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Sawmilling:
While this picture is small, you can see how the small portable sawmill was laid
out. The logs were piled neatly to the sawmill's left side. The sawdust was thrown
to its right, while finsished boards were taken off the back and loaded directly onto
a trailer that is just out of the picture.
out. The logs were piled neatly to the sawmill's left side. The sawdust was thrown
to its right, while finsished boards were taken off the back and loaded directly onto
a trailer that is just out of the picture.
This picture shows what makes a small bandsaw mill so convient, It can easily
handle larger logs such as the one on the carriage, or smaller logs such as the
one on the loading tines.
handle larger logs such as the one on the carriage, or smaller logs such as the
one on the loading tines.
Here we have the saw making it's first cut into a fairly nice log. Note the lack of
taper on the log and how this mill is set up to level the log to gain the most usable
wood from it.
taper on the log and how this mill is set up to level the log to gain the most usable
wood from it.
Here we show a father/ son team working in unison. The father is measuring and
tallying up the lumber sawed, while his son is the actual sawyer. Even by his own
admission, the father says his son makes a better sawyer than he does. Either
way, they make an excellent team.
tallying up the lumber sawed, while his son is the actual sawyer. Even by his own
admission, the father says his son makes a better sawyer than he does. Either
way, they make an excellent team.
Here a large Spruce log is being set up on the carriage and is being worked into
place. While my logs were rather small in size, this sawrig can handle up to 30
inch logs with ease.
place. While my logs were rather small in size, this sawrig can handle up to 30
inch logs with ease.
Here is where the skill of a sawyer is really shown. Some portable mills charge a
cheaper rate, but only saw through and through, that is, they do not edge the
lumber. The portable sawmill operators I contracted here edge the lumber to any
size you wish. In order to get the most usable lumber out of my logs, I took
random widths. Another option would have been to make all 6 inch boards, or
standard width boards say 4 inch, 6 inch, 8 inch, etc. While the cost would be the
same, I would have ended up with more waste and narrower lumber.
cheaper rate, but only saw through and through, that is, they do not edge the
lumber. The portable sawmill operators I contracted here edge the lumber to any
size you wish. In order to get the most usable lumber out of my logs, I took
random widths. Another option would have been to make all 6 inch boards, or
standard width boards say 4 inch, 6 inch, 8 inch, etc. While the cost would be the
same, I would have ended up with more waste and narrower lumber.
Here a finished board is coming off the sawmill. In the end I was quite pleased
with the lumber I obtained. It was of a consistent thickness, straight, flat and
smooth. The time frame was also short, as 1500 board feet was sawn in 2 and a
half hours. At 18 cents a board foot, I saved a lot of money and have twice as
much building material as I needed.
with the lumber I obtained. It was of a consistent thickness, straight, flat and
smooth. The time frame was also short, as 1500 board feet was sawn in 2 and a
half hours. At 18 cents a board foot, I saved a lot of money and have twice as
much building material as I needed.
