sawing school - what FF sawyer would you like to hang out with for a day?

[Dan_Shade]

I was thinking, I'm a self trained "sawyer", i've read a lot of stuff, learned a lot reading here, but man would it be nice to get some hands-on guidance, and boy would it be nice to apprentice with some of the "big time" guys around here.

I pick Tom to hang out with for a day to pick his brain, and watch how he goes about the business.  only I can't eat peas (wierd allergies), and I'd bring my own spoon!

who would you guys like to saw with for a day or so?

[SawDust_Studios]

Can I pick three, maybe four?

I feel like I've already learned so much from the experts around here.  That is a tough one, because there are so many guys around here that know way more than I'd ever know, so I'd be thrilled to spend a day with alot of them.  I'm sure I'd learn more in that day, than I have the last 6 years on my own.  But If I had to choose, I'd probably go with Ron or Arky.

[Dan_Shade]

in all honesty, there are many guys here that know a lot.  seeing how the guys like Ron and Jeff (used to) do it would blow my mind.  anybody that's sawn a million board foot has to know something. 

I picked tom, because I know he likes to take breaks.  Maybe I should have picked DanG!

[DanG]

I'm gonna hang out with Tom tomorrow, and the next day, and the next day.

[Radar67]

I spent a day with Woodbowl and his miser, and a few days with Phil L and his Petersons. Best learning experience ever. I would gladly spend several more days with either, or both, and Dang sounds like he could teach me a thing or two as well.

Stew

[brdmkr]

Dang sounds like he could teach me a thing or two as well.

He sure helped me a lot.

[treecyclers]

Here's my list:
Jeff B for his wisdom on production rigs
Cedarman for his knowledge in the cedars
Tom for his infinite wisdom and levelheadedness
Furby for the hoots and hollers
DanG just for kicks (Anyone whose name is used as the "official cuss word" of the FF has GOT to be a character!
Bibbyman for his geographical location (I don't think I have ever been that far north)
And the list goes on and on and on. I could list every one on the FF, but I have been up since 4, it's already 9, and I still have to eat my supper!
SD

[DomR]

 I'd hang out with any of you guys in the forum.  I'm not so sure I could keep up with any of ya but I'd try.  I learned along time ago that you learn alot of both good and bad  by watching and helping, asking and sometimes just listening the sounds of work.  I don't think Tom would be that bad to work with despite what CHARLIE told me at lunch and yes, I'd eat peas and bring my own spoon. No time to carve but I reckon I'd learn that from him too!
DomR

[DR_Buck]

Defiantly a tough decision.  There is so much knowledge on this forum to gain from many of the participants.   My first thought s were to say Arky. But then DanG made his post....

     

I'm gonna hang out with Tom tomorrow, and the next day, and the next day.   

...... and I had to reconsider.   So I pick Tom.   If not for his sawing knowledge, Tom's philosophy is quite entertaining.    Besides he comes with Dang!         ......a 2 for 1 deal! 

[bcraw98]

I think I'd have to go with Pro Sawyer Mary because she's the only one so busy that she doesn't have time to post!  I also figure she has some tricks for sawin' on a manual mizer that she could share with me. Plus, I get Bibbyman which makes it a two for one 

[WkndCutter]

I'm with Dr. Buck.  Tom gets my vote.  So much knowledge from any of the sawers here on the forum.

[Bibbyman]

We’ve had the good fortune to hang out with a lot of great guys and learned and shared a lot.  Some not mentioned above include Bro-Noble, Joey-Lowe, Rmay, ElectricAl, and others.

On my list of places I think I’d like to go, watch, talk, and learn would be the LT300 operations of  Mike Raynor and his Rock Island Lumber Company and the Wood-Mizer sawmill in Madisonville.  If I couldn’t pick up some ideas, I could at least dream.



The Rock Island Lumber Co. Eldon, Mo.



Tour of Wood-Mizer Sawmill Facility – Madisonville, KY.

[Warren]

Interesting thread.  I quit my real job 2 weeks ago to get started full time in sawing / wood working.  One thing I know for certain is that I don't know very much about sawing.  Sooo..  I've spent the better part of the past 10 days (and about 2,000 miles) hitting the PB Show and spending a few hours to most of a day with several FF members who agreed to show me their set ups.  

