Workflow on manual mill working solo

[Kbeitz]

As you can see in this picture I used 2" heavy gauge tubeing that runs all the way under the tractors frame.
I did not want to strain the tractors frame. The new frame hangs on the tractors frame. So the weights
that I put on the front is hanging on the new frame. I'm useing the tractors hydraulics for the tilt of the
fork and the 12 volt hydraulic for the lift.  I sometimes hang 800lbs weights on the front.



 

It will lift higher than you really want to go.



 

[Wallee]

The problem is that you have three long products (logs, slabs, boards) and only two sides of the mill.  Building a log deck was one of the best things I did to increase the productivity of my one-man manual mill.  A YouTube search for "Sawmill Log Deck" brings up a few videos that might give you some ideas.

A few other ideas: when boards come off, I pull them off the end and swing them around 90° onto blocking, stickering as I go, so I can just pick them up with the loader and move them to the drying area.  Even though I can only pick up about 1,200 pounds at a time, I keep stacks limited to sizes I can move with the loader.  Slabs are offloaded at the other end of the mill, and also turned 90° on blocking for easy pickup.  A lot depends on having room around the mill to work.  Finally, I built a sawdust chute and hang a bucket from it, which I dump into a bin when it fills.  A pain, to be sure, but much quicker than shoveling.  Here's how I do it.


 

Exactly to a tee how I operate my manual mill as far as setup. I average 250-300bf a hour.

[ozarkgem]

The problem is that you have three long products (logs, slabs, boards) and only two sides of the mill.  Building a log deck was one of the best things I did to increase the productivity of my one-man manual mill.  A YouTube search for "Sawmill Log Deck" brings up a few videos that might give you some ideas.

A few other ideas: when boards come off, I pull them off the end and swing them around 90° onto blocking, stickering as I go, so I can just pick them up with the loader and move them to the drying area.  Even though I can only pick up about 1,200 pounds at a time, I keep stacks limited to sizes I can move with the loader.  Slabs are offloaded at the other end of the mill, and also turned 90° on blocking for easy pickup.  A lot depends on having room around the mill to work.  Finally, I built a sawdust chute and hang a bucket from it, which I dump into a bin when it fills.  A pain, to be sure, but much quicker than shoveling.  Here's how I do it.


 

Exactly to a tee how I operate my manual mill as far as setup. I average 250-300bf a hour.
could you post a video of how you mill 300 bf an hr on a manual mill. I have full hydraulics and a bobcat, forklift, backhoe and I have to hump to do a 1000 bf for a day. I must be doing something wrong.

[gww]

Ozark
It is not impossible that I could be wrong but I believe wallee has two helpers while milling those numbers.  Still impressive though.  You all got me beat, I get about 60 board foot a day when I work it harder then usual.  I take lots of breaks and my logs are not to be bragged about.  I bet out of that 60 board foot 30/40 percent is defective when I actually go to use it.
I keep trucking anyway.
Cheers
gww
Ps  I just used the tool box caculator and I did 70 boardfoot today.  At $0.30 per board foot I made $20 today 8).  The boards are not stickered yet :D.

[ozarkgem]

Ozark
It is not impossible that I could be wrong but I believe wallee has two helpers while milling those numbers.  Still impressive though.  You all got me beat, I get about 60 board foot a day when I work it harder then usual.  I take lots of breaks and my logs are not to be bragged about.  I bet out of that 60 board foot 30/40 percent is defective when I actually go to use it.
I keep trucking anyway.
Cheers
gww
Ps  I just used the tool box caculator and I did 70 boardfoot today.  At $0.30 per board foot I made $20 today 8).  The boards are not stickered yet :D.

We are money making fools are we! Don't forget to take out the gas and blade cost.

[outpost22]

With my mill, I have a log load deck away from the mill. I just move logs and load them on the mill with a backhoe, slabs go of the left side and finished lumber goes off the end were I stack and sticker. I do have to limit that due to what my tractor can lift with a 3 point hitch hay forks. So I limit those stacks to 20". Besides, the tin I cover with my stacks with are 24".

Slabs, are haul off the  tractor to.

