Thread: what is teh finish on your slabs like.

Originally Posted by weisyboy

i think i have got the perfect balance with this chain. that is a 7/32 file sitting there for scale.

cutting speed i didnt time. we cut 11 slabs between 4pm when i got setup and 6.45 at stumps for lack of light. widest was 1.1m and average was 900mm about 3.5m long.

only hit 2 nails to
Attachment 127827

Excellent production rate there Carl but can't see much detail in that picture.

Here's my typical finish.

iv only got my phone more pics here https://www.woodworkforums.com/f132/f...2/#post1101477

ill take a better pic when i get a new camera

Nice looking marri slabs Bob, with not a lot of work required to dress them up.

11 slabs in 2 hours and 45 minutes, very good going Carl. How many slabs where you getting per chain and what are the magical numbers you are using for sharpening (that is what every body wants to know).

one chain.

touched up by hand twice. just one or to passes with a blunt file.

it cut mutch slower than usual but its worth it for the smother finish.

ill double check teh angles today.

Some pics of the finish and type of chain I used yesterday, I made a couple of modified granberg chains using std 3/8 semi chisel, consisting 2 scratchers followed by 2 cutters then a 5 plain tie gap ( 2 cutters removed )

Results were vry good, cutting speed better than normal, sharpening less than normal.
I only used some old chain with abt 2/3 cutters I used a grinder initially to sharpen at a cutting angle of 58o with 10o top plate , depth gauges at .050".
When I touched up the chain I used a 13/64 file, I cut a total of 11 slabs up to 3.1mtr x 1.2mtr, touched the chain up twice.
All timber was Blakely's Red Gum.

I did muck up a couple when the slab started to pinch the chain, didn't put wedges in when I should have, corrected this and results were much better than expected.

I used a GB mill, 60" roller nose bar, 3/8 Carlton chain.

Laurie

Nice looking wood there Laurie.

Finish looks good too for skip chain

I get the best finish when I let the mill cut on it's own with the log on a slope but generating a slope is not always possible and it cuts slower than if I lean on it a little.

Cheers

Originally Posted by BobL

Nice looking wood there Laurie.

Finish looks good too for skip chain

I get the best finish when I let the mill cut on it's own with the log on a slope but generating a slope is not always possible and it cuts slower than if I lean on it a little.

Cheers

Thanks Bob

I'm still playing with different styles of chain, so far this has produced the best finish and the fastest cuts.

The timber is all out where I have my wood stash - just a little difficult to get the logs up on a slope without any equipment. Maybe I should take the Hi Lift jack with me next time and cut a notch in the log end and lift it.

I'm not too worried about cutting speed although this chain configuration has been the fastest and easiest cutting that I have used to date. I don't push the mill hard, just let it go along comfortably, it would be nice not to have to push it though.

Cheers .... Laurie

just wondering, are you blokes slabbing trees that have been down for a long time or newly felled trees? i know it's good to have a clean finish but for most of my slabs that are milled green, once dried they still need at least 5mm taken off both sides to get them flat.as for the more back sawn slabs and boards the cup has to be taken into account as well. so if the slabs have a bit of washboard in them it doesn't worry me to much. on the other hand if i'm lucky enough to score dry dead logs a fine finish with little washboard in it is a lot more desireable (just my 2 cents)

Originally Posted by charlsie

just wondering, are you blokes slabbing trees that have been down for a long time or newly felled trees?

Both

i cut whatever logs are there when i arrive.

people are a lot more happy when u get a smooth finish than if you have washboard.

if you have a rough finish you have to dress teh cup out the the rough surface aswell.

if you have a 55mm slab that has 10mm cup nd 1mm deep sawmarks in it you can dress the cup out and teh sawmarks and end up with 44mm thick bit of wood.

if you have a slab that had 10mm of cut and 4mm deep sawmarks then you have to dress off 14mm leaving only 40mm of timber.

Weisyboy,38.5 meters of slabs with one chain touched up twice and hitting 2 nails very impressive, is that the norm for when you are slabbing?
What causes the washboard, have not been able to figure this one out when it happens from time to time.
Take care Jason

Geese you guys got busy on this one pretty quick didn't ya

Here's my 2 cents worth;

Attachment 127989

Attachment 127990

These two are pics from hoop pine



These two are pics from an very old downed bluegum,
The bluegum must have cut quick enough 'cause the fella paid his bill straight away

Carl, just for the record, I too cut whatever logs are there when I arrive!

Allan,

Finish looks good - what chain setup are you using?

I reprocessed one of pics so it had a bi
t more contrast. Maybe this is nothing what it really looks like but it is a bit clearer (I think)



Cheers
Bob

Cheers Bob, makes the pic look much better and much easier to see the 'sawmarks'

I'm running Oregon 27RX at 15deg top plate, 10 deg file-guide angle and using the Carlton FOP to knock back rakers and while I mill, I do what I have to to keep the revs at 3,200 give or take a bit. Sometimes very light pressure just after a touch up or a bit more pressure just before needing to touch up. I try really hard to maintain a constant pressure all the way through a cut so there are no chances for steps etc.