I’m in need of another saw log for collar ties in my pallet pens. I thought this one would be a nice challenge and it was a decent size. One and done on the mill as opposed to two smaller ones. Nice size red that fell two years ago and I never got around to getting. Forgot my phone for the actual work. Cut a 12’ section out of the trunk. An uphill grade to get out of there through what once was a red pine patch. Most have died off already. But there’s still a foot deep of old dry pine needle soil there ATV doesn’t wanna pull that 26” diameter log up a hill like that. Had to winch my way all the way out. Even had to winch the arch sideways to Get around a tree. Popped the bead on the tire doing that. It’s ok I have more. Over two hours of fun struggles and I never noticed the black spot on the end. The other side is clean. I guess it’s firewood after all.
Nice log. Too bad there might be metal in it. That stain will move spread up and down from the metal.
I've already found at least some of it with the chain Those pictures lie. It was dark out when I took them. Seems the IPhone can turn night into day without a flash. So when I saw that spot I had the idea maybe it was made by my bar when I plunge cut it. Seeing as I cut 2” longer I sliced off an inch. Just nicked a nail of some sort. Seemed very thin like a construction staple or something. So I sliced off another inch. Hit something more substantial this time. Time to sharpen the chain. I have more logs like this. This one was half on the ground already. I was hoping the other big oaks could wait till after the foliage is down before I dropped them. Hard to see the dead branches way up there with the other leaves in the way. I create enough of my own surprises LOL
Sounds like it was "fun" The repaired arch holding up well Joe?? He wont mill with any signs of metal?
Arch hasn’t been repaired. Just cobbled back together. I wouldn’t ask a sawyer to cut logs with signs of metal. I’ll just find another and make firewood out of this one.
Cut it up last night. First time I’ve ever seen this. The stain did not travel. That’s a first. I did pull two nails and a staple from the cut. Counted rings as best I could. 46 years ago. Surprisingly not much damage to the chain.
Pumped up the tire. Only nice thing about the lo profile tires is they are so stiff they maintain sideways pressure against the bead. Took 58lbs of pressure to pop the bead back on. Dropped them back down to 15. Off to the second choice for largish lumber logs. Couple nice 24-26” specimens I was hoping to leave until the canopy is clear. What do they say about hope? First to clear the area. A few weeks ago I was able to pull this smaller red oak off its stump with the log arch. It had broken and twisted but never dropped to the ground. Once down I tried pulling it down from a distance, firmly planted in the ground. Left it till today. Decided to do it the way I did 20 years ago but with the winch and not my shoulder I know how dangerous this is. Tried it anyway. It worked but I won’t be making a habit of it. Lifted it and drove away. It’s on the ground. Actually it’s all cut up ready to run through the splitter. Another red oak about that size partially blocking my trail. Cleaned that up too. A little more clearing and I’ll be ready to knock down the bigguns. There should be a lot of sticks in those two.
Nice day,,,,most of it anyway. Took down the small side of those two twin trees. It was the easiest choice. The other twin needs to fall through an area with a dead White Oak. Good size WO but mostly it’s the dead canopy of that tree that’s huge. Best to take that down first instead of letting the red oak smash through all the branches of the white. Ergo, fastest is one drop and wait for fall when I can see up there for the rest. Not as big as I thought but got it home. Then I had to go grocery shopping for not one but two women,,,,,,,,,,,,use your imagination there. On the way home I stopped at the mill. Guy says sure bring it down right now. So I did. Hadn’t even dropped the log off the arch yet and his kids came driving in. Taking him to the Big E. (Eastern States ExpositIon). He wanted to go. I’m cool with that. So I got to play with the sawmill by myself. Woo Hoo!., Gotta say tho flopping a 1400lb log around on a mill by yourself can be a chore. I’m gonna keep today in mind next time I dream about buying a mill Got her done tho. Have sticks will travel.
Milling is fun! I was using milled cedar today. So cool to see it go from tree form into boards. Once your set up it isnt too bad to flip them with a peavey. Did he have tractor?
No tractor. He uses a hand winch in the log support bracket to roll them up. Are you guys peavying 1400lb logs on your own? It’s not that easy. Didn’t help that he put a wooden bunk under the end of the log before I rolled it up. If the end of the can’t isn’t supported the last cut tends to drift down creating different size boards. Not that I would care much. Flipping a log on the shiny paint is better than a wood bunk. In the future I’ll make sure to leave it out until the very end, if at all.
I forget what the weight limit is on his tractor, (calling buzz-saw) but whatever it is thats our limit to get it on the mill itself. Two of us roll them rather easily. I think 10'6" is the mill length limit. I flip flop them onto my PU and a few times the two of us have loaded his trailer and/or my PU.
