Sawmill

[PugetDude]

When I lived on the Sound I swear you could walk across the bay in front of our house on July 1 by hopping on the crab pot bouys.

 

[LXCam]

CRAB !!!

Oh, wrong kind of crab huh?

 

[PugetDude]

Don’t go bringing your California issues to Arizona, Cam.

 

[RivennHewn]

CRAB !!!

Worst opening day ever.

1st time in 15 years we didn’t limit on opening day.

8 pots, with a couple 2 hour soaks, gave us 6 keepers.

Normally we’d have 20 in one 2 hour soak

 

[RivennHewn]

Don’t go bringing your California issues to Arizona, Cam.

That’s the only crabs he’s familiar with

 

[RivennHewn]

Making some shade, to stop the sun from F’n with my welding helmet.

Goal today is get all the joints prepped, line the ribs up straight and true. Then get everything tacked together.

We’ll see how that goes.

 

[RivennHewn]

Goal accomplished.

How do you guys stress test your tack welds?

 

[RTM]

Goal accomplished.

How do you guys stress test your tack welds?

Jump on it!

 

[RivennHewn]

Jump on it!

I did!

 

[PCustoms]

Goal accomplished.

How do you guys stress test your tack welds?

That would have hurt, a LOT, if the weld broke.

Good on you for having self confidence!

 

[RivennHewn]

That would have hurt, a LOT, if the weld broke.

Good on you for having self confidence!

And that’s just tacked

 

[PCustoms]

And that’s just tacked

Whenever I want a tack to come off it involves a grinder.

When I want it to stay put if I look at it sideways it falls off.

Not sure if my degrading welding skills are from lack of practice or from failing eyes. I can't tell you the last real project I welded, and I'm on year 3 of this tank, but I also haven't seen an optometrist in years.

I used to go through 2 tanks a year.

 

[RivennHewn]

Whenever I want a tack to come off it involves a grinder.

When I want it to stay put if I look at it sideways it falls off.

Not sure if my degrading welding skills are from lack of practice or from failing eyes. I can't tell you the last real project I welded, and I'm on year 3 of this tank, but I also haven't seen an optometrist in years.

I used to go through 2 tanks a year.

I’m right there with ya.

Bumped up to 2X readers this year. Happy to find ones that transition for long view.

It does really affect the way you work.

***** getting old

I sold my tanks, straight fluxcore now.
All of my welding is outside, and there’s always a breeze on the channel.

 

[RivennHewn]

jumped right into finishing the welding of the ribs this morning.

Was on my last pass of the topsides, and experienced trigger failure.

The machine was still powered up/running and the wire pulled freely with some pliers. Spool was half full, and feeding correctly.

Thinking (hoping) it’s the trigger. Guess I’ll take it apart, and check for power to the trigger.

If not, I’m guessing I’m F’d.

Trying to find any part for a 20-some year old Craftsman welder is going to be a pain.

Parked it in the storage yard, and there it will stay til I sort it out.

 

[PugetDude]

Try eBay for a replacement gun- probably cheaper and easier than chasing parts. Don't know what model welder you have but there are a lot of options:

8Ft Mig GunFit Craftsman Flux Core 135 Gasless Wire Feed Welder MODEL 51264 | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for 8Ft Mig GunFit Craftsman Flux Core 135 Gasless Wire Feed Welder MODEL 51264 at the best online prices at eBay! Free shipping for many products!

www.ebay.com

 

[RivennHewn]

Try eBay for a replacement gun- probably cheaper and easier than chasing parts. Don't know what model welder you have but there are a lot of options:

8Ft Mig GunFit Craftsman Flux Core 135 Gasless Wire Feed Welder MODEL 51264 | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for 8Ft Mig GunFit Craftsman Flux Core 135 Gasless Wire Feed Welder MODEL 51264 at the best online prices at eBay! Free shipping for many products!

www.ebay.com

Thanks!

I haven’t even been able to bring myself to look

 

[RivennHewn]

Good news for me.

Seems the thermal overload protection thingy on the welder was just doing it’s job.

I guess I should have at least read the user manual, twenty years ago. Never had this happen in all those years.

I brought some more scraps home from work, and began “working “ on them!

 

[RivennHewn]

Took a break from talking science, politics, and yes, religion over in the “hottest day of the year” thread, to start on the trailer uprights.

It’s kind of an “easing into it” kinda day.

 

[PugetDude]

How are you liking the Milwaukee metal saw, Riv.?

 

[RivennHewn]

How are you liking the Milwaukee metal saw, Riv.?

Love it!

Would love it more if the blade was on the correct side of the saw

 

[PugetDude]

Love it!

Would love it more if the blade was on the correct side of the saw

Agree completely on the wrong-sided blade design- Not sure why anyone would want to try to peer over the bladeguard, motor, and handle to try to see the cutline.

 

[RivennHewn]

Agree completely on the wrong-sided blade design- Not sure why anyone would want to try to peer over the bladeguard, motor, and handle to try to see the cutline.

I always use a guide clamped to the workpiece.

Slow, but always get good results.

 

[RivennHewn]

Finished up the bulk of the welding today

Took the dogs out the road for a walk this morning, and spotted a likely log. Went back with the boat this evening, and towed it home.

From launching the boat, to making the 1st cut on the mill in 32 minutes!

