Wallee's Milling Thread

Wallee · December 10, 2015, 08:32:11 PM

And for those interested here is a new video kind of showing a overview of the logging process.
https://youtu.be/asA9aX_1-fQ
Also got a very good call today. Looks like 2500 bf of that pine pictured above will be turned into 1x12x10 siding with 1x4x10 battons. Biggest order yet!

Peter Drouin · December 10, 2015, 08:55:57 PM

Good job.

Darrel · December 10, 2015, 09:28:38 PM

Nice little operation you've got there.

Magicman · December 10, 2015, 09:43:25 PM

I love to see a plan come together.

Wallee · December 10, 2015, 10:23:20 PM

Quote from: Darrel on December 10, 2015, 09:28:38 PM
Nice little operation you've got there.

Thanks! Im pretty proud of it.

Quote from: Magicman on December 10, 2015, 09:43:25 PM
I love to see a plan come together.

You and me both brother! I will have some pics of that big stack of 1x12's here soon!

Wallee · December 12, 2015, 02:05:48 PM

I have asked this before in threads but from a couple people on here I want a simple yes of no to the question I am about to ask. Is 1/8 out acceptable, in various places throughout a cant? Yes or no?

beenthere · December 12, 2015, 02:13:33 PM

Who do you want the answer from?
Will any two be sufficient ?

Darrel · December 12, 2015, 03:15:53 PM

Quote from: Wallee on December 12, 2015, 02:05:48 PM
I have asked this before in threads but from a couple people on here I want a simple yes of no to the question I am about to ask. Is 1/8 out acceptable, in various places throughout a cant? Yes or no?

I can't speak for others, but on my mill no. That being said, you need to understand that a perfect cant or timber is not always possible. When a log is cut, internal stress is relieved and things move, e.g. the can't, board, or slab. When cutting large timbers, I have had them move as much as 1/2 inch. Is that acceptable? No. Do I have any control over it? Not much.

So if I'm 1/8" off and the mill is the cause, I will fix it every time. My mill only cuts perfectly because I make sure that it is adjusted and or tuned perfectly. Is all the lumber coming off my mill perfect? No, because the logs going on my mill are not perfect.

So I deal with it.

Kbeitz · December 12, 2015, 07:06:50 PM

I say yes.... It's rough cut not finished...

sandsawmill14 · December 12, 2015, 07:35:42 PM

yes 1/8 is fine

Wallee · December 12, 2015, 08:23:10 PM

Ha ha ok I was just making sure. I'm a chronic overthinker when it comes to these things. I just want to produce the best I can!

4x4American · December 12, 2015, 09:24:21 PM

If anyone bothers you about it, it's rough sawn lumber, they make planers for a reason, but X2 to what Darrell said.

WDH · December 13, 2015, 07:32:18 AM

If I off by 1/8, I am looking for the cause. I plane thousands of BF of lumber. Variations of 1/8" in pile of boards makes it difficult to plane if some are on dimension and some are fat by 1/8". The fat ones can bog my planer down if the boards are wide. If you got a really big planer, it probably does not matter as much.

Kbeitz · December 13, 2015, 01:13:38 PM

I want to refine my answer. If it's off 1/8" all the time I would look for the problem.
If it's only every so often I would no worry about it.

Wallee · December 13, 2015, 11:12:26 PM

Quote from: Kbeitz on December 13, 2015, 01:13:38 PM
I want to refine my answer. If it's off 1/8" all the time I would look for the problem.
If it's only every so often I would no worry about it.

I am cutting a 2500 bf order of 1x12s and I am going to measure the boards at random and see what we got.

Wallee · December 14, 2015, 11:18:55 PM

Some pics of the siding order!

4x4American · December 15, 2015, 07:13:49 AM

Looking good!! I wanted to mention, I was reading the latest issue of sawmill
and woodlot and they covered the portable sawmill shootout in ohio. What I noticed was, the WM LT 15 sawed at a rate of 897 bdft/hr and the LT70 super sawed at 1231 bdft/hr. That's not too much of a differnce between WM's second smallest mill and their largest portable unit. Granted they both had edgers behind them. I thought you might find that interesting.

WDH · December 15, 2015, 07:30:20 AM

Nicely prepared lumber.

On my LT15, I averaged a little over 100 BF per hour. After adding the powerfeed and edger, production went up 50%.

4x4American · December 15, 2015, 07:52:36 AM

Yea, I'm sure that WM used every trick up their sleeve but still, I thought it was interesting.

Wallee · December 15, 2015, 12:04:52 PM

Quote from: WDH on December 15, 2015, 07:30:20 AM
Nicely prepared lumber.

On my LT15, I averaged a little over 100 BF per hour. After adding the powerfeed and edger, production went up 50%.

Thank you! I'm averaging about 150+BF a hour on nice pine. It cuts like butter compared to my tie logs. This old growth siding is turning out fantastic looking. 1000 BF left to cut today and tonight so I got to get after it lol!

Quote from: 4x4American on December 15, 2015, 07:52:36 AM
Yea, I'm sure that WM used every trick up their sleeve but still, I thought it was interesting.

That is super neat! I plan to get a edger really soon. I highly dislike edging on the mill. I came from my grandfathers old mill with a 3 blade edger to no edger. I'm considering buying the wm single balde edger for my first edger.

Darrel · December 15, 2015, 12:43:40 PM

That's some beautiful pine. There's nothing prettier than lumber right off the mill!

Wallee · December 15, 2015, 05:22:48 PM

Quote from: Darrel on December 15, 2015, 12:43:40 PM
That's some beautiful pine. There's nothing prettier than lumber right off the mill!

Honestly it's some of the best I have ever cut/seen. Saving some of these logs for personal use for sure! I got a barn and house to build! Barn first unfortunately lol
The grain in the old growth pine is spectacular.

East ky logging · December 15, 2015, 08:53:26 PM

Man that's some pretty lumber and I'm tickled to death that everything is working out for you

Peter Drouin · December 16, 2015, 06:18:23 AM

1/8 out NO

Wallee · December 17, 2015, 01:01:36 AM

Quote from: Peter Drouin on December 16, 2015, 06:18:23 AM
1/8 out NO

checked some of my lumber and most of it was pretty much on. I think I am overthinking the trueness of rough cut because I mean it's not s2s. The guy checked everything over and was super happy with his order so I'm in the good for now. Still learning everyday.

Here is a pic as the 2500 BF order left out.