Edger/ Strait line rip saw in one machine

[KCMP]

Hello everybody,

I'm looking for a solution to edge the planks while they directly get out of the sawmill (like basically an edger) but that we can use sometimes as a straight line rips saw, to rip 2*10" (2x1*10") dry lumber into 2*3 (2x1*3"). 

I'm still talking to différent compagnies about their edgers to know exactly how accurate they could be on dry lumber or if if there's special fittings to make it work as a rip saw, but I'm not sure it would work.

Do you guys have any experience using an edger as a rip saw? Do you think about any other solution? 

I was starting to look into gang edgers but they seem to be machines for bigger operations. 

We may also have to invest into a rip saw able to deal with 48*48" plywood sheets, do you know if any of these machines would be also able to rip the 2*10" into 2*3?

Ask me if you need me to clarify some points, English is not my first language,

Thank you in advance, 

K.

[moosehunter]

Can not help you with the edger questions but welcome to the forum!!
mh

[YellowHammer]

I had a custom machine built by Baker that is intended for what you want as we needed a 2 blade edger for green wood and also a pretty accurate straight line rip saw for for kiln dried lumber.  Having a dual purpose machine is a difficult thing to do.      

It was designed from the outset for being a dual purpose machine, and accurate to within a 1/16" over 8 feet, and very fast.

It uses a custom split strobe blade with a higher tooth count than their normal blade, 20 hp 3 phase motor and conveyor indeed and outfeed and has a 3" thickness capacity.

Call Adam at Baker and mention my name, he will remember both me and the machine.  They did a very good job.

[nativewolf]

I would look at a panel saw for cutting sheet goods on a regular basis.  Often being sold used by cabinets shops going out of business, or upgrading, etc.  I don't think you can beat a good panel saw and once you have one you'll find more uses for it.  

Where are you from?  

[moodnacreek]

I can do a fair job of sawing a straight line on my edger by turning the feed down very slow. But it is a rough cut and if the wood is dry it may tear the edge.

[tule peak timber]

Used SLR saws are very reasonably priced and do a great job. I went with an older Diehl that will outlive me for sure.
 Welcome to the forum.

[KCMP]

I had a custom machine built by Baker that is intended for what you want as we needed a 2 blade edger for green wood and also a pretty accurate straight line rip saw for for kiln dried lumber.  Having a dual purpose machine is a difficult thing to do.      

It was designed from the outset for being a dual purpose machine, and accurate to within a 1/16" over 8 feet, and very fast.

It uses a custom split strobe blade with a higher tooth count than their normal blade, 20 hp 3 phase motor and conveyor indeed and outfeed and has a 3" thickness capacity.

Call Adam at Baker and mention my name, he will remember both me and the machine.  They did a very good job.

Thank you for the information! I'll contact Baker. So should I mention "Yellow Hammer" to Adam?

[KCMP]

I would look at a panel saw for cutting sheet goods on a regular basis.  Often being sold used by cabinets shops going out of business, or upgrading, etc.  I don't think you can beat a good panel saw and once you have one you'll find more uses for it.  

Where are you from? 

What of a vertical or horizontal panel saw would you recommend? How many sheets can you cut accurately at the time? We may have to get one for the next season.
We making strips out of plywood, needing to be 1/16 accurate. A 7 blades rip saw, feeding two sheets at the time is the fastest way we found to do it and it's working perfectly.
I'm originally from France but our company is based in British Columbia, Canada

[KCMP]

Used SLR saws are very reasonably priced and do a great job. I went with an older Diehl that will outlive me for sure.
Welcome to the forum.

Have you heard about companies making 48"/50" width SLR saws?

[YellowHammer]

I had a custom machine built by Baker that is intended for what you want as we needed a 2 blade edger for green wood and also a pretty accurate straight line rip saw for for kiln dried lumber.  Having a dual purpose machine is a difficult thing to do.      

It was designed from the outset for being a dual purpose machine, and accurate to within a 1/16" over 8 feet, and very fast.

It uses a custom split strobe blade with a higher tooth count than their normal blade, 20 hp 3 phase motor and conveyor indeed and outfeed and has a 3" thickness capacity.

Call Adam at Baker and mention my name, he will remember both me and the machine.  They did a very good job.

Thank you for the information! I'll contact Baker. So should I mention "Yellow Hammer" to Adam?

No, mention Robert Milton

[YellowHammer]

We have a straight line rip saw as well, but running green, wet wood across its cast iron deck will cause it to rust very quickly.  Most SLR's are built for dry wood, most edgers are built for green wood, and it's difficult to find one that does both.

[Southside]

I have a Riehl edger and although it didn't start off as a combo machine it now serves me as an edger, SLR, and gang saw with a few add ons that Darin made for me. Very happy with it as it feeds my moulder when straight lining. 

[Dave Shepard]

I believe one of the Wood-Mizer edgers can be set up as either an edger or a gang rip. Not sure anything but a dedicated SLR is going to give high accuracy.

[tule peak timber]

Used SLR saws are very reasonably priced and do a great job. I went with an older Diehl that will outlive me for sure.
Welcome to the forum.

Have you heard about companies making 48"/50" width SLR saws?

