21+24+12 is about long enough.

Dave Shepard · July 14, 2015, 05:13:13 PM

Looks like I'll be hooking up a BX12 to my BX24. That should just about do it. :D

Chuck White · July 14, 2015, 06:01:01 PM

Sounds like some mighty long cuts Dave!

Peter Drouin · July 14, 2015, 06:32:58 PM

Quote from: Dave Shepard on July 14, 2015, 05:13:13 PM
Looks like I'll be hooking up a BX12 to my BX24. That should just about do it. :D

What!!!

bkaimwood · July 14, 2015, 07:09:51 PM

And I have a hard enough time getting anything over 12 foot!!!

rooster 58 · July 14, 2015, 07:23:41 PM

Holy Moly

Dave Shepard · July 14, 2015, 08:08:33 PM

We've got to saw some 50 footers. I've done the slide routine at 47'. Takes a lot of extra time and effort, not really interested in sliding 50 foot logs. Sometimes there is a call to go out to about 55', so we'll be ready. ;D I was originally going to get another BX24, but this 12 came up for sale close by. The other option would be to buy an LT40 hydraulic and turn that into a BX and sell the head. I may still do that if the right opportunity comes along.

4x4American · July 14, 2015, 09:57:15 PM

so...is this for your mill or for works?

I feel bad for whoever's offbearing!

Magicman · July 14, 2015, 10:09:12 PM

Are you planning to have multiple log turners and clamps?

Andries · July 14, 2015, 10:53:39 PM

Way to go Dave - that'll be five feet longer than what I'm able to mill. A niche market musta been waiting for you too.
Loading and unloading keeps you on your toes, for sure!
Like MM, I'm interested to see whether you go with hydraulics like CustomSawyer, or stay with manual/loader assisted turning.

hackberry jake · July 15, 2015, 02:36:04 AM

Or you could keep both heads. A double headed sawmill! You could have two operators and saw two logs at once!

Brucer · July 15, 2015, 12:53:31 PM

First I had 21' of cutting length. I would do the odd 24' or 25' beam using the shuttle method. Then somebody wanted a couple of dozen 24' beams, so I upgraded.

Now I had 21' + 6' of cutting length. I would do the odd 30' beam using the shuttle method. Then somebody wanted more than 60 - 30' beams, so I upgraded.

Now I had 21' + 6' + 6' of cutting length. I would do the odd 36' beam using the shuttle method. Then somebody wanted 70 - 4x14x40' beams. I said "No".

;D ;D

4x4American · July 15, 2015, 11:11:56 PM

Shoulda just bought a 12' extension to begin with :D

Dave Shepard · July 16, 2015, 01:22:20 PM

No extra turner or clamp. When sawing that long all turning is done with a Lull off of the mill. This extension will be used on my mill and the LT40 at work.

Brucer · July 16, 2015, 07:29:20 PM

Quote from: 4x4American on July 15, 2015, 11:11:56 PM
Shoulda just bought a 12' extension to begin with :D

Hindsight is an exact science

.

4x4American · July 16, 2015, 10:11:20 PM

:D Brucer...had to rib ya a little!

Dave Shepard · August 05, 2015, 06:35:06 PM

Phase one is complete. Mill drilled to accept dowels and my BX24 installed. Picked up the BX12 today and will drill my BX tomorrow to accept the extra extension. Just a little white oak I had to resaw today. 38 footers coming tomorrow, and 50 foot pine coming soon as well.

And for Peter D., that's John's big brother, the 7810. Lifts a lot, can't see the forks. :(

47sawdust · August 05, 2015, 07:47:05 PM

That's getting to be a long walk.

Dave Shepard · August 05, 2015, 08:27:52 PM

Yeah, it's the mill at work. No wireless! :'(

WDH · August 05, 2015, 08:34:48 PM

You don't have to worry about anyone stealing it :D.

4x4American · August 05, 2015, 09:14:45 PM

Is that thing level? lol

I wouldn't wanna set that rig up!

Larch · August 05, 2015, 09:17:54 PM

New member but long time lurker here. Thanks to everyone for all the knowledge and humor that makes this such a great forum.

Question:

What's the average time it takes to put extensions on a WM and take them off once you've done it a few times?

Is there anyone doing mobile milling that brings extensions along if needed or is that too much work (would cost the client too much)?

customsawyer · August 06, 2015, 03:58:01 AM

I think it is mandatory for you to get a call for longer than you can cut, right after you extend it. :D

Larch welcome to the forum. Then extensions are not to bad to hook up the hard part is getting everything leveled up.

