Sawmill

[RivennHewn]

I bought the ridge metal when I bought the panels. Went to put them on today, and they are for a shallow pitch roof. I had to take they to a shop with a 10 foot break to re-bend them to 90 degrees. Fit much better now.

Not perfect, and a few details I’d like to do over but I’m 100% water tight!

Now I need to find some brake shape to mount the solar panels, as they are just hanging by their wires

 

[Ton ton]

Rivennhewn, someone just posted a nice lumberyard joke in the joke thread!

 

[RivennHewn]

Rivennhewn, someone just posted a nice lumberyard joke in the joke thread!

Well I thought it was funny. The wife, not so much

 

[RivennHewn]

Play’n around with the vents.


Don’t beat me up for not clocking the screen yet

 

[RivennHewn]

Had an “Old Man and the Sea” adventure this morning.

Hooked into a whale of a log. With the wind and current flowing full speed. It was on the other side of the channel. By the time I got back to my side, the current had drug me about 12 houses past the ramp. My arms were shot from paddling the kayak.

I finally got it to shore and luckily, a neighbor helped me get it tied off.

I decided to wait for the current to change direction, but the tide went out to far and left it stuck on the rocks.

Plan now is to wait for the tide to come back up enough to float it off, then tow it home with the skiff.

 

[RivennHewn]

This is bigger than I thought.

 

[RivennHewn]

Had some curious visitors while checking out the log today.

 

[RivennHewn]

 

[jbfsr]

You need a small outboard on the kayak.

 

[jbfsr]

That log is HUGE!

 

[RivennHewn]

That log is HUGE!

Iceberg effect. Didn’t look that big when looking at what was above the water

 

[jbfsr]

How do you get it to the mill?

 

[harley jim]

Now that's a log!

 

[RivennHewn]

How do you get it to the mill?

After towing it home with the skiff, I’ll pull it up the ramp with my truck.

At that point I’ll have to decide where to start cutting on it.

The top length will get dragged into position first with the truck and log arch, then switch to my cable/pulley/winch set up.

The bottom it too wide for my mill, and I’ll probably have to bring in my friend with his Alaskan Mill (and bigger chainsaw).

 

[RivennHewn]

You need a small outboard on the kayak.

I have the skiff for that!

 

[RivennHewn]

Went back for my whale today when the tide was a bit more favorable.

I had originally tied off to a root branch, but quickly found out that towing from the bottom is a lot like dragging a Christmas tree through the woods the wrong way.

Got the thing situated at the top end, but was another 5 or so houses further away.

Finally got it headed in the right direction, but with almost no ability to steer. The roots act like rudders.

A lot of rudders.

Made for an interesting ride home.

 

[PugetDude]

Eating the elephant, one bite at a time.

 

[RivennHewn]

Eating the elephant, one bite at a time.

35’ overall.

22” at the top.

6’+ Wingspan at the root tips.

I got the first 8’6” section headed towards the mill!

 

[PugetDude]

You taught your dog how to run a chainsaw?

 

[RivennHewn]

Specs

 

[RivennHewn]

You taught your dog how to run a chainsaw?

They both have a knack for being in the way.

 

[Toolfool]

They both have a knack for being in the way.

It's called 'helping you'.

 

[harley jim]

That a big boy Riv, what species is it?
Happy new year friend!

 

[bulletpruf]

What were the critters? Otters? River otters or sea otters?

 

[RivennHewn]

That a big boy Riv, what species is it?
Happy new year friend!

Western Red Cedar.

Should yield some nice vertical grain material!

 

[RivennHewn]

What were the critters? Otters? River otters or sea otters?

River otters in the salt water.

 

[PugetDude]

When we lived in Washington we used to see them in our yard- 80’ above the Sound. They burrowed under our neighbors house and made one hell of a mess in their crawl space.

 

[RivennHewn]

So, ‘23 is off to a wonderful start.

Woke up to the smell of coffee, then went and pulled a couple logs out of the channel.

Pulled a Cowboy’s crawfish washer out of the channel too!

Was hoping the tide would float the whale off the rocks, but not high enough.

Took the goofy Newfie for a long walk along the channel, and was amazed at how much the king tide had moved logs around. It opened a path for a treated Douglass Fir pole to easily roll to the water. (More on this later)

Came home and ate oysters on the ramp.
Called some neighbors over to join me.

Sent them home with more oysters.

All in all, I’m liking ‘23 so far!

 

[RivennHewn]

I’ve been watching this treated pole since I got the mill, which was last Dec. 28th. One year, and I still have all my fingers!!!

