circle saw

[chubz]

I am new to the forum and circle saws. I've learned the hard way not to take someones word for it. payed 1000 for a saw blade just spent 500 getting it fixed. But my question is how tight does the log dog have to hold the log to the carriage? My partner likes to try and split the log and even then he goes a little tighter if he can.

 

[little possum]

I helped run one the other weekend, and I prefered the "log-dogs" to be plenty tight. I think I was overly cautious, being that it was my first time working around a mill. The owner didnt seem to lock his end down quite as tight as I did. So truthfully I cant really help with your answer

But be safe out there.

 

[chubz]

Ive been watching several videos on youtube and it does look like they hardly clam them down my reason for concern is someone has to get on top of the carriage and release the dog every time we turn the log and it taking up a lot of time. I wouldnt clamp it so tight if someone could guarantee it was ok

 

[Brmorgan]

Something to consider is that the first cut is the most important one and needs to be dogged in a lot more solid than any subsequent cut. This is especially true on a carriage/circular mill, because once you put the flat side down after the first cut, it isn't going to want to roll at all so all you need to worry about is keeping it horizontally straight and secure on the carriage. It's still quite true on a bandmill since the flat side up against the vertical log supports will still provide a lot of stability - even still after the second cut you're golden anyway. Also, it might sound counter-intuitive but sometimes a smaller log needs a lot more securing than a much bigger one.