SAWMILL EQUIPMENT
The 12′ log decks permits several logs to be placed on the deck at one time. The head sawyer from the podium can move the logs along the deck and easily drop a log onto the sawmill deck. This permits the yard attendant who brings the logs to perform other functions during the day. Loading the log deck is now required just 4 to 5 times a day. It is critical the log deck is never empty stopping production.
At the beginning of each day, the yard attendant is provided a list of each customer work order and a log requestion sheet for that order. It specifies the species, length and diameter required to complete the order. Generally if we are milling 12″ lumber we will require a 18″ log, 10″ lumber a 15″ log and 8″ lumber a 12″in diameter and of course straight.
The Wood-Mizer LT 70 was largest portable sawmill in North America back in April of 2021 when it arrived at Malwood Sawmills. It is now permanently installed. It has a four cylinder 55 HP Yanmar diesel engine and was developed for mass production. Our average output on the Wood-Mizer is approximately 600 board feet per hour.
The head sawyer stands at a podium and loads one log at a time onto the mill deck. From the podium the head sawyer and the fully automated/hydraulic mill goes to work.
Its features include:
- Engine-powered hydraulic log handling and head controls
- 55 HP diesel engine
- Capable of Milling:
• Log Diameter: 36″ (92cm),
• Board Width: 34″ (86cm)
• Length: 20” (609cm)
It is important that the 26′ sawmill deck is level and the log stops are plumb to the sawmill deck. This is paramount to ensure the lumber is the same thickness over that 26′ and square. The sawmill blades must be sharp to prevent the blade from moving up or down when it hits a knot for example. The blades are replaced on average every two hours during the day. A sawmill blade costs $50 to $60 and are re sharpened. It is important the tension is correct on the blades to prevent movement as well. If you see chatter on the freshly milled lumber the blade was not sharp or the tension was incorrect. The standard deviation for rough sawn lumber is 1/8 of an inch and our goal is to be at 1/16. The sawmill is equipped with a laser to be sure the first cut is accurate. The challenge is to always maximize the amount of lumber coming from the log.
The first cut on each side of a log is usually bark covering some wood beneath. This slab comes off the mill onto our log roller table and using foot pedals is moved onto our conveyor belt system heading to our grinder to make mulch. The second cut on a log has to be edged. Taking the bark off each edge of the slab leaving the good lumber between. With the twin edger you can select the amount of good lumber that is on the slab from 3″ to 15″ and set the twin blades to cut the bark off either side leaving a good piece of lumber. The cut offs go onto the conveyor belt to be ground and the good lumber heads to the trailer to be stacked for sale or a customer order. You will notice a small conveyor under the edger and a white construction bag. We capture sawdust here to be sold.
We have a 12″ conveyor system which picks up the sawdust along the sawmill. It is transferred to our larger 24″ conveyor on its way to our roto-chopper grinder. The first cut slab wood on each side of the log which is mostly bark with some wood is moved onto the roller table from the sawmill and with foot pedals is moved onto the 24″ conveyor belt to the grinder. The small edge pieces coming off the edger are also placed on the 24″ conveyor belt. All these pieces plus the sawdust all travel into our roto-chopper grinder to be ground into mulch. The mulch is sold to local landscape companies to make plain or colored mulch or to burn as fuel in outdoor furnaces to heat huge machine sheds. The concrete walls, and ceiling around the grinder was to reduce the noise levels to the accepted level set by the Ministry of the Environment.
SAWMILL EQUIPMENT
Hardwood Kilns
Our modern, advanced Wood-Mizer Kiln is made by Nyle and we have a second unit directly from Nyle. Each kiln can dry approximately 2,000 board feet. We split our original onsite kiln into two sections. One side dries 1″ hardwoods which takes approximately 2 weeks. The second side dries 2″ hardwoods which take approximately 4 weeks. We split into two sections as when we used to combine 1″ and 2″ the 1″ would dry first and we would remove. We could then not add more green 1″ lumber as the moisture would travel from the new greener lumber to the partially dried 2″ lumber.
Softwood Kiln
We share our softwood kiln with Doug Cleary at Clearydale Farms. We harness excess heat from the generators producing electricity from the gas of an anaerobic digestion system. This is an incredible green approach to kiln drying softwood lumber. This kiln can dry approximately 4,000 bf.
Once the lumber is kiln dried, either from the hardwood or softwood kilns it is moved into our work shop to be dressed into lumber.
The first step when dressing our lumber is to get one true edge. This is accomplished by running one edge of the piece of lumber through our Laguna 12″ Jointer. This jointer is loaded with premium features to make jointing safer and more enjoyable.
From the jointer it is moved into our Wood-Mizer MP360 Planer/Moulder. With many different profiles available we can produce.
- scalloped siding
- Imitation siding
- tongue & groove with or without a v joint
- shiplap with or without a 1/8 reveal
- wainscoting
- decking
- dimensional lumber
- specialty pieces for cabinet makers
- catalogue has a wide assortment of profiles/knives
Our 24″ thickness planer is used to dress our wide selection of live edge slabs. This is becoming one of our specialties.
It is also important when we dress customer rough sawn lumber we need to be sure it is to a standard thickness before it can through our MP360 Planer/Moulder.
Customers often bring their lumber to go through our thickness planer.
If you are planning on staining your dried and dressed lumber it would be wise to put if through our 37″ wide belt sander. It will take most is not all of the imperfections left after dressing (planning) that the stain will accentuate. We are constantly asked to sand customers pieces as well before staining. We have standard grits from 80 to 150.
This machine is equipped with 1 combination head. This means you can sand either using the drum or the sanding platen or both at the same time. Due to the large HP motor (20 HP) the machine is capable of dimensioning even wide boards. This is important for customers who do not own a thickness planer. When you use the machine to dimension your work only very aggressive paper 60 or 80 grit should be used. The heavy carpet feed belt is powered by a separate 1HP motor and has a variable speed conveyor of 12-60 FPM.