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WINTER
2001Newsletter #56
President’s Message
2000 Annual Meeting Review
Thanks and appreciation to Jeff Lisk for running a superb meeting in Norwich NY this past September.
We usually review the highlights of the meeting for those who couldn’t attend, but as a plug for all our meetings, you need to realize that there is no way to record or report all the technical and business information that happens at an annual meeting.
We started out with a very busy tour on Friday afternoon. We visited Unilam’s Wood Laminating plant in Unadilla NY where we saw how very large beams are laid up, glued and trimmed to size. Some of the beams were over sixty feet long and had about 10 feet of curve. We then proceeded to the New Berlin Coastal Lumber sawmill. We were impressed by their ability to quickly and efficiently saw small logs on their Scragg mill on one side of the mill, and high-grade large logs with the double cut band on the other side of the mill.
After a hearty and delicious dinner, we were entertained and informed about trends in the industry by Eric Johnson, Editor of the Northern Logger and Timber Processor magazine.
On Saturday, Jackie Lisk led a spouse tour in scenic, historic Cooperstown. They toured the James Fenimore Cooper Art Museum which houses a number of fine examples of period furniture and art works of the 18th and 19th century. Flycreek Cidermill was next on the agenda, where a working cider press was on view. Not to let the rain dampen their spirits, the women enjoyed a tasty lunch under cover at the snack bar and some fun shopping in the gift store.
At the technical meeting, much information was shared. John Moynihan of the New York State Department of Labor, Division of Safety and Health told us about NY State’s voluntary confidential safety inspection programs, which can save mills thousands of dollars in fines. OSHA is definitely the 800-pound gorilla on the block, and NY’s program is geared towards making mills compliant with OSHA while avoiding penalties. A couple of points John stressed were that mills should have regular safety meetings and a safety committee. Logging has replaced coal mining as THE most dangerous occupation. NY’s programs are free and can be limited to certain areas, but the host mill must also agree to fix safety problems that the state inspectors find.
Vic Berge of New England Machinery in Maine shared more information with us about mill repair and maintenance. One very helpful tip he shared is that band wheels should be picked up from multiple points, preferably with a forklift, not a block and tackle. Properly installed bearings can last up to twelve years; improperly installed bearings can self-destruct in a week! Vic finds many old cast wheels are badly out of balance. He also shared some tricks about how to get tight fits of bearings on shafts – the bearing can be heated by placing it in a hot oil bath or shaft can be frozen to shrink it slightly. Bearings should be greased after placing on a shaft. Hardwood sawdust can be corrosive and eat away at a shaft. When installing new cams on a grinder, Vic suggests letting the cams be in place for several hours before use to let the plastic settle in. Concrete mill foundations are more solid and absorb sound and vibration better than steel foundations. Variable pitch saws require very accurate benching. Vic is a gold mine of information and I recommend coming to a meeting to pick his brain.
Alex Manzo of Eureka Saws talked about new technologies including misting systems, which make a blade run cooler by keeping the blade clean and the cutting edge smoother, and air-hole systems for creating a cooling airflow. Also discussed was a new type of nickel-boron coating for wear resistance and blade lubrication.
Larry Herron of Dale Carnegie had some ideas to share on creating motivation in employees. He suggested that managers like to be in control as problem solvers, but it is more long lasting to let people find their own solutions while managers monitor the process.
Mike Cloutier of CUT Technologies explained how the variability of vari-pitch doesn’t need to be large. One mill reported using a 1-7/8" to 2-1/4" pitch range. Mike described vari-pitch advantages in cutting frozen woods, and how it uses less power. He also recommended using an odd number of teeth in edger saws.
Last but not least, we had a lively election, with several willing candidates for the directors’ slots. Dinner on Saturday evening gave everyone a chance to unwind and share the day’s information.
We had a very good meeting, and topping it will be hard work. Hope to see you at the 2001 meeting.
-Ken Kasprzyk, President
If you like to make your travel plans well in advance, be sure to save the dates of September 14 – 16, 2001 for the next Annual Meeting.
Spouse tours and group tours are on the drawing board, so we hope you’ll join us in Niagara Falls, NY in September.
