no more big logs

[whatwas]

I have a small manual mill and am going to say "no thanks" to any more big logs. there was a time when the bigger the better but I'm to old, to weak, to slow, and to grumpy to deal with trying to widdle them down to fit.
This is just a hobby set up and I work alone, I like the finish product but spend lots of time cursing while getting there. Any helpful tips from the experienced folks here would be appreciated.

[bandmiller2]

Whatwas, Yup like the old German saying "too soon old to late smart". My testosterone is down to the level that I don't mess with the biguns anymore. Frank C.

[Deese]

Either split them down the middle with a chainsaw before loading or don't mess with them.

[whatwas]

Whatwas, Yup like the old German saying "too soon old to late smart". My testosterone is down to the level that I don't mess with the biguns anymore. Frank C.

never a "true'er" quote :D :D

[WV Sawmiller]

   Hydraulics.

   Work smarter not harder is my philosophy. Don't let increasing age and infirmities stop you from doing what you enjoy in life.

[Joe Hillmann]

On my mill I prefer logs in the 12"-20" diameter range.  The problem is they don't come around too often.   Usually they are too big to fit on my mill without splitting them or 6"-10"  If given a choice between too big or too small I prefer too small.  I can at least handle them without equipment.

[whatwas]

i wish they came 19"X19" square

[slider]

Either learn more curse words or leave them alone. a chain hoist over your mill would help. I have split several but even on my lt 70 they can be a pain. If you find some of those new curse words ,send me a pm,i am running out.

[thecfarm]

Looks like that log has been around for a while.
I sell my big logs to a sawmill and leave the small ones for me.

[whatwas]

Either learn more curse words or leave them alone. a chain hoist over your mill would help. I have split several but even on my lt 70 they can be a pain. If you find some of those new curse words ,send me a pm,i am running out.

Ha Ha,
I'm sure my neighbours (no-one closer than 1000 yds) can back me up on the cursing thing kind-of embarrassing when I calm down, but its usually the same 40 words in different sequence.
I've tried splitting them but only have a 22" bar on the saw and flipping or driving wedges only adds to the work, so back to my original statement, "no more big logs".
really I love running my saw and really enjoy milling lumber but the learning curve is pretty intense sometimes. That's when TFF comes in.
I do have a chain fall above the saw to move smaller logs up or down on the bed but I'm not sure the structure would handle the big ones and yes they have laid around now for a couple years waiting for me to get the gumption to tackle 'em. 8)

[buzywoodliff]

Agreed!!!!

I like the 12-20 inch logs.  Mostly because it's still a hobby for me and I enjoy working alone on it.  I do, however , have a dozen or so logs that will have to be quartered just to get em on the saw.  Ash, maple, and oak.  They're gonna have to be done soonish or they won't be any good so I guess I need to bite the bullet and do it.

[Delawhere Jack]

Hydraulics.

I started out with a manual mill. The first time I turned a big log just by pulling a lever I nearly split my face in have from grinning so hard.   ;D

[Kbeitz]

I had them curse words figured out a long time ago.
I figured the the devil was making my say them and
well the devil not going to make me do anything...
So HA....

[Brandon1986]

You look like you're well on it with that old 580.. I'd give a body part to own one of those for my operations..

[dgdrls]

Diesels and hydraulics are tied with a swing mill as a sawmillers best friend,  

[Sixacresand]

I got a 32 incher sweet gum loaded on the mill this afternoon.  Had to use the hydraulic clamp and chain to roll it up on the loading arms.  Me and the cant hook "can't" budge it as with almost all big logs.

[DPatton]

I'm sure my neighbours (no-one closer than 1000 yds) can back me up on the cursing thing kind-of embarrassing when I calm down, but its usually the same 40 words in different sequence.


Haha :D
I'm pretty sure my neighbor has hear those same 40 words come from my place. Looks like you have a very nice backhoe to handle those big logs. But without hydraulics on your mill those  big one are probably a pain to handle.

[Andries]

Our family moved to Canada when I was five years old.
My Dad would start swearing in Dutch while driving in rush hour traffic.
GRAPHIC stuff! . . . and little kids have big ears.
Now when a big log rolls off the mill bed when it shouldn'otta, my go-to vocabulary is "Rush Hour Dutch".
Having another language is such a bonus!  ;)

Wish I could mill some regular sized logs - but building log cabin components has paid the bills for the past few years.

[Darrel]

yes they have laid around now for a couple years waiting for me to get the gumption to tackle 'em. 8)

I'll bet that's some gumption you regret getting!  And welcome to the forum!

[WDH]

It is what drove me to a LT40 hydraulic  .

[YellowHammer]

Hydraulics.

I started out with a manual mill. The first time I turned a big log just by pulling a lever I nearly split my face in have from grinning so hard.   ;D

Ain't that the truth! 8)
Now all I have to worry about are my fingers maybe getting a crampy from moving the little levers back and forth.  Oh well, I guess I can live with it. ;D

[terrifictimbersllc]

That is some difference from splitting your face in half trying to turn it with a peavy.  :laugh:

[Darrel]

I'm trying to see this in my minds eye, hooking the peavy in your left ear and splitting your face in half while trying to turn it to the right useing said peavy.

