Sawmill and Timber

Sawmills and Sawing => Bandsaw Mills => Topic started by: A.O. on December 21, 2017, 08:40:02 AM

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Title: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: A.O. on December 21, 2017, 08:40:02 AM
I'm looking for a small band sawmill, new or used in great shape. seems like there's 289,478,638 of them on the market and for someone with no experience its a bit daunting! I own and live on 100 acres in South Carolina that at some time in the past was planted with loblolly pines. The majority of them are maybe 6-8' DBH. but I also have lots in the 16-20" range. So I'm thinking there be lumber in them woods!

So I'm thinking a small manual mill and am hoping to spend around $2500-3000. Been looking at the Hudson Sawyer and the Woodland mills HM122 and HM126 (which is way at the top of the budget!) I can get the Sawyer for $2195 delivered, the HM122 is closer to $2500, and the HM126 gets up to about $3400 with shipping! Also I can get the HM122, with a pack of 5 extra blades and a 6'bed extension delivered for about $2900. There is also the Frontier OS27 but its at $3195 + shipping so I don't think I can get there.

I also have a line on a Timbery M100 used with the upgraded 9hp engine at $3000 which seems high but its also asking price.

I do have a Small Kubota tractor with which to move and load logs if they are not to big, put it to the test a couple days ago

(http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh136/hunt4570/South%20Carolina/NEW%20FIELDS/IMG_3183_zpsueacvurr.jpg) (http://s255.photobucket.com/user/hunt4570/media/South%20Carolina/NEW%20FIELDS/IMG_3183_zpsueacvurr.jpg.html)

Practiced getting logs

(http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh136/hunt4570/South%20Carolina/NEW%20FIELDS/IMG_3181_zpsanst94dh.jpg) (http://s255.photobucket.com/user/hunt4570/media/South%20Carolina/NEW%20FIELDS/IMG_3181_zpsanst94dh.jpg.html)

(http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh136/hunt4570/South%20Carolina/NEW%20FIELDS/IMG_3185_zpspmhghznz.jpg) (http://s255.photobucket.com/user/hunt4570/media/South%20Carolina/NEW%20FIELDS/IMG_3185_zpspmhghznz.jpg.html)

And a place to rest!

(http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh136/hunt4570/South%20Carolina/NEW%20FIELDS/IMG_3184_zpsxhgq0oab.jpg) (http://s255.photobucket.com/user/hunt4570/media/South%20Carolina/NEW%20FIELDS/IMG_3184_zpsxhgq0oab.jpg.html)

So any suggestions on small mills? Things to look out for?


Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: Ox on December 21, 2017, 09:37:09 AM
I know one thing - the one single thing every sawmill owner seems to always want is more power.  I would suggest getting the largest engine available in your budget.

For what it's worth I guess the Woodland mills are getting pretty good reviews.  Owners seem happy with the value for money and the customer care after the sale appears to be good from what I've read.

Hudson mills seem to be kind of bottom line mills but people who own them seem to like them.  I think you'll see this being the majority - most people like the mill they own but wish there was at least one thing different about them.

As for me, I built my mill from scratch following blueprints/plans from Linn Lumber for their model 1900 with wide throat.  I can saw just under 36" wide if needed with a 13 hp Predator engine.  This engine does it pretty good but I would like more, as always.  More power means faster and straighter cuts because you want the blade speed to stay the same.  Smaller engines can't keep the blade at the same speed without lugging which might cause your blade to wander some.  Plus with these smaller engines you'll need to go slower in the cut which is more like the blade scraping the wood instead of actually taking a small curl from the wood (like a hand plane).  The latter is how it's supposed to work.  It'll make the blade actually last longer if you can feed it properly.

I would look for the strongest frame and biggest engine and fastest/easiest to use clamps and backstops.  I would also not want my mill sitting on the ground.  You have a loader for loading logs, pick that mill frame up to around your waist height or so.  Then you won't be bent over all the time.

These very few suggestions will get you started.  Hopefully others will pitch in with what they would look for in a mill.

If you have a chance to buy a used EZ Boardwalk mill I have good information from a sawmill guru and others that they're basically the best with strength, easy to use, design concepts and value for money.  It's what I would buy if I had to do it all over again.

Keep us posted what you do!  We enjoy living the experience over again and others new to the sawmill world will read your story and learn from what you're doing.  And don't forget pics.  Pics rock in the forum world...
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: A.O. on December 21, 2017, 12:45:54 PM
Thanks Ox, some good pointers there..

And I posted pictures!! Do they not show up?
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: drobertson on December 21, 2017, 06:12:52 PM
A. O,  yoo aye!  I've been wondering just where down there you are?  My brother has recently or rather in process of establishing a homestead in Kershaw county, just outside Camden,  anyway, if it were me, and I'm really leaning to another mill since selling my 40 super,  I would really give them all a look, and to be more specific, what engines come with each.. in that price range, they will all be close to the same, and the ones you mentioned as others have are in the hat,  I did not hear or I missed, the EZ boardwalk, they are solid, the others too, each one has their own bonus points,  I've pushed all but the Woodlands mill by hand, and Timbery and Norwood are close cousins, they roll good, Wmz, they do as well, I just have some reservations as to their current bigger industrial growth as it might pertain to personal attention when problems occur,, I'm thinking the EZ's would fit the bill bout as good as any, if not better,, I've seen them saw, I like them, and I would not necessarily call them babies, just manuals,,
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: Ox on December 21, 2017, 06:25:34 PM
A.O. - Yes, your pictures showed up.  I was just giving a friendly suggestion to keep us posted, with pictures, of your future endeavors is all... lol
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: A.O. on December 21, 2017, 06:56:57 PM
A. O,  yoo aye!  I've been wondering just where down there you are?  My brother has recently or rather in process of establishing a homestead in Kershaw county, just outside Camden,  anyway, if it were me, and I'm really leaning to another mill since selling my 40 super,  I would really give them all a look, and to be more specific, what engines come with each.. in that price range, they will all be close to the same, and the ones you mentioned as others have are in the hat,  I did not hear or I missed, the EZ boardwalk, they are solid, the others too, each one has their own bonus points,  I've pushed all but the Woodlands mill by hand, and Timbery and Norwood are close cousins, they roll good, Wmz, they do as well, I just have some reservations as to their current bigger industrial growth as it might pertain to personal attention when problems occur,, I'm thinking the EZ's would fit the bill bout as good as any, if not better,, I've seen them saw, I like them, and I would not necessarily call them babies, just manuals,,

KERSHAW COUNTY?? Just outside Camden?? My neighborhood for sure, I am the last property in northern Kershaw county on my road, about 20 minutes north of Camden.

Yeah, looking at all I can find in my price range..
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: HaroldCR - AKA Fla.-Deadheader on December 21, 2017, 07:44:55 PM
Please don't buy a Hudson.

 I just lost a nearly full page reply explaining why and what I would suggest. Maybe by tomorrow I will be calmed down enough to rewrite the reply.

 Boy am I pissed !!!!!!!!!!!
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: Cutting Edge Saw Svc. on December 21, 2017, 08:28:14 PM

There is also the Frontier OS27 but its at $3195 + shipping so I don't think I can get there.




I'd wait until you can get there.  If an EZ Boardwalk Jr. is out of your price range, IMO, the Frontier would be your best choice of the ones listed.

Why? The Frontier has roller guides, plain and simple. 

The others listed all either use steel blocks or ceramic pads, which provide NO support for the blade in the cut.  In fact, those guide systems are detrimental to blade life due to abrasion, heat, etc.  Not to mention the problems of wavy cuts and poor quality lumber.  Might be fine for resaws, but ain't worth a plug nickel and have no place on a band headrig with ever-changing cut widths, varying feed rates and relatively low HP.

Trying to save a few dollars now will only cost you more in the long run in several aspects.  Frustration and time probably being at the top of the list. 

Best of luck with your search

Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: drobertson on December 21, 2017, 08:42:40 PM
AO, looks like you have some meat to chew on for sure,, back to the Kershaw, county, brother steve is a few miles east off 601, north of camden bout 6 miles or so,  anyway good luck in your search,,take some time and choose wisely, like mentioned, time and frustrations cost more than you might think,,them pines aren't going anywhere soon all around you,,
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: mountainlake on December 22, 2017, 05:44:32 AM

  I'm no fan of the sandwich type guide either, or the  roller bearing guide that use just small roller bearings that turn to fast. I like the guides on my TK mill which are 3" flanged guide that turn slower and don't bend the blade as much when applying down pressure as 2" guide wheel do.  If I was building a mill and didn't want to spend a lot of money on guides I would try using 2 6208 bearings ( a little over 3" od) to apply down pressure and at least a 2" bearing behind the blade to keep it from going back too far.  That back bearing should be adjusted at least 1/4" behind the blade to keep blades from breaking to soon, most times when cutting the blade wont even hit the back bearing until dull , then its time to change the blade.  It's a nice balmy -7 f here right now and I have a saw job, but it should be +8 by 9 am Steve
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: HaroldCR - AKA Fla.-Deadheader on December 22, 2017, 07:24:11 AM
Yes, definitely roller guides. I used Cooks Guides on 2 different machines.  Bearings are easy to change and over greasing to not allow water to ingress from blade lube makes for longer life.

 I don't favor 4 post mills because of access to log during blade break, crumpling. I like Linn Lumber and WoodMizer open design. Maybe other brands I'm not familiar with. Linn lumber uses off the shelf parts, easy to get when needed, locally. For a complete new sawyer, that's the way I would go. You don't necessarily need factory assistance unless you have electronics. There are many qualified with experience right on here if you have a problem. Get a local welder, unless you are one, to build the angle iron track. No shipping involved and get that sucker up off the ground. Make it thigh high with good solid supports. Buy your own engine new or used to get started and bolt it to the head and off you go.

 If you can find a sawyer, surely, in your area, I would advise a visit for a day.
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: A.O. on December 22, 2017, 08:14:15 AM

I'd wait until you can get there.  If an EZ Boardwalk Jr. is out of your price range, IMO, the Frontier would be your best choice of the ones listed.

Why? The Frontier has roller guides, plain and simple. 

The others listed all either use steel blocks or ceramic pads, which provide NO support for the blade in the cut.  In fact, those guide systems are detrimental to blade life due to abrasion, heat, etc.  Not to mention the problems of wavy cuts and poor quality lumber.  Might be fine for resaws, but ain't worth a plug nickel and have no place on a band headrig with ever-changing cut widths, varying feed rates and relatively low HP.

Trying to save a few dollars now will only cost you more in the long run in several aspects.  Frustration and time probably being at the top of the list. 

Best of luck with your search

I'm not arguing your point here, its well taken, however, I started this journey hoping to spend $1500-2000 max, and all of a sudden I'm at $3600 for the basic mill to start. I'm definitely thinking I'll need a bed extension also so I can cut rafters if I were to build anything... 10 foot won't get it done . And I know I can always add that later once I actually learn to use this thing (which ever I buy).
So good chance I'm going to have to forgo some things to get this done... part of my decision here is going to be what I'm going to have to give up to start.
I was really leaning towards the Woodland Mills HM122, plus a 5 pack of blades and the bed extension. I can get that here for just under that 3 grand mark delivered. But the more I read and talk to you guys I'm thinking if nothing else, try to go for the larger power plant, get the bed extension later. But I'll still have to start with extra blades, cause if I break one I'm out of a saw.

So the journey continues.......
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: A.O. on December 22, 2017, 08:20:26 AM
AO, looks like you have some meat to chew on for sure,, back to the Kershaw, county, brother steve is a few miles east off 601, north of camden bout 6 miles or so,  anyway good luck in your search,,take some time and choose wisely, like mentioned, time and frustrations cost more than you might think,,them pines aren't going anywhere soon all around you,,

So your brother is pretty close to me, where are you located? And are you coming to visit?

And those pines aren't going any where, but I'm not getting any younger either..

I still need to find out how long after I mill this stuff up it'll be useable. Obviously just stickered and air dried to start.
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: A.O. on December 22, 2017, 08:21:31 AM
  I'm no fan of the sandwich type guide either, or the  roller bearing guide that use just small roller bearings that turn to fast. I like the guides on my TK mill which are 3" flanged guide that turn slower and don't bend the blade as much when applying down pressure as 2" guide wheel do.  If I was building a mill and didn't want to spend a lot of money on guides I would try using 2 6208 bearings ( a little over 3" od) to apply down pressure and at least a 2" bearing behind the blade to keep it from going back too far.  That back bearing should be adjusted at least 1/4" behind the blade to keep blades from breaking to soon, most times when cutting the blade wont even hit the back bearing until dull , then its time to change the blade.  It's a nice balmy -7 f here right now and I have a saw job, but it should be +8 by 9 am Steve

And how much do you have invested in your TK mill??  :-)
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: A.O. on December 22, 2017, 08:25:37 AM
Yes, definitely roller guides. I used Cooks Guides on 2 different machines.  Bearings are easy to change and over greasing to not allow water to ingress from blade lube makes for longer life.

 I don't favor 4 post mills because of access to log during blade break, crumpling. I like Linn Lumber and WoodMizer open design. Maybe other brands I'm not familiar with. Linn lumber uses off the shelf parts, easy to get when needed, locally. For a complete new sawyer, that's the way I would go. You don't necessarily need factory assistance unless you have electronics. There are many qualified with experience right on here if you have a problem. Get a local welder, unless you are one, to build the angle iron track. No shipping involved and get that sucker up off the ground. Make it thigh high with good solid supports. Buy your own engine new or used to get started and bolt it to the head and off you go.

 If you can find a sawyer, surely, in your area, I would advise a visit for a day.

"If you can find a sawyer, surely, in your area, I would advise a visit for a day." So, there is a sawyer about an hour south of me with a Timbery M100 mill he is selling, going down there after the first of the year to have a look and try it out. He has 2 mills and I selling the smaller one...

Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: Cutting Edge Saw Svc. on December 22, 2017, 08:41:04 AM

... plus a 5 pack of blades and the bed extension. ... But I'll still have to start with extra blades, cause if I break one I'm out of a saw.

So the journey continues.......



Don't expect much from the blades they provide (either company).  Wrong hook angle for the engine HP for starters, but it goes further than that. 

Roller guides still are at the top of the list.  The BLADE is the most important part of ANY sawmill.  Everything else is there to provide support and power to the blade through the material being sawn.

1.  Can you make "boards" with a sandwich guide system, Yes. 

2.  Can you produce "lumber" that falls within what many consider a dimensionally accurate and usable product for your application, Maybe.

3.  Will  it meet your expectations... that is something only you can answer.


Don't fall for a "sales pitch", new or used.  Sounds like you're watching your budget close, but make sure you invest your money wisely.  Don't worry about those logs for the time being.  Get them up off the ground until you decide on a machine to process them.

Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: Ox on December 22, 2017, 09:29:17 AM
These guys are giving you very good and very wise information.  I have nothing else to add for now because I'm positive these guys have much more board footage under their belts than I do.  I can offer a new guy a few pointers to get going but I think I'll stop there.  Then all I can offer is my experiences and how I do things.  I made a sawmill.  I make decent lumber.  I build stuff with it.  Simple and effective!  But I would never do it again.  I'd buy one, even if it meant I had to wait another year to save up for it.

I'm wondering, however, if maybe your sawmill purchase might be better off waiting a little while until you have more money in your sawmill budget.  The last thing you want to do is get something trashy and that will make you regret it every time you use it.  This isn't an emergency, right?  Maybe add to your budget and at the same time look for sawmills within your budget.  If and when you find one, maybe run it past the fellers here and see what the opinion is on that particular mill.  If you're handy with mechanical aptitude and don't mind messing around for a while to bring a neglected mill back to life, this might be a good way to get a better mill at a lower cost.  Instead of cash only, some of your investment will be in sweat equity.                                     

The total knowledge here at this forum is a very real and very powerful tool for you and they/we don't mind sharing it to help people.  :)
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: Stevem on December 22, 2017, 09:57:43 AM
Quote
Trying to save a few dollars now will only cost you more in the long run in several aspects.  Frustration and time probably being at the top of the list. 

Heed those words.  I bought too much based on price.  Should have stretched a bit more, waited a bit longer and opted for fewer bells and whistles to buy a bigger mill.
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: furu on December 22, 2017, 11:36:07 AM
There are lots of good words and advise being offered.  My wife and I have always considered large purchases (and many small ones as well) as investments in the future.  Sometimes the investment is in longevity, sometimes frustration or more importantly the lack thereof, sometimes it is in time saved.  I could go on and on with that concept.  We tend to always try to buy the best that we can foresee needing within the time that we foresee the item lasting.  It has worked well whether it be a computer which we don't have to replace very often or automobiles.   We don't have a vehicle that is less than 11 years old, our heavy duty truck, our next is 21 years old and the oldest is 38 years old.  All are still going strong.  The saying is "I will keep it until it dies or I die which ever comes first" and I mean it with my cars.

As an example buying a higher end computer that will serve your needs for 10 years at price 2X dollars versus buying a computer that is barely going to work for your needs now and having to replace it after 3 years for X dollars.  Repeat this several times and you have either spent much more money or saved a lot of money versus the alternative action. 
Buying a sawmill can be analogized the same.   Buying a bit more mill can make your life using it more pleasant with fewer headaches, fewer regrets, and avoid the old: "I wish the mill had .....(fill in the blank).... and if I could only do it over again."  Now you have to figure out how to sell what you got without taking a bath and then find and buy bigger and better and start the process over again.  Getting good roller guides can save the cost on blade wear and breakage that saves far more than the cost of the roller guides themselves.  Blades are not that expensive until you start looking at how many you can go through and then they start to mount up.

As has been posted above.  I know you are working very hard to determine what mill fits your needs as you see them right now.  Maybe take a little more time time to save up a bit more money for the purchase and see what other mill might come into the equation.  As an alternative look at what mills might give you what you need/want to have and calculated out how long you have to save up the additional money to be able to afford that mill.

I know there are folks who buy a different mill by upgrading the one they have mulitple times before they finally settle on the final mill.  That may work if they don't really know what the final need is and it is a shifting target or if their business is growing so rapidly that their needs are expanding faster than they ever thought would happen.  Other folks buy their mill and keep it for a long time and have over 13000 hours on it and are still very satisfied with what they have.

I guess it depends on the type of person you are.  Do you buy a car and upgrade it for the next new model in two years or are you the type that buys a car and keeps it forever.  Instant gratification of getting a mill today versus delaying the gratification a bit longer and getting a bit more mill may be worth it to you.  If used ask the sellers why they are selling the mill.  If they say it does not do all they wanted it to do may give you an idea that the same may happen to you.

Finally when we started looking at a mill my wife said to me the following.  "You are not getting any younger take that into consideration.  Do you need to be walking back and forth that many times as you get older" (Stationary head vs walking) "and are you going to be able to manhandle the logs that much as you get older" (manual vs hydraulics). I know those considerations involve much more expensive and larger mills than you are looking at but try to take all things into consideration and evaluate how they effect you and your needs.  As was pointed out in an earlier post, a used mill even one that needs a lot of TLC may give you more and suit your needs down the road better.
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: A.O. on December 22, 2017, 01:04:50 PM
Thanks for all the replies, trust me I am reading all of them.

Cuttingedge.. Those logs are up on 4x4's.. should I move them higher? And I hear you are the guy for blades, what kind of price are we looking at for say a 5 pack for one of those smaller mills I'm looking at? And do you have a website?

Furu.. your needs (or ideas) and mine are a bit different I think. Yes I've always bought my tools with your line of thinking, buy the best you can afford, especially if you use them for your profession! Makes all the sense in the world.
  And yes, I will do the same here, but, this saw is for personal use for small stuff around the farm, my house is already built, I'm NOT going into business... I'm retired and want to stay that way!!!  ;-)
  So this mill will see marginal use on occasion, mostly to saw lumber for projects around here. I wont have a business that I'm trying to keep up with, or need to upgrade consistently (I hope!!) I'm just looking for a mill that will serve me in that regard, and not fall apart next month.

 So.. Yes, while I want to buy a decent mill, I also don't want to overspend on one either and I'm looking for that spot in-between, if there is one!! ;-)

Oh, and I just sold my last truck of 14 years, repairs would have been more than it was worth, my Harley is 10 years old and not going anywhere soon. Yes, I have friends that change their cars and bikes like underwear, me, not so much!

Again I DO appreciate ALL the comments, suggestions, and advice so keep it coming everybody!

Just wait till I actually get a mill, and need advice on how to run it and all the things associated with it.. boy are you guys in trouble!! HAHAHA!!

THANKS!!

Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: Cutting Edge Saw Svc. on December 22, 2017, 01:55:08 PM

A.O.,

Contact info is listed in my "signature".  PM Sent.

I couldn't tell by the pics how large your blocking was under the logs... kinda looked like 2x4.  What you have will probably be sifficient.  The fact that they are up off the ground is the most important thing.



Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: A.O. on December 22, 2017, 02:25:08 PM
A.O.,

Contact info is listed in my "signature".  PM Sent.

I couldn't tell by the pics how large your blocking was under the logs... kinda looked like 2x4.  What you have will probably be sifficient.  The fact that they are up off the ground is the most important thing.

Thanks, replied to your PM
Been working with wood a long time. Lumber and firewood , now another step.
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: furu on December 22, 2017, 02:34:11 PM
I think you misunderstood what I was getting at.  Maybe my on-line writing skills did not translate clearly to what I was trying to say.

I'm just looking for a mill that will serve me in that regard, and not fall apart next month.
 So.. Yes, while I want to buy a decent mill, I also don't want to overspend on one either and I'm looking for that spot in-between, if there is one!! ;-)


That is all I was trying to say.  Make certain you know what your needs are and don't buy something less/settle and regret it later. If you can wait and thus save up a little more you can possible afford a mill with roller guides instead of a sandwich guide system.

There certainly is that spot in-between that you are looking for.
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: A.O. on December 22, 2017, 04:09:37 PM
There certainly is that spot in-between that you are looking for.

