"Just Milling Around"

Who uses Log Lever Bars??

swingmills — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 02:19:37 GMT

Hey who of you uses those 6' crowbar-type log lever bars? Many of our Aussie customers do and swear by them, so I'm currently assessing them for use for our Pacific Island customers, for levering around their really-heavy logs. Love any info you have on how you use them and what they are good for.

Forum: General Discussion

SkillMill and Paulowinia?

Hilly — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 21:31:17 GMT

I have a project coming up involving some Paulowinia thinnings. I have done some sample cuts on my hobby bandsaw and there doesn'd seem much problem with cutting but the sawdust is a bit sticky in the saw gullet. I am thinking about buying a SkillMill to cut these small logs but have some concerns that the saw blade might not clear the waste from the cut quickly enough for a reasonable cutting speed. These trees have a lot of moisture in them which could account for the sticky sawdust. Has anyone had any practical experience with Paulowinia and the ShillMill?
Dennis.

Forum: Ask a Peterson Staff Member

hi all im new here

timber — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 14:29:19 GMT

hi all im new here my name michael im a chainsaw collector

Forum: General Discussion

Ethanol in fuel

Techmark — Tue, 27 May 2008 22:39:53 GMT

I have had a few enquiries from some of our customers, mostly in the U.S. about Ethanol in fuel. There is a lot of information on the internet about the good/bad attributes of Ethanol so I thought I would post the official line from our engine suppliers.

Honda engines:

Gasoline is allowed, by regulation, to contain a variety of additives. The same regulation limits how much of some additives, such as alcohol, can be included in the fuel and still allow it to be sold as gasoline. If you look in a Honda product owners manual, you will see that a maximum of 10% ethanol is allowed in gasoline (other oxygenates are also listed). Honda engines are designed for good performance and efficient operation using gasoline containing from 0 to 10% ethanol.
E85, a mixture of 85% ethanol and 15% gasoline, has been in the news recently. E85 is an alternative fuel; it is not gasoline. Honda engines are not designed or certified to run on E85 or any other alternative fuel.

Kohler Engines:

Gasohol (up to 10% ethyl alcohol, 90% unleaded gasoline by volume) is approved as a fuel for Kohler engines. Other gasoline/alcohol blends including E20 and E85 must not to be used and not approved. Any failures resulting from use of these fuels will not be warranted.

Forum: General Discussion

lube and clean blade

WTF — Sat, 19 Apr 2008 00:55:49 GMT

While trying to get some milling done this last winter (march), it was still freezing water out, I tried some windshield washer solution. It worked very well and it really kept the blade clean as new.

Russ

Forum: Ask an Owner

NEWSLETTER RIDDLE!

HSV — Sun, 06 Apr 2008 23:42:54 GMT

In our e-newsletter this month we asked a riddle:

Shoot at me a thousand times and I may still survive; one scratch from me and you will find your prospects take a dive.

What am I?

And the answer is:

AN EIGHT BALL!

How many of you guessed right? C'mon now, be honest

Forum: General Discussion

Unique things to do with a Peterson Mill

NateArkansasUSA — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 21:49:20 GMT

Here is a neat one, that makes cool table legs, and building corners.

It is funny to watch folks try to figure out how it is done!

:)

Nate

Forum: General Discussion

Handy Idea for Hi-Lo

NateArkansasUSA — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 21:40:25 GMT

DSC03997.JPG (113.50 KB) - Today
DSC03997ss.JPG (94.75 KB) - Today
DSC04000.JPG (82.47 KB) - Today

I strung a piece of Builder's string along the Hi track, 1/2" down from the top. In the middle, I placed a small hole.

Now, when I adjust the center support, I don't have to go the the end, and eyeball to check for straightness. I just check the string, to see that it is over the dot.

Now, I have had to tighten the string, to be about like a guitar string, but it gets the tracks consistently straight every time. This helps with really long logs, that don't like to follow the curve of the track.
It works good. In the 3rd pic, I am holding the string away from the center mark, so you can see it good.

Nate

Forum: General Discussion

Notches in the log bunks

NateArkansasUSA — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 20:03:21 GMT

Now, I like 3 separate notches. The 2 on the sides are for smaller logs, and the one in the middle are for big ones.

