The LumberWorksForums

Hi everyone, got my first big job this weekend. I really didn't try to get any now because of not really having time now with my job. A man brought over 2 dump trucks loads of logs, poplar, pine, oak and sweet gum. About 3 thousand ft. He's got in the load two big poplars 16 ft long 31 inch on small end and about 34 on butt. My mill only cuts 31 (WM LT 28). I told him that I would have to cut the poplar into 8ft because my bobcat will not move them. So you think that I can put the oversize logs on the mill and start trimming them down by rotating them? I've never cut any that big, so I'm all ears here for any suggestions. thanks

Just got home awhile ago and looking at the log. I was thinking that if I put it on the mill and shave off a little at the top and turn it and shaved a little off the sides till I got it under my max. I'll use my tractor and chain to turn it, I can see lots better on it than the bobcat lifting with it. I need to get some pics for you if this works. WB, how do I add pics here?

Hey xlogger
I dont have a Woodmizer but I have incorporated some of there ideas on my machine,,
I would think you should be able to shave portions of the log on your machine since its a cantaleavered,, but I do think your prolly gonna have to turn it more then you like or you may make a cut, then just turn a pinch, say 45 degrees and cut, so on and so fourth,,would be nice if you had a ripping chain on your chainsaw,,


Under post reply or new topics you'll see right under the message box your typing in on the left lower corner, Add image to post, that will do it for ya,, ,Now when we add a full size picture were most the time, adding the picture to a remote location, like Photo Bucket, and then from there copying the image over, but thats a bit more work.
,, I a couple years ago milled up more then 800BF of Sweetgum,into 4/4 stock, out of 800bf 200 or so was useable, but the grain in sweetgum intertwines, causeing the chances of twisting to be greatly increased, as well as once dry, there will be splitting right in the face of the boards, and other defects,,some sawyers will mill sweet gum larger or thicker then needed and then once dry, put it back on the mill, or the like,, to much work for what it really is,,

perhaps you can put the sweetgum off till last, and splain to the customer what could happen,,

Good Luck xlogger

I tried a few minutes ago to send pics of the logs, it said it was too large, trying again.

Well guys I took pictures today but it is saying they are too large, I'm not good at all with computer so I'll have to wait till my daughter comes over and maybe she can show me. ricky

xlogger you should set up a photobucket account, its free and simple and it will automatically size your pics for you. Just set up your account and use the bulk uploader option and you can upload alot of pics at the same time. Then you can copy and paste to any where on the web.

Well the bottom line about your pictures is the digital camera your using is set to the highest resolution or quality the camera can do,, which means your pictures could be mega bytes, insted of kila bytes,, In most cases your lower resolution is just fine for most the printing and PC viewing,, For photo Bucket, Bulk uploader is fine if your internet is anything but dial-up,, I'm on dial-up because AT&T are CRIMINALS, and they dont desirve the money the charge and I wont give my money to them,,
Ha can you tell at&t is a sore spot with me.

I got photobucket now but trying to figure it out. Guys I started too late in life to run this computer but I'm trying. I am looking at the camera, my daughter has one and is going to give me a call this weekend and maybe try to adjust it. I'll have pics next week I hope. thanks all

One other note: photobucket has to run there adds and stuff, so when I log on to photobucket, I myself have to sorta hunt around to click on the right tab to get where I wanna go, so I can upload my stuff..
Speakin of loggin on,, I just noticed my lil paper hangin on the wall here with my user name and pass words,, the puter does remember some stuff, but on my lil paper is 9 user names and passwords,, for the different accounts I have or have to go to perodicly,, I hate that.

I got my book on my camera out and found out how to make the pics 640X480 like Robert said. I'll try tomorrow and get some pics out. I hate to show progress on my shed so don't anyone laugh!! All I've done in 2 months are getting the four corners in the ground. Just been too busy and boy is has been hot lately. I cut one of the pine logs the guy dump out one night this week in about 2 hours by myself. It was 16 ft long and cut out about 207 bd ft. Cut all in 2X4 or 2X8 with a few 1 inch boards. If I could average 100 ft an hour that would be great. But smaller logs and lots more 1 inch boards would surely slow me down. Ricky

Your right about that, I like those 14"-18" logs. Not too big and not too small. You get some nice boards out of them. And working by yourself stinks. I am my favorite person, but I get tired of arguing with my shadow.

trying to send pic again, took this picture this am of my mill with new shed starting behind it. I loaded another large pine and notice my plastic water can must of got hot and cracked in a couple of places I've got it with some glue trying to fix it.

maybe I finally learn how to do pictures, here one of the big poplar that I can't even pick up with my bobcat, now how to saw it?

Nice set up there, and nice country surrounding you too.
Well that poplar is one your gonna have to roll to your mill and then ramp it up if its to heavy for the Bobcat.
They'll be some nice lumber in it.
Good luck and Glad you figured out the picture thingy.

Hey Xlogger, I haven't sawed too many monster logs, yet. I have done a couple big oaks that were over the capacity of my mill (31"). I think one was 34" and a little bigger at the but end. Like Robert, I don't have a WM mill, so I don't know exactly what you would have to do to whittle it down to a manageable size.
The 34 incher, was loaded on the mill with ramps (that I put blocks under to support) using pulleys, ropes, cant hooks, a pry bar and 3 guys. It wasn't easy, to say the least!
After getting it up on the mill, I used a chain saw to cut groves out where my fully extended blade guide rollers would not clear. That was not as hard as I thought it would be using a sharp chain. I did have to stop in the middle of the 1st cut and trim a little more off towards the end of the cut, so the roller would clear. I also had to use wedges to dog the log. The mill dogs would have been in the way of the carriage travel path.
I then turned the log 90 deg., and again had to trim a bit off the bark side at the butt end with the chain saw. I will mention that turning the log was not in the least easy to do, nor was the cant until it was down to a manageable size. One time I turned it, it slammed down on the bunks way harder than I would have cared for it to.
After way too much time, I was sawing boards off (slowly, because of the 20" + width of the cant). Monster logs can be done, I just don't know if they are really worth the trouble. Most of the wide boards were splitting as they dried and will have to be ripped down to smaller widths. (smaller widths being 8" 10" 12"). Very nice lumber out of that log, but way too much trouble for it. 18"-24" logs are big, but are manageable, and still give you some nice wide boards. Like WVU, I prefer 14"- 18" for productivity.

Good luck and be really careful with those huge logs! (my back still isn't the same!!)

Like lainemech said,,, You gotta really wanna do monster logs,, and then the boards are so wide even at 4/4 you cant hardly lift the boards,, for the best lumber oversize cants are best sliced down a bit and keep your lumber under 12" if possible.

I told the guy that I would have to cut the 16 ft poplar into two 8 ft logs, my bobcat will not lift the log and like you said the lumber is heavy also. He thinks he can "coat them" with oil and use fence posts so if that's what he wants I'm going to cut mostly 4X4 on them.

How is this for size, could you handle a log this large. Actually 30 inches long and 9 inches in dia. Ended up with 4 5/4 boards. Owner was tickled. Lester