first post, don't want to start any arguments

[sigidi]

brdmkr,

first of all welcome to the best place on the internet!!!

Secondly, if you want big log capability you have no other choice than a swinger really - I'm partial to my Lucas, but like Ian says, either one will do a fine job.

Also if you do get an opportunity to get some $'s from a custom job, you can pack up easy and get there without any hassles.

Small logs - Like Ron said no production in small logs, Like Ian said you can handle a 12" with a swinger, just depends on how much handleing you want to do for how much timber you'll get. Personally I will cut from about 12" up, but then I have a big list of required timber with building my house and can get something out of every board I cut

Keep us posted

[DanG]

Ernie, he'll be seeing a multi-blade mill soon.  Since he's only twenty some-odd miles from here I expect a visit real soon.   I ain't gonna try to sell him on my type of milling, but he's gonna buy a mill.  From this distance, I can smell it in the air!

[brdmkr]

DanG, you don't need much of a nose to smell my mill on the way .  I just need to get a handle on the best fit for what I want to do.  I'll be giving you a call as soon as I get some time away from the office (at a decent time of day).

[NZJake]

We chewed up those pesky 12" fieldays pine logs down in 5 minutes flat on the ASM (2x4, 2x6 @4m), under 2 minutes to roll the log under the high track and we were back into it, had to conserve the logs half way through the show though. Next year we're gonna take two truck and trailer loads.

Something we've added to the ASM is two centre supports for the high track with a solid 6m rail, this means you don't have to fiddle with a centre support when you load your next log.

Hey Ernie what does propellors mean ?

[customsawyer]

Welcome to the forum
I don't have much to offer that hasn't been said other than if you want to see a WoodMizer run you can come up to Dublin, and I will let you off load some lumber just for the experience. I won't even charge you anything for the knowledge.

[NZJake]

Ok, I'm a little slow. You mean twisted timber right . I think what your experiencing is a lot more to do with the type of log your cutting and how you cut open it.

On that note the swingers offer some advantages there, they deal with stress alot easier, not saying they will cut straighter timber than the twin saws (thats still down to the sawyer).

The truth is that they can cut stressed timber with alot 'less' effort. When a circular confronts stress wood, the timber gets pressed up against the blade contributing to heat up and horse power drain (blade heat up is the biggist factor).

On a swinger if one was to start cutting the vertical and experiences pressure against the blade, you could back out and confront it in the horizontal or the other way around.

Another option is that you could take your full horizontal/vertical in two seperate passes which would be easier on the saw. I found this to be all too important in Aus with their Ironbark gum trees etc (maybe thats why they have so many swingers of there eh?)

For a very light little machine they carry alot of horse power to that single little blade.

[sigidi]

Jake, I might be wrong, but I think Ernie was saying he cuts better (not worse) with the twin blade he has, ie. he doesn't have as many propellors.

Might be wrong?

Anyway on the idea of doing vertical cuts in two bites - do you find you do this? I would have thought you wouldn't be able to get all the way across the face of the log if you did two half depth vertical cuts, not sure as I havent' done two cuts in the vertical, horizontal yep, but not vertical 

[NZJake]

Sigidi, I have done this a fair few times cutting sleepers etc in tension logs. The ASM has a button for the raise and fall so in a matter of seconds the machine will be up and down, same goes with the WPF with the ellectric up/down installed (a little slower with the hand crank).

Cutting an 8x4 in the vertical cut... After experiencing tension in the vertical I would raise 4" cut through vertically, drop 4", cut the horizontal, finish off the full 8" depth vertically. My explaining might be a little hazy but believe me on the WPF etc it's very easy. I understand where you are coming from with walking to each winch for the raising/lowering on the Lucas (same goes for the ATS).

Still don't get the propellor thing?

[maple flats]

Not sure but maybe propellers are boards kicked out of the saw. My Peterson does not have this problem unless you are making first cut to level the top and don't cut a big enough piece. If you pay attention after first cut and see that it will be tiny, just back up, reset and cut a bigger piece. But that I think is why instructions say never let anyone stand directly in line with the log, only stand to the side and to the operator's right. The entry level Peterson is very easy for 1 person to operate and move but 2 is certainly easier. I have the Peterson ATS but got the 20 hp instead of 13. Works great, sharpens really fast but does not need it often if you keep your logs clean.

[Bibbyman]

We were at the Paul Bunyon show last fall and got to visit with the Perterson crew.  I got over on this side to take an action shot and was advised I shouldn't be there.

[Ernie]

I found that when cutting some of the younger eucalpts with the chain saw mill and resawing the slab into boards, the uneven release of tension I got by not cutting both the horizontal and vertical cuts at the same time led to things like a 6 meter long 4 X 2 that twisted drastically.  In the worst one, the ends were almost at 90 degrees to each other.  Hence "propellor"

I got the name from a post that I read quite a while ago here on the forum

I found it

http://www.forestryforum.com/board/index.php?topic=5159.msg70071#msg70071

[sigidi]

Hey Ernie,

ya shoulda kept the secret, then heaps of folkes would have been thinking, that Ernie, he knows some stuff!!!

[Ernie]

On any official form where I am required to state occupation, I always put peasant, that way no one expects me to anything about anything, it usually works and unfortunately, it's usually true

[Tom]

Ernie,
Actually, I think, that just shows how little of the information on "official" forms is read.

[Ernie]

Tom
A few years ago, our daughter was applying for her wedding license and phoned home to ask what she should put in for my occupation.  As usual I said peasant.  Sha was marrying a young plastic surgeon and didn't think peasant was particularly appropriate.  I reminded her that she is a good Christian and bearing false witness is a no no but she could put what she wanted.  She called me a farmer

[Haytrader]

 

Ernie.

OH NO!!

 

[pigman]

 She called me a farmer

No higher honor.