Thoughts on my new (to me) Lucas 830 mill

[oakiemac]

Ok I bought a used Lucas with slabbing attachment this past winter. I have been wanting a slabber for years and finally decided to bite the bullet. I was originally going to get the dedicated slabber since the swing blade is similar to the MD saw that I currently use. I ended up getting the mill so that I can use it as a back up to the MD and I can easily transport it to off site locations if I want to. I currently don't want to do this but a few years ago someone took down the largest white oak tree in southern Michigan. The log was too big to move so I ended up passing on it. If I had the Lucas I could of set the mill up around the log and I think would of gotten a lot of free press by cutting up this old tree.
The other reason I wanted the swing mill was to use the planning head on large slabs. I have found that is very hard to surface these. Running them through  wide belt sander takes a long time and you have to lift the heavy slab up on to the machine. I have some customers that made a sled with a router but that is also slow and tedious.
Now onto the slabber: I have cut a few big logs with it and I have to say its a lot of work but it is very impressive. I just cut a white oak log that was just over 60" in diameter. I had to shave a little bit off on side of log with chainsaw to get it to fit in the mill.  The slabs were truly impressive at 59" wide and 2.5" thick. I've also cut some huge walnuts and a 48" wide spalted soft maple.
The cool thing about these slabs is how fast they sell. I had a guy come out and buy all 10 of the walnut and all 10 of the soft maple slabs. He gave me a deposit and will pick them up when dried.
Overall I'd give the Lucas a big thumbs up. I cant wait to get out there and cut slabs with it. To me its a ton of fun. I guess I really get excited by big slabs. I haven't even used the swing blade part yet. I have a red oak log that is almost as tall as I am and I think that will be the first victim of the Lucas circle blade. 8)

[thecfarm]

Sounds like it's paying off all ready. Got any pictures of the Big One that did not get away?  ;D

[Ianab]

It's the versatility of the swing blade machines that I like.

So it's not just a mill that can cut a 5ft wide board, it will also plane it for you later, and as a bonus it's perfectly good at cutting regular boards from normal size logs if you want to.

So when you see those 4 - 5ft dia logs now, you smile  ;D

[oakiemac]

Agreed Ianab ;D

Does anyone run used motor oil for the slabber oiler?
Another thing I have been wondering about is what is the purpose to the 1.5x2" piece of aluminum that hangs by a cable right above the bar?

[scmilling]

Hi , glad to hear of other lucas millers having fun. I rarely use the slabbing attachment- I hate it for being so slow but I'm also really impatient !!.  When I do use it , I put cheap new hydraulic oil in the reservoir, never a used oil , as its dirty black and could potentially stain a customers wood , and it may have enough metallic bits in to act as grinding paste on a really expensive to replace, bar.
The ally plate you mention should block out the safety interlock when you use the unguarded slabber instead of the shielded circle blade. If your machine has this safety its at the far side of the circle guard from you , where you slip this piece of ally between the switch plunger and its locating ring. Otherwise the fuel pump shuts down on my 10-30 as it thinks there's no guard in place. It's on the piece of cable so you never lose it when changing between slabber and circle.
Keep on cutting.
Shaun

[oakiemac]

Thanks for all the input.
Now back to making sawdust