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Chinese Food 3 Times a Day - You Get Used to It.

Started by porcupine, January 25, 2011, 03:16:34 AM

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porcupine

It's a bright and sunny afternoon in Beijing today, 15:10 in the People's Republic of China and while most of the forum's members from the U.S. and Canada are cuddled up and I'm sure, dreaming of their favorite saw log and blade. For our friends in NZ and Australia, I hope your having a great Tuesday.

A brief introduction: I am an airline captain on a leave of absence from a U.S. carrier now flying in mainland China fulfilling a lifelong desire to visit this country and get paid to do it. 

Sawmilling-
Back in the early 80's I read a story in Mother Earth News about a country sawmill and that inspired me to 'get into the action'. And I did. Welding classes, poking around asking old time sawyers questions and smelling the aromatic cedar being cut. Like many of you, I was hooked. 3 years in reconstructing an old circular mill, then cutting timber from my land I notched a post and beam house. When I was finished I was ready for another challenge. So I sold it all and began flying professionally. I thought the woodcutting was a deceased passion. Not so.

I read most of the sawmill section on your website-
The members from the Forestry Forum gave me the knowledge and provided about 95% of my research material for making my choice of mills. Narrowing it down to the Blue, Orange and Red mills and with the power of the Internet, I was able to speak with the reps from the various companies. With never having seen a band mill operate, I made my purchase. The sales reps from all 3 were professional and helpful

Back in ZBAA-
Here in Beijing I'm waiting for my fight to begin boarding and will return to the States for a month at home and to drive down to Indy to pickup an LT50HDD47 with a few options.

Reasons for the WM are:
*Proximity to the manufacturer. I live in Michigan and it's an easy drive down to accept the mill. I used to live in Indiana and have a great respect for the people there.
*Excellent service reputation
*Conservative values
*Their volume of sales. They must be doing something right.

The Baker Blue Streak really caught my eye because of its size, capacity and brutish look. I wanted it, but like any purchase I started out with a dollar amount limit quickly surpassing that arriving at a figure that made my knees knock. Initially.

Why do I need a mill?-
We all need building material and who knows? Maybe when I'm finished flying and retired I can make a little dough (pizza money) haha.  :D

I still can remember the satisfaction of a tree on one end and lumber on the other and that's really what I want.

It's cold in February in Michigan, how much cutting will be able to do ....? Don't know, but I sure I will be re-reading the FF posts for assistance as I will need to overcome a learning curve on this new piece of equipment.

Pix to follow of course.

To the Men & Women of FF - Thank You
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Kansas

Did you happen to see any sawmills in China? I don't ever recall any posters on this forum from China. Wonder if they do any smaller personal milling there.

Jeff

Sure they have them. They are all knock off of American mills.

My timing sucks. I was hoping for my 30,000 post to involve food.  :-\
Just call me the midget doctor.
Forestry Forum Founder and Chief Cook and Bottle Washer.

Commercial circle sawmill sawyer in a past life for 25yrs.
Ezekiel 22:30

fishpharmer

porcupine, a belated welcome to FF! 8)  Apparently I missed your first post.  I am looking forward to hearing about your experiences with the new LT50, and, your experience in China.  Also, is MSG used in "real" Chinese food as much US chinese food? ;D
Built my own band mill with the help of Forestry Forum. 
Lucas 618 with 50" slabber
WoodmizerLT-40 Super Hydraulic
Deere 5065E mfwd w/553 loader

The reason a lot of people do not recognize opportunity is because it usually goes around wearing overalls looking like hard work. --Tom A. Edison

terrifictimbersllc

Welcome PP, I'm from Elkhart/Goshen originally, & Indiana was probably why I got a Wood-Mizer too.   8) 8)  Looking forward to hearing about your sawing experiences.  Send us some sawmill pix from over there if you can!! 
DJ Hoover, Terrific Timbers LLC,  Mystic CT Woodmizer Million Board Foot Club member. 2019 LT70 Super Wide 55 Yanmar,  LogRite fetching arch, WM BMS250 sharpener/BMT250 setter.  2001 F350 7.3L PSD 6 spd manual ZF 4x4 Crew Cab Long Bed

gator gar

Quote from: Jeff on January 25, 2011, 05:19:17 AM
Sure they have them. They are all knock off of American mills.

Too funny Jeff  :D. I could sure eat Chinese food 3 times a day, I love the stuff. I could happily run an LT 50 everyday too. Welcome to the Forum.