 

[RivennHewn]

Loaded up the trailer with what I expect to be a “normal “ load.

I then proceeded to stress test the welds with some rambunctious off-road maneuvers in a farmer’s field. No suspension on this trailer, but it handled what I threw at it.

I’m feeling more confident in its integrity !

Almost ready to call it “roadworthy “

 

[PugetDude]

Where did you find those pecker poles, Riv?

 

[RivennHewn]

Where did you find those pecker poles, Riv?

The channel.

I figured 5 of them kinda equaled 1 log

The 2 bigger ones required some mechanical assistance. They’re heavy

 

[RivennHewn]

Ripped into another ugly stik.

Lot of waste, and not much to show for the effort.

I’m going to roll the other section of this log back into the channel

There’s a burn ban currently, but it excludes camp fires.

I’m cleaning the site, but calling it camping.

 

[PugetDude]

Just

Ripped into another ugly stik.

Lot of waste, and not much to show for the effort.

I’m going to roll the other section of this log back into the channel

There’s a burn ban currently, but it excludes camp fires.

I’m cleaning the site, but calling it camping.

Just stretch out a few blue tarps, surround them with pallets, pull in a derelict motor home and the authorities will let you have all the "campfires" you want.

 

[RivennHewn]

Just

Just stretch out a few blue tarps, surround them with pallets, pull in a derelict motor home and the authorities will let you have all the "campfires" you want.

Especially when you consider that I look pretty “homeless “ most of the time

 

[RivennHewn]

I ordered some fenders and weld on D rings for the trailer, so I needed to get the logs back off it.

It’s kinda funny backing this thing up. Something to do with the axle position, but it’s like learning trailering all over again.

It is kinda nice to really be able to jack knife it, I’m sure that will come in handy in tight spots with limited access. I intentionally mounted the jack to clear the outside corner of the bumper.

Trailers empty, even got one loaded on the mill, and still had time for Ranger to take himself for a walk.

 

[RivennHewn]

Was up with the sun this morning (5:00 AM).

Beautiful morning, with a nice log on the mill.

Too bad it has some significant internal tension/stress.

Got to take the good with the bad

 

[RTM]

Too bad it has some significant internal tension/stress.

Got to take the good with the bad

At least the right hand piece looks usable

 

[RivennHewn]

At least the right hand piece looks usable

It’s all useable. Just need to pick a project that fits the scale of the material.

Actually ended up being a pretty fair yield, for an ugly old channel log

 

[RivennHewn]

Went and chased crab again today. Got 10 keepers.

Still had time to cut up a Spruce(??) from my neighbor’s yard.

I kinda like it

 

[RivennHewn]

Thinking about a use for the top section of the light pole that I cut off the trailer.

Decided to weigh it. Not as heavy as expected.

 

[PugetDude]

That would make a great bottom section of pipe flagpole.
What's the ID at the top of the taper?

 

[RivennHewn]

That would make a great bottom section of pipe flagpole.
What's the ID at the top of the taper?

Top is about 4.5”. Bottom about 6+.

I’m considering replacing this post at my entry, when I take the ugly fake rock off the house.

The existing base is too big, and is in the traffic pattern to the front door.

The pole does have a flag pole bracket on it.

I found a spec sheet for a new one. The 30’ model is 255lbs. Doesn’t say wall thickness.

I have an email into them for more specifics, and $$.

 

[PugetDude]

Top is about 4.5”. Bottom about 6+.

I’m considering replacing this post at my entry, when I take the ugly fake rock off the house.

The existing base is too big, and is in the traffic pattern to the front door.

The pole does have a flag pole bracket on it.

I found a spec sheet for a new one. The 30’ model is 255lbs. Doesn’t say wall thickness.

I have an email into them for more specifics, and $$.

I was thinking using the hex section as the base, then transitioning to a 10' piece of pipe, then a second section of slightly smaller diameter.
When I lived on the Sound I had a 25' welded steel flagpole. it was 3" S40 on the base, then 2.5", then 2" on the top section. It looked like they slipped each section about 2 feet or so inside the other, with a fillet weld on top of the larger section. The entire pole was hinged at the base and locked in place with 2 bolts. Square sheet metal cover over the hinge assembly You could tilt/lower the pole to the ground if you ever had to re-thread the top pulley or re-paint the pole. Luckily I never had to try it out.

 

[RivennHewn]

I was thinking using the hex section as the base, then transitioning to a 10' piece of pipe, then a second section of slightly smaller diameter.
When I lived on the Sound I had a 25' welded steel flagpole. it was 3" S40 on the base, then 2.5", then 2" on the top section. It looked like they slipped each section about 2" or so inside the other, with a fillet weld on top of the larger section. The entire pole was hinged at the base and locked in place with 2 bolts. Square sheet metal cover over the hinge assembly You could tilt/lower the pole to the ground if you ever had to re-thread the top pulley or re-paint the pole. Luckily I never had to try it out.

I built my dad one just like that probably 15 years ago. Don’t think he’s had to change the rope out yet.

 

[Sumboodie]

Making some shade, to stop the sun from F’n with my welding helmet.

Goal today is get all the joints prepped, line the ribs up straight and true. Then get everything tacked together.

We’ll see how that goes.

Use a pipeliner "pancake" helmet.