Goodwill Roadtrip/Sawing - Success

[wwsjr]

I may have room to bring some dry stickers, not sure how many, but maybe enough to start stacking.

Willie

[dablack]

Ok, I went ahead and ordered the banner.  It is SUPPOSED to be here Saturday the 7th.  We will see. 

Willie,
Stickers would be great.  I also have a big stack of 1x3s but they are all burned on the end but I think the ones on the inside of the stack might be ok.  HA! 

thanks
Austin

[dablack]

Good and bad news.  The little craftsman chainsaw my brother in law left me had something wrong with it.  I might be able to fix it later but I just don't have time right now.  I fought with it every time I used it and I really wasn't getting much done.  Today at lunch I finally went and picked up another saw.  I picked up a little poulan at home depot ($139).  I know it isn't a keep forever saw but it works 100% better than what I had.  I got to sawing around 4:30 today and got five or six trees limbed and bucked by 5:45 (too dark to work).  I'm very pleased with the way it cut.  I should be done bucking and limbing tomorrow before lunch.  Friday I can move all the logs to the pile.   8)

[Magicman]

Sometimes you just gotta do what you gotta do.

[Leigh Family Farm]

You guys are amazing.  There will have to be a person with the sole job of taking pictures. ;D

I second designating someone on picture taking, also video if possible. Afterwards, I would be happy to put them all into a slide show, or video montage for everyone to enjoy.

[Magicman]

It's just 10 days away !!!  I am still hoping that Pat will be able to make the trip. 

[wwsjr]

I plan to bring my poly banding and tools. Makes stacks easier to move, if needed, and helps as the lumber is drying. I like to stack, sticker, and band as it comes off mill if possible.

Willie

[Magicman]

The contributions received now total $4460 with an additional $435 pledged and not received.   8)  8)

A few of pledges concern me because they are now over 6 weeks old.  My concern is only if they have been mailed and I did not receive them.  I have promptly acknowledged each contribution by either PM or email.  I understand the recently mailed contributions, but if you mailed one weeks ago and have not received an acknowledgement from me, please let me know.

The response to this project has been nothing short of amazing.  Sixty-seven individuals have made contributions or pledges.  Some are not even FF members and some members that have never made a post.  Each contributor is just as much a part of this project as anyone else, and everyone is joining together to make it successful.

We are now 10 days away from making sawdust.   

[Bill Gaiche]

This is amazing thus far. Its been a thrill to me to see that people can come together and give a family a start for a new home. bg

[Andy White]

Magicman,  My neighbor down the road, that has been helping me with my mill would like to come with me for a day or two when we start sawing. Says he can tote a few boards with the rest of us! I told him that the help would be welcomed, but I wanted to check with you to make sure. Thanks,     Andy

[Magicman]

No need to check with me, just bring him.  He will enjoy it so much that he probably will pay his own Chiropractor bill.   ;D

I would love to be able to share all of the notes, PM's, & emails that I have gotten concerning this project.  I know that I have mentioned the word "Heart" many times, but that is the only word that I can think of to describe the way this has touched so many FF members.  And it is really only beginning.   

[beenthere]

Let's not forget the Forestry Forum for some donations, as without the Forum this activity would not be in its formulative stage now and have all the pent up potential for a huge success. Just sayin...   ;D

And many thanks for the Magicman..for offering and undertaking the challenge.

[ARp]

Lynn, Andy, Willie, Bill,....

Mike, my wife, and I are planning on meeting you all up at Rusk.  I may be old, but I still plan on learning from you all.

Austin, do you think it would be helpful if we brought the little tractor?  Saws?  Looking forward to seeing you and the family again.

Stickers, there are a few five foot logs south of the stacks that were meant for stickers until the edging produces enough. 

Allen

[SawyerBrown]

I just got my Fall/Winter 2013 copy of Wood-Mizer Way ...  I just want to say Congratulations again to the Goodwill AND People's Choice Award winner.  Well done, Sir!   smiley_clapping

It's an honor to know the answer to the conclusion of the first article: "As for Lynn's next goodwill project, he says, 'I'm on the ready.'"  He certainly is, and a certain family in Rusk, TX has got to be mighty grateful.

[dablack]

Austin, do you think it would be helpful if we brought the little tractor?  Saws?  Looking forward to seeing you and the family again.

Stickers, there are a few five foot logs south of the stacks that were meant for stickers until the edging produces enough. 

