Random Thoughts on Mills and Milling

tcsmpsi · October 02, 2006, 01:35:06 PM

As of yesterday evening, this is pretty much what I have milled up so far with this mill.
Roughly, I figure there's around 3000 bf of 1X and 2X lumber, not counting the various 4X and other thin and special use odds and ends.

Right now, I have the third blade installed in the mill. By far, it has mostly been SYP, some really rich, knotty and some not. Cut a little oak, enough to find that it has more tendency to dance around on a feller.
Looking closely at this third blade installed, I'll still cut some with it. I use just water, with just a hint of pine cleaner in it, occassionally (if I notice I am getting buildup on the blade/guide/bandwheel).

I'm pretty impressed with the bandblade durability and production. I get a lot more actual cutting out of one than I had anticipated. Which is a good thing. ;D

I would like to change the carriage rollers into something with needle bearings rather than brass inserts. Thought I might like to change the raising and lowering to something maybe more quickly precise, but then, no idea what that might be besides some direct gear application. The more I get used to this set up, the better it is. And, it adjusts quickly and easily, and doesn't need it that often.

I like the built-in steel water/lube tank. If nothing else, it seems I have enough plastic jugs around all over the place.

One thing I find that seems to be a bit different than most other bandmills I have seen, that I also believe may have notable benefit, are the bandwheel covers.

I like the cage design. I can keep an eye on the blade/wheels, it allows the sawdust out and don't get buildup, also I believe it helps to keep wheels/blade/bearings cooler.
Of course, it wouldn't be too good for having to channel the sawdust like a chute would.

My shed lumber is all 'bout dry now. Having to work in other projects as I can, too. But, once I get the shed done, then I'll have some milling coming in for other folks.

The shed has increased its architectural dimensions considerably since its first concept. :D

Having had quite a wrestle with what type mill, what mill, who the, what the , how the...I am quite pleased with the setup being what it is.

From what I can tell thusfar, about the one most beneficial addition to the mill itself would be a good log turner.

I don't mind manually pushing/pulling the carriage. In fact, I rather prefer it, for my particulars.
If I were just going to do milling for a living, I would want all the help I could muster. But then, I would have to give up a lot of other 'stuff'.

fencerowphil (Phil L.) · October 02, 2006, 02:11:24 PM

That looks mighty reewardin' and satisfine!

Phil L.

brdmkr · October 02, 2006, 03:03:34 PM

tcsmpsi,

You have got to quit posting those pictures of your sawing area. If my wife sees those, I'll have to quit cutting for several weeks to clean everything up around my mill :D :D. Seriuosly, you have a great looking setup. I am going to have to get more organized. Thanks for the pics and inspiration!

mike_van · October 02, 2006, 05:09:47 PM

I'd never guess you were in Texas by the photos you post, it's so GREEN - But then, I know it's a BIG state - :D I used to get this Cattlemans magazine, they'd show 500 head on the King ranch, I could see maybe two blades of grass in the distance - And there was a jackrabbit eating one of them! Nice job your doing there - At least it's cooler now - isn't it?

fencerowphil (Phil L.) · October 02, 2006, 05:35:00 PM

Well, where I cut
did look that neat..

at one time.

:D

Phil L.

tcsmpsi · October 02, 2006, 05:37:20 PM

Well, Phil, it is rewardin and satisfine. ;D Oh...and a lot of hard work. Huh, mike_van. :D

Now, brdmkr, it ain't all that neat. I keep telling me that it'll be better once I get a shed built. ;D My time constraints are so diverse on my milling time, I have to keep it somewhat picked up and ready.
Besides all that, if I didn't, how could I post the photos for you ??? I certainly wouldn't want to miss that opportunity. ;)

Yep, mike, Texas is a big place with lots of different geographical zones. This area is generally known as the Big Thicket. It had cooled off a little for a few days, but yesterday weren't one of them. At least it wasn't in the 100's.

Part_Timer · October 02, 2006, 09:37:49 PM

Tcsmpsi

When we were at the show in KY I saw a mill there that was quite unique. First off the blade was not 90 degrees to the log face it was more like 75 or 70. It made for some very easy sawing.

Now the part you might be able to use. The mechanism that run the head up and down had a garage door spring as a counter balance. It made the up and down go very smooth. you could just lift up on the break lever and the head would drop at a nice steady rate and you could raise it with one finger. As smooth as hydrolics.

The log turner was just a boat winch mounted on an arm on the side of the bed rail. You just lifted it up into position and pined it up when you wanted to use it and dropped it down out of the way when you didn't need it. He just had a spike on the end of the cable so you tapped it into the log crank the winch and set the log dogs. It also worked nice to roll them up onto the mill. Very slick setup.

