SPI Lincoln, California

We took advantage of the "open day" and made a trip to Sierra Pacific Industries in Lincoln, California. We met with my brother Will (who is the Plant's Lead Electrician) and he took us on a tour of the new Planer project. They have recently installed Lucidyne High Speed inline Gradescan. http://www.lucidyne.com/GradeScanHome.aspx The scanner installed was on display at this years Sawmill and Machinery show Andy Funke and I attended this last spring in Portland. The photo posted above is of their new 32 bin sorter. (yes Verle 32 bins) 32 bins sounds like enough but it actually has double unit capacity in all widths sans 12". I doubt if Mark and Jon Howard could come up with enough lam sorts that would lead to rerun bin with the potential of 60 + sorts. No I take that back they probably could. We also toured Mill A (small log mill) and I was able to visit with some former co-workers I have not seen in over 20 years. We ran short on time and did not want to risk any traffic jams and declined to tour Mill B (large log mill - The old Hayfork Sawmill that was dismantled and moved to Lincoln)

The common Planer was running Ponderosa Pine 1x6. Feed speeds were about 950 FPM. The timber planer was running IC pencil stock. If you look closely in the photo in the foreground you can see the pull chain that the timber planer feeds.

A great visit. I wish we would have had more time to also tour the Kilns - 16 double tracks fed by the second boiler. The first boiler is devoted to the Co-Gen plant. My brother detailed some sub-station - transformer work that he is planning to accomidate the local power company. He reminds me alot of Jon W. Although I did not see him leaving work at 4:15 PM to make a gate named after him.

Sports Highlight of the Day led to the Daily Dennerism.

PGA Pro Rocco Mediate was at the airport this morning. He is in town for the US Open at Pebble Beach. Mark approached him to shake his hand. They carried on a short conversation and in closing Mark told Mr. Mediate:

Dennerism: "I hope you do a little bit better this year than you did two years ago at the US Open." http://www.majorschampionships.com/usopen/2008/

Boarding flight to Sydney in about 10 minutes.