Production rate for a manual lt 15

[Kingcha]

Being new to milling I did not worry about my production rate last summer as I was learning.

And yes I know I will be still learning for many years.    The logs I was learning on where on the small side 10-14" and mostly pine along a few hardwood logs.

My question is, In an 8 hour day how many BF(on average) do you think I can produce with the help from one other person?    Yes I know there are many variables.   Or maybe I should ask what you think would be the most bf one could expect.    Lets assume all is being cut into 1x's.

Thanks
Matt

[redbeard]

I would just be guessing at 800-1000 bf. I do know that a full day of cutting usually takes up extra time to clean,stack n sticker and put away the lumber cut.

[GAB]

This reply assumes that you will be edging on the mill.
To save time you could do like the W-M Hannibal guys did in the Shoot-Out one year and that was to use 30 or so feet of track or bed to saw 12' long logs.  What they did was to use the far end of the bed to saw the logs on and then pulled the boards that needed to be edged to the other end of the bed.  Doing this they saved time by not having to remove the "need to be edged" lumber and the put it back on after the log was done.  This is just a suggestion.  Since I have never operated an LT15 I have no feel as to what you could expect for daily yields.  I do know that some days are better than others and the species of trees or logs being sawed can affect yield considerably.  I have sawed some Easter Hophorn Beam (aka Ironwood or Hardhack) and it saws nice, BUT you have to slow down and let the saw chew.  Gerald

[Small Slick]

I have been asking myself the same specific question!  I just got my lt15 in December and have been learning too.  I have been sawing about 200 board feet in a 6-7 hour day >:(

Now to make an attempt at feeling better about that I have to keep the following in mind.  I had the mill on the ground at first.  Then I put it on a trailer we made. I have been sawing frozen pine that is really pretty small for what I am trying to get out of the logs 2x6x12' boards.

I have been fighting sub zero weather and a huge amount of snow as well.  I had some adjustment problems with the mill as well.  Things are getting better, except for the weather here in Wisconsin.

My milling experiance to date is about 25 hours.

John

[ladylake]

John 

Sawing small logs that will barely make a 2 x 6 will cut your production in half real easy, not only you don't get much out of them you have to be careful to get  anything out of them.  Steve

[elk42]

   To get good production from an Lt 15 you need to be stationary, long bed, lots of
mods, and support equipment.  And good logs 18" to 22" small end x16ft

         44ft bed with 2 17ft cants


  
   
log turner and log clamp


 



  

 
  With a helper  turning and moving things so you can keep sawing.   

[GDinMaine]

I think you asked a very tough question.  I have an LT-40 but I will give you how wide production rate was in my limited experience.

The low end was 1100 bf of cedar 1"x4"x8' in 6 engine hours, myself and a helper.

The higher end was 1450 bf of pine and hemlock  1"x(6"-8"-10"-12")x18' and 6"x6"x14' in 6.5 hours working by myself. 

The cedar was 6-10" in diameter the pine and hemlock were 12-26".  Clearly the small, short logs make a huge difference and cutting the boards so small also count.

ps: Nine setup there Elk42

[thecfarm]

I have a manual mill as you do. I like to edge my boards after each log. Not saying this makes me saw faster,but it kinda does,because I can remember how to place each flitch to get the most out of each one. Than they are just about the same size too. I have been in a so called hurry and needed 2Xs and left the flitches from 2-3 logs. Than I sawed them. I just did not like to do it that way. I myself am not concerned about how much I can do. Whatever I get done,I get done. One of the joys of sawing for me,myself and I.  ;D

[jander3]

I have a manual TK-1200.  I routinely produces about 75% of what I estimate the job will take.    Per day, per week, per month....doesn't matter.  I am sure I have 150% of what is needed when I look at the stack of wood.  Come time to install; I am always short.


Anyways....big logs....not too big...good production day.

small logs...bad production day.

Logs that are too big or not to straight...not much production but plenty of cussing.

[YellowHammer]

It's been a few years since I sold my LT15 so memory is a little fuzzy, but I milled mainly 8 to 9 foot long 4/4 boards either by myself or with a helper sawing mostly red oak and other generic hardwoods.  It was a manual feed mill, 15 hp engine, 7° - 045 blades.
I could do 600 Bdft in a day fairly commonly, although occasionally I could push it to 1,000 Bdft, but that was a hard day with sweating helpers and decent logs. 

The mill is a workhorse and cuts the logs at a decent clip, it's just that as a manual mill there is so much that has to be done by hand that doesn't actually involve cutting the log.  That's the stuff I tried to focus and improve on.

Elk42, that is a very nice setup that really keeps the saw in the logs making dust. 8)

YH

[Kingcha]

I plan to start looking for saw jobs this summer and I really want to charge by the hour(not engine hour-actual hours) so I am trying to figure out a good comparison on BF per hour to calculate a fair price.   I am not looking to do it on the cheap, but I also know I need to give a fair value.     It is looking like I should figure somewhere up to 120 bf an hour with the customer helping me.

Thanks again for the input

matt

[thechknhwk]

When I had my Norwood I charged 35/hr.

[dboyt]

Anyways....big logs....not too big...good production day.

small logs...bad production day.

Logs that are too big or not to straight...not much production but plenty of cussing.

Words of wisdom!

Add to that crooked, rotten, knotty, dirty, embedded metal, and short-- and you have a typical job!

You'll figure out modifications to the mill (an electric winch made a huge improvement in my productivity on the Norwood), and techniques that make a difference.  Build a log deck.  Even something as simple as a good cant hook saves a lot of frustration & time.  Support equipment-- especially a loader will make a big improvement.  With good logs, I can now cut around 1,200 bd ft per day, solo.  With typical help, I can cut 900 bd ft per day.  Hard to get good help!

[GAB]

dboyt:
I would like your description of "typical help" so that I can try and avoid it.  Gerald

[Kingcha]

I so agree with the log rack.  When I was setting my mill up someone on the forum suggested that.

My Rack

 

I might rebuild a bigger better one but it works pretty good.   Depending on the  size I can load 3-5 logs.

With maintenance and clean up I am figuring for every 6 hours I charge for, I'll actually put in about 8 hours.     



matt

[Wudman]

I have a 7.5 HP manual electric homebuilt mill.  The best production I have ever had was 800 board feet in a day sawing 6/4 poplar.  These were nice, straight logs about 12 - 16 inches on the little end.  Log size makes a huge difference on a manual mill.  Small logs will work you to death with very little production.  Big logs will just work you to death.  If you stay in that sweet spot, you can handle them and still make good production.  A 16 foot - 16 inch diameter oak log is about all I want to turn by myself with the Logrite cant hook.  Any bigger than that and I either need help or have to break out the winch or tractor.  Plus, that is about the maximum size that my tractor can handle with the 3 point hitch forks and a 6/4 x 10 green oak board is about all I care to move around too. 

Wudman

[Ohio_Bill]

I had a LT15 for several years and 1000 to 1200 ft in a day is a real number IMHO . 

ELK42  That is a great setup you have . Looks very nice .