 



 

This is pretty much the method I've stumbled upon working solo with a manual mill.  My log decks are within 50 yards of the mill and I use a grapple to retrieve, set, turn (larger logs) and remove milled wood when finished. Sometimes for larger wood stacks I use the pallet forks for the front end loader.  I periodically take the grapple off and replace with the front end loader to remove sawdust (takes less than 2 minutes to remove the sawdust and 5 minutes to switch implements).  I also use the grapple to pick up the slab piles and move them to the firewood cutting area about 100 yards away.  Some wood is stickered, other is not, depending on what the wood will be used for.  This seems to work for me, but I'm not in a hurry either.

[btulloh]

My sawdust area doesn't fit a loader bucket.  Combination of terrain and proximity to the mill base.  It's one area I need to improve that doesn't have a better solution yet.  I'm experimenting with buckets.  I'm thinking about maybe adding a board walk just to have a flatter area to clean up.  Lately the wind has been strong and squirrely so the sawdust goes just about everywhere.  Especially in my face.  I might need to add a chute and a bucket. 

I've got an old yard vacuum engine/impeller unit that was used behind a mower that would make a dust collector,  but I don't like the thought of the hose and the extra engine to run.  If I was under a shed it might be ok to rig it overhead, but being out in the open does not give me as many options for the plumbing.

[Bandmill Bandit]

OzarkGem
There are 2 production rates to consider.

Here is how I calculate them for me. The number of hours that the hour meter has on at the end of the day divided by gross daily board feet gives you your max hourly output.

I also have a job timer set on my phone and that starts when I start the sawmill at the beginning of the day. These hours are the billable hours and include everything I do in the course of the day to produce lumber. This number gives you your hourly production average/net per hour for the day.

I subtract 1 hour from this hourly total for lunch and coffee breaks

I generally end up with a 10hr sawing day on average on the timer on my phone with 7 to 8 hours on the mill hour meter, so you can see how the 2 numbers are different.

A 3000 BF day is a 300 BF/HR day for net average with a sawing hour out put of 375BF. the 300 BF number is the one that counts.
   

[ozarkgem]

OzarkGem
There are 2 production rates to consider.

Here is how I calculate them for me. The number of hours that the hour meter has on at the end of the day divided by gross daily board feet gives you your max hourly output.

I also have a job timer set on my phone and that starts when I start the sawmill at the beginning of the day. These hours are the billable hours and include everything I do in the course of the day to produce lumber. This number gives you your hourly production average/net per hour for the day.

I subtract 1 hour from this hourly total for lunch and coffee breaks

I generally end up with a 10hr sawing day on average on the timer on my phone with 7 to 8 hours on the mill hour meter, so you can see how the 2 numbers are different.

A 3000 BF day is a 300 BF/HR day for net average with a sawing hour out put of 375BF. the 300 BF number is the one that counts.

how many HP is your mill? What kind of logs are you sawing?

[Bandmill Bandit]

As a rule that is in jack pine and white spruce in 12 and 16 footers small end average 10 - 12 ish inches and biggar.

Mill is a LT40HDG28 Woodmizer. BUT its not stock any more. supposed to be putting out 34HP now and i have upgraded everything but the lift motor to same as a LT40 Super with manual drag back and a green laser site.

[kelLOGg]

A customer brought me pines to saw into 6 x 6 x 12s for his project so I thought now I can test my roller system for loading them onto a trailer. I can lift one end by hand so they are not really heavy but I thought are a good test anyway.
I lift the beam via my mill-mounted winch, put rollers under the beam and push by hand onto a trailer. The last roller hangs from the saw shed and I can raise it to place beam on existing lumber on the trailer if necessary. It has very little swing to it when in use - mostly rolls as needed. Didn't know how that would work out. So far so good
Bob



 



 



 

[Kbeitz]

I like it...

[rasman57]

That is working smart.  Great design on your part.

I am recovering from 6 weeks of back misery after bulging a lumbar disc enough to put me down with bad pain and a almost useless left leg. Couple weeks mostly flat on the couch is just awful but instructive on ones future........ Pretty scary how fast it happens and just from hanging on to a heavy chainsaw bent over for a while and then hoisting some lumber and overdoing things in the heat of battle. Most everyone has been there but it is lot tougher on the "experienced" (older) bodies. 

   I am now a big believer in not picking up both ends of the same piece of wood if possible.  Sometimes getting older actually means paying attention to what experience has taught many and benefiting from the wisdom.   Good stuff you made to make life safer and more efficient .

[WDH]

kel,

Looks like the cat's meow (old saying).  That is a great set up.