You Will NEVER cut Flat Lumber Unless This is RIGHT (Sawmill Tips and Tricks)

You can ruin your sawmill engine and never cut flat wood with incorrectly tensioned drive belt as I discuss sawmill tips and tricks. It's that important and most people don't even know about it. I'm Robert Milton, a professional sawmiller and business owner and teach sawmill tip and tricks to make your lumber as good as ours at Hobby Hardwood Alabama - ranked as producing the highest quality wood in Alabama, if not the country. / @hobbyhardwoodalabama . I am a retired aerospace engineer, my wife is a retired engineer at NASA, and we are a multimillion dollar, Dunn and Bradstreet listed, A+ rated BBB business. We used to build very high end houses and furniture using our lumber, but now sell it retail all over the country, and teach others to do the same.
We started with a chainsaw mill, upgraded to a portable manaul sawmill, then a production bandsaw mill. We are not a video company, but we are a real lumber company, and want to show others some of our money making and business sawmill techniques. This video is another example of sawmilling for our business, Hobby Hardwood, Alabama. We show how we mill logs, dry them and other things on our outdoor farm.
#sawmillprofessor, #woodyoda , #sawmill, #planer, #woodworking,#lumberkiln, #Hobby Hardwood, #hobbyhardwood
Joe Maine [phone] makes my bands for me, using WM Turbo Silvertip stock, 0.055" x 1.5". He is in Georgia but can ship anywhere. The best I have used.
Go check us out on our other pages! Mail Address: 237 Shady Trail, New Market, Al, 35761 Email for Business Inquires: [e-mail] OUR WEBSITE: www.hobbyhardw... PRODUCTS WE USE: www.hobbyhardw... FACEBOOK:

[@MakerBoyOldBoy]

Thanks Professor. It occurred to me that new viewers as myself need to hear how you incrementally built your skill set, your reputation for prime lumber and gradually built your milling upgraded saws and customizing them to meet increased production. Whew that's a lot to explain. New sawyers can slowly put out prime lumber while cutting the mass product to meet bills to build a future. Your present operation took many years and much work to achieve. You've alluded to this stuff in bits. The Spandex channels have larger viewing numbers. Those are casual looky-loos. Your viewers are the serious folk.

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

I will start figuring out how to tell that somewhat lengthy story in a video without boring everyone. I do like the nickname, although Nathan of Out of the Woods has nicknamed me the "Wood Yoda" I like the "Sawmill Professor" better! Thanks of watching and giving great comments!

[@MakerBoyOldBoy]

​@@HobbyHardwoodAlabama Yeah, Professor fits, although Wood Yoda does roll off the tongue. I read my rushed comment and I think I was trying to suggest to wanna be pro sawyers on how to meet bill payments while struggling to begin to produce quality lumber. And how to incrementally advance their business. You were exceptionally successful in this process and have experienced the triumphs and frustrations. No one is more qualified to offer insights on how to create the reputation and success you've earned.

[@delprice3007]

Geez, an outstanding Southern intellectual in his field makin' things go right! Many thanks Robert!!

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

My pleasure!

[@delprice3007]

How much time do you guestimate is needed to keep the mill happy?

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

Good question, not really that much time, mostly it's just a quick thing and these are easier to check when the mill is running correctly, that way when I have a problem, I already know which things should be causing it.

[@jasongriggs1502]

Thanks Robert...Great tip.....gonna get me one of those fancy tools for sure...

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

Thanks!

[@jamescrowley1912]

Well, you make it very difficult, how can I choose between you and Nathan Elliot? I've learned so much about trees and kiln drying from "OTW". Having worked for over 43 years in maintenance as a millwright and then as a supervisor of maintenance in a food manufacturing facility I am drawn to your engineering skills and equipment maintenance; I cannot choose a favorite between the two of you. I've always loved woodworking, building furniture and now in retirement building kitchen cabinets and scrolling sawing fret work as well as cutting images in coins; with all that activity I've managed to watch all of Nathan's videos as well as yours; what great programs keep it up. My only wish is that I lived closer to you so I could take advantage of the beautiful wood you produce. Thank you for the videos, keep them coming.

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

Nathan is a great guy, don't choose one of us, just watch both our videos. I was talking to him just today about the snow and the soup he was eating for dinner. He is as nice in person as he comes across in the video.

[@suemoore1965]

💗💗💗 LIKED WATCHED COMMENTED 💗💗💗 💜💜 SUBSCRIBED TO ALL YOUR VIDEOS 💜💜

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

Thanks!

[@patwright6317]

As usually , you keep raising the bar . Thanks professor

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

Thanks! I like that nickname, I may start using it!

[@MrMrkody100]

Very much appreciate your videos. Understand your cutting patterns to achieve highest quality face boards, headed to edger / planer operations. Show us how you’d cut a stack of 2x6s or 2x8s. Or, 1x10 boards used for board and batten siding. That’s the sort of product most on-site customers request.

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

I will do it in the future, I've had several requests for that.

[@markdavis9384]

I think that’s a good tool

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

Thanks!

[@michaelohalloran7381]

Thanks for removing a bit of the mystery on this process. I’m going to have to look and see if I can approach the drive belt from the top on my LT-40. Currently, I have to remove the panel on the bottom (a pain in the neck literally when I bang into something) and go after it from there. I’m still not completely confident adjusting that barrel nut. Good stuff and thanks again.

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

I had an LT40, and it is very sensitive to main drive belt tension. Also the power feed belt is very twitchy.

[@corybell5830]

Thank you for the well-done explanation. It always helps me remember things when I know the why.