THE LOGGER’S CONTRIBUTION TO SOCIETY By Lynne C. Ebel, CF, ACF
We will return to one of our more spectacular meeting sites – Niagara Falls.
Group activities are in the works to see the Eighth Wonder of the World, so plan on bringing the family.
The meeting agenda will also include:
A logger is a lot like that... no one really likes to see the trees fall to the saw, or the mud scars made on the earth, but the end result is the wise use of the natural resource, and a vital, healthy, growing stand of trees.
Trees are not only desirable but also unique, in that they are renewable and recyclable. A recent article stated that second to the food we eat, trees are the most important things in our life.
The logger stands in the gap between the tree and the houses we live in, the furniture we sit on, and all that paper. Just think about paper for a minute; books, paper towels, computers, boxes, grocery bags, letters, masking tape, wrapping paper, photos, money and on and on...
Look around you, I'll bet you could find 100 items just looking around the average home. Don't forget the less obvious cholesterol- reducing margarine, diet bread, glue, pharmaceuticals, sausage casing, soap, solder flux, fireworks, chewing gum, perfume, maple syrup, crayons, insecticides, distillates, dye, tea, nuts, ceramic enamels,
polish, flavoring extracts, varnish, rayon, cellophane, sponges and the print on this page and the paper it's printed on. This is just the tip of the iceberg.
And we are GROWING these raw materials, like any other crop. Isn’t that amazing?
I have sometimes challenged a hostile group of so-called conservationists (most are actually preservationists) with the introductory query of "How many people here use toilet paper?" I have never seen ANYONE who was NOT a wood consumer; so I tell the Sierra Club to wise up, and put their effort into growing more trees, which is more profitable for society.
We are still growing more timber than we are consuming; we can do even better. The foresters help you grow more and better timber, and the logger is another cog in the wheel that brings the finished product to you for your use and enjoyment.
I recently reasoned with a landowner contemplating taking an old white oak in the beginning processes of decaying. He wanted to know how long it would last. I said that as a tree, a couple of decades, then it would fall to the ground and decay, or as a beautiful table, another couple of centuries.
The logger stands in the gap. They are the destructive beginnings to a beautiful end. Without loggers, we would cease to enjoy our standard of living. Perhaps we all should come to the conclusion that we cannot live without harvesting trees, any more than we could live without food and water.
My bumper sticker says, "For a Forester, Everyday is Earth Day". I need one along side it that states, "Have you Hugged a Logger Today?"
This course is being offered through LEOSFA in conjunction with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.
See the Spring Newsletter for location and registration information. Upcoming Newsletters for 2001
We welcome your contributions of articles and information for this newsletter. The preferred way to receive this information is on disk or through email.
Please send via email to Paula Peters at
Or via snail mail to: The deadline for the next issue is
Paula Peters
403 Hook Place
Ithaca NY 14850.
April 3, 2001.
Director’s Meeting Minutes
A Director’s Meeting was held on November 13, at Seneca Saw Works.
Attendees were Ken Kasprzyk, Bruce Moore, Casey Creamer, Jeff Lisk, Bill Whyland, Rudy Zimmerman, and Tim Rauber.
A review of the 2000 Annual Meeting took place, and plans were discussed for the 2001 meeting.
Other discussions included possible courses to be offered in 2001, and new business
Filing Room Maintenance Workshop:
The course fee will be $100.00 for members and $115.00 for non-members (includes membership). If you have any questions or comments please call Jeff Lisk at 607-859-2599 evenings, 607-847-9859 days or E-mail
On Saturday March 10, 2001 The L.E.O.S.F.A will be having a Filing Room Maintenance workshop. Whether you’re just starting out or have years of experience this is a course you won’t want to miss. The workshop will be held at Cummings Lumber Company in Troy, PA. We will begin at 8:00am and go through the day; breaks and lunch will be provided. The course will cover all aspects of maintenance and alignment for Armstrong and Hantchett grinders, Simonds Auto leveler, Plasma tip hardener, and Armstrong stretcher roll, and bench. The course instructor will be Vic Berge of New England Machinery and spaces will be limited to 10 people, first come first serve so please register early. (Registration form in this newsletter)