hi this is the way wood was sawed for years , i am not here to set examples , as for safety answer me a question or 2 . do you drive a car on the roads ? and a road where you know someone was killed , but still drive on that road , and how many people have you known killed on a sawmill . i will be waiting for you answer , thanks for stopping by john
Hello John. I am a Master Carpenter specialising in Georgian and Victorian restoration and have been working safely for 47 years in the industry. I have responsibility for 8 people in my workshop. I agree that woodworking methods and machines in the past were extremely dangerous compared to today's safety standards, but that is no justification to be a Luddite. I have a few machines that are older than your saw and I have upgraded these with 8 second stop electric brakes, suitable guards and forced air extraction. Your driving analogy is irrelevant to your woodworking scenario. A more accurate question would be, "Have you ever driven down a road completely drunk, disabled the air bags whilst travelling at twice the speed limit "? And the answer is no. I haven't done this because everyone has a duty of care to minimise risk. In your scenario, you had total decision as to whether you took a high-risk strategy, or whether you took the safest route. You chose the former and the outcome was inevitable and predictable. What is saddest for me is your lack of contrition and absolved liability for safe woodworking practice. You would not be employed in my company as, with that mindset you would pose too high a risk.
@@timheywood4813 hi first of all i would like to thank you for getting back to me . there is a lot to go over here , i kind of feel like you are compairing a shovel with a backhoe or a wheel barrow to a dump truck .to stop a 54-56 blade in seconds would cause a catastrophic failure in another area,the going down the road was a your own level of risk factor acceptance.i kind of get the feeling you have never been that close to a sawmill , the biggest safety tool around equipment is lack of common sense ,attention ,and the other guys lack of it or inexperience . i would like to go on . thank you john
Unfortunately there's not much safe running a ground mill. I worked with a man running one , he would say , It don't pay much but it will make a man out of ya. I had no idea a few years after working at that farm sawmill I'd go to work at a production mill learning sawfiling and spend 33 years sawmilling. I've seen things that made his love tap just that a tap. Give him credit for being attentive , hearing it before it got worse and shutting it down.
@@fricknjeep Its the uncertainty of the viewer that makes it so scary, looking at the title and not knowing whats going to happen next! Anyhow, please remain safe, with both sawmills and cars.
Not sure, but from your looks, I'm guessing that I'm older than you are. Still working 40+ hrs. a week tho in the construction field. What I've learned about aging is that my eyesight, hand dexterity, and agility on my feet have gradually lessened. It makes what we do for a living more hazardous than it once was. I slightly misjudge where my feet and fingers are. I stumble on things that I never would have 10yrs ago. Be more careful. We don't notice the decline sneaking up on us. Love the video.
I understand exactly what you mean! I'm 70 and still millwrighting. I don't have any plans to retire but my reflexes may decide that issue for me. Cataracts are making it difficult to weld, my knees are giving me fits, and I trip going UP stairs. But, Im still contributing to the workplace and teaching younger people how to do the job. Now, if I could only remember where I set my coffee cup down...
@@FRLN500 hi there its in that special place , i don't know why i can't find my special it has to be big . i have tons of stuff in it . thanks for stopping by john
I’m thinking big ass saw blade ! I’m glad it won’t a hand Gone missing or a damn board kicking back ! like I said big ass saw-blade/Board bazooka !! 🙀 Ain’t their neighbor kids or grandkids to sticker them boards for you happy sawing
Hey John. Some people wouldn't put this video out for a view, professional pride or whatever. This is a great lesson to everyone who appreciates your video's and your work. Thanks for posting and I'm really glad no great damage was done to you or your machinery. What you can't see can hurt you is a lesson for me from this. More power to you.
hi there i show just about everything , seams alot of the times when i turn the camera off is when something happens , it seams like NASCAR people want to see the crash , glad you stopped by john
I started at 15 working packing lumber with a sawmill like that my brother in laws family owned for sixty yrs or more not sure but seeing this vid sure brought back some good memories thanks for posting it
I love watching the old Sawmills in action, I was good friends with the Sawyer in town that had an Old Sawmill and used to watch it in operation all the time. It's only dangerous when you don't know what you're doing, but it does look like you could use a helper, although finding a good helper that's not going to kill himself in the process of helping you is tough to find. So sometimes you're better off by yourself instead of the helper hurting himself
The whole time I'm watching this I'm thinking, 'What the Hell is He doing'? He knows better!? Always turn your equipment off when adjusting the material, try to not stand in the path of destruction. 😢
I've been around these mills as a helper and of course I been around many a tool. Love these old saws. We have a tendency to become complacent when we do a thing for a long time and become good at it. Consider your mishap a reminder to self correct bad habits we learned due to over confidence and wanting to be efficient. Suggestion: If you wish to continue with reaching out and pulling the board away from the blade after its cut, consider using your other hand (your left). Reason: it is further away from the blade and you'll be reaching toward the blade straight on or perpendicular to the blade. The left arm; as you stood, naturally the elbow bends out away from the blade and unlike the right arm not toward the cutting path of the blade. Be safe. Work smart and keep cutting - lumber.
Well you and Mark and ... Out of the woods.. All three of y'all does a outstanding job of explaining what you are doing. I bought logs for a small sawmill that cut rail road ties. I watched them some so I enjoy what you do.
@@fricknjeep at one time we used 10 tree length loads a day average or more. Three full time logging crews. I then had a friend who might cut a load a week. I just enjoy seeing a good sawer.
That's an amazing setup and nice looking lumber, but there's a heckuva lot that can go wrong there with exposed moving parts. I grew up on a farm and we had a lot of machinery that was dangerous...I did a lot of things I shouldn't have, but no way I'd take a chance milling lumber here. If it works for you, though, more power to ya!
Worked as a safety engineer for St. Regis, Champion, Gilman, and GP to name a few. I ALWAYS CRINGE WHEN I SEE PEOPLE TRYING TO GET IN A HURRY OR GET CARELESS. I HAVE SEEN SOME HORRIFIC ACCIDENTS. REMBER. SAFETY NEVER SLEEPS!. STAY SAFE!!! BTW, I WOULD HAVE WRITTEN YOU UP FOR SEVERAL INFRACTIONS. YOU DON'T GET SECOND CHANCES.
