First Mobile Sawmill Job in Forever...

DR Buck · October 30, 2018, 08:11:49 AM

Today I am headed out to my first mobile sawmill job since I stopped doing them while selling our farm, retiring, moving, building an addition on the new house, etc..... Nearly 1 1/2 years.

I hope I remembered all the stuff I need to put on the truck to take with. :

Good thing it is only 8 miles from home in case I need to come back and get something like blades or the sawmill. ;D

Weekend_Sawyer · October 30, 2018, 08:31:44 AM

Good luck and congratulations on this new chapter in your life!
Jon

Magicman · October 30, 2018, 09:16:48 AM

Dave.

I was hoping that I would not have to saw this week...still unpacking, unloading, and re-loading from our Colorado trip but the customer just called. Friday & Saturday it is. :-\

maple flats · October 30, 2018, 09:47:46 AM

I no longer do mobile sawing, but when I did I used a list I made up on my computer and printed it out for each job. As I thought of other things I should have I added them to the list.
When I used the list I'd check each item off as I loaded. If I came to an item I didn't think I needed on this job, I drew a line thru it. Then, after the job, I used the list again to be sure I left with everything I'd brought. It saved lots of time for me.

Magicman · October 30, 2018, 01:27:17 PM

Everything goes with me every time, everywhere. No list and no forgetting. :P

Resonator · October 30, 2018, 04:11:43 PM

"Rather have it and not need it, than need it and not have it." - old saying

John S · October 30, 2018, 06:14:12 PM

I had a job last week where I took all of my normal tools plus a Logrite fetching arch in the bed of my Tundra. First time I transported it and it worked great along with the HF 12,000 lb. winch mounted on the front of the truck. Thank you Logrite!

esteadle · October 30, 2018, 07:36:52 PM

Quote from: maple flats on October 30, 2018, 09:47:46 AM
I no longer do mobile sawing, but when I did I used a list I made up on my computer and printed it out for each job. As I thought of other things I should have I added them to the list.
When I used the list I'd check each item off as I loaded. If I came to an item I didn't think I needed on this job, I drew a line thru it. Then, after the job, I used the list again to be sure I left with everything I'd brought. It saved lots of time for me.

This is how I do my camping trips.
For sawing jobs, I keep everything in the truck. I got room in the truck.. ;D

SawyerTed · October 30, 2018, 08:51:24 PM

I learned to have a dedicated set of tools for my mobile jobs. If I unload my truck, I keep it all in a specific location. When the next job comes, I just load the stuff and go. I replenish consumables as soon as I can between jobs.

If I saw for myself, I load the truck just like I'm going mobile. It works for me.

Chuck White · October 30, 2018, 08:55:26 PM

Just finished my last Mobile Saw Job today, I'll start again in the spring! :new_year:

Magicman · October 30, 2018, 09:19:37 PM

The trailer is loaded with the camping gear and 4-Wheeler ready for a trip to the farm next week. The camper is unloaded and the tool boxes and sawing gear will be loaded onto the truck tomorrow. I picked up another road trip job today so I will be very busy for the next couple of weeks. Not my choosing but just the way it goes.

Stephen1 · October 30, 2018, 09:50:02 PM

congratulation on your new life!
I decided to buy a new sawmill because of all you guys I met at the BBQ.
I figured if you guys are still sawing, then I could do it also. I sold the old girl on Friday at pick up my new LT40 wide tomorrow morning 8)

Magicman · October 30, 2018, 10:09:47 PM

Oh Wow, Congratulations !!! 8)

DR Buck · October 31, 2018, 07:54:47 AM

Well it turned out mostly good. I did forget my mill leveling blocks which I did need. The site had a slight incline but customer provided a few cement blocks that worked in place of them.

I did learn that the new LT40 Super-Wide cannot lift a 20 foot 26" diameter hickory log. Neither could the customers tractor. We ended up cutting it in half to get it on the mill.

Weekend_Sawyer · October 31, 2018, 08:03:06 AM

How did that big hickory mill?
While I haven't milled a bunch of them, it seems the bigger, and of course straighter they are the flatter the lumber drys.

DR Buck · October 31, 2018, 09:07:01 PM

Quote from: Weekend_Sawyer on October 31, 2018, 08:03:06 AM
How did that big hickory mill?
While I haven't milled a bunch of them, it seems the bigger, and of course straighter they are the flatter the lumber drys.

It milled fairly well for hickory. But you need to have a sharp blade on the mill. Hickory is hard on blades, not counting the two metal hits. I got about 350 bf on a new band before I had to change it to keep from getting wavy cuts.
Here is a picture of the beast before cutting it in half. It's exactly 20 foot from where it was cut off at the stump to the 4 ft piece cut off the top end. It had to be pushing 6500 lbs in weight. The mill wouldn't even budge off the ground with it loaded in the arms.