My opinion on the downfall and future of the saw filer
Yes, I would like to voice my opinion on questions about why being a saw filer lost its edge. (so, to speak) Many is correct that saw filing pay and benefits along with respect has dwindled in the last 20 years or so. I do believe its coming back to be a recognized trade. Although, I have been on every side of sawmilling, I identify as a saw filer. I started my career as a saw filer. However, I worked, managed sawmills most of my younger years, and then built from scratch and owned a sawmill for about 6 years till the middle 1980’s downturn and then went back to independent saw filing. For the past 32 years until 2022 I built and operated a saw production, new and repair business, Smith Sawmill Service. I seen the downturn in being a saw filer in the late 1980’s. To be quick and not draw it out, as for the most, saw filers became lazy and independent. This started happening when the disposable era started. A saw filer used to make his wages sometimes 7-fold for the sawmill. Then came the disposable knives where the work in the filing room was cut in half. Although, the work was cut in half the cost for the sawmill to run disposable knives almost or did double over what was before.(my opinion) Then came the overabundance of saws. Both bands and circle saws were easily purchased. Many saw filers lessen their workload by purchasing more cutting tools instead of getting the full life from them. Today, most have forgot how the downfall of a saw filer became. The saw filer survives, and the profession will regain its stability because of today’s technology in the sawmills. It now takes a full-time filer just to keep up with the saws. Because of faster feed speeds and thinner plate resulting in lower kerf the experience filer again plays a vital role in the bottom profit line of the sawmills. And when the sawmill owners and board members realize there is more profit to increase yield instead of trying to make it on volume the saw filer will again be significant in making profits. Please consider following me on social media and read my saw-filer 101 articles on The Canadian Forest Industry magazine. Thank you.
One of my articles praising the disposable knives can be found in the Canadian Forest Industries magazine March/April of 2023. https://mydigitalpublication.com/article/Saw+Filing+101/4547786/787597/article.html
Saw Filer/Saw doctor
3 个月Can't agree more, I was explaining the other day how important it is to be precise and consistent being a saw doctor. Me learning the trade from my Grandfather who had done it for 40 odd years gave me a good foundation and understanding of how important a saw doctor's roll is in a sawmill. I myself have been doing it for 18 years and can tell you stories oh boy! Well what I have noticed is that due to a lack of knowledge of the how wide bands work, people tend to take the easier route and go for narrow and cheap option = higher blade usage = more downtime = increased mechanical maintenance = more production output needed to cover costs. And the cycle keeps going... What I can also tell you is when that wide bandsaw is done properly it'll outperform anything disposable. Cheers.
Saw Doctor
3 个月Unfortunately I have seen the same regression of the saw doctoring trade here in Australia, after 47 years in the timber industry I have never seen such a lack of knowledge and enthusiasm as there is now in the trade. Managers seem to think that automation is the way forward, yet we still need people to understand how to troubleshoot problems within the mill and in the saw shop. I was often asked, if you have a sawmill without saws, what do you have?
Retired
3 个月Used to be in the filing room we were proud of how long we could keep saws running but of course a lot of things caused it to become all to acceptable to through them away and get new ones
Maintenance Manager, Fleet Manager Carwen LTD
3 个月Great and very well written article. Thank you Paul
Dance Manufacturing Consulting Service
3 个月Good article and assessment