Which bandsaw?

[POC]

I'm sure you guys get this question ALL the time, although I didn't see any threads.....

I'm wanting to make some extra money, I have 300 acres of wood to cut from.  I work 3 nights a week, so have extra time to do some work.  I already have a tractor with FEL.

I'm looking for a manual mill, as cheap as possible, without being *cheap*.
I've got info coming from Turner, Hud-Son, Lumbermate and been thinking about contacting "Mr. Sawmill".
Anyone have some first hand experiece with these?

Ask any more questions you need.
Thanks,
Patrick

[HaroldCR]

 I don't particularly care for the Hudson. It has the saw head inside the framework. Would make for tearing up the skin, changing blades, I would think.

[Kirk Allen]

THe LT10 and LT15 from Woodmizer are great starter mills as well.

[POC]

Thank you guys.
Is there any validity to the "cantilever is bad" argument?
I have found a Cook MP-24 that is used, what are you feelings on this mill?
Patrick

[HaroldCR]

 Give me an idea of what you can afford, and, I will make you "SUCH A DEAL".

  My Son and I built an oversized WoodMizer design, to saw 36" wide BOARDS. It's all electric and Hydraulic. It's made from off the shelf parts, and we just re-did the whole machine, replacing anything that might have needed attention. Also, you DO NOT have to push this saw head, it's electric driven. Honda 24 HP engine drives the Blade.

  IF interested, I can send photos to Kirk, to put in this post.

  I was involved with another guy, here in Costa Rica, and we were gearing up to sell Hudson. I went to see the machines, and then, he got a wild hair, and we split. Glad it worked out that way, because I was having second thoughts about the Hudson Mills.

  ONLY reason our mill is not in CR at this time is, Cost of Shipping and Duty taxes.

  Sorry Kirk, if I took over this thread.

[Kirk Allen]

No apology needed, nor do we require a 5% kickback if you sell you mill here

POC, the cantilever design functions VERY WELL!  Woodmizer has sold more mills than any other manufacture and if the design was flawed they would not be the international company they are today. 

The mill Harold has is a great mill and I can say so because I have used it when I was in FL a couple years ago cutting pine. 

[POC]

I know they've sold lots of mills, but that doesn't necessarily mean it is the best mill.
IE: The Ford Explorer is the best selling SUV, but the 4runner and Pathfinder both have better "track records" and are more capable offroad vehicles.
I think Ford just has better marketing.
I think Woodmizer markets better than anyone else.

That said; I don't know much about WM design, just what I read in a competitors literature.....

I can't afford Harolds mill.

Patrick

[HaroldCR]

 If you getcha one-o-them 4 poster jobbies, and break a blade in the cut, or, get part way down the log, and then realize the log gets too big to fit through the posts, you will wish you had a cantilever.

  It's why we built ours, using the WM design, with a few changes.

  After Kirk left Florida, the guy my son was sawing for, decided there was too much fun involved, so, he paid my son for what was sawn, and then, bought himself a mill. 

  I'm not going to be like that Manufacturer you described, but, MY money is on the WM design. Hard to find one used, though, that you can afford. That's why I suggested the LINN option.  I'm thinking about importing their stuff, and building mills down here. 

[Carl Middleton]

I'd like to see a pic of the mill you and your son built Harold

[HaroldCR]

 OK, Carl. I'll send photos to Kirk.

[HaroldCR]

 Check yer email, Carl.  I couldn't find the folder with ALL the photos. I sent you 4. If you want to see more, I will send them to Kirk to put in a new thread.

[Carl Middleton]

Looks good Harold You can cut 36" wide slabs? Where do you get your blades? One more ? what are the white hoses?

[HaroldCR]

 I order Blades from Kennesaw Ga. Munksforsagers. Best blades we ever used.

  Yes, we saw over 40" dia logs, and sold every 36" table slab we ever produced. Could sell a hundred more, IF we still had Sinker Logs. Sold magnolia, Live Oak, and several different slabs, besides the Sinker Cypress.

  White hose has the electric cables running through it, to reduce chafing, and accidentally dropping heavy stuff on the cables. It lays right on the ground, and just travels with the saw head. We DON'T push or pull the head.

  It has electric-Hydraulic clamp, and it is strong enough to lift logs to reposition and help turn them. Hydraulic Loader. Power movable blade guide, one set of roller table goes with it, and, about 40 blades. Some well used some barely used.