Allen

Allen, you calling your tractor little means mine is tiny.   Ha!   I've got most everything limbed and bucked.   I think my tractor should be able to move everything.   There is one 12 footer butt log from a monster that Dennis took down that I'm going to have to drag drag.  I can pick the end of it but not the whole thing.   We will see how it goes tomorrow.  All these logs are about 100 yards from the pile so it shouldn't take long. 
As far as needing one while cutting, I think we will be ok.   I just don't know.   I have done zero cutting so I will leave that to your discretion. 

Thanks
Austin

[Magicman]

Since I will be traveling into two different states, I am hesitant to use a SMV triangle on the rear of the sawmill.  I am also hesitant to travel without something to alert overtaking drivers that the sawmill sticks out in the back and has reduced depth perception.  That meant that it was time to make a reflective caution sign to attach to the rear outrigger.  I secured a used utility sign, cut it into a rectangle, and used 3M reflective orange tape to form diagonal lines.   


 
Since the old sign was reflective white, it worked OK.  I made two of the stripes wider to cover old graphics.


    
I can still use my flasher when traveling at night.  Yup, I didn't get all of the blue covered, but it reflects too.   ;D

[GAB]

MM:
You are probably the only one with a dual use rear outrigger.  Gerald

[Tom the Sawyer]

Lynn,

Be aware that it is illegal to drive with hazard flashers activated in a number of states.  It appears to be OK in Mississippi and Texas but it is not permitted in Louisiana.

[Magicman]

I apologize for highjacking this thread with this distraction about the sawmill sign.  I also heard from another member that adding anything to the back of the sawmill that was not OEM could possible be legally used as an indicator that the OEM lights, etc. were substandard.  Anyway, I will leave it here for now, but hopefully the subject discussion will be reserved for a future thread.  Thank you for understanding.   

I just do not want anything to distract us from the OP and intent of this thread.  We leave for Rusk, Tx. one week from today.   8)   8)

[redprospector]

Magicman,
You should call the State Police in each state you'll be driving in, and ask what the rules are in their state. As it was so gently pointed out to me by a trooper in the "great state of Texas", it is your responsibility to know the laws where you are driving. Many things are left to the discretion of the officer.
Good luck, and God speed on your journey.

Andy

[Magicman]

One week from today we will be sawing.

The long range weather forecast shows that the rains will have moved through by then.   8)

[dablack]

Moved logs from 1pm to 6pm yesterday.  Still not done!  Those oak 8'ers are heavy.  One of the oaks gave me two 8's and one 6'er.  That 6'er is much easier to move.  Didn't get pics.  I was using the headlights on the tractor by the time I was done.  Then I remembered work was today so I changed the oil in the car.  I was a little late in doing it........    No fun changing oil on gravel.  The shop jack sank about as much as it lift the car.  HA!  Changed the oil on the tractor too. 

Maybe I will get some pics tonight after work.  I still have three 8' oaks to move and at least another 10 or so 8' pines.

One the last oaks I was moving was just too heavy.  I was having trouble dragging it.  It was really knobby so I went and got the saw to cut all the knobs off.  Saw wouldn't start.  I had been using it on and off all day.  It wasn't warm enough to crank without the choke and too hot for the choke to work right.  HA!  I yanked on it for a while and then went in.  You gotta know when to stop.  I probably flooded it.  I will try again after work. 

[Magicman]

Remember that Allen (ARp) asked about bringing his tractor next week.  All of the logs do not have to be staged before we get there.  Logs can be moved while we are sawing.  Also, the sawmill can be moved to the log.

Don't use up all of your "goody" 'cause we will need you next week.   :D

[beenthere]

This is getting more exciting, and will wish I could be there.

From the sounds of the project, likely a second tractor will be very useful to keep material moving to and from the sawing. Keeping MM in his seat can be a goal... 

Forks and a bucket handy should be minimum attachments.

[dablack]

Ok, yall convinced me.  I will PM Allen and accept his kind offer.  I was already thinking that way.  Yesterday as time grew short, I just went around and grabbed all the butt logs.  I figured most of the wood would come from those anyway.  I know we have enough logs in the stack to last multiple days of sawing.  With Allen's tractor, he could move the rest of the logs on the ground in one hour. 

I still need to clean up around the site so I will focus on that and leave the log moving to bigger tractors. 

thanks
Austin