Thread: Slabbing on the river

I finally managed to get back to this job, again only had two days to give to it.

Got back onsite and cut down as far as I could until the mill bottomed out, then because the bottom flitch was so heavy, dismantled the mill so Bob could get right up to the bottom flitch. Got it set up on skids again and slabbed out what was left. Then had to break the mill down again to get the last slab log into place. I managed to get this one up on the log supports after doin a heap of tricky balancing and using the ground to my advantage with the engine downhill to get it lifted. Funny thing this was one of the branches from this big ol tree...

(have to insert pic later - forum busy and I don't wanna type all of this again)


You can see in the background slabs from the '3rd' log from the butt. This time wasn't without its foibles, on the first day, had an issue with my keystart deciding to give up the ghost, so instead of pulling a good productive 11 hour cutting day ( X don't tell anyone about the 2.5 hours of driving to and from the site) I had to stop short at 7 hours on site. The worst part was the keystart had been sneaking up on me and I had already ordered the DanG thing from Lucas, but had moved house and didn't put the new keystart with my milling stuff. So even though I had an early day, I had to go home and search through what felt like a mountain of boxes to find the new part ( I know its not milling - but I'd like to take this opportunity to express my extreme dislike of moving house!!!) but I managed to get it fitted and tested under the work lights on my ute...

This is a pic from just after I installed the lights on the ute, you can see the gate at the end of the driveway, left side of pic, it's 35m (100') from the ute
(have to insert pic later - forum busy and I don't wanna type all of this again)

So even though it got dark by the time I ended up finding the keystart, the worklights on the ute meant it was no problem installing it with the carriage on the back of the ute, I guess I got my 11 hour workday

Anyway, next day turned out much better, mill ran well, chains cut well, bob ran well and between all 3 of us (Sparky the mill, Bob the Cat and I) we got it done and had the slabs all forked out from the back yard and loaded onto a truck, off to get kiln dried.

(have to insert pic later - forum busy and I don't wanna type all of this again)

Before I left on the second day, I moved the last four saw logs into place so I can go back (after homeowner comes back from holidays) and just use the cant hook to move logs around. I put the biggest ugliest log onto the log supports ready to setup over when I get back, then I don't need to drag bob out on another 2.5 hour drive to finish off.

If you still have your bobcat, make up a couple of C sections in steel... Say your cutting 50mm thick slabs make them 55mm inside the c section. Make them about 300mm long and weld about ten feet of chain to each one to attach to your forks.
Once the slab is cut bang a wedge in each end, push the c sections on each end, in the middle of the slab of course and lift them off with your bobcat... No manual handling at all
It also makes strip stacking slabs very easy

Nifty

Originally Posted by nifty

If you still have your bobcat, make up a couple of C sections in steel... Say your cutting 50mm thick slabs make them 55mm inside the c section. Make them about 300mm long and weld about ten feet of chain to each one to attach to your forks.
Once the slab is cut bang a wedge in each end, push the c sections on each end, in the middle of the slab of course and lift them off with your bobcat... No manual handling at all
It also makes strip stacking slabs very easy

Nifty

Now that is a good idea

that is some beautiful timber!!!!!

Originally Posted by nifty

If you still have your bobcat, make up a couple of C sections in steel... Say your cutting 50mm thick slabs make them 55mm inside the c section. Make them about 300mm long and weld about ten feet of chain to each one to attach to your forks.
Once the slab is cut bang a wedge in each end, push the c sections on each end, in the middle of the slab of course and lift them off with your bobcat... No manual handling at all
It also makes strip stacking slabs very easy

Nifty

NIFTY!!!!! You do still lurk here!!!! how the heck are you mate? its been a little while...Hope things are going well for you mate

And cheers for the tip, yep still got Bob, lots of things have happened since last we spoke...Carl and I have gone into business together in a large standing mill we're still doing mobile jobs as and when they come, but got a nice contract to supply timber monthly and now got a good yard to hold logs and also cut orders as they come too. Things are in their infancy at the mo,but picking up.

Anyway, I digress, so with the C section you slide one slide of the C under the slab across the end grain, then have the chain coming off the top edge of the C and up to the forks?that the idea? cool mate - cheers great tip...but greater to see ya here

Yep Al your all over it like a hungry kid on a cupcake
If anyone ever tells you that cutting timber isn't a disease they are downright wrong. I spent 2 years playing around in the mining industry till the safety side of it drove me mental, only to return and am now running a Woodmizer LT70 for a mate of mine. A while back posted a thread "blackbutt bonanza... I'm in that she'd next to that mega bandsaw breaking down over 100 pine logs per day, I'm sure the forklift driver keeping up with me used to race Indi cars.
Cant wait for the winter to come so we tuck into serious hardwoods.

all the best to you and Carl with your venture, I'm sure you boys will come out on top. Commercial milling is tough... My tip to anyone dreaming of doing it... Maintenance of your gear is paramount, don't ignore even the smallest things.

Nifty

Al

Missed this thread earlier. As usual excellent. A really good looking bluegum too.

Regards
Paul

Originally Posted by Bushmiller

Al

Missed this thread earlier. As usual excellent. A really good looking bluegum too.

Regards
Paul

Awww Paul, geese thanks mate


Well finally I finished my last day on that job last week, had 4 cubic metres of saw log out of the branches of this baby and its all done and dusted now, what a job. The boards had to be loaded onto a small truck, driven up the track, then loaded onto the previously pictured truck as they where too long to go down the track on bobs forks. Then once the boards where all done, the tailings and offcuts had to be loaded onto the small truck and driven down the track. All in all a very interesting job, but happy to have it finished

great log, what thickness are you cutting? what width of slab?
thanks steve

Originally Posted by Oden

great log, what thickness are you cutting? what width of slab?
thanks steve

most slabs where 40mm thick and ranged from 600 dia logs to 1.5m dia