WHERE do you like the notches? Starting at the INSIDE of the right hand track,

Thanks,

Nate

Forum: General Discussion

Thinking about buying a mill

chiefbt56 — Sun, 16 Mar 2008 23:29:29 GMT

Hi everyone. My name is Mike Myers and I'm a retired U.S. Navy Chief. I now work as a journeyman pipefitter. I'm new to this post and milling in general. I am a certified "wood butcher" of sorts as I make crafts, log furniture, wood furniture and anything else my family & friends ask about. But now I'm tired of the regular "factory grind" where I work and am thinking about venturing out into the milling business. I'm studying all of the mills around and the swing saw style definitely looks to be the simplest to use and set-up. I received my Peterson info awhile back, and they seem to be the most diversified of all the ones on the market. I am thinking about going with either the ATS or the WPF model to get started. I want to have something that I can set-up on site, but if succesful, I might be building a milling pole barn and just keep it there for year-round production. Any suggestions? Any do's & dont's that I should figure in?

Have a great day.

Mike

Forum: General Discussion

Blade Sharpening & lube

Snag — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 13:06:08 GMT

The blade sharpener that came with my mill doesnt sharpen the teeth "plum" or perpendicular to the blade. It takes more off the top of the tip as opposed to the bottom which I have attributed to some minor diving I have experienced. What is the best way to adjust this?

Also, Jake mentioned on FF that an add-on part to facilitate lube on the blade while cutting vertical is available. I would like to find out more about this. Thanks.

Forum: Ask a Peterson Staff Member

Ideas for mill

NateArkansasUSA — Thur, 06 Mar 2008 15:45:37 GMT

I have been thinking of adding track to my mill. For several reasons, but I don't really like the aluminum tracks because they are so tall.

So, I have been thinking of pouring concrete, 48 feet x 12'.

And, using a hammer drill to make holes in the conc. And using 1" angle iron for tracks. This would make the mill set lower. Now, add a trolley to the BOTTOM of the wpf frame, with Steel wheels. This would raise the mill back where it should be. And give me METAL wheels, and make the tracks LOWER, (easier to walk over, easier to load logs over, easier to clean sawdust etc. )

I could possibly even IMBED the tracks in the concrete, so that there is NOTHING sticking up. This would require a good track cleaning system, to keep them clean. Or so that the stick up is only 1/2" inch. And, with the NZ exchange rate being what it is, maybe the trolley idea could take the place of buying tracks, for a new mill purchase.

It seems that the tall tracks are necessary for portable milling, but this seems like a good idea for stationary milling.

Peterson Comments?

Nate

Forum: General Discussion

WINNER ANNOUNCEMENT!!!

HSV — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 19:25:33 GMT

CONGRATULATIONS: chiefbt56!! You are the winner of our March Forum Promotion.

Our Marketing Assistant, Matiria, will be sending your package of goodies including: safety glasses, polo shirt, cap, beanie, gourmet chocolate, business card holder, a pen and a builders pencil!

Peterson Portable Sawmills new discussion forum welcomes all new members! To celebrate the forum's launch we're giving stuff away!

Who: All new members from now until the end of March.

What: A Peterson merchandise pack including safety glasses, polo shirt, cap, beanie, gourmet chocolate, business card holder, pen and builders pencil!

When: Winner will be drawn 31st March 2008!

Where: Winner announcement will be made right here on this thread. Winner will be sent a private message requesting their address for delivery of their great prize pack.

How: All you have to do is sign up, and post something. It won't cost you anything more than a bit of your time. If you have questions for Peterson mill owners or staff, if you have any forestry or sawmilling news from your region, or if you just want to introduce yourself and tell us why you're here. Post whatever you like in our public forums and we'll put you in the draw.

Have fun, and happy posting!

Forum: Forum Guidelines and News Updates

My Board

HSV — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 18:59:51 GMT

Native New Zealand Matai - dug up from a swamp!

Hi all

Well, I'm no woodworker, I can't even build a good fence... but I sure can cut some good looking timber!

Last year I took Peterson's diesel mill home to test for the weekend. I milled from dawn to dusk over three days and had two helpers tailing out for me.

We dug the logs out of a swamp with a JCB Loadall (best darn telehandler there is) and milled them right there in the field.

The loadall also came in handy after the boards had been cut, because we had to load the finished board onto the forks to get it off the log - it was that heavy!

We cut some mighty slabs and beams which are still drying at home. We're planning to make furniture and benches out of the timber, as its beautiful rich orange grain will look fantastic in my kitchen

I'll post pics of my (dodgy) furniture making efforts when I'm done.

Forum: Your Products

sizing

mooneyham — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 01:15:35 GMT

hi all,
i would like to throw this out to the skillmill owners.on the vertical sizing,instead of getting down to try to see the sizing Gage i made me a couple of 2 inch blocks and hung them on the mill with string.i just use the blocks to size my 2 inch drop.can also make 4 inch blocks for the 4 inch drop.

Forum: Ask an Owner