  60 Amp Alternator mounted on the engine. Batteries are weak. Needs 2.   Electric up-down saw head.

[HaroldCR]

 Just found the rest of the photos, if anyone is interested. 

[POC]

I'd love to see the pics Harold.

Patrick

[HaroldCR]

Photos sent to Kirk.

[Kirk Allen]

[HaroldCR]

 Thanks to Kirk for posting the photos.  They were taken while I was in Fl. doing the maintenance of replacing anything that was showing signs of failure. We put a gearmotor on the blade guide, New gearmotor on the clamp, cut off hydraulic hose ends and installed new ones, sanded down and primed the metal as we went. That's why some rust still shows in the photos. Needed to reroute some battery cables and wires and hydraulic hoses. Son was supposed to do that after I left. 

  If it wasn't so much to ship it down here, I would never sell it.

  My Son is too busy doing home remodeling for the Elite on the beach, so, the machine just sits. That's not good.

[joasis]

Is that the mill you want to send to Oklahoma? There are some big cedars, but the ones that large would be most likely punky in the middle.

[HaroldCR]

 That's the one. It WILL cut smaller logs, just fine. 

[POC]

Harold,
Are all the 4 post mills going to have the problem with the blade, or just the ones where the blade runs inside the 4 posts?

[HaroldCR]

 It may not be a problem for some folks. I just don't like to have to fight with a band blade. Them are some sharp.

  Notice how our saw head is unobstructed   Now, look at the Hudsons. Which would you rather work with

  If you have never been up close and personal with a band mill, please do, before you put your money down.  It's very easy to be impressed by shiny paint and see a board sawn. It's a whole nother matter, once you get it home and try to actually do things yourself.

  I never had the chance to see a mill or work with one. We just HAD to have something to saw larger dia. logs, and, could not afford to go looking. Just took a magazine photo and started scaling one out, from that photo. We had some pretty high dollar logs to saw.

  This is why I recommended you look at a Linn kit. If you can weld, I believe that is a very nice machine.

[HaroldCR]

 IF anyone might be interested in this mill, speak up. I'm working on a POSSIBLE deal, to get it shipped down here. I'M not afraid of using it. ALL parts can be bought locally, no matter where you live.

 Let me know. It's equivalent to an LT40Hydraulic mill, at ¼ the price.

[joasis]

I am sorely tempted.....but, I need to do a few other things first, like finish my wife's new home.

[HaroldCR]

 This mill can be had for just a little more than your average LT15, or other manual mills.  See that Big Live Oak that's being sawn   The loader was tipping the mill over, trying to load that beast. We had to "HEP" it, with a 25HP Ford Tractor, using the 3point hitch, to help stabilize the log.

  By the way, the Blades cost $21.00 I THINK. A box of 5 is $101.00 shipped to Fl. from N Ga, last time I ordered. UPS has raised the rates, since then.

[Kirk Allen]

[HaroldCR]

 Kirk added a photo showing the size difference between an LT40 WoodMizer, and our mill. Ours is the Green one.

[HaroldCR]

 Really need to sell this mill. Anyone
 I will post it in the For Sale Board.

[Mr Mom]

Only if i had the money.

Thanks Alot Mr Mom

[POC]

I've almost decided to go with the Wood Mizer LT15.  They are based out of Indianapolis, which is only 2 hrs from me.  And they have financing. 
Do you have financing Harold?   

[HaroldCR]

 With some down, anything is possible. 

[POC]

What about support?  You gonna fly up from CR to Indiana and fix this thing?
I really would (probably) buy it, if I could get it for the same as the new LT15.

[HaroldCR]

 What kind of vehicles do you own 

[POC]

We're actually selling our 2005 Ford Freestyle, I'll trade ya for it!
or a 99 Ford F-150 2x4.

[HaroldCR]

 You don't even HAVE vehicles. You got Fords. 

  What makes you even mention, that, for the price of a manual mill, you would "Probably" buy mine  

  I will just wait until you make your first post about BIG-Heavy-sore back- wish I had a hydraulic mill, then I will remind you of your token offer. 

  You act like you might saw for others. That'll get old, real quick.

  You actually think WoodMizer is going to send someone out to repair that LT15   If YOU can't do repairs, you don't need a mill. 

  Don't want to ruffle Kirk's feathers, but, you made the offer. 

