How to handle sawdust with Lucas mill ?

[Peder McElroy]

I also use a Lucas 618 Mill and would like to know if anybody has a good way to deal with all the sawdust. Thanks

[sigidi]

Hi Peder,

I have been using a 6-18 for the past 6 years (she's lookin for a new home now I have Bo Derek - the perfect 10" ) I only ever found sawdust an issue if in one location for more than 3 days. Up to 3 days I'd just use my boot or a square mouth metal shovel to 'clean out' the main bit in between the rails. Another thing I did if the log dump was a single layer, after a couple of days, I'd just slide the mill back toward the log dump - no more sawdust prob.

If you are set-up in one spot, I could see the sawdust becoming a problem after a few days. In that instance I'd try to saw so the dust was shotting 'downhill' (if there is a slight hill) and away from log dump - so you don't have to roll logs over ya sawdust. After a while then crack out the shovel or drop the rail off and scrape it out with a machine...

[bandmiller2]

Has anyone ever tried a leaf blower to clear sawdust away from a mill,probibly wouldn't move course circular mill dust but the fine stuff should blow.Frank C.

[wdncno]

I have swing mill and last summer on one job the guy had a medium sized gas leaf blower and it worked really well.  It's on my must have list! Just have to fight through the winter first.

[bandmiller2]

Oh probibly not a good idea to smoke when you blow that dust unless your name is fireball.Frank C.

[hogs4hobby]

my lucas 1030 stays set up under my barn 90% of the time. i just keep me a walking path cleared. when i rake the saw dust out from under the rails i use my tractor to drag it away from mill.there is a posting on here that shows a little bit of my opperation .Topic: Lucas, WM, Good Friends and BBQ  (Read 1922 times)

[Dakota]

I don't move my mill, so I just rake the sawdust under the rail and use an aluminum grain scoop to throw it into a trailer.  My dad found a small electric elevator at a farm sale and uses it to elevate his sawdust into a trailer.
Dakota

[sigidi]

I reckon one of those blowers would work fine if it was used while milling and caught the sawdust as it flew, once it was on ground and settled, no chance it would move a few days worth, but the blade and guard chuck it out the way well enough.

Another thing I've done when the pile is stacked nice and close to the mill, after a couple of days, I have just picked the endframes up out of the sawdust and put 'em on top of it then kept milling, no need to do anything with it then and the mill is quick enough to level up again, don't even need to move the ground pegs, just undo the T handle when the endframe is 'dug' out of the sawdust and re-tighten once you have placed the bottom rail on top of the sawdust...

[brdmkr]

I shovel out a walking path and use the FEL with bucket to carry it off once the pile gets large.