Edger Recommendations

Luke_Eames · August 04, 2016, 12:21:00 PM

Hello Everyone,

I'm looking to purchase a new edger within the next month or two and I want to get your thoughts on make. I'm a one man operation and I'm looking to increase production as much as I can. I'm not looking for portable one. Portable is fine but I would never take it off-site. Right now I have Wood-Mizer's single blade edger and it works great, but I know I can get a lot more done in a shorter amount of time with the twin blade. I've watched Wood-Mizer's EG200 run and so far that's top on my list. Any thoughts/ suggestions of other edgers on the market?

Thanks!
Luke

longtime lurker · August 05, 2016, 03:18:38 AM

Never used one but Cooks looks nice.

But if you're staying stationary you'd do better with a preloved Miner / Meadows / Morgan or similar. You'll only buy one of those once.

paul case · August 05, 2016, 09:31:01 AM

Borrow a used one from a forum member and you will like it well enough to buy it later, just ask WDH.

I have a Baker and it works well but pretty much takes 2 people. The wm single edge works well with one person and I would prefer it if working alone.

I have a suggest a electric motor if you are set up stationary. much quieter and no hauling fuel or changing oil plus cheaper to run. My baker 2 blade will cut 2'' stuff and only has a 7.5 hp electric motor. Works fine.

PC

Luke_Eames · August 11, 2016, 08:08:42 AM

Thanks for the info. Right now I am working with a Wood Mizer single blade edger but between the manual feed and two edge cut passes per board, I think that the twin blade would be much faster.

Unfortunately I have to run everything gas. My building that I have doesn't have electric hooked up to it and the generators that I run power the air compressor, dust collector and other various electrical equipment.

Thanks again for the replies

Dave Shepard · August 11, 2016, 12:38:53 PM

I have the WM twin. Only problem I've had is that my LT40 can cut a wider flitch than will fit in the edger.

Luke_Eames · August 11, 2016, 01:52:34 PM

Quote from: Dave Shepard on August 11, 2016, 12:38:53 PM
I have the WM twin. Only problem I've had is that my LT40 can cut a wider flitch than will fit in the edger.

What are the max cuts that you're making with the edger? Does it really increase your production by 30% as advertised??

I work with a lot of lower grade logs under 15 inch. I don't usually make wide cuts and if I do, it's not for production sawing but custom orders.

Thanks!

Dave Shepard · August 11, 2016, 01:56:50 PM

It can make a big difference, especially if you are trying to get the most out of your grade side lumber. I can cut up to 28 inches on the mill, and the opening is only 25 or so wide. The widest board is 15 or 16 wide.

Luke_Eames · August 11, 2016, 02:52:34 PM

15-16 is fine with me. I usually don't edge much wider than that, and if I do, I can use the mill. Thanks for the info. I appreciate it!

bkaimwood · August 13, 2016, 09:17:34 PM

I have thought about adding an edger to my mostly one man operation also. I hate edging, and they say it's the next thing to compliment your setup, significantly increasing your production. I have not made the leap, and doubt i will in the near future, mainly for one reason...I find it hard to believe it will be of significant improvement being an army of one. Buying an edger and edging lumber for one man mills means one thing...when I'm running the edger, I'm NOT running the mill!!!😁 I believe my mill production rates far exceed the justification for taking me away from the mill, recovering often lower quality boards that may fall into the category of sides 50% of the time. Depending on setup, I can see double handling issues and possible oddball stacking issues. Maybe I think to much. I'm not stating facts, just a perspective, and would love to hear input from some small sawmills like me, and others with experience as such. For me, at this point, the next and most profitable additions to my business have been a kiln, then a planer, and now something to SLR...

WV Sawmiller · August 13, 2016, 09:37:19 PM

I think I'm with bkaimwood on this one. An edger is a neat tool and I love to watch them at work. Unfortunately I don't see a huge advantage for a mostly one man operation due to the fact that either the mill or the edger is running and it does look like extra handling to use the edger.

I have a separate thread on my opinion of and my edging process using just the mill. Basically/Normally I toss the flitches on the loader arms and edge them against the cant they came off so the flitches are never moved over a couple of feet from the time they are generated till the time they are removed as finished boards.

Being mobile is another reason to oppose purchasing an edger (although I do love to watch the smaller single blade WM machines in operation). Edgers, IMO, are for multi-staff operations in a stationary set up with roller tables to move the flitches and boards through the different stations in a process line.

bkaimwood · August 13, 2016, 09:56:56 PM

I performed a little experiment today... well, not an experiment...I've been sawing 12 hour days in ungodly hot and humid conditions, in direct sunlight, heat exhaustion setting in the latter part of yesterday, fighting it today, but finished 4 orders, and can breathe for a day. Anyhow, point being, I didn't want to do ANY edging, full on production mode...4 cuts to desired cant size, banging boards out to the bed...and despite the worst conditions I sawed in, I set new personal best bf production rates...and double handled NOTHING. I actually finished well ahead of projection. Yes, I lost sides, recover rates dropped, so on and so forth... BUT...we all know what it costs to run a mill, and what we'd like to make, say hourly. My significant production increases outweighed the loss of recovery, sides, and so on...food for thought for us little guys. And it made my job ALOT more enjoyable. Every Sawyer and situation is different...

Brucer · August 13, 2016, 10:10:38 PM

I used to be of the opinion that a one-person operation should only have one piece of production machinery. I changed my mind 6 years ago.

I sawed mainly timbers; my byproduct was mainly 1" lumber which I would edge on the mill. In 2010 I had an opportunity to supply all the timbers for a huge timber-frame house. My only problem was whether or not I could supply all the timbers in one short season. The solution was a lightly used twin blade edger.

