What a day.....WOW

Raym · August 14, 2014, 08:44:44 PM

Today was my first mobile Job. The Mill had 4.4 hours on it at the beginning of the day. My customer knew I was "green" and he was ok with that. Here is a schedule of events....

Drove 98 miles to the job
took one look at the logs and realized it was going to be a struggle. It was a Cherry that was about 45 at the butt and 36 at the other.

Spent over an hour and a half cutting with the chainsaw and trying to get it loaded. The way the log was situated, the butt was at the tail end. It also had an arc that made it difficult for the log turner to catch.

Before I could make the first cut I noticed that the hydraulics stopped working. I thought, Oh, maybe I blew a fuse....then I noticed the ground underneath my feet was kind of slippery....

I started taking everything apart and took the hose to see if I could get it repaired. the only place around didn't have the same hose so I had to purchase another one. He said it looks like the hose was barely crimped.

Chelsea at Parsons in shade gap did a wonderful job of helping me keep "cool" as I am not familiar with hydraulics at all.....

After I managed to get everything back together, the sawing went just fine.

Results....I could only charge 250.00.....after 13 hours, 85.00 for new hose, zip ties, 4-quarts fluid and a funnel, 18 gallons of gas, my hourly rate was 7.84

What a day....WOW.

sprucebunny · August 14, 2014, 08:48:05 PM

Talk about getting your feet wet Fast !!!!

Glad you came out ahead 8)

Hope the next couple jobs are more cake-y

Magicman · August 14, 2014, 09:45:57 PM

Some days you are the bug. On others you might be the windshield. Life is much more fun when you smile, even when smiling is difficult. ;D Good days are coming.

Dave Shepard · August 14, 2014, 09:52:25 PM

Congrats! You are making farmers wages and with only 1/100th of the overhead! :D

MSSawmill · August 14, 2014, 09:59:45 PM

More interesting than sitting behind the desk I was stuck behind all day!

And my coworkers are a lot harder to get along with than any tree you could put on the bunks! :D :D

If you run equipment, it's going to break. That's just part of it. Glad you got it fixed and for to make some sawdust.

Raym · August 15, 2014, 06:05:29 AM

Quote from: Magicman on August 14, 2014, 09:45:57 PM
Some days you are the bug. On others you might be the windshield. Life is much more fun when you smile, even when smiling is difficult. ;D Good days are coming.

We did find humor throughout the day....they kept reminding me there were easier ways to get familiar with the mill. Ironically enough, last week was the best week I have had EVER. Both in sales and profit.

Quote from: MSSawmill on August 14, 2014, 09:59:45 PM
More interesting than sitting behind the desk I was stuck behind all day! And my coworkers are a lot harder to get along with than any tree you could put on the bunks! :D :D

If you run equipment, it's going to break. That's just part of it. Glad you got it fixed and for to make some sawdust.

Yes MS, I escaped the desk 14-1/2 years ago. Cant ever imagine going back to that life.

Magicman · August 15, 2014, 09:00:45 AM

Any day spent sawing ~~when you do not hit metal~~ is a good day. I had to go back and strike out the metal part, because there are no bad sawing days. Yup, stuff still happens, but life is good.

Raym · August 15, 2014, 10:29:51 AM

Well the mill is back in position and ready for more of my wack of practice logs

The plan is for most of this lumber to be building material for a saw shed. Since I have figured out how to add photos and everybody loves photos, I thought I would add one of my kiln. It is the basement of a 22x18 accessory building. I still need to install a vapor barrier underneath the joists.

Now I am off to pick up my Baldor 5hp single phase table saw motor that burn up tuesday and get that back together....have a great weekend!!

BigJim2185 · August 15, 2014, 10:32:28 AM

At least you got 'er done and don't have another 200 miles of driving today for the same job. Kiln looks good!

logboy · August 15, 2014, 01:35:11 PM

It may be your first breakdown but it wont be your last. I was on a job 80 miles away this week when I ran into troubles. Always bring plenty of tools and spare parts.

backwoods sawyer · August 15, 2014, 07:46:11 PM

Quote from: logboy on August 15, 2014, 01:35:11 PM
It may be your first breakdown but it wont be your last. I was on a job 80 miles away this week when I ran into troubles. Always bring plenty of tools and spare parts.

Agree with keeping a well stocked parts box and tool box.

When I had the fire in the hydraulic box that melted all of the plasic hoses, I found out no one in the county has the right size cripper for the plastic hose, and since I was changing all of the hydraulic hoses in the tube (frame) I went with the heavier braded hydraulic hoses that I could have repaired locally at several shops. I checked with WM and the cost was with in $100.

Being portable all my brakedown happen while on the road, those that give you a warning can be taken care of on maintenace days, but some are going to catch you off guard, and some of those you can work thru others stop you in your tracks.

barbender · August 16, 2014, 12:11:50 PM

I will say I do not care for the cheesy plastic hydraulic hoses WM uses. Or, the press in grease fittings. There, that's 2 things I don't like about my WM

WM will send you a new hose, won't they, Ray? You're still out the $80 for the one you bought but you'll have a spare.