The WPF was an ideal dimensional sawmill for Owen’s small business because of its ease of use by a single operator. With one winch at the operator’s end, Owen is able to adjust the height of the tracks in one movement, giving him more time to ensure he gets the best out of his valuable salvaged timber.
The DWS, a purpose built slabbing unit, gave Owen the ability to cut slabs up to 1.5m wide for custom milling jobs or for his own requirements. Fitted with its own motor, gearbox, bar and chain, and using a 404 ripping chain, the DWS can produce high value slabs, fast!
A 10” circular blade is fixed to the WPF and requires very little maintenance – depending on the type and condition of wood being cut.
With Owen’s remote sawmilling locations, he appreciates the ability to sharpen his blade on-site in less than five minutes, using the sharpener supplied with every Peterson mill purchased. Many milling locations have obstacles Owen has to overcome. Working in hill country required a slight modification to the mills, by way of an extension to the track legs to allow Owen to use them on extremely uneven ground. “The only flat ground in Eungella is on the side of the hills.”
As someone who conducts many of his milling jobs on his own, one of Owen’s favourite features of the Peterson sawmill is it’s ‘wheel barrow-like’ function for loading and unloading. Jockey wheels fit to the frame of the mill’s centre unit which houses the heavy motor, enabling him to maneuver the centre unit to his desired location. The tracks of the mill can be separated into sections and are made of aluminum, making them light enough for him to lift the sections into place.
A recent achievement for Owen, was turning recycled timber from the Broken River Bridge which was built early last Century, into a 14-seater boardroom table which measures 4.65m long and 1.6m wide. His Peterson mill was used to straighten the edges and remove bowing in the timber.
Some of the other equipment Owen uses to compliment his Peterson mills include a range of woodworking equipment and a tractor, chains, wire ropes and “last but not least, my dad.”
With the goal of being self-sufficient and making a comfortable living through running the business that he loves, Owen has built a gallery and displays and sells some of his creations there.
Even with all the hard work, Owen doesn’t see ORB Timbers as a job, “I see it as a favour. I just do my thing and if I can help others along the way, so be it.”
Owen Burns
Eungella, QLD Australia
www.orbtimbers.com.au