SS jionter vs other brands

[ericolson]

However we have to face the fact that not only is wood extremely expensive now-a-days, but the quality of the boards is not comparable to even a few decades ago. This stems (no pun intended) from the fact that the quality of logs and/or trees is not high. Let it suffice to say that narrow growth rings - larger trees and logs - straighter trees and grain of years ago gave resulting more stable lumber. Not really knowing the stresses in the lumber we have, it becomes wise to use narrower boards.
:eek:

Chuck;

I agree with everything you're saying and I am now chagrined. I often forget that I'm in a geographical location where hardwood such as cherry, walnut, hickory, and red and white oak are abundant. Folks here even use walnut as common firewood!! I'm also fortunate in that I have access to a kiln and another fellow that will custom saw logs I bring to him to whatever dimensions I want. I need to remind myself that I used to have to go to outrageously expensive hardwood dealers. I am extremely fortunate in that I can pretty much get an entire tree milled up. During our recent ice storm, on my property alone, I lost a huge hickory and two oaks which will get me a substantial amount of lumber.

[Ed in Tampa]

DeWalt is, by far, superior to Delta in construction and after market service.




Since Black and Decker that owns Dewalt just bought (about a year or 2 ago) Porter Cable and Delta, service should be the same. In fact the Dewalt repair center is now the Dewalt/Delta/Porter Cable repair center that also fixes Black and Decker in our town.

And for those that didn't know WTC who is the parent company for Ryobi also makes Ridgid Power Tools, and own Milwaukee.

I believe Bosch own Skill.

So Shopsmith is quickly becoming unique in it's ownership.

[charlese]

Chuck;
I am extremely fortunate in that I can pretty much get an entire tree milled up. During our recent ice storm, on my property alone, I lost a huge hickory and two oaks which will get me a substantial amount of lumber.

Hey! I am jelous! Wanted to buy a small portable band mill a couple years ago, but wife said NO! That was a good thing as I would have had to travel a bit to get any storm downed trees.

Am VERY interested in any report you care to give concerning the sizes and quality of lumber you get from your downed yard trees. Do you think your sawyer can give you an appreciable amount of quarter sawn wood? Any deformed chunks or burls? Any useable limb wood? Will you have the lumber graded? Shucks! I know - Too many questions! I dont expect you to feel that you should feel obliged to answer them so I'll just quit here.

I'm just very jelous and very interested in you progress to get lumber from your trees.

Best!

[rubberneck]

I owned and regularly used my Shopsmith jointer for over 20 years. Good solid and accurate "little" tool. Little being the key word. I found the beds to be to short to get a good accurate edge for glue ups on any but the shortest of projects. I finally sold it on Ebay and with the proceeds bought a Delta 6" jointer with much longer beds. I have found it to be a real plus! Rigid and Delta are both great machines and can regularly be purchased in the $350 range. I think you will be much happier going this route. Wish I hadn't waited so long to do it myself!

[ericolson]

Chuck;

Well, I bit the bullet and bought an Alaskan sawmill attachment for my chainsaw. It should be here sometime this week. I've still got quite a bit of limbing to do before I section the logs and start milling lumber. I'm going to quartersaw the oak myself, which will be a bit of a challenge, but I can always plainsaw it. I measured the hickory yesterday and the main truck is a clear 40 feet before I get to smaller limbs!! I haven't gotten around to measuring the oaks yet. I'm going to lose quite a bit in the kerf because it's a chainsaw chain, but I figure it's a good way to get my foot in the door of milling my own lumber. One of the two downed oaks has a limb 13" in diameter, so it'll definitely be useable. I'll let you know how many board feet I get.

[chiroindixon]

I've had an Alaskan mill for years. They work well, but plain sawing is what they are favored for. I would suggest the purchase of the "ripping saw chain" since a standard will really be taxed, especially in hickory. That is very tough going, trust me.

Got a moisture meter? Lignomat has the mini Ligno E/D on sale until the end of the month. Then, there's the issue of a drying shed.

Now for me to dig out and mill some of my "treasures" salvaged years ago.

Doc

[ericolson]

Doc;

I just ordered a ripping chain from Bailey's. They had the best deal, both for chain and the various mill attachments. I visited the Granberg site, but they wanted anywhere from $10-$20 more for their stuff.
I'm planning on building a solar kiln early this summer. In the meantime, once I get these logs milled up, I'm going to paint the ends with Anchorseal and sticker them up in my shop. I'll be a little cramped, but not too bad. I had great success air drying maple (took two years), but it finally got down to 8% MC. Of course, at the time I was living in the SoCal desert. I don't think for a second I'll get below 10-14% MC here in SW Missouri.

[sawmill]

You should paint the ends as soon as the tree is down or it will start spliting around the heartwood. I have a bandsaw and have been sawing for about 10 years. I saw all of my own lumber and air dry some of it and have some of it kiln dryed. I was thinking about getting a Shopsmith planer but I don't know how well it would work for my use. I have about 1500 board foot of cherry I sawed last fall that had died and never blew down so I was going to use it for firewood but ended up making boards out of it.I have a lot left standing that will get sawed this spring.Has anyone run a lot of BF (few thousand BF)thru their Shopsmith planer and if they have how well did it hold up? I don't mean all to do it all at one time,just as I need it.