Every time you reached for that wood to pull it off and stack it I almost couldn’t look because I thought you were going to cut off an arm or something 😳 Be careful man!!!!
The most garish of action and horror movies have never made me flinch, hate the nanny state, but a few seconds of this had me squealing. That spinning blade is straight out a Video Nasty!
@@fricknjeep yea man. You may also need a riving knife. And I will have to agree with the other folks that your hand was a bit to close. You had me. Very scared whenever that board was right up against the saw. You may need a different method to remove wood.
@@spongeorpete7289 hi there would like to have a Eddie . The camera makes look worse then it is . just think there are more people cut with a kitchen knife then a saw blade .thanks for stopping by john
There is a reason why workers comp/OSHA made it a requirement to have safety cages and operator booths with plexiglass protection on these head rig/carriage mills! You might say these are real men but accidents happened all time injuring men very badly quite regularly! A piece of metal in the log can shatter the blade sending high speed chunks of blade flying! Absolutely killing everyone in its path!
Me sitting here, scared to death waiting on it. Sure am glad that's all there was was a polishing and not a notch out of the doggie. Yessir, they're tapered, all right. And there ain't but a fuzz between go and NO. Just glad YOU're all right. They're making blades, rings and bits every day but there's just one sawyer John. A little swaging and filing and off goes the short bus motor. Your and Marks motors must be spot on because there's no gagging and sputtering when you light them off. Just ready to GO! GBWYou!
It’s kinda scary watching you get so close to the circle saw , looks like you could make a couple of rollers that slowly turn backwards to bring the planks back and maybe some adjustable wedge near the top of board at the other end to flip the plank on its side
Just caught your video. I admire a man that can admit he made a mistake especially when he can still blame it on the sun. 😂. New sub. Looking forward to catching more videos. Honestly glad to see you were not injured.
hi there . pushed my luck a bit to far , there are over 1400 videos ,may find some that interest you . a bit of everything .So glad you stopped in ,best to all thanks john
good on ya for showing an honest review. good thing they's replacable bits. what's your sawdust handling system like? Used to be a partner on a headsaw outfit...man the sawdust piled up quick
Just now found your site, Damn , what a machine , when i was a kid 70 years 77 now there was a sawmill like that one down the road only bigger ? Ever year there was two are three people lost there hands, arms and even got killed . I know , you know every inch of this old girl so be safe will you , i want to see some more of your video's, See Ya Texas
@@crashland5711 And when they died like flies from easily preventable accidents, due to not having proper regulations and protections. But hey! You're a smart, manly, man's man? Why don't y'all head on over to Somalia, where there's no annoying gubbermint to tell you how to live your life.
I've been cutting lumber all my life, I nipped the tips of 3 fingers in 79. And his setup scares the bejeebers out of me. Especially at his age. I know speaking for myself, "I ain't as good as I once was!" Slow down, with blades as big as that you can't afford to be stupid!
Hi Man, you scared the living crap out of me watching you reach in and grabbing the lumber away from the blade. Thank goodness you only killed the dog and didn't saw your fingers off. At least use a stick to tip the boards away from the blade. You have a really nice sounding engine running the mill. What kind is it?? Take care and be careful my friend!! Logger Al
That crappy male log turned out some decent siding after all. You gave that dog a little kiss. That'll be a good wake up call. Keeps a guy on his toes!!
hi there do you know of anyone hert at a sawmill . but i will bet you drive down a road where lots of people have been killed . have you ever been around a sawmill ? thanks john
@@fricknjeep I've been around all manner of machines in my life and have seen some horrific accidents caused by a mere split second lapse in concentration. Probably the one that stays with me the most was a girl operating a 150 ton knuckle press being distracted for a split second and stuck her hand into the tooling as the cycle initiated. A few people around her lost their lunch and her entire hand was crushed paper thin.
All the folks saying "Oooo, so dangerous!" He's touching the blade where it's smooth, no teeth. I've pulled thousands of board feet of lumber off a mill like this....he's not doing anything out of the ordinary. Growin' up in the country, every other farm had a mill just like that all up & down the Appalachians, and every kid learned to run 'em. We couldn't run to Home Depot every time we needed boards to fix the hog pen. If y'all had been born 200 years ago the industrial revolution would have never happened.
hi there thank you so much . this is the difference from all the commenters that have never been around a sawmill . have you read some of the comments . the one that made me laugh was you should lower the blade for shorter logs . it is sure nice to here from a sawyer thanks john
My friend has a mill like that, I think he had some guard that hit the blade, shit came loose and peeled half his face back past his ear, he lived. He got right back on the horse, also made some improvements
a kickback is the most dangerous risk -more so than getting hands near the smooth part of the blade lovely piece of kit though -the speed it was cutting at is amazing
Hit EM Bad. I was in a mill very similar to this.. Belt drive and leather laced belts. 1978 - I got to the mill - a week after this happened. Sawyer pulled a log on the deck, He set the carriage to pull the first cut. What no one knew - is a steel bullet was hidden in the tree. I think it was a 60 or 72 inch saw. About half way thru the first cut - The was a roar out of the saw blade - and the strong-backs where broken out of the saw - and they fired the teeth into the roof - over the carriage in a line - and the teeth sounded like shots out of a firearm, as the embedded in a line - into the roof.. In my mind - there is a canterman, to roll the logs on the carriage. A carriage rider - dog-man - set the dogs when needed - The sawyer controlled the carriage. A good sawyer - would never have a carriage not moving. The canterman and dogman - and the sawyer worked as a team. Before they spun the saw - the sawyer briefed them on what they wanted the most of. The sawyer never touched a board - because getting finger width distance from the saw - was something they - the owner did not approve of. So - where the board fell - there was trim saw - edgerman - he ran the boards thru a gang saw - and made boards. A Pilot - was on the edge of this stickering and piling everything - 12x12, 14x14 - 16x16. 4x24x32 ft - Wet - Hemlock. I was that guy for 2 summers. I love the old time rigs.
hi there nice story i have hit a lot of bullets . all lead i guess that may have been steel , thats one of the reasons they went to a double circle blade . the off bearer is the most important person at the mill thanks for the story . was any one hurt thanks john
Looks like a cool old Jeep in the back there!! I was waiting for something catostrophic, don't think that was near fatal, but honestly, GLAD IT WASN'T!
hi there yes some nice old wore out jeeps . got rid of a few in the last couple of years , down sizing , i just nicked one dog , thought i was going to mis it but . thanks for stopping in john
Cool old saw, it sounds like a tractor running when you started it. does it run off of the tractor?Ive seen these a few times, how old is it? I would however not get my hands near that blade nor jump down off of that saw feed rack like you did with that blade running though, be safe man. Cool video.
