Sawing big logs

[Qweaver]

Rock called me this eve to say that he will have the big red oaks ready to saw by Wed.  So I'll get the Peterson up on the trailer tomorrow.  The biggest log is 45" on the big end. The logs are totally sound and should make beautiful lumber.  We will get as much quarter sawn as possible.  I hope that I can lift some of the smaller logs so that I do not have to move the saw four times. 
I will need to use water on the blade,  how will I keep the water from freezing?

Quinton

[POSTON WIDEHEAD]

Put windshield washer fluid in your water by day.....take your water jugs home at night.
Trust me.....my jugs turned to bricks when I didn't take them home.  :D

[thecfarm]

I would start with a warm jug. Window washer would help too. If real cold a blanket over the top,around it?

[scsmith42]

RV antifreeze is another option.  Ditto the recommendations to put the water jug inside at night.

[Peter Drouin]

I use WW fluid in the winter for decades and never had a problem even at -10 cutting frozen logs  :D :D :D :D

[Peter Drouin]

How do you get 1/4 sawn lumber with a peterson. I can see when you start, but after you cut the top do you turn the log?

[Qweaver]

How do you get 1/4 sawn lumber with a peterson. I can see when you start, but after you cut the top do you turn the log?

Almost the entire log can be quarter sawn with a swinger and it is never turned.

[thecfarm]

Peter,must be a youtube on it. First one I saw I was fascinated by it. I asked that poor guy more questions. I tried to explain it to some guy at work that had worked in a sawmill. He could not understand the cutting part of it.

[Qweaver]

A swinger cuts horizontal and vertical which lets you make these cuts resulting in mainly quarter sawn.


 

[Peter Drouin]

I see thanks

[kensfarm]

I use straight WW fluid in the winter now..  I was getting clogged at the valve w/ the mix.. even after keeping it inside overnight.  Now I can just leave it out.. don't have to take anything apart. 

[dboyt]

I've been playing with the idea of venting some of the exhaust heat around the water jug.  It'd keep it from freezing while running the mill, at least.  I have a friend who did that with his hydraulic reservoir, and it helps a lot.

[beenthere]

dboyt
WW fluid doesn't work? Doubt it would freeze if used straight.

[Clark]

dboyt
WW fluid doesn't work? Doubt it would freeze if used straight.

It's the mix of washer fluid and water that doesn't freeze.  Straight water or washer fluid will freeze at higher temperatures than the mix.

Clark

[beenthere]

dboyt
WW fluid doesn't work? Doubt it would freeze if used straight.

It's the mix of washer fluid and water that doesn't freeze.  Straight water or washer fluid will freeze at higher temperatures than the mix.

Clark

??   'splain that one to me, pls.  I don't get it (and I use straight WW fluid in my cars all the time... that is straight from the mfg bottle that says -20°F  ).  What am I missing here?

[5quarter]

x2?

[Peter Drouin]

x3 :D

[drobertson]

switched to straight right before the hard freeze two weeks ago, no issue here with freezing,  the batteries had a bit of a struggle but managed.   david

[Magicman]

I always purge and flush out my Lubemizer with straight -20° WW fluid at the day's end.  My bottle is a 50% mixture of water and -20° WW fluid.  That works in my area where the temps seldom get into the teens.

[jbeat]

Quinton,  When it comes time to re-tip a blade try replacing the 3/16 width tips with 1/4 in. ones. I've used the 1/4 in. for four years and rarely use any water lube.

[boscojmb]

Hi Quinton,
I'm new to the Forestry forum, and my question is probably stupid.
Is there any reason why you can't use #2 off road fuel or diesel instead of something water based.
As far as I know everyone running a band mill with steel band wheels is using #2 fuel oil.
Conditions change, but on average I use .5 Qt per 1000 BF. And my blades do not gum up or get hot.
Please forgive me for my ignorance.
Thank You,
John

[Magicman]

Hello boscojmb, and Welcome to the Forestry forum.   

[thecfarm]

boscojmb,welcome to the forum.What have you got for a mill? By the way there are some of us that have belts on our wheels and is using half diesel and half bar and chain oil. oh the horrors of it all.  ;D Blade lube is almost as good as a debate on what kind of oil mix to use with your chainsaw on the chainsaw board. Than to that one a step more,40:1 or 50:1.  ;D

[Clark]

??   'splain that one to me, pls.  I don't get it (and I use straight WW fluid in my cars all the time... that is straight from the mfg bottle that says -20°F  ).  What am I missing here?

I was referencing straight antifreeze, not the premixed stuff. I misread the original statement(s) and was thinking straight antifreeze and not WW fluid.  Naturally, it all comes premixed anymore. Here's a good explanation of why straight antifreeze does not protect to colder temps than a mix of water and antifreeze:

http://www.ssgm.com/news/how-does-antifreeze-work-anyway/1000114380/?&er=NA

Clark

[scsmith42]

Hi Quinton,
I'm new to the Forestry forum, and my question is probably stupid.
Is there any reason why you can't use #2 off road fuel or diesel instead of something water based.
As far as I know everyone running a band mill with steel band wheels is using #2 fuel oil.
Conditions change, but on average I use .5 Qt per 1000 BF. And my blades do not gum up or get hot.
Please forgive me for my ignorance.
Thank You,
John

Hi John, welcome to the Forum!  I think that Quinton is on a road trip, so I'll share my thoughts re your question (I also run a Peterson).

Most swing blade mills use a higher volume of water than band mills for cooling, due to the increased size of the blade contact area and the fact that tension in the log will bind down on the 26" diameter circle blade a lot more than on a 1-1/4" wide band.  So there is a lot more blade metal that needs to be cooled, especially if you are cutting wide boards.  I typically go through 2 - 3 gallons of water per hour when milling, or 10 - 15 gallons per day.  Diesel fuel would be cost prohibitive at that rate.