2015 Sawmill Upgrades

The upgrades to the sawmill have started this spring. The following picture shows Wimpy and Louie mounting the hydraulic pump that will operate the log turner. This will be run off of the drive that runs the arbor shaft of the sawmill.




This picture shows Craig and Josh. They dug a trench and a hole and installed a post in the ground, which will hold one end of the log turner. Next job is to get the log turner mounted in place.

This will make someone's life much easier. Now you will be able to saw big wood ! And by the way, thanks for all your work filling those orders.

Now that Danger Boy is in the hole dose this mean it's safe for Craig to get some work done?

Ya something like that.

Tony I wouldn't have fit in that hole! So I'm still around and Craig can't get anything done. haha

Only have 1 picture from last weekend, but Josh and I got alot done. 1 more day to finish up some hydraulic lines and then we will test it. It looks like we'll make it for Steam School weekend.

That looks like quite the contraption. I look forward to seeing it in person soon.

Darren

Ya, not a very good picture Darren. when I get it finished I will try and get a better view.

My replacement looks a little on the small side. I will say thanks for saving my back. I'll just have to be on standby for now. 

That is correct Tony, I don't even know if it is going to work

This weekend I was able to get a little more done on this project.
Also Jane spent most of Friday evening weed whipping the grass and then on Saturday she ran the WD45 and the mower around the sawmill and got that hay field chopped down.
Now if I could only make the gofers disappear and quit tunneling under the concrete, life would be good.
Will post photos a bit later, don't know what is wrong with this machine will wait for Jane.

This is the single lever joystick control which does 2 functions. It rotates the chain and operates the hydraulic cylinder.




This is the log turner in the position for rolling logs onto the carriage.




You can't see the chain here very well, but this is in the up position for rotating a log.

Looking great! Does the sawer run this apparatus, or your helpers?

Who ever is running the handle sawing lumber runs the log turner. That is the reason for the handle being close to the sawyers handle.

Sawing during Steam School weekend went well. Every time the log turner turned a log, everyone's backs were very thankful. Have a few pictures from the weekend. Thanks to all of the workers who showed up to help and thanks to the engines and their operators for coming down and helping run the mill.



Here Brian is getting ready to start with the first big log.

Here sawyer Brian is rotating the log. After the weekend, found a couple small things we have to tweak, but otherwise very happy with how the log turner worked for the first time in operation.


We did find that this is about the size limit we can turn, because when the logs are turned and slam down, we don't want to break an axle on the carriage. I believe this is the log that produced approximately 52 1x6s.

Again, thanks to everyone who showed up to help during Steam School weekend.