OldJarheads Milling Thread...

OlJarhead · January 02, 2025, 07:59:13 AM

Thanks guys and ya, these lights are bright! They do cut off so they don't blind people though I'll admit, if adjusted wrong modern lights can be hard coming at you but these things are beautiful! Had to drive at night on the 30th and was so glad!

Now if I could fix my arm just as quickly

OlJarhead · January 05, 2025, 12:38:20 PM

It's official - I booked a campsite for the Oregon Logging Conference in Eugene. I'll be there the 22nd (may be around in the afternoon on the 21st).

I'll probably be found with the Wood-Mizer folks if Brett will bring a chair for me ;) or possibly Hudson Forest Equipment but either way, I'll be wandering about as long as my back allows.

https://oregonloggingconference.com/
Is there website for those interested and I posted in the events forum on an older thread about this event.

OlJarhead · February 07, 2025, 10:38:55 AM

Hey folks! I'm healing up nicely and finally got back into my shop yesterday and was able to make sawdust and use some of the lumber I made previously to do a little work in my planing room / studio

I was also able to get back to the cabin where my sawmill sits in the snow for a while yet, here's a drone video I shot of my place:

and put out a video of my trip:

With my hand improving I hope to get back to the cabin again soon and with luck get the mill cleaned off and fired up. I need to do some maintenance and if my back holds up (and my arm with it's torn ligament) I plan to get back to milling this spring.

I'll have to have two surgeries (my left arm maybe first and then my back - which sounds ominous but they seem to think they can get me back to far less pain in the near future -- just waiting for it to cross the rubicon if you will).

This may be a rough year until those two procedures are done and it's unlikely I'll go back to sawmilling like before but if I can at least mill what I need for my cabin projects I'll be happy. Meanwhile, I'll continue to work on my projects as my busted up jarhead body allows ;)

I check in from time to time but must admit, I'm really just biding my time until the weather improves and I can get back to at least some sawmilling!

Cheers
Erik

Peter Drouin · February 07, 2025, 09:09:00 PM

Keep at it. worm weather is coming.

Dan R · February 08, 2025, 12:27:26 AM

Get better soon there are a lot of trees that could be turned into lumber
Dan

OlJarhead · February 08, 2025, 11:02:33 AM

Thanks guys! YES, Warm weather would be nice.

I've got 18 months to get the thickest part of my forest thinned and all that can be lumber or cabin D Logs....come on spring!

Jeff · February 08, 2025, 12:40:23 PM

All you can do is keep on keeping on.

OlJarhead · February 09, 2025, 11:42:04 AM

Yes, one day at a....ouch!

Ya, slipped a disc again. Was working on the wife's jeep (adding some lights and a grab bar mount from Bullet Point) and now my back is out again. They did warn me.

Thankfully it's not as bad as labor day but it's clear surgery is sooner than later and it's unlikely I'll be milling or working on the cabin this spring :(

doc henderson · February 10, 2025, 04:59:36 AM

Hang tough Sir!

OlJarhead · February 10, 2025, 07:46:09 AM

Thanks Doc,

I'm hanging! Seems years of abuse and ignoring the pain (something I was taught to do) is coming back to haunt me but I'm positive it will be better once they fix me up! Million dollar man anyone?

OlJarhead · April 16, 2025, 07:46:04 AM

Finally, after long last, I should be running my sawmill this weekend/weekend! I can't wait!

I think it's been a year since I last ran a log through it and it's been lonely. Heck, let's hope it starts, the mice haven't moved in or the bears haven't made use of it as a toy! Seems like forever!

I was last up there two months ago, or so, but the weather turned foul, the foot plus snow was getting too wet and sloppy and as I was alone, I bailed early and headed home. Since, I've been waiting to get back.

Due to my back, I risk crippling injury if I slip and fall so I have been staying away in the worst weather unless I have someone to go with. This trip, I'll have a friend and his dad with me and they are bringing some maple they cut down from his dad's yard. They will do the heavy lifting (and the tractor and sawmill), operate chainsaws etc and I'll operate the mill. Can't wait!

My last trip the sewage pipe froze at the cabin too and I'm unsure what I'll meet when we get there?? Might be a smelly nasty welcome :( but I'm hopeful it just melted and seeped down without breaking anything.

Here's hoping!

As for my back, it's still a problem but I was advised to wait as long as I can for surgery as the longer I wait the less surgeries I'll need later in life. I'm told the 5 bad discs above the two that keep slipping will have to take the weight and punishment after surgery of all 7 and that they will then wear out even fast requiring more surgery. So, wait a year or more and have 3 or 4 more surgeries or get it done now and get 5 more surgeries later....so, we wait and I try to lose weight.