But not with roller guides me thinks.
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: drobertson on December 22, 2017, 04:53:06 PM
A. O. I don't know you from beans, but this does not matter,. the fact is and it's a fact, that, and you know,  you get what you pay for, (unless its given to you).  I have to say with milling logs, and I'm speaking from using a LT 40 super, its just a whole lot of work,, I can not even think how I could have done what I've done, without the hydraulics, and I still tore my back up.. manual will be slow, get that in your mind and be ready for it.  And depending on the mill you decide on?  get ready for other issues as well. I do believe this is what spurs folks into building their own, and it's still not quite what they were thinking,, just a guess,.  Logging, skidding, stacking , dragging, loading, not to mention the scraps that come off, sir,, its a bonified challenge,  it's worth it if you dont' have rose colored glasses on,, just saying,  hope the best for you, I know there is more pine there in that area than you will ever see get to the mill.
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: A.O. on December 22, 2017, 06:53:52 PM
A. O. I don't know you from beans, but this does not matter,. the fact is and it's a fact, that, and you know,  you get what you pay for, (unless its given to you).  I have to say with milling logs, and I'm speaking from using a LT 40 super, its just a whole lot of work,, I can not even think how I could have done what I've done, without the hydraulics, and I still tore my back up.. manual will be slow, get that in your mind and be ready for it.  And depending on the mill you decide on?  get ready for other issues as well. I do believe this is what spurs folks into building their own, and it's still not quite what they were thinking,, just a guess,.  Logging, skidding, stacking , dragging, loading, not to mention the scraps that come off, sir,, its a bonified challenge,  it's worth it if you dont' have rose colored glasses on,, just saying,  hope the best for you, I know there is more pine there in that area than you will ever see get to the mill.

I actually do understand what you are saying, and I'm good with that. I have more time than money anymore! Not in a big rush to mill thousands of board feet of lumber, But I do have all these trees, I should put them to good use I'm thinking. And yes I have more trees than I'll ever have time to mill.. but it will be fun to try??
Logging, skidding, stacking , dragging, loading, not to mention the scraps that come off, sir,, its a bonified challenge, sounds like a bonfire to me, whos bringing the marshmallows?


And I really do understand this is a project, but also I'm looking forward to it. If I had a time frame to get things done, maybe not. So I think I'm good...

So are you going to come visit when you come to see your brother? Might be fun... Might go fishing in my back yard...

(http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh136/hunt4570/South%20Carolina/IMG_1562_zpsc09c7c45.jpg) (http://s255.photobucket.com/user/hunt4570/media/South%20Carolina/IMG_1562_zpsc09c7c45.jpg.html)
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: Tom the Sawyer on December 22, 2017, 11:06:14 PM
AO, I have an acquaintance who bought a Hudson Patriot and has been extremely unhappy with it, both the build and the lack of competent support.  I haven't been over to see it yet, but some of the dealer's suggestions involved the customer cutting and rewelding rather the dealer fixing it.
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: A.O. on December 23, 2017, 07:13:30 AM
AO, I have an acquaintance who bought a Hudson Patriot and has been extremely unhappy with it, both the build and the lack of competent support.  I haven't been over to see it yet, but some of the dealer's suggestions involved the customer cutting and rewelding rather the dealer fixing it.


Good to know, thanks. I've heard some other similar stories about Hudson. Looks like I'll take that one off the list.
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: joasis on December 23, 2017, 07:29:30 AM
I have an electric powered "Mr Sawmill", made in Arkansas, and it seems about average in quality and construction, but keep in mind this is an 18 inch mill that sits in the shop. I bought this for a blind Vietnam Vet to use....and he could manage it.....of course, he was in no hurry, but the cedar dust got to him, and he gave it back to me.

I may put it on a trailer, and use a generator to run it...since the electric motor is a cat's meow for convenience. 5hp. No problem cutting, but it isn't my old circle mill by a long ways.
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: drobertson on December 23, 2017, 07:39:50 AM
AO, when we get back down that way I will for sure look you up.  I would love for you to have a mill by then, maybe you could encourage my brother to get one,  I've been trying for years now, but time and age is not working for his advantage.  That pond there brings back wonderful memories of big ole black bass, and huge hybrid blue gill,  probably a fare share of crappie?
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: A.O. on December 23, 2017, 08:16:58 AM
AO, when we get back down that way I will for sure look you up.  I would love for you to have a mill by then, maybe you could encourage my brother to get one,  I've been trying for years now, but time and age is not working for his advantage.  That pond there brings back wonderful memories of big ole black bass, and huge hybrid blue gill,  probably a fare share of crappie?

Yeah, Bass and what they call "brim" down here which is bluegill, sunfish, redear, or I guess just anything shaped the same way. I've not seen any crappie yet, but who knows.

Caught this little guy out there..

(http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh136/hunt4570/South%20Carolina/IMG_2640_zpspwpggpej.jpg) (http://s255.photobucket.com/user/hunt4570/media/South%20Carolina/IMG_2640_zpspwpggpej.jpg.html)
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: jb griffin on December 26, 2017, 09:01:45 PM
I second an Ez Boardwalk. Or a Mr. Sawmill. Forget you ever heard of Hudson.
I have met and talked too the guy who makes the Mr. Sawmill mills. Nice mills well thought out the best I can remember but they have bearing guides which ain't that great but can be changed out to rollers.
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: bandmiller2 on December 27, 2017, 06:42:01 AM
I'm a little late to this fray but would like to add some generic thoughts. Cheaper mills are strictly built to a price point. All mills need the same stuff to work, when you spend more you are buying quality, and more rugged construction. Whenever possible go electric its the best mill power. Don't overlook older handset circular mills they are the most bang for your milling buck, and you will have a mill that will out produce $50,000 band mills. I bought a Chase circular mill with a six cylinder Ford diesel power unit for $500. Granted a circular mill is a lot of work to set up but you end up with a real sawmill not something that escaped from a woodworking shop. Frank C.
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: drobertson on December 27, 2017, 08:40:10 AM
Now there's a good thought Frank,  I remember back in 08' while I was on an extended portable job for an outfit that produced timbers for highway dept's across the country.  All I was to do was mill 6x8's , that's mainly all they wanted, with the occasional special orders of varying sizes and lengths.  Well it was a cut to order per sey,  so they needed them as fast as I could produce them, at times out sourced to other mills to fill the large orders.  All this to say, the ram rod back then came by the mill at the end of the day and said, "if I bought a cheap little circle mill would you run it?"  I asked why, he said he had found one for under 2 gran, but needed some work,,went on to say, those simple circle mills will walk the dog past most band mills, well he never did get it going, but I know for a fact now a circle mill, with a good set up is hard to beat. 
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: A.O. on December 28, 2017, 04:18:21 PM
Ok, next week I think I'm going to look at a used Timbery M100. Anything in particular I need to be looking for??

He says it will be up and running so we are going to be able cut with it if that makes any difference.

I'm pretty mechanically inclined but I've never cut with a sawmill. Familiar with the workings of a bandsaw as I have one out in my woodshop, but not on a large scale. Now after being on here and reading stuff I know most of you guys wouldn't consider what I'm looking for as "large scale" But you get the idea... :-)

An "hidden" bandsawmill quirks I need to know about?

Thanks..

Scott
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: Ox on December 28, 2017, 05:06:45 PM
None really that I can think of if you're able to see it cut and mill through a log completely.  If it can cut straight lumber it's basically dialed in already I would think.  Unless he's a master blade shaper and makes offset blades to cut on a mill that needs an alignment. 

Hopefully he has a manual with it for alignment purposes.  For someone who is not familiar with their mill a step by step alignment procedure will prove to be quite valuable.  For those of us who built our own or have aligned enough of them we already know how to do it but we weren't born with this knowledge.
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: drobertson on December 28, 2017, 05:51:56 PM
that's one little mill I did actually push through a log a few years back at the Paul Bunyan show.  In fact the fellow in the video is the same guy I met there.  Nice honest fellow I thought. For the life of me I cant remember the hp on the little mill, but it pushed nicely, and sawed fine from what I saw.  I think it would work just fine for sawing out all the pine you have laying around,,and it would work as good with some hardwoods too, so, if it fits the budget, I would not be afraid to give it a go.  I might be asking why he's selling just for the heck of it, and the usual other questions like , any problems with it?  check for obvious dings and bent parts, that may hinder the function of the roller carriage, in regards to the main beams being bent or twisted.  Log clamps should work smoothly, as should the up down crank, I'd say give it a good look,,don't be afraid to get in there and saw, thats the only way you will really know, and it sure wont hurt to take a look and hold of,, hope it works out for you,,
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: A.O. on December 28, 2017, 07:33:14 PM
That saw comes with a 7hp with a 9hp, and a 13hp optional.. the one I'm going to look at has the 9hp.
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: bandmiller2 on December 28, 2017, 07:42:22 PM
A.O, if there is any milling secret to success is in a properly sharpened and set band. Paramount is a clean log, even one muddy spot will dull a sharp band. The big time millers have a debarker  I don't, I use a wire brush and an axe and keep dirty logs off my mill. Frank C.
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: drobertson on December 28, 2017, 08:05:26 PM
10-4 on the wire brush, hatchet, even a claw hammer, I had a debarker on mine, but many times stuff gets smashed into and between the bark,,knot holes, and such,  getting as much of this before sawing is a good thing, my last batch of pine I sawed out, by the time I got to the end, and keep in mind he delivered them way after dozing and loading part, the bark was slipping nice, most of them I stripped before putting them on the deck, makes clean ups a whole lot easier.  These were the yellow pine logs, which brought to mind, if any gets dozed like these were, dirt, gravel and debris gets in the bark from the root ball, as well as the blade and pusher gouges fill with debris.
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: customcutter on December 28, 2017, 09:08:40 PM
AO  hope you find what you are looking for.  It took me 3-4 months of doing research and checking CL from Miami up to Tenn, WV, etc.  but it finally paid off when I asked someone if they would demo their Sawmill for me.  Cook's didn't have one coming off the line the last 2 weeks of November when we were in Al.  Turned out we mentioned to a man that was seeding my in-laws pastures that we had been over to look at their mills and he said he had one.  I asked if he would demo it for me.  Then I asked if he knew of anyone that might have a used one for sale.  Turned out his brother had a newer one that his for sale.  Saved me about $20,000 over a new one.  It ain't bright and shiny and I've got to work through a few issues and change some hyd hoses. 

It's out there, keep the faith and keep looking.

Ken
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: A.O. on December 28, 2017, 09:29:59 PM
AO  hope you find what you are looking for.  It took me 3-4 months of doing research and checking CL from Miami up to Tenn, WV, etc.  but it finally paid off when I asked someone if they would demo their Sawmill for me.  Cook's didn't have one coming off the line the last 2 weeks of November when we were in Al.  Turned out we mentioned to a man that was seeding my in-laws pastures that we had been over to look at their mills and he said he had one.  I asked if he would demo it for me.  Then I asked if he knew of anyone that might have a used one for sale.  Turned out his brother had a newer one that his for sale.  Saved me about $20,000 over a new one.  It ain't bright and shiny and I've got to work through a few issues and change some hyd hoses. 

It's out there, keep the faith and keep looking.

Ken

Thanks Ken, (and for the phone call, we need to finish it someday). I'm in no BIG hurry, but not many of the smaller ones come up for sale used, this is the first in fact..
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: A.O. on January 26, 2018, 07:09:11 AM
So what  do you think of this guy?

http://www.woodmaxx.com/SM_26_Portable_Saw_Mill_p/sm-26.htm
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: drobertson on January 26, 2018, 07:31:33 AM
What do you think of it?
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: A.O. on January 26, 2018, 07:55:51 AM
What do you think of it?

Psychiatrist?? ;D ;D

Again , Its starting to leave my price range, but it has some features I like... and some I don't. I like the 14 hp engine, the auto lube feed, and the emergency stop button. It comes with the long bed (19 ft) to cut 16'6" lumber. And I like the push handle set up, and the adjustable guide width. I don't like the screw type log dogs, but most mills seem to have them.
Its like $3900 delivered, which is about the same price as the Woodland Mills HM126 set up the same way. The Woodland mills mill I can order with the shorter bed for about $3500 and add the bed extension at a later time when I rebuild my cash reserves! Also the Woodland one has a cam-lock dog which seems like a great improvement. BUT... it only has a 9.5 hp motor.
So, I like the woodmaxx unit, but coming up with the cash all at once would be a stretch..

Looking at the two, it looks like they both came off the same production line with some minor changes..
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: drobertson on January 26, 2018, 08:56:24 AM
Well I did kinda like it, it had some features that looked worth a second look, you will like the 16' length
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: Ox on January 26, 2018, 08:59:54 AM
Longer track, bigger engine, and for the same price is a no brainer to me.

I can't remember what the Woodland Mills has for guides.  Is it the sandwich type?
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: Cutting Edge Saw Svc. on January 26, 2018, 09:16:56 AM

I can't remember what the Woodland Mills has for guides.  Is it the sandwich type?


Yes.   :(  The Woodlands and WoodMaxx  are the same machine basically and both use cursed/crappy sandwich guides.   >:(


A.O.,

Look at the Frontier Sawmills offered by Norwood.  IMO, better built, better features, easier to operate and has a 13hp with ROLLER GUIDES

Check out the price too... right in your range !!

https://www.frontiersawmills.com/us/products/frontier-sawmills/os27-sawmill

Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: A.O. on January 26, 2018, 11:07:42 AM
Yes.   :(  The Woodlands and WoodMaxx  are the same machine basically and both use cursed/crappy sandwich guides.   >:(


A.O.,

Look at the Frontier Sawmills offered by Norwood.  IMO, better built, better features, easier to operate and has a 13hp with ROLLER GUIDES

Check out the price too... right in your range !!

https://www.frontiersawmills.com/us/products/frontier-sawmills/os27-sawmill

Looks like the Frontier one is also basically the same machine with different options also. It IS about the only one out there with the roller guides, most have "sandwich" type guides with a roller guide to the rear. I did notice the timbery one I looked at did not have the rear roller guides.
And yes, its on my list also, and also a bit above "my range". Its a couple hundred above the Woodland one and they want $425 shipping.
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: Cutting Edge Saw Svc. on January 26, 2018, 01:03:43 PM

Yes, the track and cross-members between all three look identical.

The difference is in the carriage.  IMO the Frontier is braced better, up/down is improved and the scale is a much better.  Those are not little features to overlook when compared to the others.  To upgrade to roller guides will cost you over $200, not counting your time/labor.

Sorry, didn't realize what your max budget was. 

Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: A.O. on January 26, 2018, 01:55:49 PM

Sorry, didn't realize what your max budget was.

And that's a funny thing!!  When I started researching the idea of getting a small sawmill my budget was at $1500. I hadn't at the time had any clue as to what I wanted or needed or what was out there. I had seen one in the Harbor Freight catalog for $2100 and thought there might be a used one out there in that $1500 range... WRONG!!
I started doing my research, joined a couple forums, talked to you and others and my bottom line budget started creeping up! All the things (I) needed and had to have.. an more up up up..
So now pretty much my absolute max is about $3500.... this week anyway... ;D :( :o ::) 8) :-\
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: drobertson on January 26, 2018, 02:36:58 PM
I eye balled that Frontier the past few hours, and it for sure looks hands down built better than the others.  Waiting for a bigger pot to dish out of might be the wise decision.  Finding yourself wishing and wondering after the fact would kinda stink. 
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: A.O. on January 26, 2018, 02:55:28 PM
I eye balled that Frontier the past few hours, and it for sure looks hands down built better than the others.  Waiting for a bigger pot to dish out of might be the wise decision.  Finding yourself wishing and wondering after the fact would kinda stink.

And just what about it looks so much better than the others?
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: drobertson on January 26, 2018, 03:18:24 PM
The way the carriage frame was double supported, and I liked the bigger hand crank wheel for the up and down.  The frames of the ones you are looking at do look like the same to me.  The blade guide rollers are a definite plus as well.   I still stand by my stance on the 16' capacity which ever make it comes in.  I can say with all confidence, I'm glad its you buying and not me! ;)
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: A.O. on January 26, 2018, 04:23:58 PM
The way the carriage frame was double supported, and I liked the bigger hand crank wheel for the up and down.  The frames of the ones you are looking at do look like the same to me.  The blade guide rollers are a definite plus as well.   I still stand by my stance on the 16' capacity which ever make it comes in.  I can say with all confidence, I'm glad its you buying and not me! ;)

Not sure what you mean by the carriage being double supported , all three have the 4 post carriage. I like the big crank but not sure I like it so high. And the longer platform will happen, maybe not on day one , but it WILL happen. If I ever go to cutting rafters I'll need the longer bed.
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: A.O. on January 31, 2018, 01:03:12 PM
So I'm trying to sell some Knotty pine siding I took out of my house during a remodel, about 800 sq ft of it If I get it sold (2 people coming today to look) I'm going to use the
$$ to subsidize my mill purchase.

Most likely will get the Woodmaxx 26.. It has the longer bed, 14 HP Kohler command motor, auto lube, and some other stuff I like, Doesnt have everything, but nothing does. Fingers crossed one of these guys buys the wood!

http://www.woodmaxx.com/SM_26_Portable_Saw_Mill_p/sm-26.htm

(http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh136/hunt4570/South%20Carolina/IMG_0341_zpsnbq68dmn.jpg) (http://s255.photobucket.com/user/hunt4570/media/South%20Carolina/IMG_0341_zpsnbq68dmn.jpg.html)

Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: starmac on January 31, 2018, 07:46:30 PM
AO have you looked at the thomas mills, not sure how they compare, but have always heard nothing but good as far as built heavy duty and in the USA, both of which are nice.

http://www.thomasbandsawmills.com/Products/Bandsaw%20Mills/Thomas2411.html
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: A.O. on January 31, 2018, 08:05:10 PM
Looks pretty nice, but its a smaller motor and almost $1000 higher in price.. and options are higher as well.
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: RiverForest on February 01, 2018, 01:49:43 AM
Quick 2 cents, and Cutting Edge will know the answer: can the sandwich guides be pretty easily replaced with Cooks roller guides, if that is a problem on the mill you buy?
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: A.O. on February 01, 2018, 05:56:03 AM
Yes they can, not sure if its a problem. Every band saw I've ever had has had the "sandwich" guides. Not as good as the rollers I suppose, but not sure I'd call it a problem.
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: Cutting Edge Saw Svc. on February 01, 2018, 06:02:10 AM
My 2 cents...

Yes, Cooks Guides can be fitted to replace the sandwich guides.  In the case of these Chinese machines, retrofitting WM parts actually makes it a bit easier.  The WM receivers aren't quite as bulky (ie: more refined than Cooks).

Is it a problem to do so ??  Depends on person doing it.  Takes some planning and layout before the first cut is made.  Due to the tight area, it could almost be considered doing surgery, especially on the drive side.  Same goes once the welding starts.

Is it worth going through all the trouble... IMO, YES !!  Lumber quality improves dramatically along with blade life. 

All up to the end purchaser.  Buy a mill with all the work done and ready to go or spend the time/money later.



Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: A.O. on February 01, 2018, 05:30:33 PM
So with the long bed, extra blades, and delivery. the 3 saws below end up within a little over $100 difference in price.
https://www.frontiersawmills.com/us/products/frontier-sawmills/os27-sawmill
https://woodlandmills.ca/us/product/hm126/
http://www.woodmaxx.com/SM_26_Portable_Saw_Mill_p/sm-26.htm

They all appear to be made in the same factory over in China somewhere. The beds/rails are virtually identical with a little variation in length, within a foot or so. All have 4 post carriages that also look very similar.

The frontier OS27 has the infamous roller guides for the blade, yes I like those but not real sure how important it is. As per them their crank system is self locking which is also nice. It has a 13HP BRIGGS engine which in my opinion is inferior to the Kohler engines on the other two. They CLAIM to build theirs with more materials for a heavier sawmill... NOWHERE on any of their literature do they give weight specs.

I'm thinking the Woodland mills unit is starting to lose ground, it has a Kohler engine but only 9.5 HP. It has the cam lock dogs which I really like the idea of although I've never used one so I have no hands on experience with then. (I can get them as an option with the frontier but not the woodmaxx) It doesn't seem to have any other standout features over the other two.

I really like the Woodmaxx and it falls between the other two in price. It has a 14HP Kohler engine so in my opinion its got the best drive of the three. It and the woodland unit are right at 800 pounds so it seems beefy. It and the frontier both have emergency kill switches for what ever that's worth. The woodmaxx also as the auto lube feature, hit the gas and the lube starts up, I can get that on the frontier also for a $99 charge. I like the control handle the best on this saw also. It also has adjustable blade guide so if I'm cutting something narrow I can move it in.

So all 3 saws are reasonably close in price and equipment. I will say I've been in contact with all three companys, the Woodland mills and the Woodmaxx responded almost instantly. I emailed Frontier (Norwood) 9 am ish this morning but still have gotten NO response which concerns me a bit.

So there you have it, the three I've narrowed it down to... almost ready to order.. if I can make my mind up! :o

EDITED TO ADD: The Woodland Mills and the Woodmaxx both have a nut on their blade tightening handle which allows you to use a torque wrench to adjust the blade the same all the time.. I like that too! Cannot find out how the frontier adjusts.
The Frontier is a bit lax on info on the saw. Wish I could download a manual for it to get some better insight on it!
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: furu on February 01, 2018, 05:37:56 PM
Boy you are getting close. 
Once you order then it is the anticipation of the arrival of the mill.
The excitement is building.
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: starmac on February 01, 2018, 05:56:12 PM
I would assume that the nut on the band tension is on some sort of hydraulic cylinder, it seems like a torque wrench would be unwieldly to use. I would think installing a gauge and using the shortest ratchet a guy could get would be the berries. Mo old woodmizer doesn't have a gauge (I really should take the time to install one) but instead has a spring, you can eyeball it to get it the same or close to it.
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: A.O. on February 01, 2018, 06:50:55 PM
Boy you are getting close. 
Once you order then it is the anticipation of the arrival of the mill.
The excitement is building.

Indeed...
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: A.O. on February 01, 2018, 06:52:47 PM
I would assume that the nut on the band tension is on some sort of hydraulic cylinder, it seems like a torque wrench would be unwieldly to use. I would think installing a gauge and using the shortest ratchet a guy could get would be the berries. Mo old woodmizer doesn't have a gauge (I really should take the time to install one) but instead has a spring, you can eyeball it to get it the same or close to it.

