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HomeMy WebLinkAboutZurich Citizens News, 1976-07-28, Page 5Old sawmill still runs Citizens News, July 28, 1976 -Page 5 Custom sawing .done on Hensall's old Welsh mill Don Reynolds was as "green as the lumber" he was sawing when he first began to use the old sawmill which just happened to be on the land he bought two years ago just outside of Hensall. Now he does all kinds of custom sawing for local farmers, and he knows how to do it right. • The sawmill at one time was located in Hensall and was called Welsh's Mill until a Mr. Vanderweil moved it to its present location in the late 1960's. Mr. Reynolds bought the ,farm from the Vanderweil's in 1974 and thus inherited the old mill. Mr. Reynolds had been in the air force 26 years before retiring in the fall in 1972. He worked on a dairy farm near Toronto for two years and then bought the property he now lives on with his wife Yvonne and 18 year old son Colin. Mr. Reynolds says he bought in this area because his wife was originally from Clinton and they wanted to be close to there. "A friend of mine has a sawmill. at Goodwood, Ontario and he gave me some pointers," says. Mr. Reynolds adding that Mr. Vanderweil had also given him some instructions on operating th'e saw. The sawmill is powered by a Ford truck engine and rotates at 450 rpm's. There are about 42. teeth on the saw itself and they have to be sharpened with a file three times a day if the mill is in use. Changing the teeth is an expensive proposi- tion. Sometimes the saw goes out of whack from heating up or getting stuck on a log and then A LOT OF WORK must be•done before the first plank is cut off a log. Mr. Reynolds operates an old saw mill on his property doing custom cutting for local farmers. The log cut here has already been squared off on three sides to allow an even plank to be cut. photo by McKinley Mr. Reynolds must get someone in to hammer it back into position. "When you tighten spokes on the wheels of a bike to make the wheel true you are using the same principle used to hammer a saw wheel true." However, this too is expensive as it costs $45 to have a saw hammered true. Mr. Reynolds and his son Colin do all the sawing them- selves. The local farmers bring in logs they want cut with bran- ches and knots all trimmed off. The log is then placed on steel "bunks" which look .like anvils located on one side of the mova- ble carriage. Col in checks to make sure there are no knots left on the log. If he finds any it dosen't take him long to get the chainsaw going and remove them. Then he "dogs" the log to hold it firmly in place. This is done by hammering spikes connected to the carriage into the log. Mr. Reynolds sets the saw for size of plank the farmer wants cut, allowing 1/4 inch for the saw cut. For example, if the farmer wants 1" planks the saw is set a I'/a". Next the cutting begins. Three sides of the log are trimmed until they are squared and a plank will run from one end to the other. This is done by running the carriage containing the log past the saw wheel several times un- til there is a continuous square surface, the log being moved to the edge ,of the carriage after every cut is made. Then the dogs are removed and the log is turned to expose another side of the log until three sides have been squared off. When this had been done, the actual plank cutting can begin. "his is the easiest part. As the carriage runs past the saw se- veral times, a 1" plank is cut from the log every time. Mr. Reynolds moves the log over the edge of the carriage after each cut is made and Colin piles the newly - cut planks. From a log 8" in diameter at one end and 5" in diameter at the other end you can get about three 1" by 6" planks. It takes about 10 minu- tes. Mr. Reynolds charges $12 an hour minus sharpening times to run the sawmill. This is split evenly three ways between Mr. Reynolds, Colin -and main- tenance of the mill. In adition, Colin cuts the slabs which are wastedfrom the plank cutting into firewood which he sells for $10 for a Ift. by 4 ft. by 4 ft. single Local farmers get the sawdust to cover bunk silos or to put on gardens. Mr. Reynolds also put in a combination oil and wood furnace to dispose of some of the slabs. "It helps our economy a . lot" In addition to planks Mr. Reynolds and Colin cut boards, squared timbers and just about any size piece of .wood you want. "Old? Yes, the sawmill is pretty old, but I couldn't tell just how old. There's probably some old- timers in Hensall could tell you that, but it still runs." Please Follow Smokey's ABC's! ALWAYS hold matches till cold. BE sure to drown all fires. CAREFUL to crush all smokes SAW TEETH MUST BE FILED 'three times a day If the sawmill is being used steadily. Above Mr. Reynolds demonstrates the tech- nique used to ensure a sharp cutting edge. photo by McKinley OLD SAWMILL STILL RUNS—Mr. Reynolds stands with one hand on the saw wheel' to show its height as his son Colin prepares a log for sawing in the background. The old sawmill still runs and Mr. Reynolds and his son do custom sawing for neighbours in the area. photo by McKinley Visit Our Store FOR A COMPLETE LINE OF Groceries * Confectionery * Novelties Dairy Store MAIN ST - ZURICH PHONE 236-4930 BARBECUE MEAT SPECIALS BLADE OR CROSS RIB BARBECUING BEEF ROAST LB x1.15 SEMI BONELESS SHORT RIB Roasts OR SHOULDER LEAN Ground - f SCHNEIDERS BLUE RIBBON Bologna SCHNEIDERS 9BREADEDPIECES LB. *1.O9 994 894 9.09 '2.991 LB. 5 & 10 LB. SLICED' LB. 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