CHAPTER 4
Sawmill Operation
THE NUMBER Of Army people serving in Vietnam has
of each wheel on level ground. This is done so that when
increased tremendously since 1965. As a result, facilities
the sawmill is leveled up, some of its weight will be
construction--quarters, offices, depot, hangars, etc.-has
removed from the tires. If this is not done, the sawmill
been a major problem. It is your job to relieve this and
will not sit rigidly enough. Pull the sawmill ahead to fit
similar problems, because as an Army carpenter, you will
into the trenches. Be sure that the sawdust conveyor does
be building the facilities needed.
not rest on the ground when the sawmill is pulled into the
2. It take much hard work to build a building when
trenches. Unhitch the truck or power unit from the
the lumber is available. In your job in the Army, in places
sawmill and place it in a relative position to the sawmill
like Vietnam, there will probably be times when the
that will let you align the drive belt from the power unit to
lumber is not available. If you run into this situation,
the sawmill.
your job will be twice as difficult, because you will have
9-3. Leveling.
The sawmill must be leveled
to go into the jungle and cut the lumber. For you to be
properly, If it is not level, the saw will run "in' or "out at
able to do this job, you must know how to erect and
the front. A saw that runs "in" at the front will make the
operate a sawmill.
last piece of lumber cut (the dog board) thin at the top. A
3. This chapter discusses erecting sawmill, building
saw that runs "out" at the front will make the dog board
log skidways, operating sawmills, and caring for large
thick at the top. In other words, the lumber will not be
cutting saws. It also discusses the important rules in
square. When you level the sawmill, be sure that some
sawmill operation.
material, 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 2
brace against the frame of the sawmill and to the ground
days. It is preferable to move the sawmill away from the
or power unit. In addition to bracing the sawmill, you
material accumulated rather than to move the lumber,
must also set up the sawdust conveyor chain and anchor
slabs (the outside pieces, with or without the bark, taken
it. On most sawmills, this chain is anchored by driving an
from logs in sawing them into boards), and sawdust. On
iron pipe or strong pole into the ground. To brace the
large setups the sawmill is simply moved ahead
sawmill properly and to anchor the sawdust conveyor
progressively to other skidways and away from the
chain, you must also consult the operator's manual for the
accumulated material. After you set up a sawmill two or
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 front
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