Thread: How not to do it.

Originally Posted by BobL

"Normally I'd be rooting" .

You're a very lucky man!

Please Bob, don't let those "Americanisms" creep into our Aussie lingo!!!!!
Oh, excuse me I have to go to the "bathroom" for a leak!!!! Or is it to the "pis# house" for a bath?????

Bob

The occasion I saw Westford doing a demo they were milling a large camphor laurel (probably 1200 across) with a double headed (Husky 3120s from memory) mill.

Two youngish blokes were on the job, but it was a hot day and they struggled every inch of the way. I think you could have poured them out of their boots by the end. I think the gathered crowd heaved a collective sigh of relief for them as they shut the contraption down.

It seemed to me to be a demonstration of how hard life can be and would not have persuaded me to buy their product.

Regards
Paul

Those photos remind me of the first log I milled when my Alaskan arrived in the post,
I knew how one should set up a log for CS milling as I had previously read all of BobL's great posts on the subject, but in my enthusiasm I just could'nt wait to try it out. Well, I got the first log done but spent the next few days hobbling around with a crook back!!. If there's anything one should be a fast learner on, its CS milling.

The photo shows they have most of their PPE correct (chaps hearing etc) , but I notice the operator isnt wearing gloves, thats a no no (especialy with that exposed cutter bar at the front) also with the powerhead hanging out like that extra effort is required by the operator to counter balance the saw to keep it cutting flat, keeping the powedhead in close to the log is fundamental. I find gloves help reduce felt vibrations and increase operator comfort too.
He's really making hard work of it.

Remenber that earlier photo of a young lady using a Westford with a bunch of guys standing behind watching her (or the mill)? I liked that!!

cheers,
Dean.

Originally Posted by gpigeon

You're a very lucky man!

Please Bob, don't let those "Americanisms" creep into our Aussie lingo!!!!!
Oh, excuse me I have to go to the "bathroom" for a leak!!!! Or is it to the "pis# house" for a bath?????

Sorry GP - I posted more or less the same thing on the 'mercan website and forgot to change the lingo.

So true Bob, bad enough working down in the dirt, but that powerhead position and knee vulnerability are especially of concern.

Worth dropping a link to Westford to let them know directly?

This puts me in mind of the Lucas Mill "operators" demonstrating their mill at Agfest earlier this year. I believe that they probably cost Lucas sales to be honest, such was their incompetence at using their machine, reminded me of the keystone cops actually.
Not only did they have no idea about how to roll/move logs even with the assistance of cant hooks etc, but what really floored me was when there was a small board already cut but sitting on top of the log and the "operator" ran the carriage back along the log, under the board with onlookers right in line with where the board would have speared out if the blade had caught it.
As with many machinery demonstrations, people were too close and standing in unsafe zones.
What was even worse was when I mentioned to the "operator" the potential for disaster to occur and he couldn't have been less receptive or interested.
I walked away at that point.

Originally Posted by Karl Robbers

As with many machinery demonstrations, people were too close and standing in unsafe zones.
What was even worse was when I mentioned to the "operator" the potential for disaster to occur and he couldn't have been less receptive or interested.
I walked away at that point.

At work the new State OHS regs and legislation is being enforced. Basically it says that anyone that sees a potential OHS problem and knows what the safety issues are and either does nothing about it (personally) or does not report it, is legally at least in part liable for anything that arises from that circumstance.

This had me wondering at the wood show where I could see what the Westford demonstrators were doing involved a potential problem, am I liable if that guy sliced his knee in half? I guess the difference is one is a work place environment and the other is not. If the general public is not affected my approach is to let Darwinisn take its course.

The whole system he's working with is cockeyed to me. The user is a potential victim of the circumstances that have resulted in such a contraption having come about in the first place? You can't tell me that on/off switch is the right orientation for instance, even if the engine was six inches further in.

Originally Posted by springwater

The whole system he's working with is cockeyed to me. The user is a potential victim of the circumstances that have resulted in such a contraption having come about in the first place? You can't tell me that on/off switch is the right orientation for instance, even if the engine was six inches further in.

That's why I my setup uses this.

Yes the kill switch does work.

I've been to a similar Lucas Demo unfortunately, but get Dudley or Ian out at the show and they know the gear inside and out.

Just amazing they are trying to sell these when they make it look so DanG hard!!!

Was the demo done by Westford? I didn't go this year but i went last year and looked at the Westford mills. There were guys there from PME is Welshpool who were selling the chainsaw side of things and they were the ones demonstrating the Westford stuff. Either way I would think if Westford were there alongside the demo it would have been in their interests to make it look a little easier.

I was going to go there to ask for some advise about getting started but perhaps it's as well i didn't. Hopefully i've had enough here.

Yes, good Post Bob, I agree 100% with your assesment of the Westford guys. Normally the older gent does a better job, despite having a cigarette hanging out his head while he mills.

Willy
Jarrahland

Originally Posted by Willy Nelson

Yes, good Post Bob, I agree 100% with your assesment of the Westford guys. Normally the older gent does a better job, despite having a cigarette hanging out his head while he mills.

Yeah the older guy is not quite so bull at a gate but does far more around chainsaws with that fag than i'm comfortable with.

They new 4 inch lucas mill pictured in the back ground is in my opinion a much safer and easier option than doing it the westford way. Unless your over about 6ft and you hit your head on the top bar of the end frames. ps yes it does come with a slabber even if its narrower than lucas's normal capacity. I had to have a chuckle at the westford operators at the show on saun avo and agree that they made it look hard, how not to do it, go buy a lucas