As a person who doesn’t understand why this is a near fatal - it must be that blade as big as it is could have sent shrapnel into you had the dog or blade or both sheared off at those high speeds? Glad you’re okay. I can picture some bureaucrat watching this thinking,” If only I could make a law demanding every wood mill be retrofitted with an automatic sensor that would prevent this…” I almost couldn’t watch this. Each time the saw would cycle and you reached in there to flip the board over - I kept thinking here it comes. But there is something satisfying about watching that man and machine do it’s thing.
Based on the title I expected some serious carnage! Video was not as advertised but that's ok! I'm more happy that you're not hurt. Never get complacent with these machines! EVER!
I'm seven metric minutes in, and all I can say right now is, that blade doesn't need to be spinning while you plant the next cut.... Then you opened the throttle
Our woodworking shop had a sign over the enormous chop saw that showed a hand missing three fingers. The caption read "Awarded for not replacing a guard." Quite a few old timers in that shop were missing bits. I learned early on never to rush around machines and taught it to all the apprentices.
That sure is faster than a band saw mill but a much bigger kerf! You need a helper on the back of that saw to pull the wood away after the cut- pull it away from the blade!
That’s why I always dreaded that last close cut when the dogs are a fraction away from the saw. I never hit a dog but the worst was a surprise porcelain fence insulator - ruined all 44 bits. I tried to re swage them but they were never worth much after that.
Been There Done That. . . Porcelain Insulators just Grind Every Tooth Down to a Stump. The old Glass Insulators aren't any better. I've Nicked the dogs a couple times (as did the Sawyer Before Me and the one before him) but got by it quick enough to just knock the corner off of one side of a Couple Teeth. Nails generally take out more teeth than that depending on what angle you hit them at.
I can only imagine the mess your property is ! Your complacency in the extremely dangerous situation you are in tells me you've been extremely lucky, luck is bound to run out, just like cowboy pilots
The sun does look good on the sawdust flying through the air :) I now think I can see why you wear the hat. Is that to stop the sawdust doing down the back of your neck? I would be interested to see how you sharpen those blades.
@@fricknjeep As we get older goofy matters way less There has to be some benefits eh! Don’t beat your self up too much over nicking the dog. It takes guts not to edit that stuff out.
I thought the comments were silly, had it going in background, glanced over to see him reaching right at the blade to pull a board away and pull it towards him where it could get kicked by the blade. Osha didn't exist when these mills were standard and it shows
While you at it you should replace that first 4x4 you used to roll that log it had a major crack when that log fell over where that 3/4" hole is drilled through it.
hi there i hit the dog . i have 2 friends that hit the dogs this year , with were fatal to the blades . 3000. per blade times 2 . thanks for stopping in john
@@fricknjeep Well dang, I thought I was gonna see it take an arm or a leg off not a dog! Oh well, it got me to subscribe to your channel anyway! Thumbs up and happy sawing!
I have those kinds of accidents all the time. It is not near-fatal to me unless I have to move to avoid something or a little blood is sacrificed to the god of chaos. But it always pisses me off when I try to save 15 seconds and it cost me hours to recover. I am confident you know this or you would not be here now. Fast spinning blades and clothes are not a good match. When I was around 18, a friend (18 as well) and I were working in a furniture factory on a machine that had a shaper head that rotated about 2,000 rpm or 20,000 rpm (do not remember - was the 1980s). On this day he was feeding the machine (putting wood into the machine) and I was "tailing" the machine (get the shaped wood off the machineand stacking). He would wear gloves as the wood was rough and had "splinters." I never would wear gloves as I did not like not being able to feel exactly where my fingers were relative to the wood. In any event, not all the wood was exactly the same size and sometimes a smaller piece would not feed through automatically. Most of the time he would use a stick to help push the stuck block into the feeder as the wood would be dangerously close to the first shaper head (depending on where the block was stuck). If the block was sticking out far enough he would just use his hand and give it a little push (save time not having to reach around and get a stick to push the wood). Well, one day he used his hand and a tip of a finger of his glove must have been grabbed by the spinning head and it pulled his hand into the head all the way up to the end of the glove just past the wrist. It took a second and his hand was gone. All of it. If you ever wear gloves around that spinning blade and you get your hands close to the blade, remember my friend. Do not get me wrong, I do that dangerous crap all the time - I just do not wear gloves.
first thanks for the story . i get hammered all the time for not wearing glove . you are the first person that understands why i don't ware them . thanks john
hi there this is the way logs were turned to lumber for over 100 years , it is safer than a knife on a cutting board in a kitchen . it just looks scary .thanks for stopping in , john
OUCH !! I hate it when that happens !! Good thing ya just bumped it and caught it quick … but no matter, at that time speed you’re gonna bugger up something if you hit metal of any kind. Well… except gold.
hi there well i am not really sure . Piper may have some or Payne . i hardly ever use one but do have 3 different ones , and dont know witch is the best , i bought my new saw from
hi there it is the camera angle , kind of like holding a fish you just cough out in front of you to make it look bigger .So glad you dropped in and gave it a watch and also left a comment , thank you john
The drawback of complacency and trying to get that last 1/4” of board cut. I felt his surprise! Never push your luck! There should be a deadman kind of setup so if you get hung up the feed or blade stops feeding.
hi there well i understand what you are saying but 2 or 3 things , do you know of someone hurt on a sawmill ? do you go to work or drive down a road that people were killed on ? have you ever cut your self with a kitchen knife ? you have to be careful in every part of daily life . thanks for stopping by john
I am no Safety Sally BUT....watch your video and assess your motions around that blade with an eye to....Why am I doing this right now? You are familiar with the mill so you have become TOO comfortable around it. Resting your hand on the log as the carriage moves toward the blade. Use a paint stick to move those boards away from the blade! My grandfathers table saw spoke to me often cuz it ate the tip of one of his fingers.