The nut is on the big T-handle sticking out the side... super easy to get to and use, and exactly repeatable every time.
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: starmac on February 01, 2018, 08:17:09 PM
I can see the repeatable thing. I still think a gauge is better, that way you know if a band is heating or something is causing the pressure to drop, but like I said I have not put one on my old mill yet either. lol I guess if it was a problem I would have.  The factory handle on mine is only maybe 3 inches long, and it doesn't require much effort. I am sure their setup is different, and mine is old technology compared to the newer mizers.
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: drobertson on February 01, 2018, 08:34:33 PM
I agree with the band tension gauge.  It's what I watched more more than bout anything else.  Wide cuts, and harder and dried out logs will for sure heat up a blade.  I never could figure folks sawing without and lube at all,,I suppose folks have, I know on my resaw, it had no lube, and the big spring tensionor, and flat guides to boot.  It would crank out the cut stock, but only up to 6" wide.  I did like the movable blade guide on the wood max, not sure if the others have it or not, photos did not look like they did, but not sure.  All I know is if you are happy then that's what matters, there will be plenty of learning curves along the way, with dust and slabs to move, and lumber to stack. Oh, AO, I meant to tell you, you are bout 15 miles north of my brother,  so when I  get out that way, I'll be looking for you,
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: A.O. on February 02, 2018, 07:21:26 AM
I agree with the band tension gauge.  It's what I watched more more than bout anything else.  Wide cuts, and harder and dried out logs will for sure heat up a blade.  I never could figure folks sawing without and lube at all,,I suppose folks have, I know on my resaw, it had no lube, and the big spring tensionor, and flat guides to boot.  It would crank out the cut stock, but only up to 6" wide.  I did like the movable blade guide on the wood max, not sure if the others have it or not, photos did not look like they did, but not sure.  All I know is if you are happy then that's what matters, there will be plenty of learning curves along the way, with dust and slabs to move, and lumber to stack. Oh, AO, I meant to tell you, you are bout 15 miles north of my brother,  so when I  get out that way, I'll be looking for you,

One thing I noticed in all my sawing experience (about 6 hours total ;-) ) is we would either forget to turn the lube on, and/or forget to turn it off. So the blade was either dry and collecting pitch, or while we were standing talking we would notice it dripping. Which is why I REALLY like the autolube feature, just one more thing I don't have to think about while sawing.
The Woodmaxx is the only one that has the moveable blade guide.

I re-emailed Frontier this morning to see if I get any response, if not, they are off the list.... If somewhere down the road I need parts or something else, I dont want to have to "hope" I can get a response!!

Heck yeah, If you are close give me a holler!














Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: Cutting Edge Saw Svc. on February 02, 2018, 09:41:38 AM

The Woodmaxx is the only one that has the moveable blade guide.


Does little to no good since the guides provide no support to blade.



I re-emailed Frontier this morning to see if I get any response, if not, they are off the list.... If somewhere down the road I need parts or something else, I dont want to have to "hope" I can get a response!!



Try calling them. The way email is any more, so much gets flagged for "spam" and doesn't get seen.

Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: A.O. on February 02, 2018, 11:28:59 AM
Does little to no good since the guides provide no support to blade.

Try calling them. The way email is any more, so much gets flagged for "spam" and doesn't get seen.

Well it still gives less room for the blade to flex if the distance between guides is shorter. Same as with a regular band saw.

And I do like the Frontier's roller guides, but I'm not going to make my decision based on one attribute alone, gotta look at the whole package.

They did respond this morning..
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: A.O. on February 03, 2018, 08:06:47 AM
AND... they are heading down the home stretch, Seems like the Woodland mills unit is starting to lag behind, maybe the 9.5 just isn't enough....and around the final turn, Frontier is really putting the blocks to it, but the Woodmaxx still has the edge I think...still screaming and Frontier and Woodmaxx are neck and neck heading around the curve, and Woodland looks like it has 3rd place all wrapped up!!

Stay tuned folks.. the race is almost over.. bout to pull the trigger!! ;D ;D >:D
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: A.O. on February 05, 2018, 08:40:35 AM
And the Woodmaxx wins by a nose!!

After weighing ALL the different options on ALL the machines in my price range The Woodmaxx26 seems to fit MY bill.

Right now I'm debating going nuts and adding the Electric start, a $250 option... talk about getting old and lazy! When I figure that out I'll be placing my order.
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: starmac on February 05, 2018, 11:25:38 AM
If you can get electric start for just 250 more, I wouldn't even consider that an option.
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: A.O. on February 05, 2018, 12:36:29 PM
If you can get electric start for just 250 more, I wouldn't even consider that an option.

Yeah?? you think that's worth the price?
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: A.O. on February 06, 2018, 11:35:46 AM
So I've been himing and hawing about this, I don't know about you guys but to me $4k is a bunch of money to plunk down!!

And then I went to Lowes today, needed some wood for a shelf I'm putting up, see pic below... that's almost a hundred dollars worth!

(http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh136/hunt4570/South%20Carolina/IMG_3354_zpspdcnzlek.jpg) (http://s255.photobucket.com/user/hunt4570/media/South%20Carolina/IMG_3354_zpspdcnzlek.jpg.html)

Really, a hundred bucks??? What a rip!

So I just called Woodmaxx and ordered the SM-26e... yep, the "e" stands for electric start!! I've gone nutts!!

http://www.woodmaxx.com/SM_26_Portable_Saw_Mill_p/sm-26.htm

(http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh136/hunt4570/South%20Carolina/SM-26-2T_zpsywsyx3bb.jpg) (http://s255.photobucket.com/user/hunt4570/media/South%20Carolina/SM-26-2T_zpsywsyx3bb.jpg.html)

They tell me 4-5 weeks....  oh what am I going to do for a month???

Maybe I'll cut some trees down and get a few logs ready!
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: furu on February 06, 2018, 11:56:41 AM
You are on the way.  Congratulations. 
Now comes the hard part, the waiting for it to arrive.
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: A.O. on February 06, 2018, 12:23:38 PM
You are on the way.  Congratulations. 
Now comes the hard part, the waiting for it to arrive.

Thanks, and yeah...

I'm dying here already waiting!
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: drobertson on February 06, 2018, 01:03:02 PM
You bet, get those logs down, if you are lucky the bark will start slipping before you are ready to saw.  If it does, get it off away from where you plan on sawing.
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: A.O. on February 06, 2018, 01:22:48 PM
Yeah, need to build a platform to set this thing on, and maybe a log _________. Forgot what you guys call it,  place to stage the logs.
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: xlogger on February 07, 2018, 03:47:24 AM
Yeah, need to build a platform to set this thing on, and maybe a log _________. Forgot what you guys call it,  place to stage the logs.
"log deck"
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: A.O. on February 07, 2018, 06:04:24 AM
Yeah, that's it!

Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: Ox on February 07, 2018, 10:04:52 AM
Congrats.  And yeah - you have plenty of work to keep you busy for the next month.  Felling, bucking, skidding, staging, building log deck, preparing saw yard, etc.  Just be sure to keep your logs up off the ground, even if it's just on some 4x4s or something like that.  When making lumber the actual sawmilling part is a very small percent of the whole procedure/operation but also the most important part.  When making a 2x6 8' long the blade is cutting each side of that board for less than a minute total time.  That's something to think about!
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: A.O. on February 07, 2018, 02:51:23 PM
Congrats.  And yeah - you have plenty of work to keep you busy for the next month.  Felling, bucking, skidding, staging, building log deck, preparing saw yard, etc.  Just be sure to keep your logs up off the ground, even if it's just on some 4x4s or something like that.  When making lumber the actual sawmilling part is a very small percent of the whole procedure/operation but also the most important part.  When making a 2x6 8' long the blade is cutting each side of that board for less than a minute total time.  That's something to think about!

Thanks, and yes I am aware of all that.. well except maybe the skidding part. I have a lot of trees surrounding open areas I have. If I can get them to just fall into those open areas, I can cut them to length and move them with my grapple... load them on my 20' trailer, move them to my staging area or log deck and go from there... that's the plan anyway!  ;D :o ::) 8)
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: A.O. on February 07, 2018, 02:57:41 PM
I do need to do some work on my saw yard as you call it, get the position of my saw where I want it, set up the log deck And I need to figure out some way to build and position some "drying platforms" to where they will be convenient AND not get in the way. I figure some of the early wood I cut will be used for these platforms and to practice my cutting skills. Any words of wisdom out there in making these?
 I have about an acre field right next to my shop that I'm going to set up.
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: drobertson on February 07, 2018, 06:32:15 PM
If you can come across some old rail road ties, these work well for the base of lumber stacks.  Sawing out blocking would be a good exercise in learning what to expect from your mill as well as the logs.  In addition to sawing out blocking, you will also need to begin sawing out stickers.   There is a ton of advice on what and how to do it, but in a nut shell, I would advise to use straight grain, no knots, 1" sq 42" to 48" long.  Allow these to air dry, keeping them from bowing and twisting. these are pretty much as important as anything you will do on and with your mill in respect to ending up with a quality usable product.  More on this later,, lots more,
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: A.O. on February 07, 2018, 06:55:17 PM
If you can come across some old rail road ties, these work well for the base of lumber stacks.  Sawing out blocking would be a good exercise in learning what to expect from your mill as well as the logs.  In addition to sawing out blocking, you will also need to begin sawing out stickers.   There is a ton of advice on what and how to do it, but in a nut shell, I would advise to use straight grain, no knots, 1" sq 42" to 48" long.  Allow these to air dry, keeping them from bowing and twisting. these are pretty much as important as anything you will do on and with your mill in respect to ending up with a quality usable product.  More on this later,, lots more,

Thanks D
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: starmac on February 07, 2018, 07:08:44 PM
X2 on the stickers, these need to be drying as soon as possible.  I intend to (haven't got around to it yet) saw out and build some pretty heavy duty lumber pallets in different lengths. I would also like to build individual shed tops for the lumber pallets, that can be easily set on with a forklift, with a little peak and some side overhang. If I lived down south where they are available, I would get old billboard tarps to cover them with, they would last forever if kept tied down.

Have you started putting together the tools to keep with the mill yet?
Have you already got can't hooks, maybe even a hookaroon?
bands already ordered?

The problem I see is, you really need to saw out some good blocking to set the mill up, but can't do it till the mill is set up, hmmm.
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: drobertson on February 07, 2018, 08:03:10 PM
No kidding, there's a lot to consider.  If it were me, I might be considering the purchase of some treated 4x6's to set the mill on.  With all the sand down there, drainage should be no problem at all.  It might be just a good to wait until its there, have some 2x misc. blocking, set the mill up, level, and do some milling.  I'm just sitting here running this through my mind as if it were me, but with the knowledge of what I already know.  You would use a slab rack if you had one,, this is for the opening face cuts off the logs, plus the edgings you make taking the bark off the flitches.  Many folks just pile them up, but they get all scattered out and just make a bigger mess than necessary.  Yea, I would make even a quick slab rack before I sawed the first log. Position it within a few steps of the mill, and where your loader can get to it with out interfering with the mill or any other stacks. You're gonna be walking enough as it is without any more pacing than needed, especially carrying what could be a heavy slab.  You dont want the sawdust blowing all over the lumber you just sawed, so you will have to keep that in mind too.  It will take you a few stabs to get it set like you like, so be ready and flexible to a few changes.  I'm bout wore out thinking about it,  Hee hee :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: A.O. on February 07, 2018, 08:27:38 PM
Thanks guys...  uh oh.. questions..

starmac.. What bands??

Drobertson..whats a slab rack, flitches?

You guys are killing me here.. I do have quite a few stickers here already, but I know I'll need more. No hookaroon (same as a peavey?) I do have a 4' canthook though.

Got a bunch of treated 2x's also, when it quits raining I need to take an inventory of what I have and what I'll be needing.
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: drobertson on February 07, 2018, 08:46:48 PM
A slab rack usually made of steel,  imagine a football goal, but two of them connected,  the slabs go between the post, when the rack is full or at the limit of the loader the slabs are banded and lifted out, then moved to another area out of the way.  The flitches are the boards that still have bark on, either one edge or both,  most logs will give you several until you get to a cant where all the bark has been sawn off.   You might want to you tube some videos of mill operations to get a better picture.. It would not hurt to see a few operations.  The bands he was talking about are probably the band saw bands, you will need at least a box of 10,, If I were you, I would get with Cutting Edge and get them from him,, if you don't, and you have problems, well, don't ask me,, all I got to say, 
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: starmac on February 08, 2018, 01:26:49 AM
Instead of trying to explain a hookaroon, here is pictures on logrights website.
They are not something a guy absolutely has to have, but do make life eaasier, hmmm I do not have one myself, but it is on the list.

https://logrite.com/store/Category/hookaroons

One cant hook is all I have, so far I have worked by myself and one is all I can use at a time, 2 would actually be handier that way a guy could keep one on both sides of a log deck. To be honest the way I have done most of my sawing, I do not use it a lot, but it is a must have, and especially would be with a manual mill.
The bands I was talking about are the blades, two boxes would be nice and may even be needed so you can send box in to be sharpened  and still be sawing. They do not last as long as a guy hopes. lol

Something to knock the bark off is a must on dirty logs and even needed on clean ones, just where the band enters. I like a draw knife. I made the mistake of buying a small one to start with, thinking it only needs to take off an inch or less of bark, but it didn't work on bigger logs. The handles would hit, a wire brush is also handy, especially if they have dirt on them.

I am lucky here, 99% of anything I cut is cut and skidded in snow, never sees dirt.
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: A.O. on February 08, 2018, 07:04:08 AM
Ok, makes sense on the "bands" although I would call them "blades" but what do I know! One (bi metal) blade came with the mill, and I ordered 3 extra carbon blades. Right now I went WAY to deep moneywise on this mill so I'll have to build up my reserves and order a box of them, I'll holler at cutting edge when I'm ready.

SO... removing bark where the blade (band) enters.. do you just clean a strip all the way down the log? do you strip the log completely? Seems like when squaring it up you keep turning the log getting to new barky areas.

So what exactly are you putting on that slab rack? Boards you have cut waiting to be dried?

And I'm really looking for ideas on "drying racks",  and does that wood on the drying racks need to be covered, or left to the elements? And can I build those drying racks out of green wood fresh off the mill?

Oh yeah, you guys are going to get tired of me!! ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: Stevem on February 08, 2018, 11:16:54 AM
I think the "slabs" he's talking about are the outside (bark) of the logs you cut that aren't usable boards, the waste.  You stack them "neatly" so they are easier to handle and dispose of. You might be cutting them into fire wood or bundling them for sale and they are a lot easier to deal with if they are not jack strawed in a pile. You can start with two boards laid on the ground. 
Other 'slabs" we talk about are "live edge slabs" which are really popular now for furniture making.  They are boards that run from bark to bark in width.

When I custom saw on site for someone I just throw the slabs in a pile and let the customer deal with them.  At home I'm a little neater 'cause I gotta deal with it.  I sell campfire wood off the front porch and get rid of a lot of my waste that way but I have an ideal location for that!

Things to consider before you start cutting:

Green lumber shrinks.  Some more than others.   All logs (with few exceptions) produce green lumber and will shrink.
How big is a 2" X 4"?  We have nominal sizes which is what you buy from the lumber store and we have actual size.  I generally cut my wood 1/8" over size to allow for shrinkage. Others us a different allowance for shrinkage, or none.  Stick with it so what you cut first matches with what you cut last.
What size are you going to make your stickers?  Decide and stay with it.  Maybe two sizes but with an obvious difference so you use the same sizes for each layer of lumber stacked for drying.  Dead stacked lumber (no stickers) will mold quickly.
Construction lumber (conifer) and furniture wood (hard woods) are graded and sized differently.  Two different sets of rules. As an example a 1" board of construction wood has a finished size of 3/4", a 1" hard wood board has a finished size of no less than 15/16" and can be a full 1".  But it depends on what the end user wants.
Many times the term "four quarter" (4/4) is used but mostly in hard woods.  A quarter is 1/4 of an inch.  Thus you can have 5/4, 6/4 and up.  Two inch is 8/4 and describes the thickness.

Thicker lumber requires longer to dry.

Lots of other terminology to pick but you will get there.
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: A.O. on February 08, 2018, 12:04:54 PM
Stevem.. First off thanks for the reply..

I have been working with wood most of my adult life so I'm familiar with lots of the terminology 4/4 6/4, 2ss , 4ss but you cant know this so thanks for pointing it out.

This whole SAWMILL part of things is what I'm learning. And lots of related stuff as well.

99% of the wood I have is Loblolly pine or Southern yellow pine. This place I bought (3 yrs ago) is actually a planted pine plantation so I have lots of nice sized saw timber , about 14-20" DBH , some might consider that small, but for me its easily handelable . I have a few hardwoods in a large riparian corridor but don't really want to cut them unless I have a GREAT plan for them. So lots of what I'll be cutting is construction lumber and siding. And probably some cabinet material.
You say you cut stuff 1/8' oversized.. you talking over nominal size yes?

Still wanting to know if I can build things like drying platforms out of green wood, or does it all need to dry first.

Again thanks for the post!

Scott
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: starmac on February 08, 2018, 02:01:33 PM
My experience is limited to just one species (white spruce) but is fine for building drying racks.

Most just cut some beams to stack lumber on, you just need to do what ever it takes to keep the lumber straight.

You also want to cover the top of your stacks, DO NOT cover the complete stack, it needs air to circulate through it.

Anything woll work to cover them, many people use old used  metal roofing , but old junk boards are sometimes used too.

I want to, and plan to eventually build some stiff heavy duty pallets  to stack lumber on, and some covers for the top that can be strapped to the pallet of lumber I put on top, all to where it is easily moved a whole pallet at a time with the forklift.

Depending on your use for the lumber, but sometimes you can easily get by using it green, right off the mill. I have built out buildings  that were built from the ground up right off the sawmill, with no problems at all, including the siding.
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: starmac on February 08, 2018, 02:26:04 PM
I forgot to mention, for bark removal, you just need to remove a small portion on the side the blade enters on. A debarker on a band mill just removes maybe a 1/4 inch directly in front of the blade, but you or at least I can not tell exactly where the blade will be entering the whole length of the log, so I remove a swath a couple of inches wide.
To tell the truth, I skip this process a lot because my logs are clean, but my blades would stay sharp longer if I didn't.
I may get banned or at least flamed for this, but depending on what you are sawing your lumber for, you can get by with green stickers, they just leave a mark on the wood. To tell the truth, most of what I have cut has never seen a sticker or really even a drying stack so far, it gets nailed up green.
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: A.O. on February 08, 2018, 08:14:45 PM
So I did a little looking around and found debarkers that go on the end of a chainsaw.. are they any good?

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01JBZXW9K/ref=asc_df_B01JBZXW9K5364191/?tag=hyprod-20&creative=394997&creativeASIN=B01JBZXW9K&linkCode=df0&hvadid=216531775325&hvpos=1o1&hvnetw=g&hvrand=10474355696444148928&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9010055&hvtargid=pla-352593080777
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: A.O. on February 08, 2018, 08:18:27 PM


AHHHHHH, I WANT MY SAW!!!! >:D

sorry... :-\
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: furu on February 08, 2018, 08:29:37 PM
Patience grasshopper
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: starmac on February 08, 2018, 08:36:45 PM
I do not think I want one of those, at least for the spruce I cut. I tend to think I can do what I need to do with a draw knife by the time I got a saw started.
A friend of mine is a custom log house builder and has 3 of those similar to what you posted. I finally remembered to ask him what he used them for and his answer was NOTHING. It turns out they didn't work well for what he had in mind. lol

There is a different style that goes on a four in" grinder, that I would like to try, but it would be on a cordless grinder.
One other thing that I do use constantly is a cordless blower, after my wife bought me one I will never be without one again, no good for bark removal, but beats the heck out of scraping or brushing sawdust off of both the boards and the mill.
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: A.O. on February 08, 2018, 08:36:56 PM
furu

(http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh136/hunt4570/SMILEYS/want.jpg) (http://s255.photobucket.com/user/hunt4570/media/SMILEYS/want.jpg.html)
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: A.O. on February 08, 2018, 08:41:20 PM
I do not think I want one of those, at least for the spruce I cut. I tend to think I can do what I need to do with a draw knife by the time I got a saw started.
A friend of mine is a custom log house builder and has 3 of those similar to what you posted. I finally remembered to ask him what he used them for and his answer was NOTHING. It turns out they didn't work well for what he had in mind. lol

There is a different style that goes on a four in" grinder, that I would like to try, but it would be on a cordless grinder.
One other thing that I do use constantly is a cordless blower, after my wife bought me one I will never be without one again, no good for bark removal, but beats the heck out of scraping or brushing sawdust off of both the boards and the mill.

Yeah, I have a gas "wheelbarrow" style air compressor that works great for that kind of thing.

Thanks for the heads up on that debarker thingamajig.. ask your buddy if he wants to sell one on the cheap.. >:D
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: drobertson on February 08, 2018, 09:20:05 PM
A.O, with your soil type down there,  and the fact that you have the grapple attachment, I would hold off on the debarker.  Having a forwarding trailer would benefit  your better, just fall the timber, buck it to length, load them up and haul to the mill deck or log pile.. Having some sawn now, you could get lucky and have the bark to start slipping,, and while its fresh on my mind, you might try and remember when bucking your logs to length, 8', 10' ect, make sure to saw them over length, 6"'s is a good number, and try to keep all your logs the same length respectively.. It makes stacking and stripping so much easier, and produces much better lumber once dried,  you will be surprised how little variations in stacking effect the out come of lumber once dried.  Now back to the soil.. sand in the bark is as bad as anything else, except its harder to see at times.  Its' very abrasive on saw teeth.
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: starmac on February 08, 2018, 09:31:04 PM
Ao, I have a service truck with a large air compressor on it I would park close to my mill and use it. My wife noticed it and also noticed a repairman on the equipment at her job using a cordless blower on ac compressors. She talked to him and decided I needed one, way handier than an air compressor and is always ready to go, it is THE one tool I will not be without at the mill now.
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: A.O. on February 09, 2018, 07:14:35 AM
A.O, with your soil type down there,  and the fact that you have the grapple attachment, I would hold off on the debarker.  Having a forwarding trailer would benefit  your better, just fall the timber, buck it to length, load them up and haul to the mill deck or log pile.. Having some sawn now, you could get lucky and have the bark to start slipping,, and while its fresh on my mind, you might try and remember when bucking your logs to length, 8', 10' ect, make sure to saw them over length, 6"'s is a good number, and try to keep all your logs the same length respectively.. It makes stacking and stripping so much easier, and produces much better lumber once dried,  you will be surprised how little variations in stacking effect the out come of lumber once dried.  Now back to the soil.. sand in the bark is as bad as anything else, except its harder to see at times.  Its' very abrasive on saw teeth.

The trailer thing, "forwarding trailer" as you call it has been part of the plan all along. I've a 20 dovetail flatbed with a 12,500# winch on the tongue if needed. I have a road all the way around my property. I can fell the trees, buck them to length, load them on the trailer, haul them to my "saw yard" and unload them and stack them there.. all with the grapple.. not much dragging at all.
I have a couple smaller trees right next to the "saw yard" (I like the sound of that) bout 6-8" diameter. I'm planning on dropping them and moving them to that yard, bucking to 20 feet or so, positioning them parallel to each other just a bit wider than my tractor tires so I can drive between them and use it for "log storage",
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: drobertson on February 09, 2018, 07:20:12 AM
Yea, I thought I remembered you mentioning that, and even better yet, if you get some down and stacked, the bark will begin to slip off, making a lot lest of a mess around the mill when sawing begins. Just remember, once that bark slips the logs will get slippery too!
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: A.O. on February 09, 2018, 07:22:03 AM
Ao, I have a service truck with a large air compressor on it I would park close to my mill and use it. My wife noticed it and also noticed a repairman on the equipment at her job using a cordless blower on ac compressors. She talked to him and decided I needed one, way handier than an air compressor and is always ready to go, it is THE one tool I will not be without at the mill now.

