Chestnut Dock Poles

[terrifictimbersllc]

This morning going to mill about 60 chestnut logs to about 15" diameter, 150 years under water, dock poles, into flooring.   Not sure if salt or fresh.   Only fitting that it is raining right now.   Got to be out the door in 20 min better get going.

[Magicman]

This should be interesting.   

[Nomad]

     If that was salt water I sure hope those logs have been cleaned.  They'd have more livestock growing on 'em than you could believe.

[submarinesailor]

Pictures, pictures, we want pictures.

Bruce

[POSTON WIDEHEAD]

Whittle you a chestnut tooth pick first. You should be able to tell if its been in saltwater or fresh water.

This is true! 

[coastlogger]

If itd been salt water the marine borers would have destroyed them roughly 149 years ago, thats unless they were creosoted which Id assume theyre NOT!
I have squared up a few creosote pilings on the mill and its not great fun.

[terrifictimbersllc]

Well I'm back.   48 logs in 5.3 hours charged time.  The help was good.  These were little logs about 6-15" dia. and 5-12 feet long.  Cant type sawing mostly into 1-1/8 and a few 1-1/2.  .   All I can say right now is stinky stinky stinky.   Imagine you fell into the muck next to the paper mill and couldn't take a bath for a few days.  Smells like that.   p.s. the poles came out of the Thames river near New London, CT,  so the water was mostly salt.

PIX

One of 3 log piles
 
Mostly the wood was sound and a light yellow color.   Some of the logs had purple stains in them.

One of two lumber piles

I usually use one debarker today I had another one!

Riddle:  I had both a barker and a debarker!  What's up?  8) 8)

[POSTON WIDEHEAD]

  All I can say right now is stinky stinky stinky.   Imagine you fell into the muck next to the paper mill and couldn't take a bath for a few days.  Smells like that.   

Whewww.....When you post your pics, how about post DOWN WIND.  :D

[Magicman]

They looked pretty clean.  No problem with grit?

[terrifictimbersllc]

I'd say I used up 2-1/2 sharp blades with these logs.  It was a muck/grit-fest.   One hit a pebble.  The wood was very easy to saw otherwise, no waves.   I think the grit was just on the outside of the logs, they had been pulled out and initially were very muddy but they were washed off somewhat. 

[Magicman]

That sounds like about what I had with sinker Cypress.  When I first looked at them and saw the grit and grime I could imagine sawblades flying, but with the LubeMizer and the Debarker going I used surprisingly few blades.  I don't know if the LubeMizer did any good, but I let it rip.

[terrifictimbersllc]

After a while I turned off the Lube-Mizer.  The logs were very wet inside.   The guide arm roller grooves were always fouled with wet debris which would occasionally cause it to grab and pull in when starting up the blade.  I have a 1-1/2" 3/8" bolt hanging through the hole which acts as a stop for the inward motion of the blade arm.   I bent one and sheared another, but they stopped the arm.  Similar happens when sawing walnut (the slimy underbark does this too).

[submarinesailor]

p.s. the poles came out of the Thames river near New London, CT,  so the water was mostly salt.

Been in the area just a few times.  I wonder if they came from the old sub pier in downtown New London or if the sub base in Groton is having some work done.  Or if Electric Boat is reworking some piers.

Bruce

[terrifictimbersllc]

Think they were from an old ferry dock. 

[terrifictimbersllc]

Finished up 25 more chestnut dock poles yesterday.  Stinky stinky.   In 2 weeks a bunch more from somebody else who worked at the same ferry place.