Percy's new edge: this Terrace-based sawyer enjoys a major boost in productivity thanks to a new Twin-Blade edger/sawmill combo

Canadian Forest Industries, Nov/Dec 2003 by Nichols, Nikki

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Percy Gavronsky has a brand-new rhythm. The Terrace, BC, resident is enjoying a new upbeat production pace, thanks to his edger/mill combination. Since adding the edger to his sawmilling operation two years ago, he says his production rate has dramatically increased over running the portable sawmill solo.

"You can edge lumber accurately on the sawmill, but you won't get the production you'll get with the edger. It increased my production by 25%."

His new Wood-Mizer Twin-Blade edger uses one moveable blade, and one fixed blade to edge both sides of the board in one pass. It can also edge boards between three and 15-inches wide. A manual dial allows the sawyer to accurately choose the size of the lumber being targeted.

Better Log Supply

Percy says having the edger around has not only expanded his production - It has also increased his potential fibre supply.

"I used to dislike small logs, but now that I've got the edger, I actually like smaller logs because I can whip through them."

Percy recalls one time when he and a friend sawed and edged 1 500 bdft of smaller-diameter pine in just four hours.

"We got there at 8 a.m. and left at noon. Neither of us broke into a sweat."

Still, he doesn't always have an extra set of hands around to help. While the edger is designed for two people, it can be operated by one person, as Percy can attest.

"One day, I was cutting spruce into 16-foot 2[Symbol Not Transcribed] [times]10s. The edger was perpendicular to the sawmill on the sawdust side. I would take a flitch, lift the head up and go back, and before I started my next cut, I would take the flitch and spin it 90 degrees. In four hours by myself I made 2 500 bdft."

Wise Career Change

There are many reasons why Percy says the edger was a wise purchase. He says the accuracy of the width is just as good as dimensional planed lumber, something for which he credits the edger's rollers.

"The four rollers are so accurate. The board may curve to the left or right, but for people who want to build walls out of rough-cut lumber, the increased accuracy makes the lumber worth more."

Percy, who fell upon hard times due to the downturn in the local logging industry, says Wood-Mizer helped pull him out of the hole. When the hardest times struck in 1995, he decided to explore his fascination with portable sawmills. He ended up buying a Wood-Mizer LT40 Hydraulic.

"Wood-Mizer seemed to be the most promising in the sense of service. They seemed like a good dealer, and basically they're really good at what they do, which shows in the mills. The LT40's been a great mill and cuts like crazy."

Percy just ordered a larger Wood-Mizer LT70 with remote operator station. He's excited about the higher production levels that lie ahead.

"Instead of being tied to the control panel with the head, you can increase productivity by doing manual tasks while cutting the next board."

Percy's also excited that in a region of the world where pressure from environmentalists is intense, the Wood-Mizer seems to create some common ground.

"With a portable sawmill, you're much more efficient. In terms of utilization of a log, the lumber recovery rate is 75-80% on a portable bandmill. There's no way those big mills can do it. They're dinosaurs, in my opinion."

He adds, "I think there's a big future in the smaller mills."

Percy is now well established in his business, PMG Trucking and Sawmilling. He still runs a logging truck, but says sawmilling accounts for about 70% of his income.

And he expects his business to continue being prosperous, so long as he's running his stalwart sawmill-edger combo.

"Anyone who has a bandmill and doesn't have an edger is really missing out."

Nikki Nichols is a media specialist with Wood-Mizer Products Inc.