I've got a leaf blower, but its corded.. but it could be an option, I'll be about 75 feet from my barn.
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: A.O. on February 09, 2018, 07:23:05 AM
Yea, I thought I remembered you mentioning that, and even better yet, if you get some down and stacked, the bark will begin to slip off, making a lot lest of a mess around the mill when sawing begins. Just remember, once that bark slips the logs will get slippery too!

So how long does it take on pine for that bark to slip?
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: starmac on February 09, 2018, 11:55:13 AM
If you cut pine and let it sit long enough for the bark to slip down there, will bugs not get in it??
I know if we let our spruce sit past spring it will get  worm holes in it.

What are you going to do with your lumber, I do know pine gets what they call blue stain if left uncut for a while.
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: A.O. on February 09, 2018, 12:11:10 PM
If you cut pine and let it sit long enough for the bark to slip down there, will bugs not get in it??
I know if we let our spruce sit past spring it will get  worm holes in it.

What are you going to do with your lumber, I do know pine gets what they call blue stain if left uncut for a while.

Mainly construction lumber, outbuildings, decks ,shooting benches, docks (if I can figure out some sort of water protection) , also siding and flooring for those outbuildings. And I'm
 looking to build a set of cabinets for my kitchen. I'm not really a furniture builder but I live on a busy road and I may try to sell some picnic tables and stuff, I can set  them out on display for sale. Maybe offset the cost of this thing a little.
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: drobertson on February 09, 2018, 12:28:56 PM
The time for bark to slip off SYP varies, I was just saying this so in case you did get ahead of the game in having logs down, you would be ahead in regards to having to fell timber as you sawed, you may like that way better. My point was if it sits at some point the bark will slip, and for me this was a good thing. And yes bugs live permanently in the bark, SYP being one of the worse, once you get logs stacked up, you will soon hear the chomping from them.  From what I've experienced it takes a close to a year for the bugs to get below an inch or two.  Keep in mind I have no experience with manual mills, the time it takes to saw out logs and the such. My set up was with a fork lift and hydraulic mill. sawing out 40 logs a day was common day, some days slower, some much busier.   I figured 1500 bdft sawn by myself a good day, by this time the dust pile was getting large and needing to be moved.  Good straight logs i would get through between 15 and 20 logs before the slab rack needed emptied.  This all takes time, you will surely find the happy pace you like and need.  The blue stain in the SYP I've dealt with comes mostly from timber thats sawn well into spring and through the summer.  Many buyers wont have open markets until mid to late October thru March. (around here)  For ordinary uses, blue stain wont hurt a thing, some folks like it, in fact demand it.. After hearing that you have gum trees to get rid of, these would be on the top of my list for first logs to saw..I would make blocking for all your misc. uses. Normal sizes, like 4x6 and 6x6's for stacking lumber.  I can hardly wait to see how you handle the process, it should be fun! to watch from here!! :)
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: A.O. on February 09, 2018, 01:01:21 PM
So I have all the experience of sawing one day while also talking and getting a lesson on ways to mill from one persons point of view. He was a great help to me even though I didn't buy his Timbery mill.
That being said we cut 3 logs in about 6 hours. I'm guessing here, but I'm thinking 4-5 logs in a day would be a great day for me. Now summer is coming, and with it the South Carolina heat so that will have its effect on things also.. I'll have a better idea what a good day for me will be by my birthday or so.. so ask me in November how things are going. ;D
I'm in no great hurry to pile up tons of lumber, But instead I'm looking to learn how to do this in a safe and effective manner, and end up with quality lumber that will be of use around my place.
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: drobertson on February 09, 2018, 01:12:12 PM
 Once you get set up you will be knocking them out. And there's a good chance your sawing will be early and late in the day!
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: starmac on February 09, 2018, 02:46:56 PM
I can't take heat anymore myself, so I would probably build some type of saw shed first. I am thinking the shade would make a huge difference.

Some good and easy sellers to sell beside the road are rustic benches, and garden sheds, built to look like outhouses.  In some places small play houses or forts, bring some crazy prices too.

I have a feeling you will spend more time with the saw than you would think, it is just something about making something out of a log, that gets to you.
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: A.O. on February 10, 2018, 07:38:11 AM
I can't take heat anymore myself, so I would probably build some type of saw shed first. I am thinking the shade would make a huge difference.

Some good and easy sellers to sell beside the road are rustic benches, and garden sheds, built to look like outhouses.  In some places small play houses or forts, bring some crazy prices too.

I have a feeling you will spend more time with the saw than you would think, it is just something about making something out of a log, that gets to you.

I have one of those "pop up" 10 x 10 roof thingy's I plan on setting up over the head end till I can get some wood cut to build a structure..

I'm sure I'll be out there quite a bit.

Time will tell if and what I try to build to sell..it will be a while before I do that I'm sure.

Gotta figure this thing out first and how to run it efficiently
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: A.O. on February 14, 2018, 05:02:55 PM
Starting to set up my saw yard.

(http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh136/hunt4570/South%20Carolina/IMG_3384_zpssk2fih5e.jpg) (http://s255.photobucket.com/user/hunt4570/media/South%20Carolina/IMG_3384_zpssk2fih5e.jpg.html)

(http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh136/hunt4570/South%20Carolina/IMG_3383_zpse0gqvjty.jpg) (http://s255.photobucket.com/user/hunt4570/media/South%20Carolina/IMG_3383_zpse0gqvjty.jpg.html)
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: Ox on February 15, 2018, 10:38:26 AM
And so it begins...
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: A.O. on February 15, 2018, 12:21:39 PM
Indeed it does...
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: starmac on February 15, 2018, 03:03:32 PM
Looks like you are getting set pretty well, before long you will be happily sawing, with an ear to ear grin. lol
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: A.O. on February 15, 2018, 04:18:33 PM
Looks like you are getting set pretty well, before long you will be happily sawing, with an ear to ear grin. lol

Yes, I'm getting the lumber together to start working on the bed for the saw to sit on. I've got doubled 2x10's for the cross ties and just picked up 4-4x6's for the "runners. Tomorrow I'll half-lap the 4x6's so I can join them as one piece.. Then I'll get working on placing it on the ground and leveling it all up and pining it to the ground so it stays where I want it.... Untill I decide its in the wrong place and I move it!


(http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh136/hunt4570/South%20Carolina/IMG_3401_zpszaypl5vc.jpg) (http://s255.photobucket.com/user/hunt4570/media/South%20Carolina/IMG_3401_zpszaypl5vc.jpg.html)
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: drobertson on February 15, 2018, 05:56:48 PM
Having sawn a little was a big help for you in my mind.  You may very well move the set up several times in the course of things.  Expansion seems to be self explanatory.  If there are not many folks around you with mills, and with all the equestrian events and breeders in your very near proximity, you could find yourself a very fine nitch, whether you're looking for it or not.   I'm going to repeat this again, in regards to sawing out lumber, when you buck your logs to length, make an effort to saw them the same length, respectively. 8' 6" ect..... for your lumber needs.  It just makes lumber stacking so much neater and easier, and leaves you better quality.  Also if you have only a few 12' boards, don't put 8' on top of them,, that's dumb,  you will saw and have more 12' to put on at some point.  This goes with every length, keep them separated respectively.  If you don't, you'll soon realize why I said this.. Reduce double handling at every opportunity you can.
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: A.O. on February 15, 2018, 06:33:28 PM
Having sawn a little was a big help for you in my mind.  You may very well move the set up several times in the course of things.  Expansion seems to be self explanatory.  If there are not many folks around you with mills, and with all the equestrian events and breeders in your very near proximity, you could find yourself a very fine nitch, whether you're looking for it or not.   I'm going to repeat this again, in regards to sawing out lumber, when you buck your logs to length, make an effort to saw them the same length, respectively. 8' 6" ect..... for your lumber needs.  It just makes lumber stacking so much neater and easier, and leaves you better quality.  Also if you have only a few 12' boards, don't put 8' on top of them,, that's dumb,  you will saw and have more 12' to put on at some point.  This goes with every length, keep them separated respectively.  If you don't, you'll soon realize why I said this.. Reduce double handling at every opportunity you can.

Thanks Dave... Can I call you Dave? Or what do you prefer?

Yes that short day of playing on that mill was HUGE in my mind also. Not sure about the expansion thing, I am RETIRED and like it that way, but life has odd turns so you never really know. While looking on craigslist for a used mill it seemed rather apparent to me there are quite a few smaller mills in the area, how close I'm not really sure but lots of adds for wood, and custom cutting.
And thanks for the advice, believe me I'm trying to absorbas much as I can.
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: A.O. on February 18, 2018, 08:39:10 AM
So I have the timbers, and cross ties all machined out and cut to length getting ready for the delivery of my new mill.

I half lapped the long timbers for a good strong joint in the middle.

(http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh136/hunt4570/South%20Carolina/SAWMILL/IMG_3402_zpsr94ffrsq.jpg) (http://s255.photobucket.com/user/hunt4570/media/South%20Carolina/SAWMILL/IMG_3402_zpsr94ffrsq.jpg.html)

(http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh136/hunt4570/South%20Carolina/SAWMILL/IMG_3404_zpsqmfoaeh3.jpg) (http://s255.photobucket.com/user/hunt4570/media/South%20Carolina/SAWMILL/IMG_3404_zpsqmfoaeh3.jpg.html)

(http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh136/hunt4570/South%20Carolina/SAWMILL/IMG_3403_zpsynnqgueb.jpg) (http://s255.photobucket.com/user/hunt4570/media/South%20Carolina/SAWMILL/IMG_3403_zpsynnqgueb.jpg.html)

So here is the bed all cut up and ready to go (still have to cut the rebar in half)

(http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh136/hunt4570/South%20Carolina/SAWMILL/IMG_3408_zpswfyxn4qe.jpg) (http://s255.photobucket.com/user/hunt4570/media/South%20Carolina/SAWMILL/IMG_3408_zpswfyxn4qe.jpg.html)

Now I just have to figure out the exact placement for it, set it up, level it, and pin it to the ground.. and I'll be ready for the saw!

Getting excited... or can you tell?  ;D
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: drobertson on February 18, 2018, 09:06:40 AM
Yes that looks like you are getting ready!  And it is getting ever so close now!  I will say, I would have been more inclined to orient those timbers the other way,,,putting the height of your base at 5-1/2" up,  which would give you more strength for when you load up heavier logs, but it looks good just the same. If any issues arise in the form of sagging or the likes you can make the necessary adjustments as required. 
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: A.O. on February 18, 2018, 10:03:45 AM
Yes that looks like you are getting ready!  And it is getting ever so close now!  I will say, I would have been more inclined to orient those timbers the other way,,,putting the height of your base at 5-1/2" up,  which would give you more strength for when you load up heavier logs, but it looks good just the same. If any issues arise in the form of sagging or the likes you can make the necessary adjustments as required.

I was just thinking a larger bearing surface for the pads of the saw to sit on. I can always stand them on edge.. Once I glue and screw the half laps together it wont make a difference. And I can always make a couple more pads to go underneath.

According to the instructions that come with the saw there are only the pads, no longitudinal runners. I was wanting something to tie them all together. Hence my alteration. Not sure I would ever get that large a log anyway.
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: starmac on February 18, 2018, 01:46:21 PM
Chances are, once you get set up and running, you will want to tweak it to better fit you. I would almost bet you will eventually have it knee high or better.
I would think the mill is built, so that your timbers would be sufficient running across the mill instead of lengthwise.

I hope you have better luck with those treated timbers than I did with the last ones I bought, they wound up twisting so bad, I doubt I could cut a good 2x4 out of the 4x6's. lol
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: A.O. on February 18, 2018, 01:51:23 PM
Oh I'm sure I'll tweak it, maybe move it, who knows...
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: starmac on February 18, 2018, 02:35:34 PM
Just saw a deal for you on craigslist.
A hudson oscar, 16 horse electric start, with another spare 16 horse engine, electric lift on the saw head and 60 brand new bands (blades) for the whole sum of 3,000 bucks.

Shoot man you need an Alaska vacation anyway, come grab that thing. lol
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: A.O. on February 18, 2018, 03:08:01 PM
Just saw a deal for you on craigslist.
A hudson oscar, 16 horse electric start, with another spare 16 horse engine, electric lift on the saw head and 60 brand new bands (blades) for the whole sum of 3,000 bucks.

Shoot man you need an Alaska vacation anyway, come grab that thing. lol

Thanks, already spent my money! Would love an Alaska vacation!

EDIT: I should have said... Wood love an Alaskan vacation! ;D
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: starmac on February 18, 2018, 03:15:10 PM
Yea, I was just kidding, that is not a bad deal including the bands though, I bet it goes fairly quick.
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: A.O. on February 18, 2018, 03:26:55 PM
Yea, I was just kidding, that is not a bad deal including the bands though, I bet it goes fairly quick.

Sounds like a great deal! Wish I could have found something like that reasonably close when I was looking.
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: drobertson on February 18, 2018, 04:02:22 PM
After considering what starmac mentioned, you might be better off with them laid out wide ways, and then have another support beam that goes cross ways inline with the adjusting feet.  After I got to thinking about cleaning out from underneath you will want to be able to pull the debris out with little to no obstacles in the way.  And there will be debris, and raking and all that other fun stuff,,
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: A.O. on February 18, 2018, 04:26:11 PM
After considering what starmac mentioned, you might be better off with them laid out wide ways, and then have another support beam that goes cross ways inline with the adjusting feet.  After I got to thinking about cleaning out from underneath you will want to be able to pull the debris out with little to no obstacles in the way.  And there will be debris, and raking and all that other fun stuff,,

Seems like if I added the other crosspieces on top there would be more obstacles in the way of raking... RAKING??? Oh no, I ain't doing any raking!! Nobody said anything about raking when I started this adventure!!!! >:D >:D
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: starmac on February 18, 2018, 04:39:03 PM
Seems like if I added the other crosspieces on top there would be more obstacles in the way of raking... RAKING??? Oh no, I ain't doing any raking!! Nobody said anything about raking when I started this adventure!!!! >:D >:D

Better be thinking about putting wheels under it. lol
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: A.O. on February 18, 2018, 04:42:03 PM
Better be thinking about putting wheels under it. lol

Down the road maybe...
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: drobertson on February 19, 2018, 08:01:30 AM
I know for a fact there was a few times that I did hook up and pull mine out!  That's one of the few reasons I mentioned the bark slipping off the pine.. you will have to rake out below the mill deck, and honestly doing it every day at the end of the day is the best way to handle it.  My last job was 20,000 bdft SYP job, just before my most recent back surgery, at the very end I did pull the mill out, and box bladed the mess. Had most of of the bark not slipped in the yard before decking the logs, it would have been much worse. You see, the pine bark will spoon together mixed with a little saw dust, then factor in some moist even rainy days, and before you know it, it becomes an animal, alive, growing by leaps and bounds daily, until it attacks, the fight is a fierce one, but with perseverance, you can prevail.  Wow, I just relived one of the many battles,  :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: yea, you will want to clean daily, 
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: A.O. on February 19, 2018, 01:42:05 PM
So what do you guys think. I'm sure you have all set up saws before. Doubled 2x10's for pads, 4x6 timbers on top. Its square and level in all directions.
All I have left is to screw it together (pads at already screwed together from top and bottom) and once I have it screwed together I'll drill holes through each junction and drive a 2 foot piece of rebar through the joints and into the ground to keep it from shifting.

(http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh136/hunt4570/South%20Carolina/SAWMILL/IMG_3420_zpskktqnurg.jpg) (http://s255.photobucket.com/user/hunt4570/media/South%20Carolina/SAWMILL/IMG_3420_zpskktqnurg.jpg.html)

(http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh136/hunt4570/South%20Carolina/SAWMILL/IMG_3419_zpsg1avprwj.jpg) (http://s255.photobucket.com/user/hunt4570/media/South%20Carolina/SAWMILL/IMG_3419_zpsg1avprwj.jpg.html)

(http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh136/hunt4570/South%20Carolina/SAWMILL/IMG_3418_zps21wzlcez.jpg) (http://s255.photobucket.com/user/hunt4570/media/South%20Carolina/SAWMILL/IMG_3418_zps21wzlcez.jpg.html)

(http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh136/hunt4570/South%20Carolina/SAWMILL/IMG_3421_zpsk9axhvru.jpg) (http://s255.photobucket.com/user/hunt4570/media/South%20Carolina/SAWMILL/IMG_3421_zpsk9axhvru.jpg.html)
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: starmac on February 19, 2018, 02:27:41 PM
I am not sure the best way to handle it, I have a woodmizer, so it doesn't have to actually be level, just mainly supported.  I would think you will need to keep it where you will be able to shim it, as it will constantly settle in one place or other for a while, with use.
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: A.O. on February 19, 2018, 02:35:38 PM
The mill I bought has adjustable feet/pads on the tracks to level them up. When I am sure on placement I'll probably pour a pad for it.

http://www.woodmaxx.com/SM_26_Portable_Saw_Mill_p/sm-26.htm
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: starmac on February 19, 2018, 03:03:05 PM
Well duh, that makes sense. lol

I would think you will want the adjustable pads to sit right above, or at least very close to the supports under your runners.
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: A.O. on February 19, 2018, 03:32:10 PM
Well duh, that makes sense. lol

I would think you will want the adjustable pads to sit right above, or at least very close to the supports under your runners.

Yeah, and if I have to I can always add more cross ties.
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: starmac on February 19, 2018, 06:10:56 PM
You have a good start right now, much better prepared than I was for sure, in fact I still have not got a good permanent spot to set up, and to have as much good useable room as you have there is pretty much not going to happen.
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: A.O. on February 19, 2018, 06:43:57 PM
You have a good start right now, much better prepared than I was for sure, in fact I still have not got a good permanent spot to set up, and to have as much good useable room as you have there is pretty much not going to happen.

Oh, I'd guess this isn't the "permanent" placement for it...
But its a start...
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: starmac on February 19, 2018, 08:48:01 PM
Looks like a good start through my eyes.
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: furu on February 20, 2018, 01:46:40 AM
You have a real good start on what you want. 
Will you modify it or change it, probably, but nothing survives as we think it will. 
It is an iterative process of constant improvement.

I would guess that you are way ahead of the average mill purchaser in planning and preparing for the big day. 
Congratulations on great prior planning.
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: A.O. on February 20, 2018, 06:29:11 AM
You have a real good start on what you want. 
Will you modify it or change it, probably, but nothing survives as we think it will. 
It is an iterative process of constant improvement.

I would guess that you are way ahead of the average mill purchaser in planning and preparing for the big day. 
Congratulations on great prior planning.

Thanks, I just want it to be an adventure, not a project if that makes sense..  And I have some time on my hands to get ready...
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: starmac on February 20, 2018, 12:48:50 PM
Personally, I think you are having way too much fun, seeing as you have not even got your mill in your possession yet. lol
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: A.O. on February 20, 2018, 01:42:24 PM
Personally, I think you are having way too much fun, seeing as you have not even got your mill in your possession yet. lol

Killing time man, killing time!
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: A.O. on February 25, 2018, 10:11:30 AM
Talked to Woodmaxx, they say they assemble these one at a time to order, looks like 1st week of march arrival time.

So.... starting to stock up ;-)

(http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh136/hunt4570/South%20Carolina/SAWMILL/IMG_3441_zpsqccyzl0w.jpg) (http://s255.photobucket.com/user/hunt4570/media/South%20Carolina/SAWMILL/IMG_3441_zpsqccyzl0w.jpg.html)
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: furu on February 25, 2018, 10:44:10 AM
I am jealous of what you have going there. So well organized and so many nice looking logs all prepared and waiting.
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: A.O. on February 25, 2018, 10:58:31 AM
I am jealous of what you have going there. So well organized and so many nice looking logs all prepared and waiting.

Thanks, I went out the other day and cut down 2 trees, it gave me 11 logs, 9-8 footers and 2-12 footers maybe 12-18" diameter.

(http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh136/hunt4570/South%20Carolina/SAWMILL/IMG_3438_zpsuavr3mbu.jpg) (http://s255.photobucket.com/user/hunt4570/media/South%20Carolina/SAWMILL/IMG_3438_zpsuavr3mbu.jpg.html)

Learning a bit on handling with out tearing them up to badly, but the grapple marks on the outside aren't too awful deep anyhow.

See the woods in the background? That's what I have to work with.
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: starmac on February 25, 2018, 08:35:03 PM
Looking GOOD, shoot the only thing I see wrong is everything isn't white. lol

You are way ahead of where I was when I got my mill for sure.

I Have a trailer just about exactly like yours, I do not like it for hauling logs, and I bet it isn't too long before yours looks a little different in the fender department. lol
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: A.O. on February 25, 2018, 08:53:19 PM
Looking GOOD, shoot the only thing I see wrong is everything isn't white. lol

You are way ahead of where I was when I got my mill for sure.

I Have a trailer just about exactly like yours, I do not like it for hauling logs, and I bet it isn't too long before yours looks a little different in the fender department. lol

We, on purpose, moved OUT of the snow belt, after being stuck in colorado for 7 LONG years, If I never see snow again in my life it will be too soon! But that's me.

Yeah, I already dinged one of the fenders a bit, then I cut some stakes for the stake pockets to guard them a bit.

And its all I have to haul logs right now, but its just from somewhere else on the property to my little saw yard.. for now.
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: starmac on February 26, 2018, 11:43:38 AM
I hauled one load on mine, I don't know why I had a better trailer for logs, I guess it was just the handiest one. I didn't ding it, but it was a pain and slow getting some of the logs off with my forklift.
I have since traded for a flatbed truck with a dump, more better. lol
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: A.O. on February 26, 2018, 12:46:27 PM
I hauled one load on mine, I don't know why I had a better trailer for logs, I guess it was just the handiest one. I didn't ding it, but it was a pain and slow getting some of the logs off with my forklift.
I have since traded for a flatbed truck with a dump, more better. lol

Yeah, I would think way better.. But this is just a "hobby" for me.. some stuff I'll have do do with what I have. And I can see how the forklift would be a pain for unloading. My grapple makes it a little easier..

And when I'm hauling a load, its from the back of my property to the front is all..

Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: starmac on February 26, 2018, 02:20:23 PM
Yea, grapple makes it a whole different ball game, we loaded mine with a log loader (grapple) and the top logs were no problem, to balance the logs on the forks, I had to lift up one end of the logs and block them high enough to get the forks over the fenders.

