Question
It would appear that my eyes are not what they used to be, and I was thinking that I should put a laser on my Lucas mill, something that would show exactly where the saw blade would touch down. Of course being a daylight sawyer, I was wondering if a few of you folks have installed such a item on your saws? I was thinking when I cut wane off the log or have to dodge a knot that it would help a bit.
Forum Responses
(Sawing and Drying Forum)
From contributor R:
I don't think it will work if the log is in bright sunlight. I've tried a 12 volt laser on my sawmill and it just seemed more trouble then it was worth.
What did work is a piece of paper at the end of the log. I routinely cut 20 foot pine logs and needed some way to see where the cut would be at the end of the log. I mounted the laser at the guide roller and used a piece of white paper at the end of the log to show the level. I tried different colored paper, but the white worked the best. The only trouble that I had was the initial setup of the laser at level to the bed. I discovered that the best way was to make a cut and then level the laser to indicate the end of the log cut.
Overall, it was not a very good investment of time. I wish they did make something that would be visible at 20 feet. I hope somebody here has the answer.
I move the saw left-right until the laser hits the middle of one end of the log (with the carriage raised 6" above the log. Then I lock the saw in the carriage and roll it to the other end of the log. Then I move that end of the log until the laser hits the center. I roll the carriage back to the other end of the log to make sure that end of the log didn't move. Now the log is aligned with the rails, and the first cut will take a flitch from the center of the top extending left. This saves lots of time and increases the yield. The laser is only a spot, not a line, so it is visible even in direct sunlight. I just used a regular pointer laser.