Bibbyman

Welcome to the Forum.   Wood-Mizer has had mills in China for a long time.  I don't know how many.
Wood-Mizer LT40HDE25 Super 25hp 3ph with Command Control and Accuset.
Sawing since '94

bandmiller2

Porcupine,you belong here,you didn't mess around got right to food.You won't go wrong with your mill choice.First project should be a roof over your mill (mill hanger) with south facing windows ,should take some of the sting out of Mich. winters.My wife of 38 yrs is from the Philipines and I've thrived on asian/island food (too well).Do you have any trouble with language although I think air trafic is in english.Probibly with short time resharp would be the best route to keep the bands sharp.Keep us posted. Frank C.
A man armed with common sense is packing a big piece

metalspinner

QuoteHere in Beijing I'm waiting for my fight to begin boarding

Was this a Freudian slip? Or are the airport screeners there like the ones here where you need to defend yourself against being violated?  ::) :)

Welcome aboard! 
I do what the little voices in my wife's head tell me to do.

Magicman

porcupine,  I welcomed you in November, and am now glad to see you follow up on your sawmill dream.  Your sawing adventures should be interesting to follow.  I look forward to read about them.
Knothole Sawmill, LLC     '98 Wood-Mizer LT40SuperHydraulic   WM Million BF Club Member   WM Pro Sawyer Network

It's Weird being the Same Age as Old People

Never allow your "need" to make money to exceed your "desire" to provide quality service.....The Magicman

Burlkraft

P Pine...it sounds like you have a plan  ;D ;D ;D

I've always wanted to go to China...well.....Hong Kong for sure.

I always figgered you could get great Chinese food there  ;D ;D

When ya get time I sure would like to see some pics of The Mainland and maybe a synopsis of the culinary delights  digin_2 digin_2
Why not just 1 pain free day?

Magicman

Knothole Sawmill, LLC     '98 Wood-Mizer LT40SuperHydraulic   WM Million BF Club Member   WM Pro Sawyer Network

It's Weird being the Same Age as Old People

Never allow your "need" to make money to exceed your "desire" to provide quality service.....The Magicman

mad murdock

Quote from: Bibbyman on January 25, 2011, 06:55:28 AM
Welcome to the Forum.   Wood-Mizer has had mills in China for a long time.  I don't know how many.
Bibby, they have just enough to figure out how to build copies of them.  The chinese are very skilled at buying western technology and copying it.  A case in point is the Aerospatiale AS-350 Helicopter.  They bought some from eurocopter, then they entered into manufacturing agreements to build components of the aircraft for Eurocopter, then when they had gotten over the learning curve, low and behold, the chinese have their own "new" civilian helicopter, that looks surprisingly similar to the AS-350, of course it is called something different.  Any company that does business with the chinese hoping to get a foot in the door, may do well in the short term, but they will get cut out in the long term, and the chinese will carry on by themselves.  IMO.  I do like some of their food though, but not the bugs and other "exotic" stuff that you see on the open air market places.
Turbosawmill M6 (now M8) Warrior Ultra liteweight, Granberg Alaskan III, lots of saws-gas powered and human powered :D

Tom

Welcome to the Forestry Forum, Porcupine.

I never considered that an Aircraft Carrier would be Flying around in the China sea, but having been a surface Sonar sailor on a Tin Can, I can maybe make the analogy fit of destroyers flitting around like sparrows, if your city is flying.  :D

Kudos on the ability to hit that postage stamp.  Come home safely, and safe.  :)

brdmkr

Welcome and congratulations on the new mill.  We do like pics.  I'd enjoy some pics from China as well.
Lucas 618  Mahindra 4110, FEL and pallet forks, some cant hooks, and a dose of want-to

barbender

I had a buddy that visited China, he said there was no "chinese" food there :D At least not like the "chinese" food we eat here. One thing that stuck out in his memory were the eggs pickled in horse urine, an aquired taste would be nessesary in that case :o Yummy! Porcupine, welcome aboard and enjoy that new mill. I bought a used LT40 last fall, I've cut maybe all of 1000bf with it. To busy with other things. One of the first orders of business for me will be building a mill shed this spring.
Too many irons in the fire

porcupine

Good morning
Its good to be home, got in at midnight last night. 30 hours door to door travel. I think I'm getting used to it but it will take several days to fully recover the 13 hour time zone change.
Chengdu is where I live in China. It is in the southwest about 800 miles from Tibet. If I went any further in that direction I would be getting closer.  :D
The culture, food, every thing is different except the universal desire for people to provide for their families, plan for retirement etc.
Pollution is BAD. I can't go into all the details now but will say I have eaten bugs, scorpions, ox stomach, dog, monkey (most of these unknowingly) I have learned not to ask anymore, just eat it if it passes the nose test.
Mill shed? That will be my first job but for now the mill will be in a 40x76 pole barn.
Photos, yes I will Get to work on that, I don't have any on my iPad so I will log on later.
Did I say it's good to be home! Well it is! Haven't been here since July .....
Kubota M5040  2007
Kubota U35 Mini-Ex  2016
Brute Force 18-24 Firewood Processor 2022
Brute Force Grapple
Super Split HD
Logrite Cant Hook, Pickaroon
Stihl MS250, MS461, MSE 220
Lamar 16' Dump Trailer
Load Trail 20' Tilt Trailer

fishpharmer

Welcome home.  And maybe I don't want to know about chinese food(insert barfy face). :)
Built my own band mill with the help of Forestry Forum. 
Lucas 618 with 50" slabber
WoodmizerLT-40 Super Hydraulic
Deere 5065E mfwd w/553 loader