You're lucky to be alive. That's a terrible disregard for safety you are setting as an example to viewers
hi this is the way wood was sawed for years , i am not here to set examples , as for safety answer me a question or 2 . do you drive a car on the roads ? and a road where you know someone was killed , but still drive on that road , and how many people have you known killed on a sawmill . i will be waiting for you answer , thanks for stopping by john
Hello John. I am a Master Carpenter specialising in Georgian and Victorian restoration and have been working safely for 47 years in the industry. I have responsibility for 8 people in my workshop. I agree that woodworking methods and machines in the past were extremely dangerous compared to today's safety standards, but that is no justification to be a Luddite. I have a few machines that are older than your saw and I have upgraded these with 8 second stop electric brakes, suitable guards and forced air extraction.
Your driving analogy is irrelevant to your woodworking scenario. A more accurate question would be, "Have you ever driven down a road completely drunk, disabled the air bags whilst travelling at twice the speed limit "? And the answer is no. I haven't done this because everyone has a duty of care to minimise risk. In your scenario, you had total decision as to whether you took a high-risk strategy, or whether you took the safest route. You chose the former and the outcome was inevitable and predictable.
What is saddest for me is your lack of contrition and absolved liability for safe woodworking practice. You would not be employed in my company as, with that mindset you would pose too high a risk.
@@timheywood4813 hi first of all i would like to thank you for getting back to me . there is a lot to go over here , i kind of feel like you are compairing a shovel with a backhoe or a wheel barrow to a dump truck .to stop a 54-56 blade in seconds would cause a catastrophic failure in another area,the going down the road was a your own level of risk factor acceptance.i kind of get the feeling you have never been that close to a sawmill , the biggest safety tool around equipment is lack of common sense ,attention ,and the other guys lack of it or inexperience . i would like to go on . thank you john
Unfortunately there's not much safe running a ground mill.
I worked with a man running one , he would say , It don't pay much but it will make a man out of ya.
I had no idea a few years after working at that farm sawmill I'd go to work at a production mill learning sawfiling and spend 33 years sawmilling.
I've seen things that made his love tap just that a tap.
Give him credit for being attentive , hearing it before it got worse and shutting it down.
@@sammylacks4937 hi there good story ,thanks for bringing it hear .glad you stopped in , thank you john
Walking around a Fully Exposed Blade like that and Using Your Fingers To get the Previous Cut away from the Blade is Asking for Trouble in My Book.
hi there it is the way logs and sawmills have worked for the last 120 years , but your right , , thanks for stopping in john
@@fricknjeep there's a reason why they don't do it this way any more
hi there and there is a reason lots do , thanks for stopping by john@@jonbowman88893543
Goddamn right
@@jonbowman88893543 screw off, John. thanks for stopping by
Who needs horror movies when you can watch videos like this and have the most intense 20mins of your life.
hi there i dont think it is quite as bad as it looks ,i feel safer than driving down the road or flying ,So glad you dropped in .Thank you john
@@fricknjeep Its the uncertainty of the viewer that makes it so scary, looking at the title and not knowing whats going to happen next! Anyhow, please remain safe, with both sawmills and cars.
Spot on
Not sure, but from your looks, I'm guessing that I'm older than you are. Still working 40+ hrs. a week tho in the construction field. What I've learned about aging is that my eyesight, hand dexterity, and agility on my feet have gradually lessened. It makes what we do for a living more hazardous than it once was. I slightly misjudge where my feet and fingers are. I stumble on things that I never would have 10yrs ago. Be more careful. We don't notice the decline sneaking up on us. Love the video.
hi there nice story . i will be 70 in a few months thanks john
Sj
I understand exactly what you mean! I'm 70 and still millwrighting. I don't have any plans to retire but my reflexes may decide that issue for me. Cataracts are making it difficult to weld, my knees are giving me fits, and I trip going UP stairs. But, Im still contributing to the workplace and teaching younger people how to do the job. Now, if I could only remember where I set my coffee cup down...
@@FRLN500 hi there its in that special place , i don't know why i can't find my special it has to be big . i have tons of stuff in it . thanks for stopping by john
I’m thinking big ass saw blade ! I’m glad it won’t a hand Gone missing or a damn board kicking back ! like I said big ass saw-blade/Board bazooka !! 🙀 Ain’t their neighbor kids or grandkids to sticker them boards for you happy sawing
Hey John. Some people wouldn't put this video out for a view, professional pride or whatever. This is a great lesson to everyone who appreciates your video's and your work. Thanks for posting and I'm really glad no great damage was done to you or your machinery. What you can't see can hurt you is a lesson for me from this. More power to you.
hi there i show just about everything , seams alot of the times when i turn the camera off is when something happens , it seams like NASCAR people want to see the crash , glad you stopped by john
Did you see how bad he shook when it hit the dog? He was getting ready to run away lol. Scary shit right there.
hi there didnt see what you saw john@@grasscutter88
I started at 15 working packing lumber with a sawmill like that my brother in laws family owned for sixty yrs or more not sure but seeing this vid sure brought back some good memories thanks for posting it
hi there good story thanks and for stopping by john
I love watching the old Sawmills in action, I was good friends with the Sawyer in town that had an Old Sawmill and used to watch it in operation all the time. It's only dangerous when you don't know what you're doing, but it does look like you could use a helper, although finding a good helper that's not going to kill himself in the process of helping you is tough to find. So sometimes you're better off by yourself instead of the helper hurting himself
hi there kind of the way i look at it , thanks john
The whole time I'm watching this I'm thinking, 'What the Hell is He doing'? He knows better!?
