Tractors and wood! Show your pics

[Loaderman22]

Aren't the Catskills and the Adirondacks part of the Appalachian Mountain chain?

There is debate on this, & I will admit I am sourcing all this info from the internet, so take it for what it is. If you follow the peaks, it would appear as if they are, but geologists disagree saying that they formed differently therefore different ranges. I am no geologist, I don't even play one on tv, so if they say so, I'll bite.

 

[Loaderman22]

A grapple is even better, I'd be climbing up to have a look in a heartbeat!

Cue Sawyer Rob and his combo forks AND grapple!!!

 

[hunt4570]

I agree about the grapple except I have to carry them a bit of a distance at the moment, so loading a bunch onto forks is better than one at a time with a grapple.
As I've said, I've benefited from the landowner's generosity providing equipment to work with, but I think I'll talk to him Monday and sheepishly ask if he can park
his seldom used mini-excavator at the sawmill area so I can just pluck from the pile I make and turn 45 degrees to place on the saw.
Much easier than a huge telehandler going back and forth moving logs around.
Don't want to push my luck though either.

I hate loading logs onto the saw with big machinery, too much chance for a screw up and damage to the saw. You should make a log deck to put them on and then just roll them onto the saw.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

I hate loading logs onto the saw with big machinery, too much chance for a screw up and damage to the saw. You should make a log deck to put them on and then just roll them onto the saw.

It's another reason I like my forks with grapple better than a grapple...

I can hold the log with the grapple, then set the tips of the forks just above the mills bed. Then slooooowly release the log so it gently rolls right on to my mills deck...

Sure works good!

SR

 

[hunt4570]

It's another reason I like my forks with grapple better than a grapple...

I can hold the log with the grapple, then set the tips of the forks just above the mills bed. Then slooooowly release the log so it gently rolls right on to my mills deck...

Sure works good!

SR

Yep your fork/grapple thing is nice, still not sure I want to load a large log directly onto my saw though. But you do it more than I and are more practiced at it!

 

[Sawyer Rob]

Yep your fork/grapple thing is nice, still not sure I want to load a large log directly onto my saw though. But you do it more than I and are more practiced at it!

I like the way yours is set up and I've thought of doing that many times, the reason I haven't is, I never know from day to day what length log or even what specie I'll be sawing. IF I milled one kind of log/specie all the time, I would have added a log deck long ago.

I don't run my mill all the time, and then when I get the bug to mill a certain log, I go get it and load it on the mill. That would be harder to do if I had a log deck set up all the time with logs on it.

Anyway, everyone has to use what works for them, and this is what works for me right now.

SR

 

[Yogi05]

I hate loading logs onto the saw with big machinery, too much chance for a screw up and damage to the saw. You should make a log deck to put them on and then just roll them onto the saw.

That's a good idea. If I end up owning this saw and taking it home I may do just that.
As it is I would have to totally reposition my setup because I am not loading from the proper side.
I'm currently using a chain and tongs, so lowering it gently onto the saw bed is not a risk.
A bit tricky when the log can turn, and I'm working alone so no one to hold it straight for lowering.
I adapt well though.

I'm curious what kind of valve people are using for water/lube from a tank. Ones that do not have a factory setup.
I planned to buy a camping type water jug, generic tube/hose, but I haven't come up with an idea for a drip valve yet.

Suggestions?

 

[dfkrug]

I'm curious what kind of valve people are using for water/lube from a tank. Ones that do not have a factory setup.
I planned to buy a camping type water jug, generic tube/hose, but I haven't come up with an idea for a drip valve yet.

Suggestions?

When using soap/water, I have tried fuel petcock valves (the common red/black plastic ones), and the factory water valve on my WoodMizer. My suggestion is to use TWO valves, one for on/off, and the other to set your flow rate. That way, you don't have to adjust your flow rate every time.

 

[Yogi05]

I was thinking of the fuel valves but never when I'm somewhere that sells them. I also thought of
the "clips" on a medical IV line. A small ratchet-style pincher type thing that definitely works by
the drip.

 

[hunt4570]

I like the way yours is set up and I've thought of doing that many times, the reason I haven't is, I never know from day to day what length log or even what specie I'll be sawing. IF I milled one kind of log/specie all the time, I would have added a log deck long ago.

I don't run my mill all the time, and then when I get the bug to mill a certain log, I go get it and load it on the mill. That would be harder to do if I had a log deck set up all the time with logs on it.

Anyway, everyone has to use what works for them, and this is what works for me right now.

SR

Yeah, most of the logs that hit my mill are from 8'6" to 12'6" loblolly pine, nice straight with few branch stubs, and I do get the occasional oak or hickory, or longer log to a max of 16'6" which is the longest my mill will take and like you said, this is what seems to work for me.