Old Mclean Steam Saw Mill!

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parrisw

Tree Freak
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British Columbia, Canada
Took a tour of this saw mill the other day, is in the Alberni Vally in British Columbia Canada. It is a old Steam Powered Saw mill, that was last used in 1969 I think. Now today it runs again, cutting timber for a heritage attraction, and they now actually sell lumber from it, I assume the proceeds go to pay to keep it running. Very interesting history here. You can go here to read about it, I think there is even a video of it. http://www.alberniheritage.com/mclean-mill/welcome-mclean-steam-sawmill

And the way we got up there was to take a ride on a old Steam train that was built in 1929, and restored and put into service in 2001. Here. http://www.alberniheritage.com/alberni-pacific-railway/welcome-alberni-pacific-steam-railway

Here are some pics.


Log coming out of the log pond, being winched up into the mill
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Log bunk, and big blades, bottom blade is 50" and top is 54" I think.
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Log being loaded onto the bunk.
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View of Blades.
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Going to first cut.
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Measuring device, not sure on how the scale works.
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In the cut.
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End of the cut.
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Log rotated.
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Adjusting the cut, the lever in his left had, he pumps it which turns some gears, and it acts like a ratchet, and the log gets jacked out.
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Great thread!! I seen a steam powered saw mill in action at a steam engine show this past weekend, the old stuff is neat to see:cheers:
 
Excellent, thanks a bunch for the pics. My aunt & uncle literally just got back from a trip across Vancouver Island to Tofino a week ago, and my uncle insisted they stop to take the tour thru the mill. He didn't take any pics though! :cry: He told me all about it at any rate. I haven't been down that way for 14 years, I think, but I'm definitely stopping in there next time.

I like how it's so quiet compared to an electric mill - you wouldn't be able to hear yourself scream standing ten feet away from an electric headrig.

In many ways I think steam engines are a fair bit more complicated than internal combustion engines, especially when it came to powering mills and other industry. It would've taken some serious engineering to figure out that rat's-nest of belts and pulleys in the basement!
 
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that's pretty damn cool.

thanks for sharing the pics.

looks like a good summer vacation for next summer.
 
Measuring device, not sure on how the scale works.
tells the sawer how much of the log is left to saw
i dont know if this make seance or not but cutting
cants 3.5 in the magice numbers are 3.5 ,7.25,11,
14.75,18.5,and so on and cutting lumber we alwas
left a 3.5 or 1.5 pending on what we was cutting
math skills was al was amust and plan a head to
end up with 1.5 or 3.5. the pic shows me that he
has about 20" left must of been a 24" or 26" log to
start with sorry just had to rabblegrew up around
an old mill and cut a lot of grade and farm lumber
oh btw cool pics
 

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