CHAPTER 4
Sawmill Operation
THE NUMBER Of Army people serving in Vietnam has
front of each wheel on level ground. This is done so
increased tremendously since 1965. As a result, facilities
that when the sawmill is leveled up, some of its weight
construction--quarters, offices, depot, hangars, etc.-has
will be removed from the tires. If this is not done, the
been a major problem. It is your job to relieve this and
sawmill will not sit rigidly enough. Pull the sawmill
similar problems, because as an Army carpenter, you will
ahead to fit into the trenches. Be sure that the sawdust
be building the facilities needed.
conveyor does not rest on the ground when the sawmill
2. It take much hard work to build a building when
is pulled into the trenches. Unhitch the truck or power
the lumber is available. In your job in the Army, in
unit from the sawmill and place it in a relative position to
places like Vietnam, there will probably be times when
the sawmill that will let you align the drive belt from the
the lumber is not available. If you run into this situation,
power unit to the sawmill.
your job will be twice as difficult, because you will have
9-3. Leveling. The sawmill must be leveled properly,
to go into the jungle and cut the lumber. For you to be
If it is not level, the saw will run "in' or "out at the front.
able to do this job, you must know how to erect and
A saw that runs "in" at the front will make the last piece
operate a sawmill.
of lumber cut (the dog board) thin at the top. A saw
3. This chapter discusses erecting sawmill, building
that runs "out" at the front will make the dog board thick
log skidways, operating sawmills, and caring for large
at the top. In other words, the lumber will not be square.
cutting saws. It also discusses the important rules in
When you level the sawmill, be sure that some material,
sawmill operation.
such as a plank or timber, is placed on the ground
underneath each leg to prevent it from settling into the
soil as the operations proceed. To level the sawmill
9. Erecting the Sawmill
properly, you must consult the operator's manual for the
9-1. Most of your sawmill work in the Army will
particular make and model you are using.
probably be performed with a portable sawmill. One of
9-4. Bracing. After you have leveled the sawmill
the many different types of portable sawmills is shown in
correctly, brace it securely to compensate for drive belt
figure 49. Usually, a portable sawmill is erected (set up)
tension. Most portable sawmills are braced by securing a
once a day and it very seldom remains at one setup over
brace against the frame of the sawmill and to the ground
2 days. It is preferable to move the sawmill away from
or power unit. In addition to bracing the sawmill, you
the material accumulated rather than to move the
must also set up the sawdust conveyor chain and anchor
lumber, slabs (the outside pieces, with or without the
it. On most sawmills, this chain is anchored by driving
bark, taken from logs in sawing them into boards), and
an iron pipe or strong pole into the ground. To brace the
sawdust. On large setups the sawmill is simply moved
sawmill properly and to anchor the sawdust conveyor
ahead progressively to other skidways and away from the
chain, you must also consult the operator's manual for
accumulated material. After you set up a sawmill two or
the particular make and model you are using.
three times, you should be able to set it up in a short
length of time.
10. Building Log Skidways
9.2. To erect the main frame of the sawmill, place it
within a few feet of the location where you intend to
10-1. Before you erect the sawmill, you should line up
operate it. Then you can prepare the exact location and
your sawing sites before you start sawing the lumber.
move the mill the few feet into place. If the sawmill is
This is done to determine the exact
mounted on pneumatic tires, dig a shallow trench in
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