I sawed the BIG HONKING BLACK CHERRY LOG TODAY...sore ankle and all!

[POSTON WIDEHEAD]

Ankle still soar but had to get out of the house. Wore my BIG boot to protect my ankle but me and Kirk conquered that Cherry Log.

I'll have to say I'm not sure what it weighed but it was my mill's limit.....no doubt.
Broke the chain unloading it with the grapple and back hoe and could actually pick it up only 4 foot off the ground.

Finally got it loaded on the mill using the loading arms and pushing against it with the forks. Since I couldn't turn it with the log turner or the clamp or the log turner and clamp working together, it took us 2 times to get it placed right with the back hoe forks.


Here's Kirk declaring "a win"......little did he know we were just getting started.


A kind word to Woodmizer......ya need to move the key switch box to the left side. As it stands, the key switch sticks out past the up and down rails and sometime we need that extra width.


After prying and pulling with the backhoe we got it situated for our first cut.
It took up every inch I bought on this mill.




We produced some really nice slabs out of this log with no flaws in it at all.
These slabs were soooo heavy at 2-1/2" thick x wide. I wasn't much help at moving these due to my ankle but Super Trooper grabbed them like a weekend speeder.


I didn't get a picture but a 10 inch mantel came out of the dead center. The Mantel was perfect all the way around with the pith and all it's secrets inside.

Then the rest of our time was sawing on down until we had nothing left.



Got it all loaded on the trailer.
A total of 6 different customer plus the owner of this log came by and looked at it.
This log was the best advertisement I've ever had. Took the mill to the max and had witnesses.  :D
Realizing what he had, we were paid and given a $100.00 tip. 8)

Today is what its all about!  

[red]

Not bad Hopalong Widehead

[starmac]

Not a bad day for a one hoofed wonder at all.

[POSTON WIDEHEAD]

Not a bad day for a one hoofed wonder at all.

:D :D :D :D

[WDH]

I bet that you were glad to see that sucker gone. 

[POSTON WIDEHEAD]

I bet that you were glad to see that sucker gone.

Yes I was....it started out fun, then I don't know why my feelings changed.  :D :D :D :D

[Bandmill Bandit]

Dont need WM to move the key! You NEED the LT50 WIDE head MILL!  ;D

[starmac]

I bet that you were glad to see that sucker gone.

Yes I was....it started out fun, then I don't know why my feelings changed.  :D :D :D :D

Maybe it had something to do with that 100 dollar tip, just think of all the sweet feed a guy can get with that.

[Magicman]

Congrats to both you and Kirk for a job well done.  I have a love/hate relationship with those big'uns. 

[barbender]

"Grabbed them like a weekend speeder" 😂😂😂 That was a heck of a log, one hoof widehead! 

[Peter Drouin]

Good job, I see you made the door bigger to load logs.

[Andries]

Nice work David!

[Southside]

Is that smoke I see in the background of the next to the last photo?  You didn't hobble out there and check it out?  :D

[Percy]

Awesome....Im jonesing bad for the wide head. Must have that mill tweeked fine for big cuts like that. I am humbled and all I can say is "Baaaaaaaa"...wait!! Issat a sheep? 

[justallan1]

WOW! Nice log and some great looking boards.
I'm afraid if my mill saw a log like that it would leave the job all by itself, probably crying.

[WV Sawmiller]

David,

   Congrats and well done to you and Kirk. I did not know those soft shoes came with steel toes. I hope the 10" mantel you mention was 10" wide and not 10" thick! 

    I recently cut a 4.5" thick walnut slab out of a similar sized log that scaled out at 122 bf and it weighs close to 600 lbs. I can only imagine how heavy it would have been if 10" thick.

[POSTON WIDEHEAD]

Mantel was 10 x 18 x 8.   YEP!

[WV Sawmiller]

   I calculate 120 bf and toolbox says 456 lbs. Wow is right. I hope they have stout corbels or side supports!

[Southside]

Mantel was 10 x 18 x 8.   YEP!

Thats not a mantel - that's a DanG bridge timber!!!  

[PA_Walnut]

NICE cherry, for sure! I have done that same wrestle. Starts out with lots of anticipation and enthusiasm, which seems to diminish as the tasks set in. 

Blade: Let's talk blade(s). What did you use and what kinda feed rate? I have stopped using Turbo7's on my 40Wide for super-wide cuts as they just don't git'er done.

Curious what you are finding works best. I've moved to carbide. WORLD of difference!

[Bruno of NH]

I think Widehead only uses 4° bands

[Southside]

That was the old Poston - the new Posthole is a turbo convert.   :D

[POSTON WIDEHEAD]

PA Walnut.....about the blades....

As I have said in a lot of my posts, I can only report what's works for me.

I used 2 blade for this entire job.
I put on a re sharp Turbo 7 each time.

The reason I used 2 blades is there were a lot of times I could not use the debarker.

I wanted to keep the sharpest blade cutting at all times.

The feed rate was slow and I mean very slow on the widest cuts. It was really tight.
Twice I experienced Cherry bark in the chain and the head would stop. I knew what it was each time as Cherry bark is notorious for wedging in the chain and stopping the head from moving forward.
I slowly let the blade do it's job and poured the lube to it. The PSI was set at 4,000 and fell and stabilized at 3800.
I didn't get any lines across the face or dips or rises.

Would a 4 degree have worked just as good sawing this wide? I don't know, I knew the T7 would work for me and that was my blade choice.
Every cut was perfect.
We worked a little over 3 hours starting when we unloaded to when we loaded.

Bruno.....I have quite a few boxes of Turbo 7 blades now.

[Tin Horse]

Beautiful cherry! I've been using the Ripper 37, 7 degree. Worked well but getting to expensive and no more free shipping. I'm trying the Cook's super sharp now. Bought their dual tooth setter and sharpener. Even with exchange a better price.
I've put a few white oak and walnut on the mill like that. Working alone I use the thumb on the backhoe But its risky. If something slips or a bit the wrong way and the mills damaged. Gotta stay focused. The lumber worth it but relived when done.
I've got 1 old cherry about 4' diameter still alive. Makes me nervous just looking at it. I'm thinking it's rotten or hollow at the base. I'll wait. :(

[POSTON WIDEHEAD]

Mantel was 10 x 18 x 8.   YEP!

Thats not a mantel - that's a DanG bridge timber!!!  

Actually the Mantel is 10 x 30 x almost 9. He's wanting it resawn to 10 x 18 later for a mountain house.
Heres proof.



But I'm like you Jim......bridge timber.  :D :D :D