February 28th, 70 Diablo Woodworkers visited a local business, JFC Construction in Pacheco. The DWs were invited by JFC's Sawyer, Bill Riding. Most Saturday mornings Bill can be found running either the 52 hp Bandsaw Mill or hanging onto one of the Husky 3120s that share a 6 foot bar with an Alaskan Chainsaw Mill. Bill's sawing partner Alex keeps the 2nd Husky 3120 pushing the saw chain back to Bill. This Saturday morning we were treated to watch these two Sawyers slab off a near 4 foot wide, 8 foot long, and 4 inch thick plank from a large log. Bill then fired up the bandsaw mill and quickly turned a 24" diameter Monterey Cypress in to 2 inch planks. Before cutting the planks, Bill rotated the log with hydraulic arms to cut off the bark making a 4 sided beam.

Bill Riding toured the group through the large and small stickered lumber piles all under the roof of a large warehouse area. Most of the wood is from the urban forest of the Diablo Valley. Much of the lumber made from local trees goes into JFC Construction jobs and is also available for sale.

After the lumber making demonstration the tour entered a woodworkers dream shop. JFC Construction owner John Connolly and Bill Riding led the group from machine to machine. We watched the 52 inch wide belt sander with it's 8 exhaust ducts sand a near 4 foot wide, 8 foot long and 4 inch thick redwood slab. A 16" spiral head jointer, a planer that surfaces both sides of a board in one pass, a 2 head shaper made tongue and grove redwood siding and large re-saw bandsaw were just a few of the tools we all dream about.

A big thanks to JFC Construction for showing their great shop to the club. Thanks also to Bill Ridings for the lumber making demonstrations. And thanks to Rich Schwerin for the photography.

See photos of JFC Construction shop tour.