My goal for the past two weeks has been to:
1) Understand what type of mill to upgrade to for production work.  My LT15 is a good mill.  But it is not a production mill.
2) "Go See" how other sawyers set up their shops and machinery.  Currently I am working outside.  I would rather learn from other folks experience than re-invent the same old mistakes.

I won't mention the names of the folks I have visited with because I didn't ask their permission.  But basically, I stayed within about 200-250 miles of my home base.  Much of what I have learned so far is the common sense stuff that is openly discussed on the forum.  Some of the stuff I picked up,  I hadn't thought about previously:

> Hydraulics are good.
> Having sufficient horsepower is good

Everyone I visited who is sawing fulltime:
> Uses a log deck to improve production (50% live, 50% dead).
> Uses some type of dust collection system or strategy
> Uses some type of roll case / conveyor to move materials between processes
> Most do at least some if not all of their own blade sharpening
> Wishes they had a bigger building

A few Ah Ha's:
> Ensure that ALL by products and waste streams are sold or marketed to generate income.  At a minimum, ensure they do NOT cost time or $$$'s to remove them.
(easier said than done...)
> After increasing horse power to a certain point, the blade's ability to handle the horsepower may become a limiting factor instead the motor's ability to pull the blade through the wood.
> With a good crew, somethings like turning a small cant, may still be faster with a cant hook, especially if it frees the sawyer to focus on something else.
> There is no ONE way to set up a milling operation.  Each shop was set up distinctly different. But still effective for their given purpose.

I am still struggling with the remote console versus walk along. I would much rather use a remote console for high volume work.  But I am envisioning a small percentage of my business being in the 25 to 30 foot range for barn posts.  My understanding, the remote WM mills can only be extended to about 26 feet.  I am not certain walking all the time will be worth the small incremental amount of business.  Probably not.  But I hate to turn it away.  I have a neighbor who is a barn builder.  He builds 6 to 8 large tobacco barns a year.  Each barn pattern requires 25,000 to 35,000 bf of lumber.  I'd love to be his "one stop shop" for all of his barn lumber.  Currently he is hauling in from out of state to get the longer posts.

Final learning was that FF members are good bunch of folks !  Everyone I visited with was very friendly, open and informative.  I appreciate everyone being willing to take time out of their schedules to help me better understand the sawing and wood products business.

Warren

[ely]

i would pick tom if had to choose one person.

[Larry]

Guess I would pick a full time sawing team that specializes in sawing hardwoods, drying them, grading, and selling wholesale as well as retail...Linda and her partner ElectricalAl.

Got an opportunity to saw a whack of SYP next spring...don’t know nuthin bout pine.  I’ve read numerous times to let the log tell you what it wants to be.  Know there would be a whole herd of you southern sawyers that could further my education so I won’t pick one here.

No matter who you would pick I think most will agree sometimes a new trick or technique can be learned from even some very inexperienced sawyers.  And I wouldn’t pass up a chance to visit with any of the forum members.

[Modat22]

I have enough experiance running a sawmill to be very dangerious to myself, others, farm animals and garden gnomes.

I can't choose who'd I'd hang out with on the forum but Tom and part_timer are high on the list.

[OneWithWood]

Great question!

I have learned so much from talking to various FFers in person at the piggy roast and other functions and of course the information shared on this site has been indespensible.   

I could list a number of people but I would probably still leave out some inadvertantly.   Each person on this list contributes to my knowledge base.  I wish I could spend time with you all.

[twoodward15]

I think I'd pick Scott Branbury.  He's doing what I'd like to be doing (urban sawing).  I'd like to see his operation and/or work with him a few days to see how he gets things done and gets trees from people.

[DWM II]

Ditto on Scott Banbury, I aint into naked slipin slide, but the urban logging interests me pretty good.

[oakiemac]

Good question.

I'd pick Arky for his knowledge on sawing and jawing. I'd also pick Sawmilljohn for his impressive know how on the MD's. I would also like to hang out a day or two with the Bibbymans.
 I had to laugh when someone said that they had never been that far north. The Bibbys live in Missouri-that is south! So far south that the heat will fry your brain like an egg. I think anything south of Indianapolis is southern and I only venture down there in the cooler parts of the year. But that is a whole different subject.