Interesting

[4x4American]

I saw a guy on the face place splitting a biggun with black powder and it came out pretty neat...If you like blowing things up, you could combine that with sawing and make it just one big ole party

[Czech_Made]

Seen it too.  Pockets for powder made by plunge chainsaw cut and fire in the hole

[justallan1]

My problem with the few bigger logs that I saw is that my mind thinks I'm still 20 and my body says otherwise. :D
I had surgery on my right shoulder last march and they cut half of my bicep loose, then I didn't take the 3 months off like advised. OOPS!
I would probably slow down some more, but have 1 order for a minimum of 1,000 lb of burls and another for a truckload, both return customers. What's a guy to do? ;D

[woodweasel]

Hydraulics.

I started out with a manual mill. The first time I turned a big log just by pulling a lever I nearly split my face in have from grinning so hard.   ;D

ME TO I'M STILL GRINNING  D

[woodweasel]

  I swore never to do oversized logs again. But I seem to do them anyway ??? ???

[isawlogs]

 I don't do big ones anymore, leave those to the next generation that beleive they have something to prove...  ;)

[killamplanes]

I sell my big ones keep 12-20in. But I log alot more than I mill. So I can be picky. Though I've done more than my fair share of trim, turn trim, turn repeat till I say never again in plain english. ;D

[scully]

If I do agree to oversized logs I inform the customer right up front the price of milling just went up ! ALLOT!

[Darrel]

My wife and I were having this discussion about big logs/timbers and beams.  I told her that I charge 15% more per bf on anything thicker than 3" unless the customer does the off bearing. Big logs ok, I have hydraulics. So she says, but isn't there more board feet in a thick piece so you already get more per board sawn. And I said yes, but it's a portable sawmill service not a portable forklift service. And there comes a point when I'm not going to work that hard no matter how much I get paid.

[paul case]

I am not portable and I have a forklift. I still charge more for thicker than 1.5'' and longer than 12'. Handling them long and thick boards/ slabs is a lot more work for us, as every piece of scrap and slab has to be cut down to go out the door. Many times we load long lumber back on a customers trailer inside.
It should pay more since it is more work.

PC

[fishfighter]

Having a manual mill myself, I had enough of them big boys. I will never take on another log over 26". Even with a 580 backhoe, it's not going to happen. DanG shame I have two SYP logs that are around 35" on the small ends that I'm not brave enough to tackle. Got them off the ground, debarked, so just maybe one day I will saw them. :D

[Treehack]

Ya got any friends nearby that are big fellers and will work for dinner?  If I were not so far away I'd come help you out just to see those logs and how you wrangle them.

[Magicman]

Most of our commercial sawmills now have a 30" limit on SYP, and I got word this week that they will be dropping that to 26".  It's all about the economics of profitable sawing.

[Darrel]

I wouldn't consider a 26" incher to be a big log, but it still has quite a bit of lumber in it. I've cut a few Pondarosa logs that size into 1x12" for board and bat siding. It takes a good number of passes to get it all cut up.

[terrifictimbersllc]

Common saying that if you have a swing mill you smile when you see big logs.    :D

More like this....... :-\ :-\

[Fil-Dill]

Had a white oak blow over on my farm. My dad pulled it to the house for firewood. Cut out log from trunk that measured 38" and was straight. Decided I would cut into full 2x6 for a doc floor. Farmer came to load hay and sat on mill for me. Says on mill EZ boardwalk 40. Easy part was over as soon as farmer left with big tractor/laoder. Took first few cuts off and was smiling from mill doing so nice. Then the fun started. Ended up with 2 pry bars, bottle jack, highlift jack, and floor jack under mill along with a few dozen block. 45 minutes later, my son and I had turned log 90 deg. for next cut. My son looked at me and said, you take alot of slabs off of that log, before we try that again. :D

[paul case]

That boy got smarts.

PC

[bandmiller2]

Each mill and sawyer has A upper limit to what can be handled and cut economically, write it down so you don't forget. Be resolute in refusing to cut larger logs. I can mill 30" on my homebuilt band mill if its a good straight log and will have nothing to do with larger ones especially ones with butt swell, same thing on length, absolute max 16'. Frank C.

[Sixacresand]

I got this 34" at the butt loaded today.  It was knot free, I set it up just right on the mill and it milled like a dream.


 
The loading arm quickly filled up and ran over with boards that will have to be edged.  A edger and two helpers to run it sure would be nice.


 
The shadow in the photo is as slow as I am. 

[WDH]

That is a hoss.

[Magicman]

Nice, you can really make production with those big'uns.

[Deese]

That joker is huge. 

[4x4American]

I am not portable and I have a forklift. I still charge more for thicker than 1.5'' and longer than 12'. Handling them long and thick boards/ slabs is a lot more work for us, as every piece of scrap and slab has to be cut down to go out the door. Many times we load long lumber back on a customers trailer inside.
It should pay more since it is more work.

PC

you could use a lorry track.  stack lumber on a lorrytruck and then send it out the door and unload in yard