Manual log turner on Woodmizer

[sawyerkirk]

I'm sawing on some huge pecan logs, when the biggest log just won't turn on my mill, after quite a few cuss words, some fretting and fuming (it was 96 degrees so  I was allowed) I looked at the teeth on my log turner, they were at least 3/4"shorter than when they were new, the top tooth is still pretty decent, but the middle two are flat. It's just one of those things I never thought to check on maintenance day. So, I pulled them on and going to try to regrind the points. Those teeth have moved alot of wood.

[Tom]

I guess they have.  I went out and looked at mine after reading your note and I can't tell the difference.  They aren't as sharp but they are still as big.  Maybe because I cut pine and cypress, Huh?

[sawyerkirk]

99.9% of the logs those teeth have turned were Oak, Pecan or other hardwood. and all very large!!

[Bibbyman]

I wonder if Wood-Mizer made the log turner claws of softer material at one time.  I talked to one WM owner who said he'd replaced the claw plates on his turner. ???

I did retrofit our old manual LT40 with a turner and over two years, didn't notice any wear past paint removal and polishing.  The new Super has a double set of claw plates.  ;D

[OneWithWood]

mmm...please define very large   are we talking 36" or 30" or 26" at the big end?

[Tom]

I define "very large" as a log that DonT want to do what I want it to do. DanG, I hate a smart log !!!!

[sawyerkirk]

My version of large is 30"+ on the width and 16'+ on the length. Rarely do I ever get a log that is 30" but only 8' long or a 16' log that is only 18" or 20" across.

[OneWithWood]

Yep, 30" x 16ft is a large log in my book, but then my book is kinda small :D
What would be the average size of logs you mill?

[sawyerkirk]

The average log I bring home is 16"x12' we cut alot of oak, gum and cottonwood into wedges and stakes,(about 5000bf/week) so I don't bring home logs anywhere near 16'x30". I don't like to use the turner, so I use the cant hook as much as possible. Invariably though 1/2 the custom jobs we do end up being some huge unrulely log like a 16'x30" pin oak  or a pecan that is 4' across and 4' long!! or a "square"(ever seen a square log?) hard maple 46"x46" on the big end and 14' long with a huge rotten whole in 1/2 the side. customer says "can't you get some good lumber off that spot isn't rotten?" (it's still laying there) I can continue with big ugly log stories if you'd like!!

[ARKANSAWYER]

   My hydralic turner turns about 50% hard woods and after 1/4 million bdft  the paint is worn off.  I have turn some big ones with it and it turns 24" 32 ft logs  with no problem and I have sawn logs up to 42"x 12' on the mill.  Maybe you just got a bad set of teeth.  If you are sawing that much a week maybe you need to upgrade to a hydralic mill.
  ARKANSAWYER

[sawyerkirk]

One of these days...one of these days...most of what we cut is into 6/4 or 4x's, so it's not quite like cutting 5000bf of 4/4 stock. I know when I ground them down, they were pretty soft. It may be just a mystery never revealed.