[Kirk Allen]

Doesnt ruffle my feathers, I drive a Chevy! 

[POC]

I had a Sonoma and Blazer for sale, just sold the pair last week Harold.
I am quite capable of fixing about anything from tractors to computers. I didn't Wood Mizer would send someone to fix the mill, I was just making a joke.
I just stuck the "probably" in there so you wouldn't think it was definate.  As I told you, I don't have the money you want, but if I could get it for about $6K, I would think seriously about it.  I don't know you from Adam, so I don't know if I did buy it and had some problems that I could find you to ask you questions.  With a new mill at least I know how to contact someone to get some kind of answer.
I know your mill is bigger and better than what I'm looking at, but I'm good at making due with what I got, even if it is a little more work.
And who knows, maybe I will make some money, decide I need a bigger mill and will buy yours.  Right now, for the price it just isn't feasible.

[POC]

Got back from the National Farm Machinery Show in Louisville yesterday. It was my first chance to see the LT15 up close.  The whole show was inside, so they couldn't demonstrate, but I was able to turn some cranks and pull some levers.
Baker was also there, they only had one HUGE mill, I'm not sure what model it was, but it was a big one.
And along the way I ran into the Kasco mill.  I didn't even think about them being there with a mill, but they were.  It was a really nice little unit.  I don't remember the model #'s, but it was the $10K one.  It had electric head up/down and forward/rev.  I didn't really like the "oblong" log dogs.  I much more like something with a spike or sticker on it. The guy there was very nice and knowledgable.  But after comparing it to the LT28 at the Wood Mizer booth, it just looked little.  I think they only had 1 section of track, and the LT28 is up on wheels, maybe that is the difference.
Anyone here have a Kasco mill?
Kasco and Wood Mizer invited me to come to their places and cut some wood.  They said to call a day before or so to make sure they had logs and I could come and run some mills.

I've had one fellow mention that he'd like some cedar cut from his place to line the ceiling of a new building he is putting up.  I figured about 2200 sq ft.  (36'x60' with a 2/12 ceiling).  I've also talked to him about buying the lumber from me for the construction of the building and the new house he is building.  Not sure I've got him sold on that yet.
What do you guys think about this:  I'm thinking about checking out the plans for this house and building, seeing what kind of lumber list he is expecting to need, then guarantee him that I will beat the local lumber yards on the price of lumber.  IF the total amount of money will pay for this mill, and get my kiln well on the way.  I don't think I'd go like half of the lumber yard prices, but the same or a little cheaper.  Even if I sell to him at what would normally be thought of  as "loss", but I get the mill paid for in the first job.  I think that would be a trade-off well worth it.
Then again, I've only built one house, and I don't remember how much I spent on lumber.  So maybe $7K in lumber is way over pricing!  Depends on the size of the house I suppose.
Thoughts?
Patrick

[Kirk Allen]

Its very difficult to beat lumber yard prices, especially with a small manual mill.

[POC]

I wouldn't consistently try to beat their prices.  I mean just on this one job, if it is going to be enough to pay for the mill.
I know I would be "losing" money, technically.

[Kirk Allen]

Other issues that may come into play is the local building codes and whether or not they require construction lumber to be grade stamped.  If they do that creates another issue. 

Do you have enough pine to cut out a house?  If your thinking of using hardwood be prepared for the contractors to get real upset after a day of trying to nail stuff together, depending on the hardwood used. 

If you have the pine to do and it would basically pay for your mill then I would say its a no brainer!

[POC]

We dont' have building codes.
I don't have pine, I was thinking of using Poplar.
I do have some pine, just not exactly sure how much.  I'll have to go cruise.

[mike p]

i got a kascosaw 2B it has 1/2" thick 4"x4" angle for a tough frame track
if you dont have a machine to lift logs up to mill bed then the kasco style is easy loading with the hand crank or i sometimes use the pu & chain to rool em up

[POC]

Well, I've just about decided on the LT-28, what with that deal they have now and everything.
$11,230 with the 25hp Kohler.

[I realize I said "I just about decided...LT-15..." a few posts up.]

[Kirk Allen]

I think you will be much happier with the bigger mill.  I think you can even get a hydraulic log loader option on that one for a reasonable price.   Try to BEG them to throw that in with the purchase. Never know what they might do!

I picked up the wood pellet stove for 70% below the normal price just by asking!