I was able to concentrate on sawing the timbers and I just stacked the un-edged flitches off to one side at the end of the mill. A couple of times a week I had a part-time helper come in to tail the edger, trim the 1" lumber, and stack and sticker it. She had other part-time work so she'd cruise by the mill every day, keep an eye on the flitch pile, and then adjust her schedule to fit me in.

That arrangement allowed me to spend a lot more time sawing timbers, while only requiring about 1 hour a week feeding the edger. I was ahead dollar-wise but the really important thing was it allowed me to take on a job I would have had to refuse.

In subsequent years, having the edger allowed me to shave the production peaks. I could take on two or three urgent jobs while setting the flitches aside.

Two things to keep in mind. To get the most out of a twin-blade edger you either need a helper or a way to keep the lumber and edgings neat while you feed the flitches in one after the other. And if you go the helper route, you need someone pretty exceptional -- hard working, observant, and with a good understanding of production. And you have to pay her/him well. I got lucky.

I no longer have the volume to justify the edger so I sold it. They buyer is a hobby sawyer with a WM superhydraulic

. He isn't worried about production, he just hates edging on the mill. More power to him ;D.

bkaimwood · August 13, 2016, 10:24:12 PM

I agree with all points made, Bruce. In addition, what makes sense at one point in your business may not fit at a later date. All good stuff...

red · August 13, 2016, 10:35:30 PM

You can't Hate edging . Magicman said recently that you have to get your head right about it . Its like saying you hate backing up your trailer , you have to do just figure it out and do it .

Brucer · August 14, 2016, 01:23:24 AM

Yes I can! I hate edging (it's a little more tolerable on the edger, but only because it gets done faster. I also hate backing up a trailer; I can do it, but I hate it. And I hate sharpening blades. I can do that, too, and do it well. Doesn't mean I'll ever like it.

customsawyer · August 14, 2016, 07:35:10 AM

An increase in production is only one of the reasons to get a edger. When sawing higher grade hardwood you are also able to increase yield. The outer boards are your clearest lumber. If you are able to gain a inch in width on a few boards per log and you are selling that lumber for high prices. Well you get my point.

WDH · August 14, 2016, 07:42:40 AM

My prediction is that if you ever use one, you will never go back to edging on the mill

.

Peter Drouin · August 14, 2016, 07:52:39 AM

Quote from: WDH on August 14, 2016, 07:42:40 AM
My prediction is that if you ever use one, you will never go back to edging on the mill .

4x4American · August 14, 2016, 08:09:28 AM

Couple weeks ago got a used cooks AE4P edger, and wouldn't wanna be without it sawing grade lumber. FAS lumber is on the outside of the log, and with the edger, I can get the widest board out of each individual flitch, which equals more $$. Not to metion, I have the carbide tipped strobe saws cutting through the dirt, not my bandsaw. Also, on the heavy taper logs, I will cut a short 4' long (or so) flitch out of that heavy taper (with that awesome sog looking grain) and get a 1 common board as opposed to taking a heavy slab and opening up a full length face. Try edging that 4' piece on the mill and being productive and leveling it to be exactly where you want it. Not gonna happen!

I try and stack my flitxhes in front of the edger in a manner where similar widths are in similar stacks, so I'm not moving the blade a mile every time. In pine, when I do this, I can stuff as many say 6" boards through as it will take and have the tail man scrambling, or, if I'm by myself (9/10) I park my fork truck behind the edger, stuff a few boards through, go overe there and stack/scrap and then go back.

Plus The sound it makes is just music to my ears. The way that snotty perkins winds up and then the buzz of the 14" strobe blades...might inspire my neighbors to move away lol

WV Sawmiller · August 14, 2016, 08:34:04 AM

I repeat my earlier comment - I hate edging. Well, really I just don't like the slow down in processing. You know what though - I hate wasting wood worse so I will keep on edging. I still maintain using an edger is best suited to stationary set ups with a helper. Since I am a one-man operation with a high degree of mobility involved I will continue edging on the mill vs buying a dedicated edger.

Brucer has an excellent response on when an edger helped him fill a specific contract but I noticed he seemed to be stationary and when running the edger it was actually a part time helper who came in to use it.

I generally re-saw my heavy slabs on my mill if I can retrieve a usable board as 4X4 mentions. Unfortunately, they don't clamp well, tend to bow and twist and I often end up with a reject but I will keep trying because of the ones that do work out and the satisfaction of saving that board from the scrap pile.

Dave Shepard · August 14, 2016, 11:42:20 AM

If you are edging on the mill, you aren't running your mill to make production either. Might as well crank out boards on the mill, then run the edger for 20 or 30 minutes at the end of the day. You'll notice that none of us with edgers would ever want to go back.

WV Sawmiller · August 14, 2016, 12:47:29 PM

Dave,

I agree they are great but they do look to appear to require a little more handling of the wood, are designed primarily for stationary use (Except maybe the small WM single blade machine which still needs a separate operator or for the sawmiller to stop and become an edger operator from time to time) and I can't justify one into my business plan and process at this time.

drobertson · August 14, 2016, 02:18:47 PM

Edgers will Increase your production. The only issue if there is one, would be the double, triple handling, having room for the flitches until its tme edge, Butt there is no doubt production will go up.

red · August 14, 2016, 02:43:37 PM

Lots of issues here . If you are running a diesel mill an edger should help , but then more labor . It depends on the type if logs you are sawing and the material you are producing. Stick to your own personal business plan .

customsawyer · August 14, 2016, 05:14:31 PM

For me sawing at the house it is not about production as much as it is about higher yield of high value wood. I don't try to run both pieces of equipment unless I have the hired help here with me.
If I am cutting cherry, quarter sawed sycamore/white oak or any other number of spices that are selling in the $5.00/bf range and I can gain 10-20% in yield out of the same log then that is where the edger is making me money.