Always turn your equipment off when adjusting the material, try to not stand in the path of destruction. 😢
hi you would never get a log sawed that way , john
I've been around these mills as a helper and of course I been around many a tool. Love these old saws. We have a tendency to become complacent when we do a thing for a long time and become good at it. Consider your mishap a reminder to self correct bad habits we learned due to over confidence and wanting to be efficient. Suggestion: If you wish to continue with reaching out and pulling the board away from the blade after its cut, consider using your other hand (your left). Reason: it is further away from the blade and you'll be reaching toward the blade straight on or perpendicular to the blade. The left arm; as you stood, naturally the elbow bends out away from the blade and unlike the right arm not toward the cutting path of the blade. Be safe. Work smart and keep cutting - lumber.
thank you for the kind comment john
i just tried that after reading your comment . felt to uneasy had me crossed and nothing to hold on to , but a good thought thanks john
I've got to admit John, you re a master at making sawdust. Fun at the sawmill.
hi there sawdust i can make john
Well you and Mark and ... Out of the woods.. All three of y'all does a outstanding job of explaining what you are doing. I bought logs for a small sawmill that cut rail road ties. I watched them some so I enjoy what you do.
hi there this was a tie mill john
@@fricknjeep at one time we used 10 tree length loads a day average or more. Three full time logging crews.
I then had a friend who might cut a load a week. I just enjoy seeing a good sawer.
I'm glad you are alright. I sure love watching you sawyers at work. I'm not there yet, but one of these days.
That's an amazing setup and nice looking lumber, but there's a heckuva lot that can go wrong there with exposed moving parts. I grew up on a farm and we had a lot of machinery that was dangerous...I did a lot of things I shouldn't have, but no way I'd take a chance milling lumber here. If it works for you, though, more power to ya!
hi there i understand thanks john
Worked as a safety engineer for St. Regis, Champion, Gilman, and GP to name a few. I ALWAYS CRINGE WHEN I SEE PEOPLE TRYING TO GET IN A HURRY OR GET CARELESS. I HAVE SEEN SOME HORRIFIC ACCIDENTS. REMBER. SAFETY NEVER SLEEPS!. STAY SAFE!!! BTW, I WOULD HAVE WRITTEN YOU UP FOR SEVERAL INFRACTIONS. YOU DON'T GET SECOND CHANCES.
hi how would you do what i do differently . whats the plan . thanks for stopping by john
You are good at feeding your mill stuff happens glad your a pro
Thx for the movie as always
thanks john
Every time you reached for that wood to pull it off and stack it I almost couldn’t look because I thought you were going to cut off an arm or something 😳 Be careful man!!!!
hi there the camera makes it look worse than it really is ,thanks for dropping in john
The most garish of action and horror movies have never made me flinch, hate the nanny state, but a few seconds of this had me squealing. That spinning blade is straight out a Video Nasty!
@@tonybrown9875 . don't really how to answer to your comment but glad you stopped by john
@@fricknjeep yea man. You may also need a riving knife. And I will have to agree with the other folks that your hand was a bit to close. You had me. Very scared whenever that board was right up against the saw. You may need a different method to remove wood.
@@spongeorpete7289 hi there would like to have a Eddie . The camera makes look worse then it is . just think there are more people cut with a kitchen knife then a saw blade .thanks for stopping by john
Seen a few bad accidents over the years. This one made me pucker. Glad you were paying attention.
hi there just touched the side ,i was watching it but it was closer than my eye could see , everything was ok ,thanks for stopping in john
you have shown us that even the best make mistakes ! Not a big deal ,looking forward to the swedge and file video
hi there its a coming thanks john
Be careful climbing around on those 4x4’s, John! Thanks for another fun video 👍😀
hi there only exercise i get thanks john
There is a reason why workers comp/OSHA made it a requirement to have safety cages and operator booths with plexiglass protection on these head rig/carriage mills! You might say these are real men but accidents happened all time injuring men very badly quite regularly!
A piece of metal in the log can shatter the blade sending high speed chunks of blade flying! Absolutely killing everyone in its path!
Me sitting here, scared to death waiting on it. Sure am glad that's all there was was a polishing and not a notch out of the doggie. Yessir, they're tapered, all right. And there ain't but a fuzz between go and NO. Just glad YOU're all right. They're making blades, rings and bits every day but there's just one sawyer John. A little swaging and filing and off goes the short bus motor. Your and Marks motors must be spot on because there's no gagging and sputtering when you light them off. Just ready to GO! GBWYou!
hi there all trade going thanks john
It’s kinda scary watching you get so close to the circle saw , looks like you could make a couple of rollers that slowly turn backwards to bring the planks back and maybe some adjustable wedge near the top of board at the other end to flip the plank on its side
thank you john
OK Randy be draw us a picture he’s got a hell of a rig
Just caught your video. I admire a man that can admit he made a mistake especially when he can still blame it on the sun. 😂. New sub. Looking forward to catching more videos. Honestly glad to see you were not injured.
hi there . pushed my luck a bit to far , there are over 1400 videos ,may find some that interest you . a bit of everything .So glad you stopped in ,best to all thanks john
did you dull the blade or sharpen the dog ?
funny thing is that when you get it back up and running, it will cut faster, cooler and straighter.
hi there already sawed with it not quite as nice . seams to throw a bit more dust up thanks john
good on ya for showing an honest review. good thing they's replacable bits. what's your sawdust handling system like? Used to be a partner on a headsaw outfit...man the sawdust piled up quick
hi there didnt hit them hard enought to need changing not as good as i would like , thanks for stopping in john
Just now found your site, Damn , what a machine , when i was a kid 70 years 77 now there was a sawmill like that one down the road only bigger ? Ever year there was two are three people lost there hands, arms and even got killed . I know , you know every inch of this old girl so be safe will you , i want to see some more of your video's, See Ya Texas
hi there i am a bit late but thanks for stopping by john
That may be the most stupidly dangerous woodworking machine i have ever seen in my entire life!!!
hi how do you think you got lumber .Glad you liked them and thanks for dropping in and leaving a comment, John
Very nice video...be careful man. Reaching in close to the blade like that is making me nervous. You have a beautiful mill there..I love it.
hi there the camera makes it look to close . have you seen the other mill . thanks for stopping by john
@@fricknjeep no I haven't 🤔
@@williamturkewitschturkewit1549 hi when you have a bit of time go to same older videos john
@@fricknjeep ok I will
bad luck sorry hope you get it fix thanks for the video blessings to you and your family 🙏
hi there already up and running again thanks john
I'm no expert but that whole setup looks like an accident waiting to happen.
