Another First

[Brucer]

You'll notice that all the production rates in the manufacturers' literature have a little footnote: figures quoted are for the highest horsepower option.

Magicman pointed out that each log was ready to load when he made the last cut on the previous log. That's where you get the high production figures. Logs arrive on the loader arms just before you have to load them. Slabs and finished wood disappear off the top of the cant just as you finish the cut. Flitches waiting to be edged get stacked against the side stops as you're raising the sawhead to the proper height. Customer has already figured out what he/she wants out of each log and has marked the log. Etc.

All you have to do is saw.

[Migal]

Another Great Day for the forum ! Good job MM!

[Ianab]

So much difference in production depending on what you are doing.

I went to an open day at the Peterson factory. They had a big redwood (~5ft) log with an ASM set up over it. They were cutting it into 6x4 landscape timbers. 2 big burly guys offloading, and they were just about running to keep up. Probably chew though a 2,000+ bf/ft log in under an hour. But you don't advertise the mill on those figures, they just aren't normal conditions.

So there are all sorts of things that affect production. Having good help and machinery that stage the next log and remove the waste, means the saw is "in the wood" for the most possible time. Slabbing heavy and cutting 2" boards instead of 1" speeds up bd/ft. You can mess about for a long time to recover the maximum bd/ft from a log. Might be worth it valuable wood, but production suffers.

So production figures are just an "average".

Ian

[terrifictimbersllc]

Looking at your setup, you could have saved yourself some time by setting the mill a little closer to that drop-off and just dropping the logs down onto the mill and not bother with the hydraulic lifters. 

There was no option on the setup.  These logs were tree length and staged in an abandoned dug silo with a cement floor.  They are being bucked and pulled up to the sawmill's loader.  There is no room for maneuverability for a tractor/loader even if we had access to one.  With three workers, the log is on the sawmill's loader when the last blade pass is made.  There is zero lost time or motion.

MM I'm wondering what motivates the customer to provide that kind of help when you're charging by the BF.  And how common is it for you to get that kind of material handling.  As opposed to providing one helper only and leaving some issues with staging logs and removing sawn lumber.   You'll stay at a job till it's done, anyway, won't you?  thanks.

[Peter Drouin]

I have had jobs like that. had 3 or 4 men help . all by the bf. I was so tired after. and you would think I would not be. but you have to saw and watch all whats going on too. dont want no one hurt. and when its cold out you will freeze your but off on that seat.  :D when its cold out its nice to move wood and warm up :D

[Magicman]

This is a "several times" repeat customer that knows exactly what he wants.  He is a dairyman and is very much a "hands on" guy.  Providing two hired hands plus himself is usual for him, but not what I usually see.  Also all hired hands are not created equal because these guys don't stand around waiting for someone else to move.  I am yet to have to point to the sawdust pile or anything else that needs to be done.

The tree length logs had been chainsaw marked at 14' 6" when they were skidded up, so there was no measuring necessary for bucking.  There was always a log ready to be rolled onto the loader as soon as I lowered it.  Every flitch and board is removed while I am returning.  The two plane clamp quickly moves the flitches over and stands them up. 

The only time that I ever step off of the mill is to measure the small end to determine the toe board height and to establish my target height for my first face opening.  I looked at the figures last night and I averaged over 370 bf per hour of sawing.  That first day's blade was a "new out of the box" blade.

Rain stopped us yesterday, so the customer intends to haul more logs in today and Thursday, so we will start back sawing Monday.

[Leigh Family Farm]

Now thats what I call production sawing! Nice job MM.