" lags and you are now cutting out the door and window openings that a saw with a fresh chain can only make it halfway through a 1/2" lag.  >:( Actually I learned it 12 times. :-[