The high tides didn’t move it, but they did move a number of old logs and stumps between it and the water. Finally, a clear shot to roll it down into the water and tow it home.

First pic for size comparison with the whale.

 

[RivennHewn]

Today just got better and better.

Pull 3 more logs in before the current cleared the channel. All 3 we’re sitting still, just off the ramp.

Spending the rest of the day stacking/stickering and rearranging logs.

Currently have 17 logs in line for the mill

Gave one to my neighbor for firewood.

Also got a good laugh when my little log walker fell off into the water.

 

[PCustoms]

Alright, I'll bite.

What are you going to mill from treated Doug fir?

 

[RivennHewn]

Alright, I'll bite.

What are you going to mill from treated Doug fir?

Milling the treated is a bit of a pain.

First I have to clean up the mill site, especially the saw dust.

Then cut all the treated exterior off, and clean again.

This way I can collect all the nasty dust for disposal.

Since the treatment is only at the exterior, the interior wood is just clean wood. The only problem is you don’t know where the line is.

The boards will be fine for exterior grade, or interior if it has a finish on it.

No specific project in mind for it as of yet, so I’ll mill it as the log dictates for max yield.

 

[PCustoms]

Sounds like a lot of hassle. How corrosive is the sawdust?

I felled what turned out to be white oak yesterday, at least 2 10' sections at 20" diameter. Got me looking into mill options again.

 

[RivennHewn]

Sounds like a lot of hassle. How corrosive is the sawdust?

I felled what turned out to be white oak yesterday, at least 2 10' sections at 20" diameter. Got me looking into mill options again.

Cleaning the mill needs to be done occasionally anyway.

Not sure about corrosive, but maybe to your lungs. I wear a respirator when cutting it.

There are some mills out there that one log could pay for. All about finding a buyer though.

Which, is something I haven’t done yet. Haven’t tried. I’m waiting for the kiln before I even try.

 

[PCustoms]

Cleaning the mill needs to be done occasionally anyway.

Not sure about corrosive, but maybe to your lungs. I wear a respirator when cutting it.

You wear the respirator always? Could be some funky stuff in some of that wood. About 20 years ago I worked with some people who had become sensitized to the glues in plywood. Also had a good friend pass after working with reclaimed redwood all day. He had severe allergies, I think he became sensitized and had an attack.

As far as corroding the mill, I cut some PT 4x4 for a deck on the table saw and the next day the sawdust and cutoffs had left rust on the table. Lesson learned.

 

[RivennHewn]

You wear the respirator always? Could be some funky stuff in some of that wood. About 20 years ago I worked with some people who had become sensitized to the glues in plywood. Also had a good friend pass after working with reclaimed redwood all day. He had severe allergies, I think he became sensitized and had an attack.

As far as corroding the mill, I cut some PT 4x4 for a deck on the table saw and the next day the sawdust and cutoffs had left rust on the table. Lesson learned.

Respirator always: No.

I only wear it cutting toxins, and always for concrete dust.

From the operating position, the dust chute is 6’ away, and pointing away from you. That and being on the channel means there’s always a breeze.

If it’s blowing back at me I wear a particulate mask, and more importantly googles.

The size of the dust created falls quickly on the other side of the mill.

 

[bulletpruf]

So, ‘23 is off to a wonderful start.

Woke up to the smell of coffee, then went and pulled a couple logs out of the channel.

Pulled a Cowboy’s crawfish washer out of the channel too!

Was hoping the tide would float the whale off the rocks, but not high enough.

Took the goofy Newfie for a long walk along the channel, and was amazed at how much the king tide had moved logs around. It opened a path for a treated Douglass Fir pole to easily roll to the water. (More on this later)

Came home and ate oysters on the ramp.
Called some neighbors over to join me.

Sent them home with more oysters.

All in all, I’m liking ‘23 so far!

That's a helluva good day!

 

[RivennHewn]

That's a helluva good day!

Gotta take ‘em when ya can!

 

[RivennHewn]

For it’s 45th birthday, I bought my chainsaw a carb kit/tuneup.
First time it’s ever been in a shop.

They couldn’t date it with the Stihl website for dating tools by serial number, because it doesn’t go back that far.

Can’t wait to get home and fire it up!

 

[PugetDude]

I gave away a ~40 year old Stihl 028 Farm Boss when I moved from AZ to WA; it had never been in the shop. Still running perfectly today, according to the guy I gave it to. Wish I still had it.