Like you said, you’re no expert! Stfu.
@@KenSilvers You sound a little triggered the karen jay calm down to a panic.
This was when men were men, not soy boy's. And before OSHA.
@@KenSilvers and you are' please explain....
@@crashland5711 And when they died like flies from easily preventable accidents, due to not having proper regulations and protections. But hey! You're a smart, manly, man's man? Why don't y'all head on over to Somalia, where there's no annoying gubbermint to tell you how to live your life.
John, what thickness were you cutting these boards?
hi there a strong 1 inch 1-1/16 . i did put the 2 shims in the back back in . john
I am thinking about getting myself a sawmill. Very nice Y’all.
thanks john
The problem with doing something for years is you tend to do it without thinking about it, and it’s not hard to make major mistakes.
hi there , you do have a very good point .So glad you stopped in and watched a while .Best to everyone and thank you john
Exactly! With age, sometimes complacency...😢
Thank you for the video.I worry about hitting the third dog.Do you do any good selling your lumber on Craigslist?
just barely got to give it away 50 cents board foot john
by the look you cut more than you sell
wants a good square up
@@fricknjeep …50 cent the board foot??? Surely wish you lived closer… I’d be a constant customer.
@@ernestgalvan9037 hi there it is sad but that is how it is thanks for stopping by john
I've been cutting lumber all my life, I nipped the tips of 3 fingers in 79. And his setup scares the bejeebers out of me. Especially at his age. I know speaking for myself, "I ain't as good as I once was!" Slow down, with blades as big as that you can't afford to be stupid!
thanks john
We need more old school everything these days. Nice video.
hi there glad you came along , not many crafts thought in schools anymore , your right , thanks for stopping in john
New subscriber, wow that was a bit scary. Got those hands way too close to the sawblade. Be careful! Good video.
hi there it is really the camera angle , but thanks i will .Thanks for stopping in and giving me a watch. Merry Christmas to all . john
I worked at one for 26 year.your about right.
hi there you did alot of hard work .Thanks for stopping in and giving me a watch. Merry Christmas to all . john
Hi Man, you scared the living crap out of me watching you reach in and grabbing the lumber away from the blade. Thank goodness you only killed the dog and didn't saw your fingers off. At least use a stick to tip the boards away from the blade.
You have a really nice sounding engine running the mill. What kind is it??
Take care and be careful my friend!!
Logger Al
hi there 471 detriot on this mill 671 on the other . all mills are Frick . thanks john
What are u thinking? Ive been working saws of all kinds for the last 45 years. I wouldent even start that thing up. 1 slip and its over.
hi there tell me about your saw mills , i did see a single sawmill on your channel .glad you stopped in , thank you john
I am 84 and finding I still get stupid round machinery like saws n powersaws. GrACE OF GOD! CHEERS
hi there just be as good as you feel ok with , thanks for dropping in john
That crappy male log turned out some decent siding after all. You gave that dog a little kiss. That'll be a good wake up call. Keeps a guy on his toes!!
hi there glad it was just a kiss thanks john
No worries. There is no mistakes, only lessons. 💪🏽
hi there i sure do get alot of lessons , thanks for dropping in john
When you hit a dog do you have to call the SPCA?
hi there i am a bit late but thanks for stopping by john
This guy is totally unsafe around the blade. Too comfortable.
hi there do you know of anyone hert at a sawmill . but i will bet you drive down a road where lots of people have been killed . have you ever been around a sawmill ? thanks john
@@fricknjeep I've been around lots of equipment and firearms and can recognize when someone is too comfortable. All the best to you sir.
@@HkLY45 thank you john
@@fricknjeep I've been around all manner of machines in my life and have seen some horrific accidents caused by a mere split second lapse in concentration. Probably the one that stays with me the most was a girl operating a 150 ton knuckle press being distracted for a split second and stuck her hand into the tooling as the cycle initiated. A few people around her lost their lunch and her entire hand was crushed paper thin.
@@garybaris139 sad story thanks john
15:50 is where the blade hits some metal
YEP I HIT THE DOG . THANKS FOR DROPPING IN JOHN
All the folks saying "Oooo, so dangerous!" He's touching the blade where it's smooth, no teeth. I've pulled thousands of board feet of lumber off a mill like this....he's not doing anything out of the ordinary. Growin' up in the country, every other farm had a mill just like that all up & down the Appalachians, and every kid learned to run 'em. We couldn't run to Home Depot every time we needed boards to fix the hog pen. If y'all had been born 200 years ago the industrial revolution would have never happened.
hi there thank you so much . this is the difference from all the commenters that have never been around a sawmill . have you read some of the comments . the one that made me laugh was you should lower the blade for shorter logs . it is sure nice to here from a sawyer thanks john
just read your comment again cause i liked it so much thanks again john
@@fricknjeep how the heck are you supposed to lower the blade on a 100 year old mill?
@@wrench6122 hi there that was another person that didn't know anything about sawmills and looked at like a table saw . thanks john
@@fricknjeep watch "AMISH SAWMILL!!!" by "That Chipper Guy" these guys are super fast!
Do you take the saw bits out to sharpen?
hi there no just file them in place . there is a video on it . thanks john
Yeah, the title is quite appropriate. The whole video is surely a near fatal accident. BTW, my name is not john.
My friend has a mill like that, I think he had some guard that hit the blade, shit came loose and peeled half his face back past his ear, he lived. He got right back on the horse, also made some improvements
The teeth on the blade are made to change out. Sometimes they decide for themselves to fly away.
a kickback is the most dangerous risk -more so than getting hands near the smooth part of the blade
lovely piece of kit though -the speed it was cutting at is amazing
hi there thanks for stopping in john
Great video. Thanks for sharing.
thanks for stopping by john
Hit EM Bad. I was in a mill very similar to this.. Belt drive and leather laced belts. 1978 - I got to the mill - a week after this happened. Sawyer pulled a log on the deck, He set the carriage to pull the first cut. What no one knew - is a steel bullet was hidden in the tree. I think it was a 60 or 72 inch saw. About half way thru the first cut - The was a roar out of the saw blade - and the strong-backs where broken out of the saw - and they fired the teeth into the roof - over the carriage in a line - and the teeth sounded like shots out of a firearm, as the embedded in a line - into the roof..