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

I figured I could try to explain why it is so important! Thanks of watching.

[@stevek5988]

Another great teaching moment. Thought I'd see more snow on the ground, unless you taped this a while back. I live 80 miles northwest of you and have 5 inches on the ground.

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

I normally video about a week in advance, so this was done just before the snow. I'm not sure what I'm going to do this week, everything is covered up with white stuff and this southern boy doesn't like to run a mill when it's less than 20F.

[@robwells354]

I recently learned this all the hard way , minus the shaft breakage

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

That doesn't sound good, what happened?

[@austinrehl8545]

Sincere thanks for the instruction. I want our new LT 70 to last!

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

It will, they are good mills. Thanks for watching.

[@GibClark]

👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

Thanks!

[@ronnielloyd4514]

It’s not just turn it on a saw. You best know what you are getting into and how to correct situations.

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

That is a true statement! Well said!

[@gregwaters944]

The old saying, when all else fails read the book.

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

Yes. Or watch my videos!

[@hpw59]

Again.......learned me something new today👍 First time seeing that contraption😊

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

Thanks!

[@erice9536]

Ahhhh, the beauty of my basic manual hobby mill, none of these issues. lol :) Still learned something. Nice setup you have there!

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

Thanks!

[@rexhavoc2982]

I run my LT40 with most covers off. Except the blade guard. every day i run, I blow out all the guts and look for problems. I spray belt conditioner on all belts about every 40 hours, keeps them soft.50HP 8000HR.

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

That is great! The best way to fix a problem is to catch it before it becomes one! You are doing it right, and thanks for commenting.

[@TheMakersMarkTSF]

Thank you for another "much appreciated" maintenance video.

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

Thanks for watching!

[@falfas55bgas]

Door wouldn 't stay open because concrete pad is not level. Just have to tear out the pad and pour it again! Sharpie paint pens are a good thing. I write tire pressures above the tire on equipment cause who can read those darn tires?! I have to take a picture of the sidewall and zoom way in to see what the max pressure should be.

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

I know! I already jackhammered it out, and replaced it with a solid marble floor!! No, I just put a pretty good grade on the concrete to drain water, and the door shows it. It's funny when I get a new piece of equipment and ask the rep when I should grease or tension a belt or stuff like that and I immediately write it on the fresh paint! It's always good for a laugh, but it really helps me out to remember.

[@gregm312]

thank you

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

My pleasure!

[@samadams9557]

I just finished the foundation for my first ever saw mill. Haven’t even stripped the forms yet. Big thank you for taking the time to make these videos. I take great pride in knowing what I’m doing, but I can tell you straight out with this new endeavor, I don’t know jack about milling wood or mills in general. I’m going to be watching all your videos while my concrete is curing. God bless you sir.

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

Thanks!

[@deniscarter6613]

There's too much health and safety and i don't like too many people near me when i'm running machinery and that's what is wrong today Robert

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

I agree. It's like tripping over a safety rope. Safety, like most things, is best taken in moderation.

[@mlongley]

Tahnks for sharing, I had issues with my drive belt tension a few months back and wondered what the right way was to adjust tension.

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

You're welcome!

[@johnaddis1022]

Seems like I had one of those tools many years ago and it sprouted legs and hasn't been seen since, Great information need to get another one. John Toccoa GA

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

They will do that! That's why I have two of them. I lost one for awhile, got a new one, and then found the lost one.

[@chrisgordon9412]

Thank you Robert, do you happen to have a link to the belt tensioner please, I think I need one

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

Just go to the Woodmizer web site, they sell them.

[@melebmotors]

my norwood tells me if you can twist the belt 180 degrees its too loose . which means if you are strong enough your belt is always loose. it has a v belt . i like the tensioner idea then you have a reference point to go from

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

Yes, a slipping belt will steal horsepower and you'll know it's dead on with a tension gauge.

[@gregmorrison3276]

I hope you tube works out for you. I like the information

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

I hope so too. Sometimes I wonder why I'm doing it....

[@Zarealy]

Off topic but have you ever talked about your fancy looking stickers in a video? I haven't watched 100% of your videos but a lot and I don't recall you ever talking about them.

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

No, you are correct, I don't talk about them much, they are "special" and I have several local scum companies who imitate and compete directly against me, otherwise copy me, and would love to know more about these stickers. I'm not that worried about teaching sawmill tricks in videos because generally the head Sawyer is someone's brother in law, or someone who can't walk and chew gum, but they can manufacture stickers like mine and will use them forever. If you want to know more about them, send me an email and I will help you out, assuming you are out of my 200 mile competitive range.

[@Zarealy]

@@HobbyHardwoodAlabama sounds good, thank you.

[@brianbower30]

What if ya got a homemade sawmill

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

Same thing, the drive belt needs to be tight to use all the horsepower of your engine, predictably and smoothly.

[@johnkoehler4834]

Like your sense of humor! 😂

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

Thanks!

[@WoodchuckCanuck]

Great video Robert.

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

Thanks 👍

[@robintaylor-mockingeemill8223]

I learned that the hard way . On my LT50 .

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

That sounds pretty bad, what happened?

[@robintaylor-mockingeemill8223]

I had switched from a LT35 HYD. to my LT50 WIDE GAS had about 20 hours on it and went to do a job . It wouldn't cut flat unless I went slow I had had trouble with blades the past so I was switching blades and was tired and couldn't figure out the issue in the field . It was a waist of a day and very embarrassing for me in front of a customer . I did figure it out towards the end of the day . Only my pride was hurt . The LT 50 was a new learning curve compared to the simple LT 35 .@@HobbyHardwoodAlabama