Mine is just a hobby too, I am just lazy. lol
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: A.O. on February 26, 2018, 02:52:34 PM
Yea, grapple makes it a whole different ball game, we loaded mine with a log loader (grapple) and the top logs were no problem, to balance the logs on the forks, I had to lift up one end of the logs and block them high enough to get the forks over the fenders.

Mine is just a hobby too, I am just lazy. lol

My tractor has a QR set up on the loader, I have a bucket and the grapple right now, but I'm in the market for a set of pallet forks. I'm thinking they would be invaluable for moving stacks of lumber.

And look at all those trees in the background I need to harvest! ;-)


(http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh136/hunt4570/South%20Carolina/SAWMILL/IMG_3183_zpsa3skx35t.jpg) (http://s255.photobucket.com/user/hunt4570/media/South%20Carolina/SAWMILL/IMG_3183_zpsa3skx35t.jpg.html)
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: starmac on February 26, 2018, 03:03:03 PM
You will want pallet forks for sure, and with the qr, it will be sweet.
If it doesn't leak down or curl, like most loaders, you may even want to leave it parked next to the mill with the forks at your desired height and stack lumber offf the mill directly on the forks, I find this to be a labor saver with the forklift.
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: A.O. on February 26, 2018, 03:07:03 PM
You will want pallet forks for sure, and with the qr, it will be sweet.
If it doesn't leak down or curl, like most loaders, you may even want to leave it parked next to the mill with the forks at your desired height and stack lumber offf the mill directly on the forks, I find this to be a labor saver with the forklift.

I was looking for a leak last summer, filled the bucket with sand and left it up for two days, no problem.
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: starmac on February 26, 2018, 04:09:22 PM
Well, if you are lazy like I am, you will likely wind up parking it to off load boards off the mill onto, saves handling them one time. If I ever wind up building the pallets I want to, it will save two steps as long as I am cutting the same product.
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: A.O. on February 26, 2018, 04:47:51 PM
Well, if you are lazy like I am, you will likely wind up parking it to off load boards off the mill onto, saves handling them one time. If I ever wind up building the pallets I want to, it will save two steps as long as I am cutting the same product.

So here's my idea. Build small "drying platforms" on say stubbie 6x6 legs. I could set it next to the saw to offload on to it. If I'm cutting 2x4's, or 2x6s, 5/4 stuff... whatever.. I could move the appropriate platform to the saw side, when I go to cut something else.. move that one out of the way and move another one in. When they get too full to move easy, set it of to the side somewhere to dry and build another..
I know I'm thinking too much. ::)
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: starmac on February 26, 2018, 06:32:20 PM
Pretty close to what I want to do, but except for legs, make them in the form of pallets of different lengths, to fit what I am cutting. I want to make them extra heavy duty so they will not distort and will be stackable.
I would like to be able to stack at least 2 pallets, maybe 3.
I also have in mind to make some lighter pallets with a sort of gable  frame to strap to the top pallet with a tarp just to cover the tarp, Because I have no plans to build a drying shed.
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: A.O. on February 26, 2018, 06:56:29 PM
I was just thinking the legs (6" - a foot is all) would keep the wood off the ground a little better for air flow and be easy to pickup with forks. They would be built like little "decks" without the decking.
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: starmac on February 26, 2018, 09:16:12 PM
That would work. I intend to have some beams running across every two feet on the ground that will keep the pallets up, and runners acroess the pallets in the same places, to keep from any distortion, and stacking them would hold the lumber down, it would be just like another sticker only bigger.
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: drobertson on February 27, 2018, 06:51:39 AM
Two foot between works out pretty good.  Seeing how most lumber that's sawn and stacked will be on the even numbers.  This would require 5 sticks for 8' lumber 6 sticks for 10', and 7 sticks for 12' lumber, ect...The main thing I've noticed in the short 10 years of sawing, is keeping the lumber the same length respectively.  As well as keeping the stickers in line vertically. Once the lumber starts stacking up, the weight of it adds up too.  Just a little bit  of misaligned stickers adds to some bowed up boards, and usually this bow is kinda permanent of a thing once dried.
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: A.O. on February 27, 2018, 07:20:12 AM
So 2 foot apart isn't to far for stickers? I was going to do 16 inches, but that's my construction background. 2 feet would save me wood, screws, and stickers..

Thanks for the tip on sticker alignment, I've always staggered them a bit as to not sandwich moisture in-between them, but then I've only dealt with lumber yard wood , and it wasn't very critical. What you said there makes a lot of sense.
 
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: drobertson on February 27, 2018, 08:03:11 AM
well they can go as close as 12"  seems like 18" is a common spacing for higher end lumber. my main point is to keep stickers close to the ends of the lumber and keep the stickers over the one below it.  And yes it takes a lot of stickers, it seems like at somewhere I and others mentioned that its really the first thing one with a mill needs to saw out, as well as blocking for stacking.  And whatever you do, make sure you use a good butt end or a second cut log for making the sticks, knot free as possible, you'll see what knots do when drying if you have them, let them air out. Keeping these straight is equally as important, they are what your lumber will be sitting on.
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: A.O. on February 27, 2018, 08:06:55 AM
So... how to keep them straight while they are drying?
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: drobertson on February 27, 2018, 09:44:04 AM
make a little base and stack them like  Lincoln  logs, allowing an air flow, one inch sticks will dry quickly enough to then put them in a framed up holder. You could just flat stack them, but they will mold when you do it this way. Mold may not be an issue, it knocks off after usage even though it does stain the wood.  Fact is you will have to deal with mold on your lumber too, that SYP and all that moisture will grow some beautiful mold in brilliant colors of green and shades of black and grey,  :laugh:
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: A.O. on February 28, 2018, 06:56:33 AM
Thanks
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: A.O. on March 02, 2018, 04:44:36 PM
YAY.. Got my shipping notice today!!
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: furu on March 02, 2018, 09:03:21 PM
How much time for the shippers to deliver?  How often do you do an "online tracking check" to see where it is?
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: A.O. on March 03, 2018, 06:13:26 AM
How much time for the shippers to deliver?  How often do you do an "online tracking check" to see where it is?

Should be here mid-next week.

I checked 9 times yesterday afternoon, and 3 times so far this morning.. its still in New York! (http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh136/hunt4570/SMILEYS/laughing_smileface1.gif) (http://s255.photobucket.com/user/hunt4570/media/SMILEYS/laughing_smileface1.gif.html)
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: A.O. on March 03, 2018, 06:16:10 AM
So I'm looking for a set of forks for my loader.. how wide do you guys stack your lumber piles?

I had come up with an arbitrary number of 4 foot wide, but looking at a lot of lumber piles out there I'm not thinking they are that wide. Maybe all I need is like 3 foot forks???
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: Stevem on March 03, 2018, 10:08:13 AM
I'd opt for longer forks just for the reach.  With the shorter forks you have to get closer to what ever you want to lift and sometimes you just can't or don't want do that.  As to wider most have adjustable width capability.
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: A.O. on March 03, 2018, 10:37:56 AM
I'd opt for longer forks just for the reach.  With the shorter forks you have to get closer to what ever you want to lift and sometimes you just can't or don't want do that.  As to wider most have adjustable width capability.

Thanks, A couple people have told me the same thing. Wasn't even thinking about reach, but that makes perfect sense!
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: furu on March 03, 2018, 01:53:46 PM
I can think of no downside to the longer forks except maybe maneuverability.   
Not having the extra length can be something that you wished you had many times. 
Money diferential does not seem that much, at least when I have priced the difference as I am in the market as well.
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: drobertson on March 03, 2018, 05:51:32 PM
I would get the 4' forks if I had to do again,  I made my stickers 42 inches long, which made the lumber stacks 42" wide.  I'm not sure what the standard is, I do know the reason for my 42" number was so that my bundles would fit into a dip tank at the flooring mill I sold to. And later found that 42" works on loading semi's too. Other folks may have some better input and ideas for you.
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: starmac on March 03, 2018, 10:22:12 PM
48 inch pallets work well on semis, they need to be touching in the middle and on 99% of the trailers anymore that leaves you three inches of trailer on each side, flush with the rest.
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: A.O. on March 04, 2018, 08:16:50 AM
Again, Remember this is just a personal use endeavor. Cannot imagine having to load or unload any semis.(other than when my mill shows up!) Mostly moving drying decks around in the yard depending on what I'm cutting. And maybe eventually loading and unloading a solar drying shed or something.
My only fear is getting forks to big for my 37hp Kubota.. not sure how much weight difference there is, but I know leverage can work against me if stuff is too far out there.
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: starmac on March 04, 2018, 01:22:11 PM
The weight thing is real, some folks leave their bucket on and just hang forks on the front of them, and I have run big commercial cat loaders that would not handle as much as a farm tractor like that.

Another thing is the longer they are, the more they move side  to side, too far out there on a loader, which is already out there it can sometimes be a pain trying to work in a tight place, every little movement of the wheel is multiplied considerably.
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: A.O. on March 04, 2018, 02:26:35 PM
The weight thing is real, some folks leave their bucket on and just hang forks on the front of them, and I have run big commercial cat loaders that would not handle as much as a farm tractor like that.

Another thing is the longer they are, the more they move side  to side, too far out there on a loader, which is already out there it can sometimes be a pain trying to work in a tight place, every little movement of the wheel is multiplied considerably.

I'm not looking to get those forks that go on the loader bucket, just the quick change ones that go on instead of the bucket, or grapple.
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: drobertson on March 04, 2018, 02:40:21 PM
I'll add one more thought to ponder, and it's basically a simple one, from a stacking stand point. stacking 4' wider or the 42" wide whatever is just easier for me from one side of the stack.  Its' a manageable stack, it has a good solid foot print for going up,  and its pretty much an industry standard, (for some reason or other), so for these reasons alone I stuck with it. I had a customer that liked going wider, I always told myself it just made him feel like he had more lumber, I really never asked him, I like the part that it makes great weight when you do have to go up, in aiding in weighting down the lower stack.  Stacking heights in regards to layers is another question. How many layers before beginning a new stack?  A lot of this has to do with the lift capacity of what's going to be lifting the load. Just a little figuring of the weight per bdft will help in deciding this.
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: A.O. on March 04, 2018, 02:55:36 PM
Makes sense, I'm thinking of trying some different sized stacks Maybe 3-4 feet wide and see what works for me. I'm even thinking a narrower stack may dry quicker given the same height of stack. All boards would be closer to the outside of the stack, yes.. or just overthinking again?   ;D ;D
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: drobertson on March 04, 2018, 03:34:48 PM
yea it seems like that would put more air to more boards.  Just not sure on how high you would want to go, three feet was as narrow as I would go for stacking, and this was stack of 12" wide stock I did however do some single stacks of wider stock wide stuff, I mean wide stuff like 15" to over 20" stuff,, and this was mainly due to not having that many, and wanting to keep weight on them, so I just stacked them up. ended up moving again and again, so this lends itself to that double handling crap that I just really am not a fan. The 42" width stack just worked well for me, it was stable, it worked out well for most all rough sawn width dimensions, in that tallying was made easier, (for me) ect. it really don't matter, just what works for you.
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: A.O. on March 04, 2018, 05:50:39 PM
Yep, and I'm sure I'll go back and forth a bit till I figure stuff out.
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: A.O. on March 06, 2018, 02:04:07 PM
So I took a 2 hour each way drive today and got a set of 4' forks... I "think" I am ready for my saw delivery day after tomorrow!

(http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh136/hunt4570/South%20Carolina/IMG_3473_zpsnohuasqs.jpg) (http://s255.photobucket.com/user/hunt4570/media/South%20Carolina/IMG_3473_zpsnohuasqs.jpg.html)

(http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh136/hunt4570/South%20Carolina/IMG_3474_zps6hdza6r1.jpg) (http://s255.photobucket.com/user/hunt4570/media/South%20Carolina/IMG_3474_zps6hdza6r1.jpg.html)

Now I just have to learn to use them smoothly! ;-)
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: drobertson on March 06, 2018, 02:08:39 PM
Man them there are some kind of sweet!  how much, and where did you have to go for two hours of driving?
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: A.O. on March 06, 2018, 02:13:11 PM
Man them there are some kind of sweet!  how much, and where did you have to go for two hours of driving?

Hold your hat! $500 cash!! ouch... Brand new..

About an hour north of Charlotte, Lexington NC Not too bad a drive.. took the scenic rout home, 85 going into Charlotte was a parking lot.. major construction and rain,

EDIT TO ADD: I guess really not that expensive for what they are.. just for how my wallet is! :o
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: drobertson on March 06, 2018, 03:10:18 PM
Price is good I reckon, there use to be  a tractor place in Florence, my dad and uncle use to go get all kinds of this and thats at a good price, not sure the name, they carry bout everything known to farming and such just for the future record, it'd be a fair piece easier than going to Charlotte,  either way you are way ahead of the game now, looking right fit in there,
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: A.O. on March 06, 2018, 03:21:23 PM
Price is good I reckon, there use to be  a tractor place in Florence, my dad and uncle use to go get all kinds of this and thats at a good price, not sure the name, they carry bout everything known to farming and such just for the future record, it'd be a fair piece easier than going to Charlotte,  either way you are way ahead of the game now, looking right fit in there,

Agri supply is of what you speak in Florence. I go there on occasion.  And yes. lots of tractor and farming stuff, not too much on the Skid Steer type stuff which this is. Kinda like Harbor Freight, you really need to pay attention to what you are buying. They have good stuff, and not so good stuff.

And yes, I'm bout set for this new adventure.... and that's good, cause I've spent all my money, and then some!
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: drobertson on March 06, 2018, 04:27:07 PM
Ten four, that's it, could not remember, Dad, and Uncle Pat use to go, mainly for the (bro) time I think, brother in laws getting away for the day!  man I can hardly wait to see you getting in the dust,,
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: starmac on March 06, 2018, 04:58:50 PM
You are probably as prepared to have your first mill as anybody I ever knew of.
Makes me laugh, thinking about the day I finally brought mine home. I backed it in the truck shop to service it, well finished that so decided to unhook it and learn the easiest way to set it up , well once I had it set up, I'm thinking I should at least saw something, so now I find an old piece of 4x4 dunnage and saw it up. My friend and neighbor was here drooling, so then we went and consfiscated a couple of small firewood logs.

The biggest thing I learned, was this was not rocket science, and never saw in your shop, it takes forever to get all the sawdust out.
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: A.O. on March 06, 2018, 05:06:00 PM
You are probably as prepared to have your first mill as anybody I ever knew of.
Makes me laugh, thinking about the day I finally brought mine home. I backed it in the truck shop to service it, well finished that so decided to unhook it and learn the easiest way to set it up , well once I had it set up, I'm thinking I should at least saw something, so now I find an old piece of 4x4 dunnage and saw it up. My friend and neighbor was here drooling, so then we went and consfiscated a couple of small firewood logs.

The biggest thing I learned, was this was not rocket science, and never saw in your shop, it takes forever to get all the sawdust out.

"You are probably as prepared to have your first mill as anybody I ever knew of." THATS BECAUSE I HAVE BEEN WAITING SO DAMN LONG!!   >:D >:D :angel:

Got a big dust collector in my shop.. but no room.

I understand cutting up whatever you could find just to try it out.

SO.. what was your first mill?
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: starmac on March 06, 2018, 06:41:35 PM
It was, is a LT40 hydraulic.

It is an older one with the 24 horse onan, but it does very well. In 96 they did some upgrades tat would be nice, but at the end of the day their would not be a lot of difference in what I could do, and none as far as quality, s I will stick with my old one.

If I was 10 years or so younger, I would probably upgrade, and maybe try making a mill pay, as it is I do not run commercially, and doubt I will.
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: furu on March 07, 2018, 12:35:20 AM
Yes I have to agree you are definitely ready and waiting.  Can't wait to hear from you on Thursday when it arrives.
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: A.O. on March 07, 2018, 06:14:35 AM
If I was 10 years or so younger, I would probably upgrade, and maybe try making a mill pay, as it is I do not run commercially, and doubt I will.

??? But I thought you were working on a 3 year contract to do some cutting with it... is that not running it commercially??
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: A.O. on March 07, 2018, 06:39:57 AM
Yes I have to agree you are definitely ready and waiting.  Can't wait to hear from you on Thursday when it arrives.

Cant wait to hear from me on Thursday either!
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: starmac on March 07, 2018, 01:03:19 PM
??? But I thought you were working on a 3 year contract to do some cutting with it... is that not running it commercially??

Yes it is I guess, but the mill is not the contract either, The contract is the timber cutting, and the mill is just to help out with cutting some large dunnage for the camp units we have to set up and some bridge decking. I had mis understood too, we will just use it the first year. My truck has stay there the whole three years, but I have since  found out that there is a way I can bring the mill back after the first season, I didn't know that was going to be possible.

Also while it is commercial it isn't in a way too, and I have now made a deal where no money will change hands for it's use, but it actually pays me too, if that makes sense.
The mill will probably work less than 2 or 3 weeks out of the 8 month gig, nothing I would buy a new mill over.
Also my mill has the full hydraulics, the only real difference in it and a new one, is some improvements on the toeboards  and the log clamp, it is pretty much as easy to use, just not quite as fast as a new one , especially a super 40 or bigger.  mine has no setworks either, I don't need or really want them for what I do, but If I was making lumber everyday for the public I would want them.
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: drobertson on March 07, 2018, 04:18:31 PM
 If I were going that remote, I would not want anything computer related either
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: starmac on March 07, 2018, 04:56:23 PM
To be honest I really do not care to have them even right here in fairbanks. We do have a woodmizer dealer, and I like him for what little I have talked to him, but only one and he is 370 miles from here, so I just do not really want anything I would need any type of outside support to keep running. It is one of them great till it breaks types of deals, and since I am not high production oriented with the mill, It is not a must have.

I had not run a mechanical engine in any of my trucks since 99, till I bought a log truck, now I am in the slow process of building another one that is older with a mechanical engine, I do not care for computers in the woods, and they are not needed.

The log scales on my truck is a prime example, I can order them here, but there is not really a dealer in Alaska, and no one in the state to work on them when needed, luckily the manufacturer will stay on the phone with you to try and diagnose problems, but I wish I just didn't have to have them to start with, will not need them at the remote site, won't even need tags or tie down gear either, some aspects of it is right up my alley. lol
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: A.O. on March 07, 2018, 05:19:27 PM
Yes it is I guess, but the mill is not the contract either, The contract is the timber cutting, and the mill is just to help out with cutting some large dunnage for the camp units we have to set up and some bridge decking. I had mis understood too, we will just use it the first year. My truck has stay there the whole three years, but I have since  found out that there is a way I can bring the mill back after the first season, I didn't know that was going to be possible.

Also while it is commercial it isn't in a way too, and I have now made a deal where no money will change hands for it's use, but it actually pays me too, if that makes sense.
The mill will probably work less than 2 or 3 weeks out of the 8 month gig, nothing I would buy a new mill over.
Also my mill has the full hydraulics, the only real difference in it and a new one, is some improvements on the toeboards  and the log clamp, it is pretty much as easy to use, just not quite as fast as a new one , especially a super 40 or bigger.  mine has no setworks either, I don't need or really want them for what I do, but If I was making lumber everyday for the public I would want them.

Ok.. but explain "setworks" to a complete rookie..
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: starmac on March 07, 2018, 06:38:06 PM
Since I have never used one, DR or some of the others can give you a much better run down on the, but the basics is you program your cuts in it and it automatically runs your head to the right cutting depth. Some have more features and memory than others and are super nice if one is in it for high production, depending on what he is cutting ofcourse.
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: furu on March 08, 2018, 02:26:55 AM
I think of setworks as being a mechanical (analog) to digital interface and back to mechanical (analog).  Mechanical measurement of the head position, a digital calculation of where the head needs to be moved for the next cut, and then a mechanical movement to the new position and then feedback to the computer to verify the head is where it should be.

Benefits.  Fast set up for each cut.  Consistent and precise boards every time (if it is working correctly and you understand its programing)
Another thing to break (another electronic device to fail).

I am not all knowing in how all of them work.
What I do know is:
-  One well know manufacturer's setworks calculates from the top down as it sets the head for each cut. 
-  Another well known manufacturer's setworks calculates from the bottom up to set the head for each cut.

Each has its good and bad points of function in my opinion. 

The one will allow you to change the thickness as you work down the cant leaving potentially something of odd sized thickness at the bottom.
The other is pretty much stuck with the one thickness of cut throughout the cant unless you want to have a piece of odd thickness scrap each time you change the thickness as it recalculated where the next cut is based on measuring up from where  the bottom of the cant is.
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: mountainlake on March 08, 2018, 04:22:07 AM

 The new TK mills will cut from the top down or from the deck with the flip of a switch.  My B20 cuts from the top down and my brothers older TK 2000 cuts from the deck, I like  the B20 setworks better as I can change the board thickness from 1 cut to the next as needed which I do a lot but if cutting all the same size the 2000 setworks works good.  The new TK mills would be the best .Steve
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: drobertson on March 08, 2018, 06:53:29 AM
I've heard that the TimberKing mills are worth a good hard look. Never been around one, so I cannot offer any insights good or bad..On the WMZ mills I can a offer some, and especially in regards to the Accuset works.  My basic points of interest regarding the Accuset models are ones of a Love, Hate.  When they work they are unbeatable. From the Auto down, Auto up, to the pattern modes, which work if you will from the deck up, leaving the desired cant size., The problem arises when they fail, for one reason or other.  They leave you stuck as a boat with no prop. And the fix is expensive, not only in parts but in downtime as well.
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: starmac on March 08, 2018, 03:56:41 PM
I don't know about better or best, it does seem like everyone that owns a timber king likes it, and I know several that have upgraded and stayed with them. They do look like a quality built mill,and sure seem to hold their value going by asking prices for used ones that I have seen.
All that said, the only thing I really knew about sawmills when I bought mine is I wanted one, but I like my old woodmizer, and would probably stay with them if I upgraded too.
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: drobertson on March 08, 2018, 06:08:07 PM
You know me too, I know in the past I've cast a dim light on WMZ from time to time, the only issue I ever had was with the Accuset, and they (wmz) actually did by it pretty good for me, if you don't count the down time.  I had the Cat 51 diesel, and it may have just had too much vibration for the H-bridge and components.  I will say for the times and it was most of the time, it ran like a  top.  Fact is I wish I had never sold it, but two back surgeries kinda wrote that prescription.  I can hardly wait to see how our buddy A.O. does with his mill.  If he listens to good advice concerning blades he should be a very happy camper.
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: A.O. on March 09, 2018, 06:54:30 AM
TODAY.. Right after lunch they say for delivery...

And the Woodmaxx SM26e didn't have the setworks option!!  ;-)
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: Stevem on March 09, 2018, 10:37:35 AM
FWIW
First mill I bought was a Lucas 8".  Reasons that prevailed were the size of log it would cut (I've cut a 72" log with it), mobility, and price!