My biggest challenge is rough ground, slips, trips and falls and carrying anything over about 25-30lbs. None of which go well with my lifestyle but I'm learning to slow down...I'll be 60 soon and I'd hoped to be milling and building well into the future. Seems the future is darn near here.

Peter Drouin · April 17, 2025, 05:43:16 AM

Best of luck with the things you need to get done.

OlJarhead · April 17, 2025, 08:09:31 AM

Thanks Peter

My friend that is coming up is quite good with pretty much anything mechanical or electrical (probably hydraulic too) and very meticulous, so plans to help me go through the sawmill and get it ready to run again. Then, I'll run the mill but he'll do the lifting, hauling, rolling etc.

His Dad is also coming (a Marine, so we get along great) to enjoy the trip.

Should be a great few days away at the cabin and I'm just hoping the sewage pipe is sound and the toilet survived

OlJarhead · April 21, 2025, 08:07:13 AM

Oh man, what a fantastic trip. Heck, I think running the sawmill helped me and made my back somehow a little better for a few hours!

The sun was shining, the mill was lubed and ran like a top, the blade was knew and all was right in the world as a monster maple rolled up on the mill thanks to a chain and the log clamp and some experience.

For 5 hours I ran the mill and turned maple into slabs for my friend (he just wanted slabs) and I set my cane aside and often didn't even notice it there.

At the end of the day it just felt like all was right in the world again :D

Such a good trip.

Jeff · April 22, 2025, 10:04:12 AM

I'm jealous. Had my truck and trailer loaded for going to my cabin for 10 days now.

OlJarhead · April 23, 2025, 08:06:51 AM

Sorry to hear it Jeff! Did you get that tooth (s) on the schedule yet?

Here it is, in all it's glory! I actually ran my mill and was able to put down my cane for a few hours and here's the proof! Can sawmilling cure pain?

Jeff · April 23, 2025, 08:13:14 AM

Yea, had the surgery and it did not go well.
https://forestryforum.com/board/index.php?topic=125919.0

Magicman · April 23, 2025, 09:14:18 AM

It's so good to see you back up and sawing. I loved seeing you using the Magic Hook, both for loading and also for scooting/adjusting the log on the sawmill bed. The Magic Hook is a valuable tool to help to fully utilize the sawmill's hydraulics.

In the beginning, you could have lowered the side supports and moved the log closer to the mast and eliminated some of the chainsaw Bibbying on the side support side.

Thanks for sharing your few days at the Cabin.

OlJarhead · April 23, 2025, 10:37:52 AM

Thanks MM!

Truth is, in the beginning, I was having so much trouble moving the log (since it loaded too far down the bed) that I was afraid of rolling it off the other side or having it shift even further down the bed so I left the supports up as a precaution.

Afterwards, watching the video I kept thinking "well, you might have safely pushed it over a little more" but I'm not sure. It was a heck of a log to move!

I wish I'd had a camera set up when I lifted it off the trailer! I got it about 6" above the fender and that's all my tractor would do! The back tires were barely touching the ground (and they have 750lbs of ballast in them!) but I was able to just barely get it from the trailer to the mill. I'd guess that log weighed in around 3000lbs. The calculator showed 2200lbs but I'm thinking more because my tractor can lift 3200lbs (at least off the ground) and at height I had no ability to get it higher (I could lift it off the ground though)...

In any case, it was a beast to tackle after such a long break!

I can't wait to get back and do an alignment (seemed fine but should do one anyway) and oil change etc and run some more logs through it :D

For now, it's back to power stations and power but I plan to do some fishing tomorrow and work on my fly fishing skills :D

doc henderson · April 23, 2025, 10:55:17 AM

So many folks with bad backs do nothing and then loose the strength they have in support muscles and core. then a little strain and they are done. work in moderation and slowly building back up is good. there are work hardening programs. the problem with marines is they train with mantras like "pain is just the weakness trying to get out" etc.. The word moderation is in none of their marching songs.

Magicman · April 23, 2025, 10:56:17 AM

Absolutely, short logs can be a real challenge and I understand the caution. I hate to have anything shorter than 9'. I had an 8 footer last week that we unloaded, did a shift on the ground, and then reloaded. I had been distracted during the rolling to the sawmill loader and should have done the adjust before the initial loading.

We sometime do stuff even when we know better.