Sawmill Operation
Blade Height Scale
4
4-15
30S97doc041910
Sawmill Operation
The Quarter Scale
See Table 4-1.
Two quarter scales are provided with four sets of marks. Each set repre-
sents a specific lumber thickness. Saw kerf and shrinkage allowance are included, but
actual board thickness will vary slightly depending on blade thickness and tooth set.
To choose which scale to use, determine what finished thickness you want to end up with.
The Grade Hardwood Quarter Scale provides thicker finished boards usually required by
commercial buyers. The Standard Quarter Scale allows for kerf and shrinkage of finished
boards suitable for most custom applications. Always check with your customer before
you saw to determine what actual finished thickness is required.
To use the quarter scale, look at the blade height indicator.
Line up the horizontal line on the indicator with the nearest mark on the scale you want to
use. Make a trim cut. When you return the carriage for a second cut, lower the carriage to
the next mark on the scale. This mark shows where the blade should be positioned to cut
a certain thickness of lumber, without having to measure on the inch scale.
Example:
You want to cut 1" (25 mm) (4/4) random width boards from a log. Position the
blade for the first cut. Adjust the quarter scale so a 4/4 mark is aligned with the line on the
indicator. Make a trim cut. Return the carriage for the second cut. Now, instead of having
to measure down 1 1/8" (29 mm) on the inch scale, you can simply lower the blade so the
indicator is aligned with the next 4/4 mark on the quarter scale. Turn the log 90 degrees
and repeat.
Standard Quarter Scale
Grade Hardwood Quarter Scale
Scale
Actual Board Thickness
Scale
Actual Board Thickness
4/4
1" (25 mm)
4/4
1 1/8" (29 mm)
5/4
1 1/4" (32 mm)
5/4
1 3/8" (35 mm)
6/4
1 1/2" (38 mm)
6/4
1 5/8" (41 mm)
8/4
2" (51 mm)
8/4
2 1/8" (54 mm)
TABLE 4-1