In my mind - there is a canterman, to roll the logs on the carriage. A carriage rider - dog-man - set the dogs when needed - The sawyer controlled the carriage. A good sawyer - would never have a carriage not moving. The canterman and dogman - and the sawyer worked as a team. Before they spun the saw - the sawyer briefed them on what they wanted the most of.
The sawyer never touched a board - because getting finger width distance from the saw - was something they - the owner did not approve of.
So - where the board fell - there was trim saw - edgerman - he ran the boards thru a gang saw - and made boards.
A Pilot - was on the edge of this stickering and piling everything - 12x12, 14x14 - 16x16. 4x24x32 ft - Wet - Hemlock.
I was that guy for 2 summers.
I love the old time rigs.
hi there nice story i have hit a lot of bullets . all lead i guess that may have been steel , thats one of the reasons they went to a double circle blade . the off bearer is the most important person at the mill thanks for the story . was any one hurt thanks john
Keep on keeping on! Like your vids.
thank you john
So, how soon after cutting this wood can it be used?
hi there squirrels on it the morning and on a building in the evening . thanks john
Looks like a cool old Jeep in the back there!!
I was waiting for something catostrophic, don't think that was near fatal, but honestly, GLAD IT WASN'T!
hi there yes some nice old wore out jeeps . got rid of a few in the last couple of years , down sizing , i just nicked one dog , thought i was going to mis it but . thanks for stopping in john
Cool old saw, it sounds like a tractor running when you started it. does it run off of the tractor?Ive seen these a few times, how old is it? I would however not get my hands near that blade nor jump down off of that saw feed rack like you did with that blade running though, be safe man. Cool video.
hi there this mill is powered by a 471 Detroit and my bigger mill i use a 238Hp 671 Detroit , this mill is around 1930 , thanks for dropping in john
Did something happen? I didn’t see it? Where is it.
Im not a saw mill guy, but every time I saw you reach forward to roll the fresh cut onto its side I winced. That blade is unforgiving!!
hi there it is a camera angle thing , thanks john
dang, took me this long to figure out that the accident was nearly fatal to the saw, not necessarily the operator . . . .
Yeah, I was hoping to see a 2x4 kick back and come within a inch of ripping his head off!
My grandpa lost his left hand in a saw mill like that in the 60's.
Did he ever find it ?
Right.
As a person who doesn’t understand why this is a near fatal - it must be that blade as big as it is could have sent shrapnel into you had the dog or blade or both sheared off at those high speeds?
Glad you’re okay.
I can picture some bureaucrat watching this thinking,” If only I could make a law demanding every wood mill be retrofitted with an automatic sensor that would prevent this…”
I almost couldn’t watch this. Each time the saw would cycle and you reached in there to flip the board over - I kept thinking here it comes.
But there is something satisfying about watching that man and machine do it’s thing.
Based on the title I expected some serious carnage! Video was not as advertised but that's ok! I'm more happy that you're not hurt. Never get complacent with these machines! EVER!
hi there got to get my #s up from time to time . thanks for stopping by john
At least with CLICKBAIT there is a possibility of some redeeming thing to follow , unlike the lies of the current current administration.
@@deconteesawyer5758 hi there its hard to say what they are up to . thanks for stopping by john
I'm seven metric minutes in, and all I can say right now is, that blade doesn't need to be spinning while you plant the next cut.... Then you opened the throttle
hi there well although that sounds like a good thing to do , you really dont understand a sawmill , thanks for stopping in , john
Experience is what you get right after you needed it. (Let that one sink in a little.)
hi there i know what you mean . thanks john
Our woodworking shop had a sign over the enormous chop saw that showed a hand missing three fingers. The caption read "Awarded for not replacing a guard." Quite a few old timers in that shop were missing bits. I learned early on never to rush around machines and taught it to all the apprentices.
@@lunhil12 hi there good story john
Wow that saw is dangerous and big always take care sir , nice sawmill
hi there i am a bit late but thanks for stopping by john
That sure is faster than a band saw mill but a much bigger kerf! You need a helper on the back of that saw to pull the wood away after the cut- pull it away from the blade!
hi there i couldn't agree with you more . Eddies don't fall out of trees and kids now days don't go out side thanks john
That’s why I always dreaded that last close cut when the dogs are a fraction away from the saw. I never hit a dog but the worst was a surprise porcelain fence insulator - ruined all 44 bits. I tried to re swage them but they were never worth much after that.
hi there they are the top of the worse . this wasn't to bad john
Been There Done That. . . Porcelain Insulators just Grind Every Tooth Down to a Stump. The old Glass Insulators aren't any better. I've Nicked the dogs a couple times (as did the Sawyer Before Me and the one before him) but got by it quick enough to just knock the corner off of one side of a Couple Teeth. Nails generally take out more teeth than that depending on what angle you hit them at.
@@oldSawyer been there on all of that great story thanks john
My dad had one of these mills, until it burned in the 70's. Wish I still had it with the price of wood now.
yes thanks john
Never been so nervous watching a video.
hi it is the camera angle thanks john
I can only imagine the mess your property is ! Your complacency in the extremely dangerous situation you are in tells me you've been extremely lucky, luck is bound to run out, just like cowboy pilots
We all paid, my friend. What's important, is that how we learn from it.
hi there thats for stopping in john
Christ ! A simple 2ft stick can do what your fingers do. Cmon man.
hi i use one time to time , thanks for dropping in john
Would could think that a huge rotating blade without any safety measures could be dangerous.
hi there well they are ,that is why you need to be careful . thanks for dropping in john
The sun does look good on the sawdust flying through the air :)
I now think I can see why you wear the hat. Is that to stop the sawdust doing down the back of your neck?
I would be interested to see how you sharpen those blades.
hi there the hat looks goofy but does its job john
@@fricknjeep
As we get older goofy matters way less
There has to be some benefits eh!