Second mill I bought was a TimberKing 1600:  Reasons that prevailed were the depth and width of cut, and entry level hydraulics (getting old). Price was a consideration for sure but not prevailing.  Tech support has been absolutely great.

One hell of a learning curve going from a wheel saw to a band mill which I didn't anticipate.  The Lucas is a simple machine compared to the TK and probably any band mill.

One thing TK didn't tell was that the addition of the mud saw loses two inches of width of cut and the "toe" board on the 1600 is a joke.

Reason I didn't buy a Woodmizer was the lack of depth and width (compared to the TK) of cut and rumored electrical problems with two personal contacts on the LT70.
 
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: A.O. on March 09, 2018, 12:26:20 PM
ITS HERE, ITS HERE!!

So the truck just showed up, Glad I got those pallet forks, just in time I might add.
Nothing much to report yet , but I took some picks to start. Most of these things (mills) that I've seen come in a carboard box on a pallet. This one came in a shipping crate, the carraige comes fully assembled.. now to put the track together and get everything set up.. wish me luck.
Here's pics... Bear with me, I'm excited and having fun!

(http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh136/hunt4570/South%20Carolina/SAWMILL/IMG_3486_zpslgzhuibq.jpg) (http://s255.photobucket.com/user/hunt4570/media/South%20Carolina/SAWMILL/IMG_3486_zpslgzhuibq.jpg.html)

(http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh136/hunt4570/South%20Carolina/SAWMILL/IMG_3487_zpshv3xyhmd.jpg) (http://s255.photobucket.com/user/hunt4570/media/South%20Carolina/SAWMILL/IMG_3487_zpshv3xyhmd.jpg.html)

(http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh136/hunt4570/South%20Carolina/SAWMILL/IMG_3489_zps7rg99kiy.jpg) (http://s255.photobucket.com/user/hunt4570/media/South%20Carolina/SAWMILL/IMG_3489_zps7rg99kiy.jpg.html)

(http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh136/hunt4570/South%20Carolina/SAWMILL/IMG_3493_zpssgfcnzxr.jpg) (http://s255.photobucket.com/user/hunt4570/media/South%20Carolina/SAWMILL/IMG_3493_zpssgfcnzxr.jpg.html)

(http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh136/hunt4570/South%20Carolina/SAWMILL/IMG_3494_zpsezblelpi.jpg) (http://s255.photobucket.com/user/hunt4570/media/South%20Carolina/SAWMILL/IMG_3494_zpsezblelpi.jpg.html)

(http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh136/hunt4570/South%20Carolina/SAWMILL/IMG_3495_zpsnnokrzq0.jpg) (http://s255.photobucket.com/user/hunt4570/media/South%20Carolina/SAWMILL/IMG_3495_zpsnnokrzq0.jpg.html)

Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: Savannahdan on March 09, 2018, 12:43:13 PM
That's nice.  I've been trying to get this mean woman I live with to let me get one.  I sold my other mill earlier and miss making lumber.
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: furu on March 09, 2018, 12:56:38 PM
Cool! :) ;D 8)
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: starmac on March 09, 2018, 02:45:29 PM
Man, I bet you can literally smell the sawdust now.

Maybe we should start a pool betting on what hour you will make your first cut. lol
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: A.O. on March 09, 2018, 05:16:13 PM
Man, I bet you can literally smell the sawdust now.

Maybe we should start a pool betting on what hour you will make your first cut. lol

If the weather is good, tomorrow sometime...

Hey... can iget in this pool???

Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: A.O. on March 09, 2018, 05:16:51 PM
That's nice.  I've been trying to get this mean woman I live with to let me get one.  I sold my other mill earlier and miss making lumber.

TEQUILA!!! :-)
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: starmac on March 09, 2018, 07:58:35 PM
TEQUILA!!! :-)

I am thinking you would have an unfair, inside track on the timeline. lol
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: A.O. on March 10, 2018, 06:02:39 AM
I am thinking you would have an unfair, inside track on the timeline. lol

EXACTLY what I was thinking!!!  So am I in?? >:D >:D
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: furu on March 10, 2018, 06:41:51 AM
EXACTLY what I was thinking!!!  So am I in?? >:D >:D


Yes I think you should be included, however with a restriction. 
That restriction is that your guess as to the first cut can be no earlier than 2 weeks from today.  If you can wait that long to make your first cut with your brand new mill I think you should win the betting pool.  My bet is you can't wait that long no matter what the pool may have in it to win.
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: A.O. on March 10, 2018, 07:19:44 AM
Yes I think you should be included, however with a restriction. 
That restriction is that your guess as to the first cut can be no earlier than 2 weeks from today.  If you can wait that long to make your first cut with your brand new mill I think you should win the betting pool.  My bet is you can't wait that long no matter what the pool may have in it to win.

Well never mind then..  I AINT WAITING!!  ;D ;D
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: drobertson on March 10, 2018, 08:06:33 AM
with yall's weather, today ought to be a very good day, 
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: A.O. on March 10, 2018, 12:51:02 PM
UPDATE:
Got the track all squared away and mounted..

(http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh136/hunt4570/South%20Carolina/SAWMILL/IMG_3503_zpsccvrsprc.jpg) (http://s255.photobucket.com/user/hunt4570/media/South%20Carolina/SAWMILL/IMG_3503_zpsccvrsprc.jpg.html)

Now comes the fun part, mounting that carriage assembly all by my lonesome..

Got it close to the track..

(http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh136/hunt4570/South%20Carolina/SAWMILL/IMG_3510_zpsxvauaqkb.jpg) (http://s255.photobucket.com/user/hunt4570/media/South%20Carolina/SAWMILL/IMG_3510_zpsxvauaqkb.jpg.html)

And time to lift it up on the track!

(http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh136/hunt4570/South%20Carolina/SAWMILL/IMG_3511_zpseyjlw6db.jpg) (http://s255.photobucket.com/user/hunt4570/media/South%20Carolina/SAWMILL/IMG_3511_zpseyjlw6db.jpg.html)

(http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh136/hunt4570/South%20Carolina/SAWMILL/IMG_3514_zpsjkapgrr8.jpg) (http://s255.photobucket.com/user/hunt4570/media/South%20Carolina/SAWMILL/IMG_3514_zpsjkapgrr8.jpg.html)

Went through all the allignment procedures as specified in the manual...
Just filled it with oil and gas and got it fired up, time to put the water/soap in and give it a try.

Stay tuned..
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: Savannahdan on March 10, 2018, 02:02:03 PM
Looks real nice.  I like your track system. 
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: A.O. on March 10, 2018, 04:11:36 PM
So I got it up and running...

My little "saw yard"

(http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh136/hunt4570/South%20Carolina/SAWMILL/IMG_3515_zpsdpxqqf5q.jpg) (http://s255.photobucket.com/user/hunt4570/media/South%20Carolina/SAWMILL/IMG_3515_zpsdpxqqf5q.jpg.html)

(http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh136/hunt4570/South%20Carolina/SAWMILL/IMG_3516_zpsajna6a5k.jpg) (http://s255.photobucket.com/user/hunt4570/media/South%20Carolina/SAWMILL/IMG_3516_zpsajna6a5k.jpg.html)

(http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh136/hunt4570/South%20Carolina/SAWMILL/IMG_3517_zpsj366rvj0.jpg) (http://s255.photobucket.com/user/hunt4570/media/South%20Carolina/SAWMILL/IMG_3517_zpsj366rvj0.jpg.html)

(http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh136/hunt4570/South%20Carolina/SAWMILL/IMG_3518_zpsjwtmghnn.jpg) (http://s255.photobucket.com/user/hunt4570/media/South%20Carolina/SAWMILL/IMG_3518_zpsjwtmghnn.jpg.html)
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: A.O. on March 10, 2018, 04:16:23 PM
Too anal??

(http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh136/hunt4570/South%20Carolina/SAWMILL/IMG_3520_zps5ztmikqn.jpg) (http://s255.photobucket.com/user/hunt4570/media/South%20Carolina/SAWMILL/IMG_3520_zps5ztmikqn.jpg.html)

It might rain tomorrow!!   ;D :o >:D
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: starmac on March 10, 2018, 04:19:27 PM
WOW, you have already quit sawing. lol

You are or at least should be, officially ruint now.
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: A.O. on March 10, 2018, 04:29:41 PM
WOW, you have already quit sawing. lol

You are or at least should be, officially ruint now.

HA!! I have 0.06 of an hour on the meter!!

Yeah, momma wanted to go eat!

Now I got to figure out what to cut!  I need to make a log deck. and a take off platform for what I'm cutting.. I think those are first.
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: furu on March 10, 2018, 04:32:24 PM
Too anal??

(http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh136/hunt4570/South%20Carolina/SAWMILL/IMG_3520_zps5ztmikqn.jpg) (http://s255.photobucket.com/user/hunt4570/media/South%20Carolina/SAWMILL/IMG_3520_zps5ztmikqn.jpg.html)

It might rain tomorrow!!   ;D :o >:D

Not at all.  Protect your equipment and it will last.  I would have used green as the blue does not do it for me however.

Congratulations on your first slab removals
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: A.O. on March 10, 2018, 04:34:07 PM
Not at all.  Protect your equipment and it will last.  I would have used green as the blue does not do it for me however.

Congratulations on your first slab removals

Thanks.. and blue is just what I had laying around is all.. ME?? I'd do orange!

And yup, first log down..

OH, in case there is a pool.. started the first cut at 2:32 pm 3/10/2018!  HAHAHA!
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: drobertson on March 10, 2018, 04:38:24 PM
Very nice!  Happy Happy Happy! for you!  covered up is a good idea too, nothing anal about that, anal would be not covering, like dumb ass anal, its only just begun,,
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: A.O. on March 10, 2018, 05:09:06 PM
Very nice!  Happy Happy Happy! for you!  covered up is a good idea too, nothing anal about that, anal would be not covering, like dumb ass anal, its only just begun,,

Thanks Dave..
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: starmac on March 10, 2018, 05:53:43 PM
Now  I see the real difference between a manual mill and a hydraulic one.  It appears a guy can stop after one log with a manual, where a hydraulic mill it is more like the old lays commercial, where you can't stop after just one, infact instead of tarping, you would be sawing by the headlights on your pickup the first day. lol
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: A.O. on March 10, 2018, 06:22:15 PM
Now  I see the real difference between a manual mill and a hydraulic one.  It appears a guy can stop after one log with a manual, where a hydraulic mill it is more like the old lays commercial, where you can't stop after just one, infact instead of tarping, you would be sawing by the headlights on your pickup the first day. lol

Well then I'm glad I got the manual one!!  HAHAHA!
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: starmac on March 10, 2018, 07:03:07 PM
Well, you haven't said what you thought of it, first impressions, were inpatiently  waiting. lol

Did it cut nice and flat right off the bat?
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: starmac on March 10, 2018, 07:08:31 PM
That's nice.  I've been trying to get this mean woman I live with to let me get one.  I sold my other mill earlier and miss making lumber.

I found out years ago, it is easier to beg for forgiveness than it is to ask for permission. I actually owned my mill several months before the wife found out about it, she was only a wee bit chapped and for less than an hour, then the world was right again. It was very much worth it. lol
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: A.O. on March 10, 2018, 07:32:25 PM
Well, you haven't said what you thought of it, first impressions, were inpatiently  waiting. lol

Did it cut nice and flat right off the bat?

First off, yes it cut just about perfect right out of the gate!

First impressions.. Mr impatient! ;) The engine seems a bit cold blooded, but it is brand new and needs to get broken in so I'm not concerned. It cuts very nice (only pine so far), easy to push. I like the "push handle" , can use both hands and it adjustable for height and angle. BUT, speaking of height, the height crank (or whatever its called) is on the high side and I'll probably end up getting a stool or milk crate or something to stand on to get me better access to it. The lube reservoir is WAY to high, for me at least. Tried to lift a 5 gallon gas can half full to fill it (I've had both shoulders operated on and have not re-acquired all my strength back especially up high) and had a hard time doing this.. and when I got close to getting it to work..it started rolling away from me AHHHHHHH!  I ended up dragging a hose out there which worked fine. But its still way to high at least in my book.

All in all for the short amount of time I used it (0.06 on the hour meter) I liked it and it lived up to my expectations.. a lot of things don't. Seems to  be well made of stout materials. Bill of lading from the shipper lists the crate and all at 1165 pounds, the woodland mills HM126 is 850 palleted up according to Woodland mills so this is a bit hevier.

So far so good and I'm happy with the fact I went a bit over budget... so there!! ;D ;D
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: starmac on March 10, 2018, 07:52:19 PM
If you bring your head all the way down, is the lube tank and presumedly gas tank too, still too high.  To be honest that is fairly high on my woodmizer, and when you run out of gas in a cut, so that you can't drop the head, it is real high. lol For that reason a step ladder stays with it, whether I need it or not. My head will not try to roll away, I suspect it will be easy to rig something to keep yours from rolling, as that could cause a problem.

I especially like the part where it cut nice right out of the gate. After reading for a couple of months, I was surprised how nice mine cut, I guess I was probably expecting the worst.
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: A.O. on March 10, 2018, 08:27:09 PM
The lube tank is in a fixed position on top of the carriage, it does not move. Gas tank is part of the motor just like on a lawn mower, so yes it lowers with the head.

I was thinking on just putting a set of vice grips on the track to keep it from moving when needed.

And yes, I've read the horror stories, I was very glad it cut well from the git go. I did go through all the alignment procedures in the book before I even put gas in it, might be part of the reason.
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: starmac on March 10, 2018, 09:16:35 PM
Ok, Yea I see what you are talking about, hmm maybe little pump, if you move it away from  water hose access.

I had never thought of things like your height crank not being in a handy place to access, things you do not think about being different from what you are used to.
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: Savannahdan on March 11, 2018, 06:53:29 AM
A couple of products I used on my previous mills was Dupont Motorcycle Degreaser and Dupont Chain-Saver (a Wax-Based Chain Lube).  I'd use the degreaser to get dirt off of exposed metal parts and then coated them with the Chain-Saver.  This cut down on the rusting which is particularly bad here on the coast.  Funny how we'll wax the crap out our trucks and cars but won't do the same on our mills. Where's the lumber?  Whoops, be sure to pick up a small hand brush or broom to get sawdust off of the lumber.
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: A.O. on March 11, 2018, 08:03:58 AM
Ok, Yea I see what you are talking about, hmm maybe little pump, if you move it away from  water hose access.

I had never thought of things like your height crank not being in a handy place to access, things you do not think about being different from what you are used to.

But remember I am completely new.. I am not "used" to anything yet.
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: drobertson on March 11, 2018, 08:40:25 AM
from the short video all looks good on this end, I was curious as to the dimensions of the lumber, like that one 2x in the video, did it hit the number? and did the rest as well, just curious as to the hand crank and scale system,,
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: starmac on March 11, 2018, 12:40:30 PM
When I mentioned what your used to, I was talking about what I was used to. lol

Some of the other guys will laugh at this, especially the ones that have setworks, but until I got used to my scale and still do when I am being picky.  I would keep my tape handy and just kiss the cant then shut it down and back it up and measure the cut. It slows down production, but I get exactly the size I want like that and I am not a production sawyer anyway. Just don't leave the blade spinning while you do it, the first time you break a blade, you will understand why.
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: A.O. on March 11, 2018, 06:21:21 PM
from the short video all looks good on this end, I was curious as to the dimensions of the lumber, like that one 2x in the video, did it hit the number? and did the rest as well, just curious as to the hand crank and scale system,,

Yeah they all seemed close, was just using the scale , making up some lumber for my take off bench. those were about 1 3/4 x 8 1/2.. just an arbitrary number for practicing.
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: A.O. on March 11, 2018, 06:23:35 PM
When I mentioned what your used to, I was talking about what I was used to. lol

Some of the other guys will laugh at this, especially the ones that have setworks, but until I got used to my scale and still do when I am being picky.  I would keep my tape handy and just kiss the cant then shut it down and back it up and measure the cut. It slows down production, but I get exactly the size I want like that and I am not a production sawyer anyway. Just don't leave the blade spinning while you do it, the first time you break a blade, you will understand why.

Yes, I understood hat you were saying.. And yes I took a few measurements at the blade/cant juncture trying to figure stuff out
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: Stevem on March 12, 2018, 12:34:14 AM
I use gallon milk jugs to fill the water reservoir. Prefer a water hose though! It doesn't have to be full to work, just not empty!
 
Don't know about Briggs engines but Kohlers do seem to take time to break in and get the most power.  I was up against the governor on the engine when I first started cutting with my band mill but not so much now with about 1000 hours.
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: Cutting Edge Saw Svc. on March 12, 2018, 06:32:16 AM
A.O.,

One thing is for sure, no one can fault you for doing a darn good job on getting ready.

Logs are nicely staged and up off the ground, foundation for the mill looks solid and you have plenty of means for moving logs, lumber, slabs.  You will be rewarded many times over for putting such an effort in being prepared.  Looks like a nice open and level area to work also... big plus.

Glad you're starting to enjoy the fruits of your labor.  Tickled for ya !

Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: A.O. on March 12, 2018, 07:31:18 AM
I use gallon milk jugs to fill the water reservoir. Prefer a water hose though! It doesn't have to be full to work, just not empty!
 
Don't know about Briggs engines but Kohlers do seem to take time to break in and get the most power.  I was up against the governor on the engine when I first started cutting with my band mill but not so much now with about 1000 hours.

I'll probably just use the hose, its close enough..

And yes, this guy has a Kohler on it.. with less than an hour on the clock! I need to change that! , but its supposed to rain steady all day today :( !
 
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: A.O. on March 12, 2018, 07:45:14 AM
A.O.,

One thing is for sure, no one can fault you for doing a darn good job on getting ready.

Logs are nicely staged and up off the ground, foundation for the mill looks solid and you have plenty of means for moving logs, lumber, slabs.  You will be rewarded many times over for putting such an effort in being prepared.  Looks like a nice open and level area to work also... big plus.

Glad you're starting to enjoy the fruits of your labor.  Tickled for ya !

Thanks Richard..

Now I need to work on learning how to cut logs into the size lumber I need. I'm going to build a "take off deck" first for stuff coming off the mill. then a couple big cants to make a log deck with, I figure that will give me some practice.

That ground is pretty flat, not sure I would call it level though, look how much that saw platform rises to get it level in just 20 feet. But its not too bad either.

Once I get some of this stuff figured out, and build up my cash reserves again, we'll have to talk saw blades, or bands whatever you guys call them..
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: A.O. on March 12, 2018, 07:54:32 AM
HEY EVERYBODY

Just wanted to say thanks to all of you for all the advice you have been giving me and putting up with my sometimes stupid questions. It allowed me to chose a mill that will hopefully serve me well for a long time, and get the place set up for it.

Trust me , I'm not done with those questions yet ...
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: starmac on March 12, 2018, 04:55:28 PM
Shoot, by the time you get your beams for the log deck, the boards for the off loading rack, sawhorses, dunnage to stack your drying pallets on, the drying pallets themselvses, don't forget stickers, you will be a pro.
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: A.O. on March 12, 2018, 07:10:00 PM
Shoot, by the time you get your beams for the log deck, the boards for the off loading rack, sawhorses, dunnage to stack your drying pallets on, the drying pallets themselvses, don't forget stickers, you will be a pro.

Well I got a little break in the weather today and got started on my log deck.. probably temporary till I get a better one figured out, or it may be there till it rots!! who knows! Had a couple skinny logs so I just cut them flat on top and bottom. They will work for now.

(http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh136/hunt4570/South%20Carolina/SAWMILL/IMG_3526_zpsnkf65p5e.jpg) (http://s255.photobucket.com/user/hunt4570/media/South%20Carolina/SAWMILL/IMG_3526_zpsnkf65p5e.jpg.html)

(http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh136/hunt4570/South%20Carolina/SAWMILL/IMG_3527_zpsz8w61ovg.jpg) (http://s255.photobucket.com/user/hunt4570/media/South%20Carolina/SAWMILL/IMG_3527_zpsz8w61ovg.jpg.html)
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: drobertson on March 12, 2018, 07:29:50 PM
Looks like you are moving right along, as to the deck, will you level it off, bring the entry side even or level with the end before you load the mill?  seems like it would make things less likely to move.
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: starmac on March 12, 2018, 08:42:50 PM
Not just less likely to move (roll back off of deck) but much, much easier to roll them on the deck to the mill.
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: A.O. on March 12, 2018, 09:00:35 PM
AH HA!! Deception at work full force me thinks!

Those logs are almost level, the ground drops off that much. I thought I had taken a picture of it loaded but alas I did not. The first log I had on there was a 12 footer about 14" on the big end. Not sure what it weighed but it was easy for me and my cant hook to roll it up there. Heck that second picture is after I had cleaned up, had those two logs on there and they were not trying to go anywhere. The deck does lean slightly away from the mill but that was by design..at this juncture of my great sawmill adventure, I'd rather they rolled away from my mill than toward it when I wasn't ready, or pushing past them.

On a side note: Blade tension.. do you releave it every day at the end of the day, or just if you are not going to be using the mill for a few days? Or not at all??
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: starmac on March 13, 2018, 12:13:59 AM
I do relive it every day IF I remember it, now the big thing is to remember to tighten it back up , if not that one will cost you. Yea Yea I paid for that little bit of info. lol
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: A.O. on March 13, 2018, 07:01:21 AM
I do relive it every day IF I remember it, now the big thing is to remember to tighten it back up , if not that one will cost you. Yea Yea I paid for that little bit of info. lol

Thanks. And yes I have a long piece of orange flagging tape going from the tensioner to my hand control so I dont forget.. at least till I get into the swing of things.
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: drobertson on March 13, 2018, 07:26:41 AM
I can see it now! goofy me, well that kinda makes it more the handy, and it would be good to let off the blade tension at the end of the sawing day.  You will get into a habit of several things regarding the mill start up procedures, the band tension being one of them.
your whole set up is looking pretty freaking good man, I'm sure you will have all kinds of neat tricks working out for you in short order.
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: Ox on March 13, 2018, 10:11:06 AM
Getting a good setup there.  Well done.

As for tension - I let mine off if I'll be walking away from the mill for anything else.  Lunch, fetching the mail, inside for anything.  In my lifestyle I get distracted or something else comes up and I forget about milling for a while sometimes.  It happened enough that once I left tension on for days straight and didn't think of it.  So basically if I think I'll be away from the mill for longer than say, 20 minutes, or if the possibility might be there, tension comes off.
Nothing bad happened when I left tension on for a long time (thankfully) but I don't want to press my luck either because I don't have much luck to begin with.
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: starmac on March 13, 2018, 11:51:30 AM
When I first got mine  I didn't know I was suppose to loosen off the tension, and didn't, I had no ill effects that I know of even for several days. I really only started doing it because I read that it was the right thing to do, I do not know exactly why, it is just something I do because I was told to do. lol
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: A.O. on March 13, 2018, 04:59:30 PM
Ok, doing some more playing today just trying to get things set up tp actually work!!

