Year-End Reflections & What I've learned

[Jeff]

DR_Buck, you took a great post and made it greaterer  

[DR_Buck]

I'm just about to reach my 6th anniversary of owning my mill  and I've been thinking about updating this thread the past few weeks with all the new things I've learned in the two years since my last update.  The problem is I don't think I've learned much new.    I keep re-learning the same stuff over and over.   

In spite of my  best efforts I did learn a few 'new' things:

• Never wear a hoodie with the single front pocket when milling.  You'll never get the sawdust out of the pocket.
• Skipping a pig roast causes depression.
• Read all the forum topic areas.  You'll be surprised what you may find. 
• 4° bands are great.
• If you have a Logrite Junior arch, take it to every job.  It will save you lots of work.
• Never, and I mean NEVER move the mill with the front leg still down.
• Keep spare tail-lite bulbs for the mill in your tool box.
• If a short heavy log has the potential to fall down, end-on, between the bed rails, it will.
• Regardless of what SNOPES.COM says, it is possible to roll a log off the backside of the mill and get it stuck between the mill rail and the tire.
• Just because the loader arm hydraulics can lift a big log onto the mill doesn't mean that you can turn it with the turner or clamp.
• Take every opportunity to attend sawmill trade shows such as Sawlex, logging expo's or mfgr (Wood-Mizer) open houses.  There is so much to learn.
• Subscribe to Sawmill & Woodlot Magazine.
• Only drag home logs that you can use.  Or buy an outdoor furnace.   
• Beware of free logs at the bottom of a hill or down over a bank.
• Do not run the debarker blade into the turning clamp.  It makes a real bad sound. 
• Support the Forestry Forum Sponsors.
• If you want to know how much you have learned by hanging out on the Forestry Forum, go back and look at your 1st posts.
• Don't tick off the admins.  I learned recently that there are worse things than the woodshed. 

[DR_Buck]

8 YEARS and I'm still learning! (deja-vu all over again)

Dear Diary,

Two years ago I added my 6 year update to this thread.  After re-reading in it's entirety again, I've realized this is a diary of the learning opportunities I've had by owning a sawmill.   It's also beginning to cause me great concern with my memory as I can see now that I have to keep re-learning some of the same things.       However, no matter how many times I have re-learned the things on my three previous lists, I have found that I can still learn new things as well.

As usual, in no particular order:

• Everything on the previous lists   
• It is an absolute fact that you can saw completely through a backstop roller
• If you don't have a spare tire for your mill because you think you will never one, your wrong.
          ....it will be needed late on a Saturday when it's raining and you are 50 miles from home. 
• Keep spare v-belts in the truck, including for the alternator.
• There is no end to the things you can saw into to destroy a blade
             ..... can you say cast-iron pully or galvanized water pipe?
• If you get a bad feeling in your gut about a job you are bidding, take heed.
                          ...."Just say no"
• Get to know all the other sawyers in your area just in case you need to refer customers elsewhere.
         ....... see bullet above
• Take your maintenance & operator manual with you on every job.
• If you hit something in a dry log and don't stop the blade fast enough, it can set the log on fire.   
• You can so get a cant stuck between the roller guides.   
• Beware of lies... "I've lived here all my life and there are no nails in that log!"   
• I have more Logrite tools than Dan Shade   

[bugdust]

I learned a new one yesterday: If the wife tells you not track sawdust across the carpet, she means it ..... I mean, "SHE REALLY MEANS IT!" 

[zopi]

There is no substittute for having a mill on wheels.

four feet of cypress carved into a bear is worth more $$$$ than quite a few sawn into boards. Hopefully one habit will feed the other.

[WDH]

• Hickory is a dirty seven letter word.
  

• Pecan is a Hickory.

• Wind and currents create waves.  So does Hickory.

[Shotgun]

• Hickory is a dirty seven letter word.

• Pecan is a Hickory.

• Wind and currents create waves.  So does Hickory.

This belongs in the FF "profound sayings" file, wherever that is.     

Norm

[WDH]

Norm,

I have some nice wavy pecan that I cut yesterday if you need some  .  You would think that the lumber would bring more if it had waves in it rather than that straight stuff that you always see  .

[ellmoe]

A customer came into the mill and asked if I'd cut his hickory. I hesitated and asked him, "what sizes?". He told me, "I want each board to be 8.5 inches wide at one end, 7.75 at the other; .75 inches thick at one end, 1.25 inches in the middle and 1.0 inches at the other end. I laughed and told him that I couldn't cut his hickory like that. He said, "why not, that's how you cut my last hickory!".....So I did it again!

[WDH]

 

DanG, that is pretty good with hickory!  You did better than I can do with it  .  Next time, I will get you to cut some for me  .

[Mooseherder]

Bring it on down for the party Saturday.   We'll get even with it on the BBQ.

[Dan_Shade]

now that I know we're in official competition, i'll have to step it up!

(and for the record, I think I've got you beat)....

5 cant hooks, a hookaroon, a scale (2 if you count the one I left behind while doing an estimate once), and a bottle opener!

and on top of that, I gave my uncle a 48" cant hook, and gave another one to a guy that gave me a bunch of logs!

:-)


for the rest of you, i refer my headaches to Dave 

[DR_Buck]

now that I know we're in official competition, i'll have to step it up!

(and for the record, I think I've got you beat)....

5 cant hooks, a hookaroon, a scale (2 if you count the one I left behind while doing an estimate once), and a bottle opener!

and on top of that, I gave my uncle a 48" cant hook, and gave another one to a guy that gave me a bunch of logs!

:-)


for the rest of you, i refer my headaches to Dave 

Dan --- Do the math.   Then place an order with Kevin & Tammy   

2   5' Cant hooks
2   4' Peveys
1   36" Mill Special
1   Mega Hook (aka - Arky Hook)
1   Hookaroon
1   International Scale
1   Jr Arch w/Extender handle
1   ATV Arch
2   PR Logrite Leather Gloves
1   Logrite Ball Cap
1   Logrite Bottle Opener
1   Capstan Winch & 400' Rope  (Sold by Logrite)

                                    

[Dan_Shade]

oh ok, I concede, but at least the paint is wore off of all of mine!  ;-D

[ellmoe]

 You did better than I can do with it  .  Next time, I will get you to cut some for me  .

I'll be glad too. Just as soon as you bring me my table (or was it a desk?)!
Mark

[WDH]

It was a table  .

• I had a new Wood-mizer razor-tip blade that I got at the Pig Roast that I was eager to use, so I tried it on some pecan.  I found out that it slices nails real good  .

[Magicman]

Even when "playing dirty", that is just not fair.

[zopi]

That hickory is not wavy....it is curly.