I'll look and see if I have any pics.

Tom

tcsmpsi · October 03, 2006, 08:50:52 AM

Hey Tom

Look hard for those pics, will you? ;D There are several things I am looking into doing with the mill, but for a pretty good while yet, I am just going to have to use it. It is looking like pine beetle is going to make a pretty good hit here this year, as well as I am hearing/reading they are in other areas. Which means I will have to harvest more, sooner.

Things on this end did not work out as we had hoped, so we didn't make it to KY.

Have you gotten to use one of the skillmills yet?

michael

tomboysawyer · October 03, 2006, 10:39:22 AM

Quote from: Phil L. on October 02, 2006, 05:35:00 PM
Well, where I cut
did look that neat..

at one time.

What I want to know is how he managed to mill his stuff in the right order so the smaller stuff ended up on top. My poor tailer (husband) is always b****ing about the fact that I never cut enough of one thing to complete his rows. I tell him he should make narrower stacks.

Or is that just a lot of restacking?

tcsmpsi · October 03, 2006, 10:59:16 AM

I milled my longest logs first, etc. ;) I already had a couple a couple whacks of logs and knew about what I had lumberwise.

In fairness, I probably should mention that this old body has moved millions of board feet of lumber of all sorts, up, down, around, in all sorts of conditions.

On the dried, stacked lumber, it has been restacked, and some of the longer pieces, I re-stickered because they got a bit wet in the blowing frog-strangler we had the other night.

fencerowphil (Phil L.) · October 03, 2006, 06:23:01 PM

Ah, so!

Boy, would I have to do a lot of restacking.

Tomboy,
Maybe if I could get my wife in the company of you, Mary (Mrs. Bibbyman), and Mrs. CustomSawyer, she could get the hang of the sawmilling world. So far, not a bit of luck: No interest, no way, no how.

NOT A BIT!

Phil L.

timcosby · October 04, 2006, 12:28:15 AM

i have made it a sawyer rule...... each lenght of board gets it own stack!!!! lesson learned.

getoverit · October 05, 2006, 12:39:12 AM

It seems that no matter how I stack lumber, the customer always wants what is on the bottom of the stack too :D

tcsmpsi · October 05, 2006, 07:43:17 AM

At the moment, I am my only customer for the lumber. Though, I do have to keep swatting a couple fellows away from it. :D

However, I am looking at that down the lane and have the 'architectural plan' for it made up in mind.

Will be a spell before I get to it, though.

tomboysawyer · October 05, 2006, 08:56:03 PM

Quote from: Phil L. on October 03, 2006, 06:23:01 PM
Tomboy,
Maybe if I could get my wife in the company of you, Mary (Mrs. Bibbyman), and Mrs. CustomSawyer, she could get the hang of the sawmilling world. So far, not a bit of luck: No interest, no way, no how.
NOT A BIT!

Ah, well, there must be sumthin you love in her!

I bet your house is neater than mine. Careful what you wish for, you just might get it!

I do like those neat stacks. Mine are neat, just not *that* neat. I also scored free lumber "covers" from a lumber yard and cover (and staple) them to the top of finished stacks.

tcsmpsi · October 07, 2006, 03:45:48 PM

It's like I've been showing the male teenager yet at home in stacking firewood. Once you start getting off a little, if you keep stacking it goes to a lot.

It's been these other good looking stacks (as yours, tbsawyer) setting a good foundation.

Besides, it's all more pleasing to my permanent female partner's senses, and overall makes Life much more pleasant. ;D

tomboysawyer · October 07, 2006, 10:41:27 PM

Quote from: tcsmpsi on October 07, 2006, 03:45:48 PM
It's like I've been showing the male teenager yet at home in stacking firewood. Once you start getting off a little, if you keep stacking it goes to a lot.

It's been these other good looking stacks (as yours, tbsawyer) setting a good foundation.

Besides, it's all more pleasing to my permanent female partner's senses, and overall makes Life much more pleasant. ;D

I'm not too neat around my house. Guess clutter doesn't bother me there. But it bothers me on the work site and on my boats. A clean boat is a safe boat. Plus, just like when working around all that big equipment, if it's put away and everything is neat, you can find stuff in an emergency.

I run a http://vbmx.orgbusiness%20materials%20exchange up here and some lumber company was giving away his lumber covers. Guess I could go to the local lumber yard too, but then I'd have to dumpster dive. So the yard giving away the covers, I asked him to put 'em in a box and I sent him a FedEx label. These are awesome. I stapled them to the top layers.