Cleaning the mill

[Chuck White]

Has anyone found an easy way to clean the sawdust and chaff out of the main beam on a hydraulic Wood-Mizer?

I've tried blowing it out with my air compressor and I've tried the water hose.

Those both worked pretty good when the hitch of the mill was raised to the max (about 3-4 feet) height.

But, there's still a lot of stuff in there.

[peterduncan]

We bagan using sticks of dynamite, but the neighbors always complained :D

[Fla._Deadheader]

  Might be some things living in there you don't WANT to have come out
  : : : ;D ;D

[Robert Long]

Why clean it.......I bet you make your bed too! :D :D

Robert

[flip]

I don't know a whole lot about the WM design but you may curb some of the cleaning if you can stuff some foam blocks in each end.

[Chuck White]

When we first got the mill, there was a deer mouse family living in the hydraulic control box.
They got evicted real quick.  Funeral :'(  lasted about as long as the eviction.;D

A lot of sawdust and chips get into the small holes where each of the hydraulic hoses come out of the beam.
I'm just a little concerned that as the sawdust and chips decompose, that they might have an affect on the hoses in the beam.
Before the mill goes in storage for the winter, it will be mouse proofed!

[Robert Long]

It comes to mind that the other day I borrowed my brother's generator only to find a mouse nest throughout the motor cover and carb, it was pink insulation and seeds.  What a mess!

>:(Robert

[beenthere]

Now that it's soaked down with water, I'd think getting it out would be the better idea (and more difficult).  : :

[SamB]

My TK is a stationary under roof setup. I've found a leaf blower works well for what I can't pickup or shovel .

[Chuck White]

The leaf blower is probably a very good idea.
It will put out a high volume of air rather than high pressure as most typical air compressors do!
I'll have to try it when we get the mill home again.
Unless.... I may be able to borrow my brothers blower, it's gas powered like a chainsaw. 

[kelLOGg]

I've filled the passageways in my mill with Great Stuff more to keep wasps from building nests than to keep sawdust out - although it should do both well. A surprise sting when working around these open areas is not uncommon for me. >:(

Bob

[bck]

You know anybody on the fire dept ? You could get volume and pressure

[Chuck White]

That fire dept. trick would be great, but I want the hydraulic and electric spared in the flood. :D

[milling man]

Dynamite does sound good for some part on my mill that has caked on sawdust. :D ;D :D But I have found a leaf blower to work excellent on the loose stuff.

[backwoods sawyer]

I cleaned out the tube on my mill when I pulled all the hydraulic lines out and replaced them with braided lines after the fire in the hydraulic box wiped them all out. However I do not recommend setting a fire in the hydraulic box just to clean out the tube. Besides when you go to stuff the larger hydraulic lines back into the same space, you will find that there is one line left that still needs to go in and there is no room left for it even after pulling all the bolts out that go thru the tube. It was a good time to replace the wiring for the lights and brakes.

Use the fire hose and then do not plug the trailer lights in until it is completely dry just in case there is a bare spot in one.

[Sawyerfortyish]

We use a leaf blower for lots of things around the mill and also to blow any loose dirt and sawdust out of the kiln and the lumber stack were going to dry. It works real good

[MartyParsons]

I carry a STIHL SH85 leaf blower with me on service routes. Water is ok but it removes lubrication and makes the sawdust stick to everything. Dry air works the best.
Some customers even wax their mills! I am sure they make their beds.  ;D
Marty
If you realy want to clean up around the mill use the scheader vacume attachment on the SH85 and pick up the sawdust etc.