Don’t beat your self up too much over nicking the dog. It takes guts not to edit that stuff out.
@@DavoShed hi there here i done edit anything out good or not so good . thanks john
I thought the comments were silly, had it going in background, glanced over to see him reaching right at the blade to pull a board away and pull it towards him where it could get kicked by the blade. Osha didn't exist when these mills were standard and it shows
That sound like a Detroit nice beautiful sound , you need to be smarter, thank praise Jesus grace Christ grace , BigAl California.
thanks for stopping by john
Glad it was just a nicked blade/dog. I was cringing waiting for some semi catastrophic, near fatal accident. Glad there wasn't one!!! STAY SAFE!!!
hi there did you see the blade that hit the dog hard . took out the blade in a 1/2 second . john
I just wanted him to switch that bland rotation off whilst making the adjustments, it sent shivers down my spine.
I would love to see how you sharpen the teeth, sorry for your crash.....cheers from Florida, Paul
hi there just use a hand file . ua-cam.com/video/kpChr0CzPDM/v-deo.html from the past
While you at it you should replace that first 4x4 you used to roll that log it had a major crack when that log fell over where that 3/4" hole is drilled through it.
hi there you are right looks bad . the crack has been it for months and i made another one for some reason i jus t done use it .good eye thanks john
Why!?
That diesel engine sounds like a two-stroke.
hi there good ear 4-71 . glad you stopped by john
I like you sawmill did you make it yourself?
hi there no its a Frick sawmill . thats the Frick in fricknjeep thanks john
I'm no sawyer but I did just learn something, after you sharpen the lead dog that way you gotta sharpen the saw too! Sorry man, I couldn't resist.
hi there thats funny but true thanks john
That was close to a total destruction of the blade. I'm sure glad nothing happened to you.
Bill
hi there Jeff took out a blade last week . hope to film the blade today . john
I guess I missed the near fatal accident! I'd love to have a saw mill, old or new!
hi there i hit the dog . i have 2 friends that hit the dogs this year , with were fatal to the blades . 3000. per blade times 2 . thanks for stopping in john
@@fricknjeep Well dang, I thought I was gonna see it take an arm or a leg off not a dog! Oh well, it got me to subscribe to your channel anyway! Thumbs up and happy sawing!
I have those kinds of accidents all the time. It is not near-fatal to me unless I have to move to avoid something or a little blood is sacrificed to the god of chaos. But it always pisses me off when I try to save 15 seconds and it cost me hours to recover.
I am confident you know this or you would not be here now. Fast spinning blades and clothes are not a good match. When I was around 18, a friend (18 as well) and I were working in a furniture factory on a machine that had a shaper head that rotated about 2,000 rpm or 20,000 rpm (do not remember - was the 1980s). On this day he was feeding the machine (putting wood into the machine) and I was "tailing" the machine (get the shaped wood off the machineand stacking). He would wear gloves as the wood was rough and had "splinters." I never would wear gloves as I did not like not being able to feel exactly where my fingers were relative to the wood. In any event, not all the wood was exactly the same size and sometimes a smaller piece would not feed through automatically. Most of the time he would use a stick to help push the stuck block into the feeder as the wood would be dangerously close to the first shaper head (depending on where the block was stuck). If the block was sticking out far enough he would just use his hand and give it a little push (save time not having to reach around and get a stick to push the wood).
Well, one day he used his hand and a tip of a finger of his glove must have been grabbed by the spinning head and it pulled his hand into the head all the way up to the end of the glove just past the wrist. It took a second and his hand was gone. All of it.
If you ever wear gloves around that spinning blade and you get your hands close to the blade, remember my friend. Do not get me wrong, I do that dangerous crap all the time - I just do not wear gloves.
first thanks for the story . i get hammered all the time for not wearing glove . you are the first person that understands why i don't ware them . thanks john
This guy is driving me nuts being so care free
hi there this is the way logs were turned to lumber for over 100 years , it is safer than a knife on a cutting board in a kitchen . it just looks scary .thanks for stopping in , john
OUCH !! I hate it when that happens !! Good thing ya just bumped it and caught it quick … but no matter, at that time speed you’re gonna bugger up something if you hit metal of any kind. Well… except gold.
hi there always glad when you stop by john
One thing i learne is never put your fingers close to the blade
hi there i am a bit late but thanks for stopping by john
Where can you find a sledge now days?
hi there well i am not really sure . Piper may have some or Payne . i hardly ever use one but do have 3 different ones , and dont know witch is the best , i bought my new saw from
Menomonee saw shop . great people there and Peach is the saw guy is nice john
Gave me the creeps watching him put his hand so close to the blade when he pulled the cut board away.
hi there it is the camera angle , kind of like holding a fish you just cough out in front of you to make it look bigger .So glad you dropped in and gave it a watch and also left a comment , thank you john
The drawback of complacency and trying to get that last 1/4” of board cut. I felt his surprise! Never push your luck! There should be a deadman kind of setup so if you get hung up the feed or blade stops feeding.
Sawmill accidents are seldom trivial.
hi there i think you are right , thanks for stopping in john
Please be safe. A lot of folks are counting on you.
hi there well i try to be a bit safe thanks for caring a bit john
dont look it to me keep sawing but clear up
you only slip once end ex.
Man there is no way I would get near that thing. That's a death machine.
hi there well i understand what you are saying but 2 or 3 things , do you know of someone hurt on a sawmill ? do you go to work or drive down a road that people were killed on ? have you ever cut your self with a kitchen knife ? you have to be careful in every part of daily life . thanks for stopping by john
way to casual around that saw blade. should never reach that close to that blade
hi there how do you get the boards off you blade ? thanks john
@@fricknjeep find a tool
So what exactly was near fatal?
did you see the video of the blade that hit the dog hard . it was fatal the blade is DOA thanks john
I am no Safety Sally BUT....watch your video and assess your motions around that blade with an eye to....Why am I doing this right now? You are familiar with the mill so you have become TOO comfortable around it. Resting your hand on the log as the carriage moves toward the blade. Use a paint stick to move those boards away from the blade! My grandfathers table saw spoke to me often cuz it ate the tip of one of his fingers.
hi there thanks john