Hired by the Guyana Forest Commission to evaluate, and train their
Saw Doctors so that they could improve their saw doctoring skills was completed
over 3 trips.The purpose of doing 3
visits was to view the various sawmills, develop a training plan, to conduct both
practical and theory training and do one on one training at the some of the various
mill sites to reinforce the skills presented earlier.
On site practical training
Log / Cant Gang Circular Head Saw Portable Band Saw
During the first trip we viewed 35 sawmills in 3 counties and over
all there is very little difference between sawmills.All of the mills use pretty much the same
type of saws, tooth profile, gullet depth, tooth shape, and hook angles, the
only real difference is in the skill levels.
Believe when I
say all of the Circular Head saw mills are being powered by a line shaft
running the full length of the mill and has been my first opportunity to see
such a mill.
There is very little secondary equipment being utilized some of
the mills have a board edger or a table saw being used as an edger and the;
least common was a mill having a band resaw.
I had the privilege of visiting the only Shingle Mill in Guyana.This was one of the better equipped sawmill
using Armstrong equipment, using satellite on their shingle saws using the Armstrong
saw tipper and as well as two different Wide Band Saw Mills, using Swaged and
Shaped saws and keep in mind a Wide Band Saw in Guyana is a saw which is 4
inches or wider.All of the other mills
where using spring set band saws and gang saws.
There are approximately 101 different spices of hardwood being
utilized in the Forestry sector and quit amazed as to the degree of the
densities from one spies to the next.One spices is a low of 410 kg/m3 to the highest being 1100 kg/m3.I have inserted a partial list of the most
common spices that are being manufactured with some of the end uses.
The one species that surprised me the most was Greenheart.The first mill we visited I could have sworn
that they where cutting Red Cedar and not Greenheart.I then went to another sawmill also cutting
Greenheart which didn’t smelling any thing like Red Cedar or any other spices I
am use to.I noticed not only the odor
was different but the color and texture was also different, as I found out
later that these differences occurred changed depending where Greenheart was
growing.In the dryer areas the wood was
very light in color, but when it came from a swampy area, the wood was quite
dark.
If you have any questions do not hesitate to call or email me at saw-doc@shaw.ca
and I will gladly answer your questions.If you are interested in using my service please call me
at-1-250-720-SAWS (7297) and we can discuss the various training requirements
you may need.
