The LumberWorksForums

Posted: Sat Feb 10, 2007 9:10 am Post subject: Excellent pics - Overview of steam sawmill operation

Hull-Oakes Sawmill

http://www.garymkatz.com/ontheroad/hulloaks.htm
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theorm

Posted: Sat Feb 10, 2007 2:51 pm Post subject: Hull-Oakes sawmill

That is a bunch of impressive machinery! Do they make that in a portable model? Why does the blade only have good teeth on one side? I thought those two sided blades cut in both directions. And they have to change the blade every 2 hours? I bet they can do that in just a few minutes. The crew setting the blade on the sharpener were doing what appears to be a very hazardous job by hand using only a dolly. And the guy monitoring the sharpening appears to have his legs under the blade. I wouldn't do that.

I may be crazy, but I'm not stupid
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treebucker

Posted: Mon Feb 12, 2007 5:46 pm Post subject:

I think the teeth on the back side is used during the return to remove any splinters that may snag the band.

Yeah, at 1st glance it looks like he's just asking for it.

Some of the equipment controls looks like they were assembled as an experiment.

Awesome. Makes me feel real small.

http://sturgeonsmill.com/
Sebastopol,CA This mill was restored by the original owner's kids & grandkids. I saw it in action last year. They saw 4 weekends per year. It is a circular mill, steam driven by an engine built around 1850, the engine was used in the San Francisco mint. They have a whole crew sawing and edging using the all the bells & whistles.

Theo