Where to take out 8x12 beams from 36" WO

[customsawyer]

Nice work. I bet you sleep well.

[terrifictimbersllc]

     TT, I'm not real familiar with a Peterson.  But I think it's easier to reverse direction than it is with a Lucas?  Is that how you made the cuts in pic #2?  Nevermind; re-reading your last post it's an 8x12.  No option in the matter.  I wish I were more comfortable with a cut like that with my Lucas.

One takes off the sawdust deflector which is usually on the left side of the blade.  Then crank the head over and cut horizontally with the left side of the blade pulling the mill forward. Have to plan the position of the log before starting to be able to get at it from both sides and being able to do this is limited to medium widths of wood maybe about 40" wide.  One also wants "horizontal lean-in" to be at a minimum so the tips of the cuts meet without giving much of a ridge.   

This "double cutting"  quite easy once I get the hang of it.  Cutting some off the right side is also to advantage in keeping a log stable near the end of sawing, where otherwise with removal of too much wood on the left and center,  the remaining portion might tip to the right.