Chuck White · August 06, 2015, 06:29:25 AM

Welcome to the Forestry Forum, Larch.

Jim_Rogers · August 06, 2015, 09:34:02 AM

Since I drilled out my mill rails and bed extension to add pins my set up time had decreased.
I would say it's about an hour but could be less.

I have taken my 6' bed extension to sites before, but it requires an extra trip for me. Or I hire a friend with a pick up truck to haul it while I haul the mill with my SUV.

Note to self, buy a pick up with snow plow asap......

Jim Rogers

Dave Shepard · October 27, 2015, 06:27:24 PM

I should have taken those slabs off the main deck. They mind of ruin the effect. :D

Magicman · October 27, 2015, 07:13:23 PM

Where is your lounge chair, umbrella, and mint julep? ???

Dave Shepard · October 27, 2015, 07:19:53 PM

Probably will want an umbrella tomorrow. Supposed to rain.

BCsaw · October 27, 2015, 09:25:12 PM

Really nice. Mine will be 36' sawing length, yours is crazy cool. ;D

Dave you will need a cell phone to talk to your off bearers! :D

Jemclimber · October 28, 2015, 07:04:05 AM

Wow that's long!!! I thought the 17' 6"x6" red oak cants I was carrying were heavy. I would definitely not want to man handle any of those long pieces.

scsmith42 · October 28, 2015, 07:39:46 AM

Sweet Dave!

Tom L · October 28, 2015, 08:42:00 AM

holy mackerel ,that is a long mill !!!!!!!

you have to show us a picture of the tree you put on there

Dave Shepard · October 28, 2015, 01:42:13 PM

Smaller log. Just got a 12" x12":

12" x12" x51'

deadfall · October 28, 2015, 01:49:03 PM

Would have loved to see the video. Especially of rolling it and pulling the slabs.

...and cut to camera 3!

Dave Shepard · October 28, 2015, 01:54:56 PM

Nah, I don't much like being on camera. I'm already working on a projectproject that is being filmed by a professional film crew.

Peter Drouin · October 28, 2015, 05:02:17 PM

That's a nice tree. What size lull is that?
And what do you have in the silos? I like your greenhouse too.

Dave Shepard · October 28, 2015, 06:13:55 PM

The forklift is a Mustang 1155, 11,000 pounds and 55'. The bins and greenhouse are not part of what I'm doing. It's where we are set up at the moment.

bkaimwood · October 28, 2015, 06:53:34 PM

Dave, that's insane...where do u get logs that long, let alone straight!!!???

Dave Shepard · October 28, 2015, 07:12:12 PM

You've got to cover a lot of ground. So far all the long stuff I've cut has been within 15 miles of home.

customsawyer · October 29, 2015, 04:24:03 AM

Them long ones do seem to add some extra work don't they?

bandmiller2 · October 29, 2015, 08:12:24 AM

One log one band, do you have to switch bands on the same log.?? The problems with long logs are exponential but if you can handle them you have an exclusive market. A circular saw that could handle those logs would have to be twice as long. Frank C.

isawlogs · October 29, 2015, 08:25:14 AM

Are the chain tighteners stiff enough to handle the extra torque required to get the chain from sagging ?

Love those long beams, they would make great rige poles...

That sure is a nice rig to look at!!!! 8)

John S · October 29, 2015, 08:34:57 AM

I am also curious about the extra long and heavy drive chain. Any problems maintaining the 7-8 inch distance from the rail or does that change?

Shadevalley · October 29, 2015, 09:11:54 AM

Quote from: Dave Shepard on October 27, 2015, 06:27:24 PM

What is the Irwin clamp and sting used for?

Andries · October 29, 2015, 11:12:33 AM

Drive chain sag on my setup is much more than the 7 - 8" below the rail.
I'd guessed that the tension needed to do that (7 - 8" droop) would destroy the drive sprocket and bearings, so my chain is adjusted so that it just barely clears the ground.
Long logs are usually big diameter logs, our Western Red Cedar need trimming with the MS660 and a 36" bar, before the mill head will clear the butt end.

Looks like Dave Shepard is getting long and straight hardwood logs - pretty darned special!
Alignment of the bed is an ongoing chore. We shoot a laser down the bed and use a white card and pencil to mark alignment.

Dave Shepard · October 29, 2015, 12:03:33 PM

I cut about 400 feet of 2x material with the band before we did the three long sticks yesterday. Chain tension is much lower than spec. The clamp is holding a machinest's v block. One on each end with a string line in the v.