Sure, just turn the board over for very wide boards. Sometimes I use my sliding table saw to rip big slabs. If the slab is so big ( like VERY heavy 1000 ibs +) you will need to bring the tool to the wood.
 Has anyone asked what volume of wood you push every year? Rob

[KCMP]

Used SLR saws are very reasonably priced and do a great job. I went with an older Diehl that will outlive me for sure.
Welcome to the forum.

Have you heard about companies making 48"/50" width SLR saws?

Sure, just turn the board over for very wide boards. Sometimes I use my sliding table saw to rip big slabs. If the slab is so big ( like VERY heavy 1000 ibs +) you will need to bring the tool to the wood.
Has anyone asked what volume of wood you push every year? Rob

Sorry, my mistake, I'm talking about Gang SLR saws or fixed arbor rip saws like Mereen-Johnson or Woodmaster are making.
Fixed Arbor Rip Saws | Mereen-Johnson | Model 312 & Model 400 Series
I'm talking about 18 000 sheets of plywood a year.

[KCMP]

We have a straight line rip saw as well, but running green, wet wood across its cast iron deck will cause it to rust very quickly.  Most SLR's are built for dry wood, most edgers are built for green wood, and it's difficult to find one that does both.

Thank you for the infos, it is really helpful.

[KCMP]

I have a Riehl edger and although it didn't start off as a combo machine it now serves me as an edger, SLR, and gang saw with a few add ons that Darin made for me. Very happy with it as it feeds my moulder when straight lining.

Is it possible to have more information about the adds, or any pictures?
Thks

[KCMP]

I had a custom machine built by Baker that is intended for what you want as we needed a 2 blade edger for green wood and also a pretty accurate straight line rip saw for for kiln dried lumber.  Having a dual purpose machine is a difficult thing to do.      

It was designed from the outset for being a dual purpose machine, and accurate to within a 1/16" over 8 feet, and very fast.

It uses a custom split strobe blade with a higher tooth count than their normal blade, 20 hp 3 phase motor and conveyor indeed and outfeed and has a 3" thickness capacity.

Call Adam at Baker and mention my name, he will remember both me and the machine.  They did a very good job.

Do you have an idea of the experienced feeding speed for this accuracy on dry lumber using your settings? (8/16 over 8 feet).

[YellowHammer]

Here is a video I did earlier in the year about our sawmill and edger.  Near the end of the video is me edging kiln dried walnut that had been dried in a kiln and had a little curve to it.  So basically I'm using the edger as a twin blade straight line rip saw with enough accuracy that I can straighten the expensive boards without wasting wood.  The lasers show the blade path, so you can see how close to the edge of the board I can run.  

The speed is about half of full speed because edging too fast and only taking a little off will chip the edges of the boards.  I also like this speed because it lets me make sure the board is set well on the feed conveyors and feeding straight.  It would feed faster, but it's my personal preference speed for high value dried wood.  If this had been pine, I'd let the big dog eat.  

On green wood, it will go full speed through 3 inch thick red oak. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fbfRSIOnbyc

 

[Bradm]

If your looking at any kind of volume work, and providing you have the space, you may be better off with 3 different machines. One for edging, one for cutting the plywood and a band resaw for the 2x10 and 2x3. 

Mereen-Johnson makes a good machine.  They're not cheap but will process the plywood efficiently as well as handling the 2x3's.  I've seen systems where they have been equipped with auto feeders and stackers to minimize labor and handling of plywood sheets.  Keep an eye on the auction sites as these do come up for sale on a regular basis.

If you have the volume of 2x3 for resawing, than look into a saw called an HY400 as it's capable of speeds up to 400 linear feet (121.92 linear meters) per minute.  A local pallet producer installed one of these as part of their cut line and can easily outpace their stackers at full speed.

For resawing 2x10's, I don't think I've seen anything other than bands unless you want to run a large kerf saw.  Baker and Morgan have good machines for this.

[tule peak timber]

So 18000 sheets divided by 365 days in a year is 49 sheets a day.Contact Holzer or SCM. I DO work 365 days a year and need to get back to work.Good luck sir.

[KCMP]

So 18000 sheets divided by 365 days in a year is 49 sheets a day.Contact Holzer or SCM. I DO work 365 days a year and need to get back to work.Good luck sir.

This part of the production is seasonal and has to be done during 6 months. One guy cutting 40 hours a week, so it is about 140 sheets a day, plus he has to cut the rest of the production. Right now, processing the plywood is about 3 hours out of 8 for 80 sheets a day using basic tools but we are not satisfied of the accuracy and we need to be faster.
Don't worry we are also working 365 days per year.
Thank you

[tule peak timber]

Possibly a programmable beam saw from one of the bigger company's. I use SCM equipment and have been very happy with their machines.To be honest , I do very little with sheet goods and the methods for solid and sheet are a little different, especially in volume. May I ask where all of this ply is going ? Thanks  Rob

[KCMP]

Possibly a programmable beam saw from one of the bigger company's. I use SCM equipment and have been very happy with their machines.To be honest , I do very little with sheet goods and the methods for solid and sheet are a little different, especially in volume. May I ask where all of this ply is going ? Thanks  Rob

This is to build transportation boxes, so it doesn't need to be perfect, we would be satisfied with a faster 1/16" accuracy per sheet solution. We are now looking into a Mereen-Johnson fixed arbor ripsaw 48" wide, I'll check if SCM have a similar solution.
Thks.