new to milling lots of nubie questions

[gensetsteve]

I bought a lt15 woodmizer with the intension of having a play but mainly to make planks to cross cut then kindle. So far I have enjoyed my efforts but have the feeling the quantity I will produce will kill the job. How many cubic metres could be produced in a day if you dont need accuracy. 9x3 seems ideal if 6ft long. What size timber is most efficent. I am thinking below 12" timber waste of time But over 20in hard work to turn especially if 12ft long. Would you cut large stuff into 6ft lengths. I am looking to get a few sticks of poplar to see how it turns into kindling. Thanks for any advice in advance it could save me alot of time.

[Big J]

Leave the logs as long as you can as clamping/rolling/leveling etc is all the same regardless of size of log. In fact, short logs are a bit of a pain for leveling and clamping.

 

Dimensioned timber always takes more time than through and through, even when cut thick. With a couple of guys on an 8 hour day I'd expect you to cut 3-5 cubic metres or thereabouts.

 

16-18 inches is about the right size for a manual mill in my experience. A good cant hook (peavey) will make life much easier though.

 

Poplar should make excellent kindling. If you can get it the right size, lime dries quicker than any timber I know of so quick turn around. I'd be surprised if you had to wait more than a month for it to dry to less than 20%.

 

Jonathan

[gensetsteve]

Thanks for that Jonathan. 5 cu metres would give me about 450 bags of kindling. Because its large it wont take long to cross cut to 6 in so still in with a chance. Whats dimensioned and through and through. I bought about 15 tonne of larch from a wood mill for £100 but some tapers well, some is too small some is bent so its giving me some learning experience.

Turned about 30 tonnes of lime into fire wood for next year about 2 months ago mostly big stuff aswell upto 4ft so alot of it would have been ideal.

 

I have bought a large peavey I think its made by timber king essential i think if want to keep your back and fingers.

Its promising to hear it will season quickly I have been getting it cross cut to 6in and drying in wire cages.

do you cut the side out and turn 90 deg or 180. I have been cutting bark off all 4 sides. I need to get most of it off so it can be clamped in the little notches on the bottom.