Sawmill

[RivennHewn]

Either way, he's having fun.

Yes. Yes I am.

 

[RivennHewn]

Blade change
Adjust blade guides
Oil change
Check drive belt tension
Adjust guides on vertical post
Adjust cables/head height -equal per side
Re-level bed w/ laser

Getting ready to load and cut this little monster.

 

[RivennHewn]

This log is very, very close to the max capacity of the mill.
Specs say it can cut 26” logs, but I can barely get the clamps on this 24” log.

Specs say it’ll cut a 16’11” log, but I had trouble positioning a 16’9” log.

But, it’s loaded and ready to go!

 

[Ton ton]

Impressive sized log!

 

[PugetDude]

 

[RivennHewn]

Impressive sized log!

It was no small feat getting it loaded!

 

[RivennHewn]

1st cut!

 

[PugetDude]

What species on this one, Riv? Bark looks pretty thin (or missing?)

 

[RivennHewn]

What species on this one, Riv? Bark looks pretty thin (or missing?)

Bark is long gone.

Western Red Cedar.

 

[Jayman17]

Riv, this one is going to yield some nice boards!

Jay

 

[PugetDude]

Bark is long gone.

Western Red Cedar.

 

[RickP]

Bark is long gone.

Western Red Cedar.

Very nice looking red cedar!
(just a "little" bigger than the stump I was just milling: 24" vs. 6")

Any plans yet for the boards after they've dried out?
I was fooling around with box joints, but you could trim out a small room with 400 bf.

 

[RivennHewn]

Very nice looking red cedar!
(just a "little" bigger than the stump I was just milling: 24" vs. 6")

Any plans yet for the boards after they've dried out?
I was fooling around with box joints, but you could trim out a small room with 400 bf.

Plan is to let it dry, then cut around the cracks/defects and design a project based on useable material.

Cut up a hundred stickers too!

 

[RickP]

Good call -- I guess you have a year or so to decide on a project before the boards are ready to use...

(unless you fire up a new solar kiln in the mean time)

 

[RivennHewn]

Good call -- I guess you have a year or so to decide on a project before the boards are ready to use...

(unless you fire up a new solar kiln in the mean time)

A kiln is coming up the to-do list

 

[RivennHewn]

Talking about cutting around cracks and defects, I noticed a crack already forming so I cut the slab.

Ended up being perfect size for some sideboards on the ‘ol ‘77.

 

[PugetDude]

Styling w/ cedar!

 

[Toolfool]

We don't need no stinkin' PT stuff.

 

[RivennHewn]

We don't need no stinkin' PT stuff.

That log has already been around longer than the expected life of PT wood.

And, I can always replace them with cottonwood when they fail

 

[Jayman17]

Plan is to let it dry, then cut around the cracks/defects and design a project based on useable material.

Cut up a hundred stickers too!

Those photos of you standing with the boards are awesome! Nothing says a PNW truck more than having cedar slabs for the side boards.

Jay

 

[RivennHewn]

Those photos of you standing with the boards are awesome! Nothing says a PNW truck more than having cedar slabs for the side boards.

Jay

Thanks Jay.

I’ve got some rock to haul sometime soon. Better than buying boards!

It was time to flip the log, which is a challenge considering it still weighs 1500 lbs.

By routing the winch line, and using a log dog as an anchor point, you can utilize the winch to roll the log. The peavy comes in handy for small adjustments.

 

[RivennHewn]

Well, Hell.

It’s Saturday.

I didn’t want to work very hard anyway.

 

[PugetDude]

That'll buff out.

 

[RivennHewn]

That'll buff out.

Actually not to much hassle. At least not after I found my bigger metric sockets that I failed to put away properly.

Put my big boy pants and sawmill mechanic hat on and I was back in business.

Here’s my yield minus the thicker slabs.
They’re already stacked and stickered in the shed.

 

[Treeman]

I fear that somebody (politician?) is going to find out how much fun and practicality your project is and they will find a way to tax or otherwise regulate it, LOL.

 

[PugetDude]

In Washington State? Surely you jest…

 

[RivennHewn]

I fear that somebody (politician?) is going to find out how much fun and practicality your project is and they will find a way to tax or otherwise regulate it, LOL.

White Pine: American History and the Tree that Made a Nation: Vietze, Andrew: 9781493009077: Amazon.com: Books

Buy White Pine: American History and the Tree that Made a Nation on Amazon.com ✓ FREE SHIPPING on qualified orders

www.amazon.com

Good little read(or listen) , part of which covers early American settlers taking the “King’s Trees”.

The little rebellion may very well have inspired the Boston Tea Party.

That said, I am not a business. I make no money.

 

[RivennHewn]

In Washington State? Surely you jest…

Delete.

No point to getting my wrist slapped

 

[PugetDude]

Good call.

 

[Treeman]

White Pine: American History and the Tree that Made a Nation: Vietze, Andrew: 9781493009077: Amazon.com: Books

Buy White Pine: American History and the Tree that Made a Nation on Amazon.com ✓ FREE SHIPPING on qualified orders

www.amazon.com

Good little read(or listen) , part of which covers early American settlers taking the “King’s Trees”.

While I have not read that book, I am aware of the "King's Trees" story. White pine has quite a history in Michigan and I am proud that my career resulted in tens of thousands of tree seedlings reforesting Michigan over the past decades.

Carry on sir - but beware that unmarked black helicopter hovering over your enterprise, LOL.

 

[RivennHewn]

Here’s the other end of the scale.

A 10 pound Russian Olive cut off.

Thinking I’ll go for small turning blanks and such.

See how much usable material I can squeeze out of it.

I did cut a few “cookies “ off the Split Enz.

(80’s band reference intended)

 

[PugetDude]

Leave the turning blanks raw edge, Riv.
Seal the cut ends with paraffin or thick latex paint. They will be worth more with the bark on. Turning the blank in the lathe on its side will yield a live edge bowl.

 

[Jayman17]

Riv, I like the look of that Russian Olive, where did that come from? I’ve never heard of that specie of tree.

Jay

 

[RivennHewn]

Riv, I like the look of that Russian Olive, where did that come from? I’ve never heard of that specie of tree.

Jay

Jay,

It was given to me by a cousin. It grows in Eastern Washington, along streams.

It’s a European transplant that is considered invasive.

 

[PugetDude]

Spokane County Extension Office used to offer them in their annual tree sales. They are really common in the Washington Outback…( as many Seattleites refer to anything east of the Cascades.)

 

[RivennHewn]

Added a little “Personal Touch” to the mill.

 

[Ton ton]

Added a little “Personal Touch” to the mill.

Beautiful paint job!

 

[RivennHewn]

Beautiful paint job!

I ain’t got those skills

Just some nice stickers

 

[RivennHewn]

Almost worth pulling the cover off the mill

If you can help identify the species .

The last pics are the log as I got it.
No branches, roots, leaves, or bark. Just lots of short, sharp bumps.

 

[LXCam]

Well looky who’s back from vacation. Welcome back Riv.