sawmill and milling seminars and workshops - how to find?

[opticsguy]

There is certainly a steep learning curve with the new mill and a lot to learn.

Is there a listing someplace for workshops and seminars? Or any groups getting together?

I  live out near Seattle area. 

[Jeff]

Take advantage of the sponsor links to the left and check out all of their websites for information on coming events. Saying that though, I personally believe you can learn and retain much more by finding a local sawyer that would be willing to let you come and work beside him/her, but nothing, and I mean nothing is going to be more of an education than just simply going out there and sawing with your mill. All the seminars and workshops in the world will not replace actually going out there and doing it. 

[Jeff]

I guess I'd like to add a little to that.  Be fearless. As an analogy, I never took typing in school, and never typed a letter while in school. We never had computers. When they came out, I never wanted one. When my children got to be middle schoolers, it became obvious that I was going to have to relent and bring one of those fool things into my home.  Once I did, I just stayed clear of it until a friend of mine told me something. His name was George Muscott and he was a teacher in Harrison Schools, he was also the son of another friend, Art Muscott. Both Father and son were inventors of a machine called the muscott table. One of the very first and earliest machines to add automation to building pallets.  I was talking to George about having a computer in the house and George said Jeff, all that thing is is an electric filing cabinet with a built in calculator and dictionary. This was around 1997. He said, its nothing but a tool. Use it. Don't fear it. If you break it, fix it, if you can't fix it, find someone who can and then you can use it or break it again. Break it enough, you'll either learn to fix it yourself, or learn not to break it again.

So that's what I did. I never feared it and once I dove into the thing, it began to open itself up to me like a book.

I was thrown into a sawbooth with very little training when I was 18 years old because the boss saw me out produce the sawyer that was teaching me after the first month. He fired the guy with the knowledge because he figured I had the skills and he didn't want to pay him when this kid could do it for half of what the old sawyer was making. Not my idea and scared me to death. That was a steep learning curve. an 18 year old kid that was responsible for running a mill that was feeding several other mouths. I took a deep breath, made the owner of the local sawshop, Lafav's Saw my most important person, and sawed until something went wrong. Figured out how to make it right and would saw some more.  Be fearless.

[redbeard]

There are some really informative forestry and land stewardship seminars in our area. If you ever visit Whidbey Island I would be happy to talk milling with you in person or by email. Woodmizer puts on alot of demos and they are at all the events, get on there mailing list and they keep you well informed on whats going on in the area. WSU forestry extension has a list of all portable millers and small scale sawmills in Wa. State.  Welcome to the forum

[Bibbyman]

There is a whole section of the Forum dedicated to finding things going on.  It's further down in the "Outdoor Topics" area and titled "Shows, Events and Places to meet".

https://forestryforum.com/board/index.php?board=15.0

This board is linked the calendar so any events should be listed on it too.

https://forestryforum.com/board/index.php?action=calendar

Forestry and large woodworking trade shows are a good place to find sawmills and sawmill people.  We find them very useful for learning new things.

I see from one of your other posts that you're a new owner of a Timberking mill.  Maybe Timberking has an old, seasoned customer in your area that'll let you hang out for a while.

[thecfarm]

It's good too learn. I've gone to little work shops just put on by small wood lots owner group. Most times it's only a small article in the paper.
By the way,if you get into a mess we will help you get out of it.

[terrifictimbersllc]

And when you are  "going out there to saw", leaving the house at 5:30 a.m., it helps to have the mill hooked up and EVERYTHING in the truck ready, the night before.  Don't forget your blades and lunch.  And add 1/2 hr to your travel time for a comfort stop before you get there. 

[Meadows Miller]

Gday

First off Welcome to The Forum Opticsguy  ;) ;D 8) 8) 8) Overhere whe have a whole Timber Industry Training Center devoted to the industry The have a full size operational sawmill Mill ,Dry Kilns ,Planing & Moulding Operation  that produces about 500mbft of finished timber pa they have a special Two or Three week course that is dedicated to portable sawmilling on both a Lucas Mill and a Wood Mizer LT10or15  bandsaw  mill they run the novices rite through everything as I did one to get My Graders Tickets & kill time while I was outa action after the car accedent  I had when I was 18 it was a bloody great course though and I learnt afew new tricks and met some great people  ;) ;D ;D 8)   I also did a 12 month Certificate IIII in Timber Industry Management and Production I have be around Sawmills and Logging operations since I was born and working in them fultime since I was about 12yo nothing beats experence and getting hours in on any mill but its also handy to have Internationally recognized certification  ;)

Regards Chris

[opticsguy]

Thanks for the enthusiastic responses!!!  Will take all under advisement.

Redbeard, My sister lives on Whidbey Is. Just outside of Oak Harbour, so a trip down your way is relatively painless, I am in Bellingham.

Bibbyman, thanks for the links, will check them out.

Terrifictimbersllc,  My saw is semi-permanently set up close to the shop, milling head stored inside the shop.  Takes about 30 minutes to get the milling head out and set up for cutting.  All my trees are close by.  I had planted giant seqouia's 22 years ago for landscaping and some are now large enough for my mill . . . .  :-)

Mr Jeff,   Life lessons are always the best!!!