I had the opportunity to spend most of the day today with my wood suppliers sawyer. My supplier cuts about four times a year on his property. He stockpiles logs and has a contract sawyer come on site to cut. He knows his stuff and with the last load of cherry I bought, I asked if I could come learn something next time he cut. I offered my services as Manny Labor. He said sure and boy did I get a lesson. He had a huge stockpile of logs and his sawyer came in with a hydraulic woodmizer. I always thought you slabbed them off, but my supplier knew how and just when to turn the log and keep getting beautiful stuff. I also learned how heavy wet boards are. My arms are hurting typing this. I really appreciated his taking the time to explain how to place the log on the mill to keep the boards from crooking as he explained. He had a bunch of cherry logs and he said let them set till the bark starts to come off and you will even out the color. The boards were almost solid pink inside no white. He will sticker for a year before putting them in the kiln. I hope to do this if I ever get to retire. He got help, and I got educated. I only wish I had taken a camera to record the event. I took a vacation day and it was great!
If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it.
And if it stops moving, subsidize it.
Edited 3/17/2008 10:15 pm by bones
Replies
That's really the best way to learn - to experience it. Could listen to us tell you Knotheads what's involved in milling lumber, but to get an idea of how much equipment and set-up is required, you need to be there. I hope your back's okay. I often try to be a lone hero and move boards which I struggle to lift, never mind carry a hundred feet. That's a good trade-off too - your labour for his knowledge. Start a relationship with him and you may be getting a call whenever he has a worthy tree coming down.
Chris @ flairwoodworks
- Success is not the key to happines. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful. - Albert Schweitzer
"That's really the best way to learn - to experience it. Could listen to us tell you Knotheads what's involved in milling lumber, but to get an idea of how much equipment and set-up is required, you need to be there. I hope your back's okay. I often try to be a lone hero and move boards which I struggle to lift, never mind carry a hundred feet. That's a good trade-off too - your labour for his knowledge. Start a relationship with him and you may be getting a call whenever he has a worthy tree coming down."
Yea, I'm picking his brain as much as I can. It was really interesting. He says he goes for quality and figure over quantity of boards. He mills all his stuff 5/4. I noticed that the boards were varying widths and there were times that he could have taken wider boards but would stop the sawyer and tell him to rotate the cant. I asked why and his response was he preferred quality over quantity and wide boards. He had some gorgeous cherry burls and birds eyes and a very small amount of waste. He will have a large amount of beautiful book matched sets. I was surprised at how much lumber you can get from a single log. And as to the question of my back, its ok, but my hands and elbows required two aleve this morning. But as John Cougar said "huts so good". Government's view of the economy could be summed up in a few short phrases: If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. And if it stops moving, subsidize it.
bones
That's exactly how I learned. Education by fire (and a sore back!)
Jeff
Hi Bones,
Glad to hear you got out there. I've been slabbing logs for about ten years now and love a good day out there. I have several friends that have wooded property and they let me log for lumber and firewood. Recently I found some poaching going on and had several trees marked for lumber disappear. From the piles of saw dust I could see and truck tracks, it was pretty obvious that there is some nice walnut, cherry, and oak going into fireplaces. Oh well...
Did the sawyer let you pick any of the lumber as part of the sweat labor or are you doing this for knowledge alone? Either is very worthwhile and, once the aches are gone, very satisfying.
Funny thing is that none of these freinds who allow me the privelege of harvesting their wood have ever asked for anything, but I always try and make something for them to match their sensibilities and decor. Takes awhile, but, never any hurry on something they don't ask for. I almost always find the turnings, boxes, etc. prominently displayed later. I think they like that it was their tree. That is the best compensation I ever receive for any work done.
Thos
No I did not take any, but I did not ask. He has been good to me with the prices he charges and he's real conservative with the bf tally. I mean the last load of curly cherry he sold me was at $3.00/BF. Besides, hes the type that if you show interest he loves sharing the knowledge he has built up and I love to learn. I will be relocating back east in about a year and figure I can use the information for myself. God willing in about 10 years I can retire and this is what I want to do. Government's view of the economy could be summed up in a few short phrases: If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. And if it stops moving, subsidize it.
I understand, gratitude seems lacking in people lately. Sounds like you get it! Keep at it and remember to stretch thoroughly before starting and any time you cool down, I've learned the hard way, it really helps.
This forum post is now archived. Commenting has been disabled