Thinking about buying a Lucas Slabber ?

Sawdust Lover · October 26, 2012, 05:48:33 PM

Logboy, You pretty much answered all the questions I had. Looks like I am going to work towards a new lucas mill. Would you put it on a concrete slab? I am going to build a building for it that I will start soon. How big would you build a building just to cover the mill with a few feet to spare?

logboy · October 27, 2012, 05:17:11 PM

No matter what you decide, put it on concrete if you plan on doing a lot of slabbing. Its easier to keep things flat, straight and true, and clean up around, which you'll do daily. I sawed outside on a concrete pad for a number of years, now I'm in my barn and out of the weather and wind (finally!). Leave yourself plenty of headroom for heavy equipment, and lots of ventilation for exhaust fumes. You want plenty of extra room. The main rails are 20' long, with a 4' extension on each end. 40' long would be an OK start. Leave plenty of room to walk around the mill on all sides so you can do what you need to (adjust cranks, etc). Like others here on the forum will tell you, it doesnt matter how big you make it. Eventually you'll end up wishing you went bigger. I expanded the door on my former dairy barn to 18' wide to get 16' logs through (the mill can cut 20, remember). I wish it was a bit bigger.

Sawdust Lover · October 27, 2012, 08:12:00 PM

Thanks Logboy, you have been a great help! I plan to go ahead and get one in January and will start on the building in the next few weeks.

logboy · October 27, 2012, 09:14:32 PM

I'm glad I could be of assistance. If you have any questions at all, just ask. Before you do any sharpening and grinding on your chains, contact me first so you're set up for success.

sigidi · October 28, 2012, 04:54:08 PM

Yeah its much easier to have experiences help when you first do it - if I knew then what I know now, I would have been doing a lot more slabbing back in the early days just due to how much better I would be at doing it ;D Good luck

logboy · October 28, 2012, 05:38:16 PM

Sigidi is right. Studies have shown that trial and error is the most inefficient way to learn. When you get your slabber we'll give you a few more pointers to set you up for success. Maybe I'll encourage you to make a modification or two. ;)

sigidi · October 28, 2012, 05:43:23 PM

THAT is SWEET addition logboy!!!!! what a neat idea, so bloody simple and the wedges are easy to get to while cutting, good stuff mate - also gives me a reason to get my welder out

;D ;)

Sawdust Lover · October 28, 2012, 05:55:31 PM

I'm sure I will have questions for you, I actually think I would like to come up and see your operation and help for a day if I could Logboy. It would be a day of driven one way but I think it would be well worth the trip. I can shovel sawdust too!

logboy · October 28, 2012, 08:13:29 PM

QuoteTHAT is SWEET addition logboy!!!!! what a neat idea, so bloody simple and the wedges are easy to get to while cutting, good stuff mate - also gives me a reason to get my welder out.

Look closely and you may notice thats not the only addition. I extended the throttle bar over so I can push on the middle of slabber, and reach both sides of the log and the oil lube bottle valve while I'm cutting.

QuoteI'm sure I will have questions for you, I actually think I would like to come up and see your operation and help for a day if I could Logboy. It would be a day of driven one way but I think it would be well worth the trip. I can shovel sawdust too!

Shovel sawdust? Thats what the skid loader is for. ;D Half my time I spend sawing, the other half I'm a writer, a job that has me traveling a fair bit. After you get your slabber, we'll see if I do a job that gets me out to the East Coast in your area and I'll help you out for a few hours before I catch my flight.