Home-Brew Lubrication ?

[jrkimroxie]

I'm cutting SYP and using 1-2 cups pine-sol in the water container on my LT-28. Still getting considerable amount of sap on the blade, the logs vary from fresh cut to 18 months cut/dry. Any suggestions ??   ???

[Tom]

I always found that the quantity of the water on the band was more incidental in keeping the sap off than the amount of soap.  I don't think I ever used that much, even when I used pine-sol.  One of my favorites was Palmolive dish soap.  I guess I used about four or five table spoons in 2 1/2 or 3 gallons.

The trick is to keep the band wet enough that the sap can't stick to it.   You aren't really cleaning anything with the soap, just making the water "wetter" so that it can be applied.  The centrifugal force of the wheel slings the stuff off with the sawdust.   It's always a balance.  Sometimes a drip or two is sufficient and sometimes it takes a pretty good flow.  Most of the time I didn't need any soap at all and just used water.

A band gumming up can have a lot to do with the heat generated at the kerf.  If you band is real sharp, you won't see much gumming.  If it begins to dull, or your set is too small (the band will rub in the kerf)  heat will build up and you will see more gumming.

I'm all against using kerosene, diesel or other oils on the band, but, truth be known, there are times when that is the answer.

[customsawyer]

I have used the pine-sol and it does pretty good. You might want to try liquid tide or cascade dish washing soap as I hear they have a higher level of surfactant do to the amount of water they need to work with.

[bandmiller2]

I know its frowned upon by many but just try a little diesel spritzing. Put some in a spray bottle and give it a shot every so often. If that solves your problem make a better aplicator like a wick. Frank C.

[Magicman]

SYP is my mainstay.

Two oz. of liquid Cascade per gallon of water.  It doesn't foam and will keep the band clean.  Do not bother using a generic.  "Great Value" foams and does not have the necessary detergent action.



Remove the squirter.



One squeeze glug is about 2 oz.  Just give it 5 of them.  I buy the 155 oz. size jug.

[pineywoods]

Like Tom said, usually the culprit is heat. If the band gets hot enough to melt the rosin, it's gonna stick regardless of what lube you use. Need a sharp blade, lots of set, probably lots of water, enough to act as a coolant. When the blade exits the cut, stop it and feel the blade with your finger. If it's hot, thats the problem. I did have to revert to diesel on some reclaimed beams, but if you have to do that here's how. don't squirt diesel on the blade, it will get slick and jump off the wheels. Tie a piece of felt or thick cloth on the outboard guide mount so that it just barely touches the blade. Wet the felt with diesel. Are these logs by any chance lightening kill ? I have had to use 2 blades and 5 gallons of water to saw up one lightening killed syp log.

[Magicman]

I had to leave and get to the sawmill this morning.  Sorry.

The solution that I use works fine for the great majority of the SYP logs that I saw.

Some SYP logs/trees are just very pitchy and will deal you some misery.  The job that I just finished today was over 3600bf and two logs, probably one tree, were really bad.  I had to run the blade with the water full force a couple of times on each log to clear the pitch from the blade.  The lumber was not high quality either.  That tree probably had been lightning struck years ago.