First attempt at Slabbing with Lucas

[skc101fc]

Hi.

One excellent tip I learnt from another miller is to lift the entry end of the log higher than the tail end .That way the slabber self feeds through the log requiring much less manual effort to make a pass. Don't have the slope too extreme or the unit is a real cow to pull back to the top.

I got it badly wrong one job and ended up pushing the unit uphill all the time. - Dear God I wanted to die at the end of that job, and with the client stood there watching didn't feel like admitting I cocked up after the first couple of cuts. Just lied and told him the wood was really tough and hard, to explain the sweat and purple face, rather than dropping the unit down and turning it round !!

Ya never stop learning

Shaun

[Billhook]

I think it is the 5 skip chain, whatever it is it came with the package.

Yes I can see that now that it would be stupid to plane it until it has seasoned.

(The advantages of having Arbtalk for advice!)

 

It will be interesting to see how you find the planer so keep us posted.

 

Leaning against the carriage as in the first video is hard work even with the pretty French lass helping. The hand winch was less hard but I think it would hurt after a day. The electric winch helps me enjoy the job rather than endure it.

 

I set the bar up by eye as level as I could and kept checking the chain tension and was pleased to see that all the slabs were cut straight and true with no dips or waves.

 

I was lucky Shaun in that the land was sloping in the right direction and you only need a small slope. But pay attention to the little brake as one time I thought I had applied it and turned away but something made me turn back round to see the whole carriage gathering speed to the far end, I only just caught it in time!

 

For me the Lucas has been fantastic. I bought it in 1997 for about £8000 and the engine has always started first time and has never been short on power.

The blades are the originals with a few re tippings over the years. It has been mainly used on Ash and Beech. I have put down several floors from these woods.

It is relatively easy to transport and set up in difficult places over huge trees.

 

I found my self in Ned Kelly country near Beechworth in 1998 and decided to look up the Lucas family. I drove the hire car for what seemed like miles down a dirt road to find an assortment of open sided farm buildings. The most unlikely setting for production.

I shook Geoff Lucas by the hand and he was so chuffed that I had bothered to come and see him all the way from Pommyland that he gave me some bits, a new filter assembly, a rev counter and more. Great family.