some days I wish I had a swing mill

[Part_Timer]

     A friend of mine dropped off this log a couple of weeks ago and we finally got around to cutting it for him.  It was small enough that I didn't feel like quatering it with the chainsaw so we rolled it up there and used the saw to knock off the limb knobs off the sides so it would fit through the mill.
     What an adventure. I didn't feel like turning it all day long so I got things going and cut it till it would fit through the mill square then cut it in slabs for quatersawng.  It was a lot of work but ended up with a couple of real nice slabs and a lot of nice quatersawn boards.
     We ended up about 70% good clear 20% ok and 10% for cribbing.  Seemed like the good was real good and the bad was just crap.  oh well
     Jon said that he had a few more trees that size to cut down this summer.  Wanted to know if I had had enough of them big logs yet.   (yah Right)  8)
I told him to drop them off till he hit 5 or 6 deep and wait till I got them cut then I'd bring his lumber down and we could start over again
HIs logs my mill and he delivers the logs to the mill I take his half of the boards back to his barn.  He pays for all blade damage.  Works out ok for me.  I still think I'm getting the better part of the deal.  No felling, limbing, or bucking and no loading  or unloading 
     Still I wonder :  SWING MILL  :     I wonder if my wife would let me have both  :

[Fla._Deadheader]

  Don't get mad at me, but, ya GOTTA get some solid footing under that mill, before ya trash the frame.

  Get a couple of 4 X 4's for a ramp. Them logs roll MUCH easier on something solid.

  Got any cant hooks??? Don't see any in the pics.

  I youster be young once, bout a century ago.  ;D ;D :D :D :D

  For that amount of back bustin work, you guys made some nice boards.  Way to go.  ;) 8) 8)

[Part_Timer]

FDH
     I aint NEVER gona git mad at anyone who will give ideas to make my life easier.  I just used the leveling screws and some 4x4 blocks like they show in the manual.         I'll get some 4x4 runners this week though. 
     I've been thinking of building a frame to set the mill on and then making a loading deck.  4x6 down the side with 4x4 across the middle?  4x4's for the loading deck?
     I'm open to any suggestions that anyone has.  ???

    Yes we have 2 canthooks they just weren't in the picture.  I like using the jacks on the big logs when the boy is helping.  It makes things go a little slower and easier to get out of the way if necessary.  That is the biggest log we have ever tried.  I still have quite a few bugs to work out

[Fla._Deadheader]

  A few 4 X 4's crossways, to set the leveling screws on would help a bunch.  Tie 'em together so they don't move. 

  Use some dog tether screwdown thingys to tie the mill down tight onto the 4 X 4's. Put them inside the mill frame, so you can strap them to the mill cross members.

  Make the top of the ramps a tad higher than the frame of the mill. Look at yer pics. The mill is mashed into the ground on the log side. NO GOOD. Make the ramps long enough so you don't blow a gasket tryin to roll them logs on soft ground. Keeps 'em cleaner, too. ;D ;D

  Don't get the ramps so high that the log drops onto the mill. Easy does it is the name of the game.

[Captain]

Wow, Amen to that!!  :D

Must have been another adventure to turn that log on the mill...


Captain

[Part_Timer]

captain

turning the log was the easiest part of it.  sinch your straps around the log with the knot on bottom back side.  Loop it over the lifter on the jack and lift away.  It moves it over real slow and easy and holds it in location square so you can lock it down.   

[Timo]

Well, I can tell you that trying to load my swing mill last weekend wasn't much fun either. Mind you, no the mill fault. I had a 35" ten foot maple butt that is next in the log deck (I've been eyeing it as it gets closer and closer over the last few afternoons of milling ). Well, turns out it is flat on several sides.
Pretty much stuck until I can rope in some help and another cant hook :-\ :-\.

Oh well, there are always limitations. Have to get my loading system sorted out a bit better, and get in an order for a longer cant hook!

seeing your pictures made me feel better tho'!