The reason a lot of people do not recognize opportunity is because it usually goes around wearing overalls looking like hard work. --Tom A. Edison

Magicman

I have a Grandson that spent a couple of weeks in China.  He doesn't even want to talk about the food, etc.  Mostly the etc.  :-\
Knothole Sawmill, LLC     '98 Wood-Mizer LT40SuperHydraulic   WM Million BF Club Member   WM Pro Sawyer Network

It's Weird being the Same Age as Old People

Never allow your "need" to make money to exceed your "desire" to provide quality service.....The Magicman

Roxie

Welcome home and welcome to the forum! 

I have often wondered if the difference between our food and China's food is due to a lack of availability of our standard beef, pork, and chicken.  Is it a matter of economics, supply, or just a difference in preference? 

Say when

bandmiller2

The chinese food we get here is americanized if the chinese ate that every day they wouldn't live past 30.The real chinese food is quite bland, what we eat is their special party food.Frank C.
A man armed with common sense is packing a big piece

porcupine

A few pix from China

Goat meat. Pick your own cut.



In the Flight Levels over China



My neighborhood



Girl in her parents metal shop



Street scene in Chengdu



So your looking for an apartment? 50 USD a month. No heat

Kubota M5040  2007
Kubota U35 Mini-Ex  2016
Brute Force 18-24 Firewood Processor 2022
Brute Force Grapple
Super Split HD
Logrite Cant Hook, Pickaroon
Stihl MS250, MS461, MSE 220
Lamar 16' Dump Trailer
Load Trail 20' Tilt Trailer

Just Me

If the map is right it looks like you are right by Cheboygan Lumber in Cheboygan I live just down the road in Indian River. I envy you your new mill!

Welcome back.....

Ironwood

Welcome,

The "street scene" pic reminded me how much I LOVE the "streets" you shop for _____ (fill in the blank). If your in Siagon or Hanoi and need _____, you go to that part of town where only _____ can be had. Kind of cool. I went to the lumber street in Hanoi and it was neat to see their raw material preferences. Also visited the street w/ metal. In Siagon visited the textile street, and the area where you can buy the "bead" seat cover thingy's. I would love to get a container load of those bambo beaded seat covers, it has lasted 3 years of non stop use (and still going strong), try that w/ one you find in this country.

Perhaps you're "insulated" from the cultural and attitude conflicts (especially intra country flights) but WOW did I see some real "garbage" on the HUGE plane I boarded in Hong Kong to get home w/ my newly adopted 10 month old. I was travelling alone and needed a bulk head seat for him to rest, and the captain called security to remove lots of #$%^& passengers not cooperating w/ the flight attendants on several issues and levels. REAL interesting to see all the cultural differences displayed that day.

Best to you.

Ironwood
There is no scarcity of opportunity to make a living at what you love to do, there is only scarcity of resolve to make it happen.- Wayne Dyer

Warren

Porcupine,

Welcome to the forum.   Glad you are back in the U.S. of A. safe and sound.  Congrats on the mill....

Quote from: mad murdock on January 25, 2011, 11:27:17 AM
Quote from: Bibbyman on January 25, 2011, 06:55:28 AM
Welcome to the Forum.   Wood-Mizer has had mills in China for a long time.  I don't know how many.
Bibby, they have just enough to figure out how to build copies of them.  The chinese are very skilled at buying western technology and copying it.  A case in point is the Aerospatiale AS-350 Helicopter.  They bought some from eurocopter, then they entered into manufacturing agreements to build components of the aircraft for Eurocopter, then when they had gotten over the learning curve, low and behold, the chinese have their own "new" civilian helicopter, that looks surprisingly similar to the AS-350, of course it is called something different.  Any company that does business with the chinese hoping to get a foot in the door, may do well in the short term, but they will get cut out in the long term, and the chinese will carry on by themselves.  IMO.  I do like some of their food though, but not the bugs and other "exotic" stuff that you see on the open air market places.

Have a friend who spent a number of years in the U.S. semiconductor business.  BIG problem with the Asians copying chips and then grossly underselling the U.S. manufacturers who had invested multiple years and MILLIONS of dollars in R&D to develop each new chip.   Supposedly, the U.S. chip makers finally went to a 3 year life cycle for each new chip design.   The reason he offered was that it takes 3 to 4 years to build and tool up a new plant for each new chip design.  With a 3 year life cycle, by the time the Asian copy cats got to the market, the U.S. makers were rolling out the "next generation" of new chips.

LT40SHD42, Case 1845C,  Baker Edger ...  And still not near enough time in the day ...

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