Got my area set up to work...

(http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh136/hunt4570/South%20Carolina/SAWMILL/IMG_3530_zpst0fd3urj.jpg) (http://s255.photobucket.com/user/hunt4570/media/South%20Carolina/SAWMILL/IMG_3530_zpst0fd3urj.jpg.html)

Todays main project, and the first thing I've ever built using green lumber, was what I call my take off table.. its going into place..

(http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh136/hunt4570/South%20Carolina/SAWMILL/IMG_3531_zpswotjguoq.jpg) (http://s255.photobucket.com/user/hunt4570/media/South%20Carolina/SAWMILL/IMG_3531_zpswotjguoq.jpg.html)

Better pic of my log deck.. that cant hook wasnt really needed, I just rolled it on by hand.

(http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh136/hunt4570/South%20Carolina/SAWMILL/IMG_3538_zps9edq8bkz.jpg) (http://s255.photobucket.com/user/hunt4570/media/South%20Carolina/SAWMILL/IMG_3538_zps9edq8bkz.jpg.html)

My take off table, and the forks for scrap. Little log I needed out of my way.

(http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh136/hunt4570/South%20Carolina/SAWMILL/IMG_3537_zpsb83vwwjz.jpg) (http://s255.photobucket.com/user/hunt4570/media/South%20Carolina/SAWMILL/IMG_3537_zpsb83vwwjz.jpg.html)

And cutting up some material for a drying pad.

(http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh136/hunt4570/South%20Carolina/SAWMILL/IMG_3541_zpsmimimp4s.jpg) (http://s255.photobucket.com/user/hunt4570/media/South%20Carolina/SAWMILL/IMG_3541_zpsmimimp4s.jpg.html)

Dont ever tell me I "cant" do something.  ;-)

(http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh136/hunt4570/South%20Carolina/SAWMILL/IMG_3540_zpskvxlbely.jpg) (http://s255.photobucket.com/user/hunt4570/media/South%20Carolina/SAWMILL/IMG_3540_zpskvxlbely.jpg.html)

Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: furu on March 13, 2018, 05:07:45 PM
To say I am impressed is to understate the obvious.  You are well set up and getting more so all the time.
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: drobertson on March 13, 2018, 06:06:12 PM
 8) man  8)!  looks great,,

ps, would you mind showing a close up pic of the up and down dial,? just curious as to what that looks like,
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: A.O. on March 13, 2018, 07:45:56 PM
To say I am impressed is to understate the obvious.  You are well set up and getting more so all the time.

Thanks.. I seem to get lots of scrap turning logs into cants.. and either that's normal.. or I'll get better. I'm trying to now cut the flitches (correct term?) to 1" thick, and at the end of the day I sliced a bunch of those into 1"x 1" stickers so I get some use from them.
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: A.O. on March 13, 2018, 07:47:05 PM
8) man  8)!  looks great,,

ps, would you mind showing a close up pic of the up and down dial,? just curious as to what that looks like,

Sure , If I remember (a problem sometimes) I'll take a couple shots tomorrow.
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: furu on March 13, 2018, 07:58:51 PM
Thanks.. I seem to get lots of scrap turning logs into cants.. and either that's normal.. or I'll get better. I'm trying to now cut the flitches (correct term?) to 1" thick, and at the end of the day I sliced a bunch of those into 1"x 1" stickers so I get some use from them.

Certainly a potential use is for stickers but be careful that you don't sacrifice your sticker quality by using substandard parts of the flitches.  (don't ask how I would know that but I am very stingy and try to use every piece that I can in order to waste nothing.) 
Sometimes it is better to turn it into firewood than keep bad quality.  I know that I tend to push it pretty hard.  I find  that I can use the lower quality for planting stakes but sometimes I push that too hard as well.  You want your stickers to be pretty good wood, straight and with few knots.
A lot of folks just take off bigger slabs and don't work so hard.  Me, I take the smallest slab I can and then work myself to get as much out of the flitches as I can.
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: starmac on March 13, 2018, 09:37:09 PM
I get a lot of waste too, I'm not sure what a guy can do about it other than burn it. The more taper a log has the more waste a guy is going to have too. I thing some guys make short boards off the logs with more taper, but so far I have not experimented with trying to make short boards. We need firewood too. lol

I do cut some bats for board and bat siding, that helps cut down on waste some.
Just curious, on your mill how thin can you cut the bottom board, mine will go down to an inch, but it is scary close to the clamp, and I mean scary close.
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: Stevem on March 13, 2018, 09:42:28 PM
Try and keep the same thickness boards in the same layer.  Don't mix 2" with 1" with 4".  Too much movement room to move around and when you go to get boards for use they are all mixed up.
I think cutting edge addressed the loosening the band when done for the day, but what happens is the blade tends to take a set and if you have belts on the drive wheels they get flat spots on them and act as it they were out of round.  Cooks make a big deal about out of round wheels.
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: Stevem on March 13, 2018, 09:48:21 PM
And yes you might want to get into the firewood business.  Gonna be a lot of waste.

Just for fun you might want to go to a lumber store and get a price on the beam shown in the picture above. Make a good earnest money payment on an edger.  lol
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: starmac on March 13, 2018, 11:08:23 PM
Just for giggles, here is a price list for rough cut lumber and beams , from our only mill/lumber yard that deals in rough cut here in the interior. This has the Alaska premium added, prices where you are will be cheaper.

https://northlandwood.com/roughlumber/
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: A.O. on March 14, 2018, 06:42:26 AM
I get a lot of waste too, I'm not sure what a guy can do about it other than burn it. The more taper a log has the more waste a guy is going to have too. I thing some guys make short boards off the logs with more taper, but so far I have not experimented with trying to make short boards. We need firewood too. lol

I do cut some bats for board and bat siding, that helps cut down on waste some.
Just curious, on your mill how thin can you cut the bottom board, mine will go down to an inch, but it is scary close to the clamp, and I mean scary close.

Yes, If you look in the background of those pictures you will see a burnpile close by.

Seems about 1 1/2 inch is about the thinnest. I've not tried to get too close yet.. as I lower it down the height crank hits bottom around there.

Good call and reminder on the batts.. I've got a outbuilding needing some repair batts.. hadn't even thought of that.
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: A.O. on March 14, 2018, 06:49:33 AM
And yes you might want to get into the firewood business.  Gonna be a lot of waste.

Just for fun you might want to go to a lumber store and get a price on the beam shown in the picture above. Make a good earnest money payment on an edger.  lol

Almost all of my wood is pine, not so great for firewood. This is the first place we have had in a long time without a wood stove. But we will have one next year.. already been looking. Pine wont sell very good as firewood, but it will heat my house just fine!!!
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: A.O. on March 14, 2018, 06:51:43 AM
Just for giggles, here is a price list for rough cut lumber and beams , from our only mill/lumber yard that deals in rough cut here in the interior. This has the Alaska premium added, prices where you are will be cheaper.

https://northlandwood.com/roughlumber/

I'm not even aware of anywhere around here that sells rough cut lumber..

I know I bought a 16' PT 6x6 a couple years ago cheaper than the one on your list.
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: A.O. on March 14, 2018, 07:35:54 AM
Try and keep the same thickness boards in the same layer.  Don't mix 2" with 1" with 4".  Too much movement room to move around and when you go to get boards for use they are all mixed up.

Yes I understand that, I know you are saying that as you look at that one picture. That was at the end of the day, and was materials I'm going to use this morning to build a drying platform, but thanks.
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: Ox on March 14, 2018, 10:12:25 AM
You're doing good there.
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: A.O. on March 14, 2018, 10:18:56 AM
8) man  8)!  looks great,,

ps, would you mind showing a close up pic of the up and down dial,? just curious as to what that looks like,

Here you go...

ALSO: if you guys could explain this scale for me. I had always thought that 4/4 was 4 quarters of an inch whereas 4/4 would be = 1 inch. But looking at this scale such is not the case. So far I've only been using the "inch" scale on the far right.

AND.. as log as we , or I, am discussing this... how to you account for the kerf? If I keep going down by say 1 1/2 inches.. with the kerf its a little more yes? or does this scale take that into consideration?

Thanks.

(http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh136/hunt4570/South%20Carolina/SAWMILL/IMG_3543_zpswromgvvi.jpg) (http://s255.photobucket.com/user/hunt4570/media/South%20Carolina/SAWMILL/IMG_3543_zpswromgvvi.jpg.html)

(http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh136/hunt4570/South%20Carolina/SAWMILL/IMG_3544_zpskohxsfeu.jpg) (http://s255.photobucket.com/user/hunt4570/media/South%20Carolina/SAWMILL/IMG_3544_zpskohxsfeu.jpg.html)
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: JrSawyer on March 14, 2018, 11:19:10 AM
The quarter scale allows for kerf.  So 4/4 will give you a true 1'' board.

Nice mill and very nice setup by the way!
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: A.O. on March 14, 2018, 12:02:42 PM
The quarter scale allows for kerf.  So 4/4 will give you a true 1'' board.

Nice mill and very nice setup by the way!

Thanks.. and WELCOME!
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: A.O. on March 14, 2018, 06:20:44 PM
And the beat goes on....

Made a drying platform ..

(http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh136/hunt4570/South%20Carolina/SAWMILL/IMG_3548_zpsewj32s3c.jpg) (http://s255.photobucket.com/user/hunt4570/media/South%20Carolina/SAWMILL/IMG_3548_zpsewj32s3c.jpg.html)

And a future raised bed garden..

(http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh136/hunt4570/South%20Carolina/SAWMILL/IMG_3549_zpsxz5zgatp.jpg) (http://s255.photobucket.com/user/hunt4570/media/South%20Carolina/SAWMILL/IMG_3549_zpsxz5zgatp.jpg.html)

(http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh136/hunt4570/South%20Carolina/SAWMILL/IMG_3551_zpsv9epusk4.jpg) (http://s255.photobucket.com/user/hunt4570/media/South%20Carolina/SAWMILL/IMG_3551_zpsv9epusk4.jpg.html)

(http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh136/hunt4570/South%20Carolina/SAWMILL/IMG_3552_zps5rwadpdo.jpg) (http://s255.photobucket.com/user/hunt4570/media/South%20Carolina/SAWMILL/IMG_3552_zps5rwadpdo.jpg.html)

And might just have to take tomorrow of to chase after one of my other pursuits

(http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh136/hunt4570/South%20Carolina/SAWMILL/MFDC7420_zpsstypcvk1.jpg) (http://s255.photobucket.com/user/hunt4570/media/South%20Carolina/SAWMILL/MFDC7420_zpsstypcvk1.jpg.html)
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: starmac on March 14, 2018, 07:02:49 PM
Dang, I can smell the bacon now.

It looks like the place I will be working this summer now is actually on a place a friend of mine owns, and the moose hunting is some of the best in the state there, not to mention the job is suppose to last right through moose season. lol
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: A.O. on March 14, 2018, 07:20:29 PM
Dang, I can smell the bacon now.

It looks like the place I will be working this summer now is actually on a place a friend of mine owns, and the moose hunting is some of the best in the state there, not to mention the job is suppose to last right through moose season. lol

Oh, very nice!  Must be fun to pack one of those guys out of the woods!!

I cheat.. I go out with the tractor and loader...
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: starmac on March 14, 2018, 10:14:50 PM
At this stage in the game, I would be very picky about any shot I take, there will be no packing. lol

I have passed up more than a few shots on New Mexico elk and mule deer because of where they were and the difficulty of packing them out.
A friend was just fixing to pull the trigger on a bull once, when I informed him if he was dumb enough to shoot, he could be dumb enough to get it out by himself too.
He decided he wasn't that dumb after all. lol
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: A.O. on March 15, 2018, 07:20:09 AM
At this stage in the game, I would be very picky about any shot I take, there will be no packing. lol

I have passed up more than a few shots on New Mexico elk and mule deer because of where they were and the difficulty of packing them out.
A friend was just fixing to pull the trigger on a bull once, when I informed him if he was dumb enough to shoot, he could be dumb enough to get it out by himself too.
He decided he wasn't that dumb after all. lol

HAHA!!  You sound a very lot like me. I'm to old anymore to do much packing, or tracking for that matter. I don't even remember the last time I did not shoot an animal in the head or upper neck. I like them to fall where I want them anymore!
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: furu on March 15, 2018, 08:28:22 AM
I guess I was early to that party.  My first deer at 7 years of age was a neck shot and I have been doing that since for 56 years. 
I do not like animals moving after I fire the shot and I really do not like them moving to more obscure locations that I have to get them out of to get them home.
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: A.O. on March 15, 2018, 10:58:14 AM
I guess I was early to that party.  My first deer at 7 years of age was a neck shot and I have been doing that since for 56 years. 
I do not like animals moving after I fire the shot and I really do not like them moving to more obscure locations that I have to get them out of to get them home.

Yep. I started hunting later in life, early 30's , so I just went on what people were telling me was the right way to do it. A chest shot is fine if the person shooting has a problem with accuracy its a big target.. but then the hunt is really on sometimes.
Head usually and sometimes neck for me for the last 20 years or so.
 
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: starmac on March 15, 2018, 03:14:29 PM
I tell you what a guy told me up here before I ever even made the move up here. I had just come up with a load of freight and he had just moved back, and gun talk came up. He had sold his rifle when he moved out, and had just bought another 375 win mag, I ask why so big, moose are thin skinned, and really not as hard to kill as an elk .
His answer was that when you shoot a moose and he runs 100 yards or even 10 yards into a swamp, you just added a day of hard work to your hunt. lol
Well much of Alaska is swamp, so it was sure food for swamp. lol
Under the best of circumstances , a grown moose is at least  trips for any man, more for most. Myself, I would have to eat it where it fell. lol
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: A.O. on March 15, 2018, 03:23:09 PM
Just stick it on a spit right there and enjoy huh? lol
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: A.O. on March 15, 2018, 03:36:24 PM
First weeks worth of sawdust!  Is this stuff saleable, or just future compost?


(http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh136/hunt4570/South%20Carolina/SAWMILL/IMG_3553_zpsjk3ypwft.jpg) (http://s255.photobucket.com/user/hunt4570/media/South%20Carolina/SAWMILL/IMG_3553_zpsjk3ypwft.jpg.html)

And when the HELL were you guys going to tell me how much work it is???   lol...
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: JrSawyer on March 15, 2018, 04:56:03 PM
Some wood fiber plants will buy your waste wood - slabs, sawdust, shavings etc but you probably need a minimum amount, not sure.  You'd have to find a local depot.
 
Stables, dog kennels, animal shelters etc, may also buy sawdust.  I know of one guy who mixes it with melted wax, presses it, and sells it for firestarter cubes and bricks.

Or at home it's good for spill absorbing, garden, compost, walking trails.  Really good for soil erosion - if you have any skid trails where you stripped the vegetation off, backfilling with sawdust slows down runoff and keeps the mud away. 
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: A.O. on March 15, 2018, 05:12:20 PM
It will most likely just go into my compost pile.. And we don't have mud.. its almost all sand here..
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: JrSawyer on March 15, 2018, 05:25:33 PM
Must be nice  8)  My property is heavy clay with a layer of black top soil, and we get lots of rain - work a section of ground too hard and it's grease city.  I know where my sawdust will be going
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: A.O. on March 15, 2018, 05:36:39 PM
I'm in kinda north central South Carolina.. I had no clue we were moving to the beach when we moved here...  :o
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: A.O. on March 15, 2018, 05:39:37 PM
Not at all.  Protect your equipment and it will last.  I would have used green as the blue does not do it for me however.

Congratulations on your first slab removals

You will be happy to know I changed it to a GREEN tarp...
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: starmac on March 15, 2018, 06:21:11 PM
What I have seen guys do is lay a tarp out before sawing and then just pull the tarp to where you want to pile your sawdust after a long day of sawing, I have tried it my self, it does save some time.

I was told not to use sawdust in the garden, until it had dried out real good, but if you are composting it should be fine. I know the sawmill here actually sells some to the city sewage department, who inturn makes compost and sells it.
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: A.O. on March 15, 2018, 06:58:01 PM
Good idea on the sawdust catcher I may give that a try tomorrow... But I am NOT going to mix it with sewage!! ;-)
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: starmac on March 15, 2018, 07:24:42 PM
I don't blame you, BUT when I heard about it, I didn't really believe it, si I looked it up on the internet, and found it is a pretty common practice and the fertilizer is considered some of the best.

I used to live in LaPorte Texas, and  they averaged arresting 50 people a month breaking in to the sewage plant. I thought this was absurd and the paper had to have made some kind of mistake. I confirmed it and the reason was people flushing marijuana seeds.
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: JrSawyer on March 15, 2018, 07:45:26 PM
How do you find that sawhead crank being up high like that?

When I looked at these mills that was the one thing I wondered about, but I imagine you'd get used to it.

Definitely looks like they're a well made mill
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: A.O. on March 15, 2018, 08:30:38 PM
Its a little too high for my liking, had both my shoulders redone and overhead stuff isn't the greatest. Its only a problem when i have to crank it a bunch, like at the start of a new log, but I've learned to just stand up on the track and its not too bad.
The mill is stoutly built..  this one weigh in at 1165.. crated up.
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: starmac on March 15, 2018, 11:57:00 PM
One more thing, your compost piles will likely get a lot bigger than you are thinking. lol
That sawdust adds up a lot quicker than a guy thinks it would.
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: A.O. on March 16, 2018, 06:54:48 AM
One more thing, your compost piles will likely get a lot bigger than you are thinking. lol
That sawdust adds up a lot quicker than a guy thinks it would.

Yes, I was thinking about that last night. My compost pile gets pretty big now what with leaves, grass and pine needles.. maybe I could sell compost instead..

I could burn it but I'm thinking it would just smolder forever.. so...

What does everyone do with their sawdust??
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: drobertson on March 16, 2018, 07:41:22 AM
If I were you I would find a good spot for piling it up, keep it clean as possible,  many folks use it for animal bedding, seeing the amount of horses around your area, you might have an out for some.  It takes a while to break down for compost, it needs help with heat,(manure), oxygen,(flipping/turning) and soil added, then soil sampling.  If it were me, I would be visiting some neighbors with horses and bringing back the manure, and mixing the two, I can see that happening if it were me, you could grow broccoli and other plants all year long, if done right,
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: Ox on March 16, 2018, 09:37:18 AM
Some fellas hang a bucket under the discharge side and after a cut or two fills it, quick take and dump it into a _____ and then haul it away to a pile.  Saves from scraping so much up off the ground.

With mine, I've top dressed over our leechfield after refilling with gravel.  Grass is slowly gaining ground and in a few years you won't be able to tell.  Took quite a lot but now don't need any more.


Excess get piled up with pieces of bark and whatnot off to the side and out of sight somewhere.  One day it'll be mulch.  Make sure it won't set the woods on fire if it happens to want to spontaneously combust.  I've heard of piles sometimes firing up on their own, but only through hearsay. 

Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: A.O. on March 16, 2018, 10:35:36 AM
If I were you I would find a good spot for piling it up, keep it clean as possible,  many folks use it for animal bedding, seeing the amount of horses around your area, you might have an out for some.  It takes a while to break down for compost, it needs help with heat,(manure), oxygen,(flipping/turning) and soil added, then soil sampling.  If it were me, I would be visiting some neighbors with horses and bringing back the manure, and mixing the two, I can see that happening if it were me, you could grow broccoli and other plants all year long, if done right,

Here is my compost pile from last year, just about as tall as me to give you some idea of its size

(http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh136/hunt4570/South%20Carolina/SAWMILL/IMG_3555_zpslgyccpoj.jpg) (http://s255.photobucket.com/user/hunt4570/media/South%20Carolina/SAWMILL/IMG_3555_zpslgyccpoj.jpg.html)

(http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh136/hunt4570/South%20Carolina/SAWMILL/IMG_3556_zpswebvphkz.jpg) (http://s255.photobucket.com/user/hunt4570/media/South%20Carolina/SAWMILL/IMG_3556_zpswebvphkz.jpg.html)

I talked to a neighbor lady that has horses this morning, she says she doesn't use sawdust for anything.  RATS!
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: A.O. on March 16, 2018, 10:39:30 AM
Some fellas hang a bucket under the discharge side and after a cut or two fills it, quick take and dump it into a _____ and then haul it away to a pile.  Saves from scraping so much up off the ground.

With mine, I've top dressed over our leechfield after refilling with gravel.  Grass is slowly gaining ground and in a few years you won't be able to tell.  Took quite a lot but now don't need any more.


Excess get piled up with pieces of bark and whatnot off to the side and out of sight somewhere.  One day it'll be mulch.  Make sure it won't set the woods on fire if it happens to want to spontaneously combust.  I've heard of piles sometimes firing up on their own, but only through hearsay.

I've seen that bucket hanging thing and I may explore doing that.. still need and end use for it. or maybe I'll just start a large pile in the woods somewhere or something..

I'll just have to see how much I make.

Might also put an add in Craigslist for free sawdust and see if I get any takers.
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: drobertson on March 16, 2018, 11:10:22 AM
nice looking pile of crap! :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:  and yea, its easy to forget you guys have mostly all sand, around these parts its hard clay mixed with rocks, hog farmers use it as well. It is a mighty fine floor dry that's for sure.
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: A.O. on March 16, 2018, 11:57:54 AM
Seems its mostly turkey and tree farmers around here..

I had to go back and look, you are in Arkansas.. for some reason I was thinking Missouri, and I remember black dirt in Missouri.

