actual mill production

[DanG]

I agree with Eddie the Farman to a point.  However, actually running the saw is only part of the operation.  I can pump out some lumber pretty quick if I just drag the boards off into a pile, but it takes so much longer to straighten them up.  That is less of a factor when I have help, but I usually work alone, and find it is more efficient to stack them neatly as they come off the mill.

[ellmoe]

Ed,
  We've 'spoken" before about your production, but I have a question. With three men how are you pulling  (stacking) 7500bf/day? One sawyer, one edger-man and one stacker? Even if you're cutting cants the green chain operator must be a MAN (or, now, a shell of one!). Are you using a 'stack-trac' or something similar. (Inquiring minds want to know    ) When I speak of 1000bf /man I include everyone on the yard, including log buckers, loader operators, etc..  Thanks,

Mark

[Percy]

Great read here. Ill add my 2 cents.

Its been said already but Ill say it differently. To get production up, speed to the next cut is  as , or even more, important than feed rates.  This means a certain amount of support staff and equipment is needed to up the figures. I got some uptown stuff(LT70,Edger, Bobcat, Forklift, receiving table) and workin alone with alla this stuff gets me about 1500 bdft a day(includes bucking,piling,cleaning,yadda).  Get a  helper and Im up to about 3000. Get two helpers and decent logs/fat cuts , were lookin at anywhere from 3500 to 6000.(Personal Best).
 These figures are total daily production and NOT product specific(as in an actual order for a customer).

Of course you have to sell what you cut, so I dont cut unless I have an order.

Of all the time saving features of my mill, the drag back system probably is the most usefull for upping production, followed closely by debarker and Accuset....

[RMay]

I have kept up with BF. cut on my LT-40 HD. for the 33 months I've had it when divide by the hours on the hour meter it comes out to 400 bf. per hour.

[FiremanEd]

Ellmoe,

 We run a 3 man crew. Woody as sawyer sets on the mill. The goal is for him to stay in the seat all day. Man #2 is the Loader/Edger man. He feeds the flitches into the edger primarily, controls the cants which are flipped off the back side of the 'transfer table' into a pile and then slips out to unload incoming logs, load the log deck, move cants and packs of lumber. Man #3 off bears the edger, end trims if needed, grades (when cutting white oak, everything else is sold mill run) and stacks lumber. We keep from 2 to 6 stacks going at any time for varying lengths and grades. He also doubles on both ends of the edger when Man #2 is out on the loader. Man #3 is the physically busiest but he's only worked hard when cutting 12+' lumber. We cut primarily 10' materials and he handles them without any problem.

This system w/ the LT300 regularly puts out 8mbf/day (10 hrs) or equivilant to 6.4mbf for an 8 hour day, or 2133bf/man/8-hr day. Some days less, some days more.

Now to throw a kink in the plan, when we have the logs and my dad or I are available we will run the timber harvester which is set up to feed to the same edger. Man #2 & #3 above then get busy. They edge, off bear and load 2 mills for about 12mbf / day. The sawyer for the TH has to help edge when man #2 is on the loader then to keep everything running smoothly.

The days I'm at the mill I take up all the incoming logs, helps sort and pile logs, help Woody w/ maintanence issues that he can put off till I'm there to keep the mill running and deliver 3 trailer loads of lumber a week. Woody delivers the 4th in the evenings or weekends.

As a side note, the off bearer, man #3, leaves the mill house on a run 2 or 3 times a week at quiting time to go play soccer in the neighborhood soccer game. So, he must not be being worked TOOO hard.

Eddie

[sawmillDave]

Hello,

I sawed on a Timber Harvester 30HT25 and produced 1x's and also ties. I consistently produced 2000 bd/ft 8 hr day. I think they have a great mill and personable people.

[dail_h]

   Interesting topic,been followingit all. I did some adding today,and my figures tell a lot about my operation.I never really worried about production too much,just had to saw till it was done.
   The last few days,I have been cutting Isabel cypress for a neighbor.By Isabel,I mean cypress that was blown down,or over by the storm.Much of it has either a crack in it or shake,so it's not just straight sawing. I work by myself with an all manual mill,an edger,and "Spud", my ancient forklift. I started on these logs last Thursday right after lunch,sawed till about 5:30,started back Friday morning about 8:30 -9:00,worked till 5:00.Sawed all day Sat.,didn't even stop for lunch or anything except to come in and fix another jug of water till 6:30. Spent Monday morning moving slabs,and lumber,doc's appointment in the afternoon,so no sawing.Yesterday,8:15 till5:00,today,had to sharpen blades this morning,started sawing around 9:30,sawed till just before lungh,when I had a somewhat time consuming breakdown,got back sawing just before 4"00,broke a blade right at 5:00,edged,and stacked rindboards till just after 6:00.
   Now everything that gets done,I have to do it,load the deck,load the mill,do all the turning ,stack slabs ,and lumber,edge and stack,sharpen blades,EVERTYTHING.Cutting 2x6s,1x6s,2x4s,1x4s,and 1x3s, I had just over 2000 ft at lunchtime today.Now I know that's not too impressive,but I ain't trying to kill myself,and to tell the truth,the time the blade is actualy in the log ,is probably way less than 25%,more likely 10%.
   Bottom line,don't matter how fast your mill will saw,if it ain't sawing,you ain't making count. Still 'n all, it's a dang lot better'n GP

[Swede]

i have a 2003 woodmizer lt40 super with a diesel. no matter what i do, i NEVER get anywhere near the production rates that are advertised. averaged out for the day i probably only get about 200 bdft /hr. that does include getting the logs to the mill, and off bearing everything by myself, but i am not stacking the 1x, just throwing it in a pile. and the rest of what i am milling is beams, the smallest today being 10' 3x6. i am milling dry blue spruce which has big knots, and feed rate is pretty slow to not have wavy cuts.  what do other get for actual production?

I´m close to that with my little sawmill if I change the blade every 2-5 hours. The soft wood that fell in the storm Jan. 8 is very different now. Some is like fresh wood, other like sawing cotton waste.
If my calculation is right 1M³=435bf. I´ve made my own rate. If the logs are 10" x 15´ or more I´ll do that in 2,5 hours without any help. Also stacking if the piles isn´t too high.

Best way to hold the production up is to change blade before the cut get wavy. I don´t think the brand or colour of the mill makes a big difference.  Pulling a sharp blade through a log is enough but also well working equipment.
Sawing bad logs it takes me longer time to make decision what to do with it and slow down the production.

Swede.