How far are you from the 11 point river? South of you yes?
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: starmac on March 16, 2018, 01:34:10 PM
From what I have heard is most people will not use sawdust off a bandmill for bedding, for horses and iirc cattle too, something about it is too fine, but they will use it from a circle mill.
Now I do not know if you will ever cut any walnut, but I have read that it is bad to use it even for compost.
Do you get any of that horse manure from your neighbor, it makes excellant fertilizer and most folks feed good weed free hay to horses, so it doesn't even have to be composted.
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: drobertson on March 16, 2018, 02:10:16 PM
there's some truth to band dust being too fine, but it's not written in stone for sure,, walnut  is surely bound for the where ever they take it, most mills that saw big time walnut,, dry their own, so all the waste goes into the furnaces that fuel the boiler.  Cedar dust is bad for fowl, so that's out, FFA that shows swine use it for shows and pre shows, it may be for nothing more than floor dry, not sure, I know I had one young lad come by and load up several times,  and another couple that raised goats, believe that?  I did keep the oak an pine separate mainly for my own uses. pine breaks down a bit quicker than oak, plus pine has a bit higher ph from the get go.  My place in Texas county Mo. Ozark plateau, upper end of the Jacks Fork, and National scenic riverways, not much black dirt here, plenty of rocks,  we are between the Eleven Point and Jacks fork, Eleven points south about 8 miles, the upper end of it, Jacks fork  bout a mile, use to be lots of turkeys and chicken farms, not much any more, cattle farms, some dairy, and homesteads, no need to mention sawmills, dime a dozen on every corner, pretty much. My wife says I ought to quit looking at these sawmill sites, saying its' causing me too much torture,, I'm thinking about putting together a CSM,  just a small one, the alaskan design or the panther one looks easy enough, other than the work it self, a little care, and I think it could happen.
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: A.O. on March 16, 2018, 03:01:17 PM
From what I have heard is most people will not use sawdust off a bandmill for bedding, for horses and iirc cattle too, something about it is too fine, but they will use it from a circle mill.
Now I do not know if you will ever cut any walnut, but I have read that it is bad to use it even for compost.
Do you get any of that horse manure from your neighbor, it makes excellant fertilizer and most folks feed good weed free hay to horses, so it doesn't even have to be composted.

I have not tried it.
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: A.O. on March 16, 2018, 03:09:57 PM
So I had a total of 2 oak logs, wife wants a table built for around the pool, and I'm looking for an au-natural bench.

So I've started. My first oak cant..

(http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh136/hunt4570/South%20Carolina/SAWMILL/IMG_3558_zpseyi8h7bg.jpg) (http://s255.photobucket.com/user/hunt4570/media/South%20Carolina/SAWMILL/IMG_3558_zpseyi8h7bg.jpg.html)

And her table and my bench in the works.

(http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh136/hunt4570/South%20Carolina/SAWMILL/IMG_3562_zpsvkbt8fdz.jpg) (http://s255.photobucket.com/user/hunt4570/media/South%20Carolina/SAWMILL/IMG_3562_zpsvkbt8fdz.jpg.html)

And the tarp drag for sawdust worked great.. doesn't have to go very far anyhow..

(http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh136/hunt4570/South%20Carolina/SAWMILL/IMG_3559_zps6df304g1.jpg) (http://s255.photobucket.com/user/hunt4570/media/South%20Carolina/SAWMILL/IMG_3559_zps6df304g1.jpg.html)

And is this bad??   :o >:( ::) ;D

(http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh136/hunt4570/South%20Carolina/SAWMILL/IMG_3560_zpskbipe6ic.jpg) (http://s255.photobucket.com/user/hunt4570/media/South%20Carolina/SAWMILL/IMG_3560_zpskbipe6ic.jpg.html)

Toast I'm guessing...

(http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh136/hunt4570/South%20Carolina/SAWMILL/IMG_3561_zpseuk1lls5.jpg) (http://s255.photobucket.com/user/hunt4570/media/South%20Carolina/SAWMILL/IMG_3561_zpseuk1lls5.jpg.html)



Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: furu on March 16, 2018, 03:23:59 PM
Did you hit a backstop or is that from some metal in the log?  When I  hit a backstop that is the look I got from my blade.  (yes I hit the backstop)
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: starmac on March 16, 2018, 03:33:57 PM
It is amazing how far one of those light bands can cut heavy steel isn't it. lol, And yep, I would call it toast myself. lol
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: A.O. on March 16, 2018, 03:58:32 PM
Did you hit a backstop or is that from some metal in the log?  When I  hit a backstop that is the look I got from my blade.  (yes I hit the backstop)

Yessir, I hit a backstop.. not even near the log I was cutting. I had been using that stop for a longer log.. it was farther down the track. When I got to the end of the log I was cutting, I pushed the mill farther down out of my way and GRGRGRGRGRGR I heard this evil noise!! (http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh136/hunt4570/forum%20stuff/aaack_zpsc982db78.png) (http://s255.photobucket.com/user/hunt4570/media/forum%20stuff/aaack_zpsc982db78.png.html)

Oh well , lesson learned!
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: A.O. on March 16, 2018, 04:00:38 PM
It is amazing how far one of those light bands can cut heavy steel isn't it. lol, And yep, I would call it toast myself. lol

Yeah.. It buzzed right through it.. It would have gone all the way through if I hadn't stopped it!
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: starmac on March 16, 2018, 04:07:27 PM
Mine were pretty scarred up when I got it, and I added one to it.  My band guard vibrated loose one time, right after I had put a new blade on, apparently I didn't get the guard back on right, well  it made a terrible bang and the guard flew 15 or 20 feet, it cut into that light 1/8 in steel, probably a good 1 1/2 inches.
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: drobertson on March 16, 2018, 04:22:45 PM
 :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: I wish I could have seen your reaction!  the first time is breath taking, the second time more aggravating, and yea, there will most likely be a next time  :o ;)  sure wish you would have showed a few more picks of the oak boards,, just for drooling sakes, :P
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: A.O. on March 16, 2018, 08:44:52 PM
:laugh: :laugh: :laugh: I wish I could have seen your reaction!  the first time is breath taking, the second time more aggravating, and yea, there will most likely be a next time  :o ;)  sure wish you would have showed a few more picks of the oak boards,, just for drooling sakes, :P

HA!! my reaction is there 3 posts above..  ;-)
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: A.O. on March 16, 2018, 08:46:00 PM
So I threw a new band on, but the tracking is way off seems like..  project for tomorrow
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: starmac on March 16, 2018, 09:39:04 PM
Oh wow, mine didn't mess with the tracking any, but then I didn't try to saw the thing plum off neither. lol
Just for fun, if you want to make some rustic benches, saw some crooked logs, the crooked the better, makes some neat looking benches, and them logs isn't much good for anything else except firewood.
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: A.O. on March 17, 2018, 08:48:37 AM
Oh wow, mine didn't mess with the tracking any, but then I didn't try to saw the thing plum off neither. lol
Just for fun, if you want to make some rustic benches, saw some crooked logs, the crooked the better, makes some neat looking benches, and them logs isn't much good for anything else except firewood.

It didn't seem like it put much stress on it when I hit it, but when I put the new blade on and hand spun it, the blade goes right off the back of the left wheel..

Just went out to work on it , I had just enough time to get the cover off when it started raining.. Grrr

Did the first oil change on the motor yesterday.. ;-)
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: drobertson on March 17, 2018, 09:41:49 AM
yea, its hard to figure why hitting that back stop caused any issues with tracking. Unless the blade guides were not snugged up proper from factory,  and subsequently after hitting the object the band torqued enough to knock one or both off. It looks like you have some fun ahead of you when the rain stops. It looks like the time when you get a little more acquainted with the mill.  You might just back off the guides completely, and see if these are the culprits.  If not, then you for sure will become more familiar with the mill by the end of the day,
 
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: furu on March 17, 2018, 01:39:32 PM
It didn't seem like it put much stress on it when I hit it, but when I put the new blade on and hand spun it, the blade goes right off the back of the left wheel..

Just went out to work on it , I had just enough time to get the cover off when it started raining.. Grrr

Did the first oil change on the motor yesterday.. ;-)


How many hours do you have on the mill now? 

I agree it does not make sense that a light impact from the blade with a log stop would effect the tracking that much.   
The suggestion that it may not have been tightened enough is worth looking at. 

Are your wheels all steel or belted?  If they are belted inspect them carefully to make certain that there is no damage to the belts.  Your blade did not break or come off the wheels if I understood your post on the incident.   It just chewed up some teeth correct?
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: Cutting Edge Saw Svc. on March 17, 2018, 02:01:39 PM

It didn't seem like it put much stress on it when I hit it, but when I put the new blade on and hand spun it, the blade goes right off the back of the left wheel..


Take a look at the blade weld.  This is  COMMON problem with all of these imported sawmills.  The movement of tensioning the blade and the tracking on the right side of the head are directly dependent on each other.  They happen simultaneously because of the bolt the idle wheel assembly pivots on.

Even the slightest difference in blade length (at the weld) changes this relationship.  Slightly longer/shorter and you're chasing tracking/tension on every blade change.  Common problem with certain brands/sources of blades.   :-X

Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: A.O. on March 17, 2018, 03:32:31 PM
yea, its hard to figure why hitting that back stop caused any issues with tracking. Unless the blade guides were not snugged up proper from factory,  and subsequently after hitting the object the band torqued enough to knock one or both off. It looks like you have some fun ahead of you when the rain stops. It looks like the time when you get a little more acquainted with the mill.  You might just back off the guides completely, and see if these are the culprits.  If not, then you for sure will become more familiar with the mill by the end of the day,

I had readjusted the guides before I ever started it up..

Its all back up and running now, and yeah, I didn't mind .. gave me practice in doing it.

Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: A.O. on March 17, 2018, 03:38:38 PM
How many hours do you have on the mill now? 

I agree it does not make sense that a light impact from the blade with a log stop would effect the tracking that much.   
The suggestion that it may not have been tightened enough is worth looking at. 

Are your wheels all steel or belted?  If they are belted inspect them carefully to make certain that there is no damage to the belts.  Your blade did not break or come off the wheels if I understood your post on the incident.   It just chewed up some teeth correct?

Correct, the blade did not break, just chewed it up a bit.


Not sure on the why, unless like has been said, something was not tightened all the way or something. I went through and got it tracking right, re-did the guides too. The wheels are belted and I did inspect them well when I put the new blade on and the belts look fine too.

Oh, 7.7 hours , last I looked.
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: A.O. on March 17, 2018, 03:44:21 PM
Take a look at the blade weld.  This is  COMMON problem with all of these imported sawmills.  The movement of tensioning the blade and the tracking on the right side of the head are directly dependent on each other.  They happen simultaneously because of the bolt the idle wheel assembly pivots on.

Even the slightest difference in blade length (at the weld) changes this relationship.  Slightly longer/shorter and you're chasing tracking/tension on every blade change.  Common problem with certain brands/sources of blades.   :-X

I was wondering if slight blade length made a difference.. I'm down to a new blade on the machine and 2 spares.. when I get to one spare I'll be calling.. or if I free some $$ up somewhere. Do you sell 5 packs?
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: A.O. on March 18, 2018, 09:12:32 AM
So, re-thinking this bad blade and tracking thing..

After I sawed that post, I ran that mill again with that blade in it , no load. But it tracked fine, wasn't till I put the new blade in did I have a tracking problem. So I don't think the event of hitting the post changed anything.. just the blade difference!
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: Ox on March 18, 2018, 10:24:59 AM
It's a good thing that the question about the tracking was solved so quickly.  Good job Richard!
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: furu on March 18, 2018, 11:43:50 AM
So if I understand correctly you put another (different) new blade on and the problem went away? 
Then it must be the blade and Richard's description was the key. 
It would be interesting to look at that blade very carefully to see if you can verify the weld anomaly.
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: A.O. on March 18, 2018, 03:57:06 PM
So if I understand correctly you put another (different) new blade on and the problem went away? 
Then it must be the blade and Richard's description was the key. 
It would be interesting to look at that blade very carefully to see if you can verify the weld anomaly.

NO.. When I hit that stop, I throttled up the motor which spun that ruined blade just fine. Then I took that blade off and put on a new blade which is where my tracking problems began. So I just went through the tracking adjustment procedure on that new blade. It runs fine although I've not run it through a log yet, but don't anticipate any problems.
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: A.O. on March 24, 2018, 09:50:10 AM
So here's a bit of what I got going.

Building some drying platforms, off the ground for good air circulation, can pick them up with the tractor to move them around or just pick the wood off of them with the tractor. One with and one without wood..

(http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh136/hunt4570/South%20Carolina/SAWMILL/IMG_3577_zps2xrwhbqq.jpg) (http://s255.photobucket.com/user/hunt4570/media/South%20Carolina/SAWMILL/IMG_3577_zps2xrwhbqq.jpg.html)

Have the same type of thing for my take off bench along side the mill

(http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh136/hunt4570/South%20Carolina/SAWMILL/IMG_3578_zpsar4uavgf.jpg) (http://s255.photobucket.com/user/hunt4570/media/South%20Carolina/SAWMILL/IMG_3578_zpsar4uavgf.jpg.html)

and off in the distance..

(http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh136/hunt4570/South%20Carolina/SAWMILL/IMG_3580_zpsgz6ztbky.jpg) (http://s255.photobucket.com/user/hunt4570/media/South%20Carolina/SAWMILL/IMG_3580_zpsgz6ztbky.jpg.html)


Having fun with this thing, that's for sure. Going to need to cut some more trees before too long.

Where I used to see trees in the woods, I now just see logs sticking out of the ground! WTH??
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: Ox on March 24, 2018, 10:21:58 AM
Keeping things neat and organized makes for a better time all around.

I remember the first year after I started milling after a long winter of fabrication and how things changed in my little brain.  I used to be a woodcutter on and off and everything looked like firewood to me and now all of that looks like saw logs now.  You ain't the only one!  lol

Oh - and remember this:  the uglier the log the prettier the grain.  Straight trees make nice straight lumber but boring as far as character.  Find the most twisted up hot mess of a log and try sawmilling it.  You might be surprised!  Or completely disappointed because the middle is full of swamp water in a cavity that was not hinted at by the tree's growth...
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: drobertson on March 24, 2018, 03:13:18 PM
Nice looking pallets A.O. , you know, every time I think of your user name, I think of Fonzy,  A o, O a,, what ever,, :laugh:
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: A.O. on March 24, 2018, 03:19:37 PM
Nice looking pallets A.O. , you know, every time I think of your user name, I think of Fonzy,  A o, O a,, what ever,, :laugh:

It actually stands for Agent Orange. Nothing to do with Nam. When I bought my Harley someone said you look all Agent Orange.. and it just stuck!

(http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh136/hunt4570/New%20plow/DSC02267.jpg) (http://s255.photobucket.com/user/hunt4570/media/New%20plow/DSC02267.jpg.html)
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: drobertson on March 24, 2018, 04:24:27 PM
yea, I forgot about the moto, your set up is rally looking good,
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: A.O. on March 24, 2018, 04:49:07 PM
yea, I forgot about the moto, your set up is rally looking good,

Thanks..
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: starmac on March 24, 2018, 05:49:04 PM
Your pallets are looking good, a little different from what I want to build.
Instead of legs I want runners under mine on the same spacing as the top, where the stickers will be, so the weight will be on the stickers if I stack pallets. Around these parts the ground can get pretty soft, and I would expect the legs to sink in, you may not have that problem.
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: A.O. on March 25, 2018, 09:26:49 AM
Your pallets are looking good, a little different from what I want to build.
Instead of legs I want runners under mine on the same spacing as the top, where the stickers will be, so the weight will be on the stickers if I stack pallets. Around these parts the ground can get pretty soft, and I would expect the legs to sink in, you may not have that problem.

Again, I'm just cutting for me, my own personal lumber yard if you will, wont have any reason to stack them (so I say now right). I'll probably sit them on 2x8-10-12 cutoffs or something, whatever I have laying around so I'm not too concerned, but thanks for pointing it out..
My ground is dirty sand.. pretty stiff actually and NEVER gets muddy, which I like. Got some muddy spots down by the river bottoms but I just ignore it when its wet.
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: starmac on March 25, 2018, 01:54:31 PM
Would love to have a few acres like that around here.
Oh yea, nice bike too.
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: JrSawyer on March 25, 2018, 07:33:38 PM
Would love to have a few acres like that around here.

I wouldn't mind that either.  I'm a little jealous seeing pictures of A.O.s mill up and running. 8)

I'm waiting on snow to melt + another month for the ground to dry up before I can really start getting after things.
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: A.O. on March 26, 2018, 07:50:28 AM
Would love to have a few acres like that around here.
Oh yea, nice bike too.

That dirty sand ground is good for a lot of things, growing stuff is not one of them! I've got a few food plots here and most look like the Sahara desert unfortunately!

Thanks on the bike, its a 2007 I bought new and has a bit over 85k miles on it, I'm also a retired MSF instructor, which adds some to the miles.
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: A.O. on March 26, 2018, 07:51:57 AM
I wouldn't mind that either.  I'm a little jealous seeing pictures of A.O.s mill up and running. 8)

I'm waiting on snow to melt + another month for the ground to dry up before I can really start getting after things.

Yeah, cold as heck here too, it was 39 when I got up this morning and only supposed to get to 59 today! ;-)
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: Ox on March 26, 2018, 10:07:39 AM
Wow!  You stayed above freezing over night!  I also enjoy temps in the 50s because one can work hard in a T shirt and not overheat or sweat too bad.  Just be sure to have something handy to throw on after you stop!
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: A.O. on March 26, 2018, 01:27:41 PM
So my sawmill came with instructions as to how to run it, along with lots of advice from guys like all of you, thanks!

BUT.. it doesn't come with instructions on how to cut wood! Been working on it... "How to slice up a log to achieve best results" , I have not figured it out yet. Normally I just go along and kind of cut what I need, 1x's 2x's whatever but end up with lots of odd thickness boards. Anyhow.. Wanted to start piling up some 2x4's to get drying today. Got my log mostly canted then sliced out a couple 3 1/2 inch planks, stood them up side by side and sliced them 1 1/2" thick and then finished with a couple 4x4's and a couple oddballs that were about 1/2 x 3 1/2..
Better ways to do this or is this about right?

(http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh136/hunt4570/South%20Carolina/SAWMILL/IMG_3582_zpskhxvmmj0.jpg) (http://s255.photobucket.com/user/hunt4570/media/South%20Carolina/SAWMILL/IMG_3582_zpskhxvmmj0.jpg.html)

(http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh136/hunt4570/South%20Carolina/SAWMILL/IMG_3585_zps6ti9rzpn.jpg) (http://s255.photobucket.com/user/hunt4570/media/South%20Carolina/SAWMILL/IMG_3585_zps6ti9rzpn.jpg.html)

(http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh136/hunt4570/South%20Carolina/SAWMILL/IMG_3586_zpsfur0voki.jpg) (http://s255.photobucket.com/user/hunt4570/media/South%20Carolina/SAWMILL/IMG_3586_zpsfur0voki.jpg.html)

(http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh136/hunt4570/South%20Carolina/SAWMILL/IMG_3587_zpsozvauhji.jpg) (http://s255.photobucket.com/user/hunt4570/media/South%20Carolina/SAWMILL/IMG_3587_zpsozvauhji.jpg.html)

(http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh136/hunt4570/South%20Carolina/SAWMILL/IMG_3588_zpsk1h9sku7.jpg) (http://s255.photobucket.com/user/hunt4570/media/South%20Carolina/SAWMILL/IMG_3588_zpsk1h9sku7.jpg.html)

And yes, those are de-lux hand cut stickers!!  ;-)   Rookie huh???

And those 2 4x4's are just there temporarily , I would NEVER put 4x and 2x on the same rack! ;-)
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: Stevem on March 28, 2018, 11:58:29 AM
Lots of ways to saw logs depending what the end product is to be used for.  Construction wood is pretty much the easiest.  All logs have taper and the taper has to come out some where.  I center the log to the saw blade relative to the heart, taper comes off the outside.  Best scenario is the pith comes out with the kerf of the saw blade. Hard to do with a band mill That keeps the "slope of grain" within the 12:1 ratio for strength.
In grade sawing the best wood (clearest) is on the outside so I try and cut parallel to the outside of the log and take the taper out of the center. 
Some woods are "best" cut based on grain or growth ring orientation.  Oak is a good example.  Quarter saw oak has a a distinctive appearance but to get the best showy grain you need to be less than 10 degrees off of vertical grain. Other woods need to be flat sawn to get the best grain pattern.
Quarter saw (vertical grain) is the most stable from a bending and twisting.  Door and window frames are generally sawn this way because of the stability.  Don't want a twisted doors.
On smaller logs cut into posts or beams the heart needs to be centered to lessen the effects of cracking and splitting.  Notice heart center on 4 x 4's from the big box stores.
PS:  Other sawyers do it different than me!
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: A.O. on March 28, 2018, 01:56:04 PM
Thanks Stevem,
Most of what I'm cutting right now is construction lumber, and almost all SYP. I have been cutting some 1x stuff for shelves and stuff too but mostly just the construction lumber.
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: starmac on April 13, 2018, 06:02:22 PM
Well shoot, must have warmed up enough, to take that agent orange for a cross country ride huh.lol

We still have a lot of snow here, but the bikes have been out for a week or so. A buddy has his stored here in my shop, and said he is ready, but the first 100 yards would be real iffy for  a few more days yet.
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: A.O. on April 13, 2018, 06:48:58 PM
Well shoot, must have warmed up enough, to take that agent orange for a cross country ride huh.lol

We still have a lot of snow here, but the bikes have been out for a week or so. A buddy has his stored here in my shop, and said he is ready, but the first 100 yards would be real iffy for  a few more days yet.

80 degrees today, will take the bike out tomorrow for sure!
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: furu on April 14, 2018, 06:32:25 AM
Glad to see you back.  Have not seen many posts from you as of late.  How is the milling going?
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: A.O. on April 14, 2018, 07:54:27 AM
Glad to see you back.  Have not seen many posts from you as of late.  How is the milling going?
Thanks, didn't really go anywhere.. just been working. Still playing with the mill, trying to stockpile a little misc lumber to use around here. One of my first projects are these raised bed planters.

Heres the parts

(http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh136/hunt4570/South%20Carolina/SAWMILL/IMG_3592_zpsp0hgxwkq.jpg) (http://s255.photobucket.com/user/hunt4570/media/South%20Carolina/SAWMILL/IMG_3592_zpsp0hgxwkq.jpg.html)

And assembled and filled..

(http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh136/hunt4570/South%20Carolina/SAWMILL/IMG_3599_zpsxxupbanh.jpg) (http://s255.photobucket.com/user/hunt4570/media/South%20Carolina/SAWMILL/IMG_3599_zpsxxupbanh.jpg.html)

Two of them I tried the art of SHOU SUGI BAN on them, charing them to "waterproof" them. I did kind of a partial job on and we will see how they hold up in comparison.

Getting my mini lumber yard stocked up.

(http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh136/hunt4570/South%20Carolina/SAWMILL/IMG_3615_zpspsbpiccy.jpg) (http://s255.photobucket.com/user/hunt4570/media/South%20Carolina/SAWMILL/IMG_3615_zpspsbpiccy.jpg.html)

Ran out of logs and had to go fell a couple more trees to restock

(http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh136/hunt4570/South%20Carolina/SAWMILL/IMG_3639_zpseqf126ci.jpg) (http://s255.photobucket.com/user/hunt4570/media/South%20Carolina/SAWMILL/IMG_3639_zpseqf126ci.jpg.html)


So I'm still here...
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: Ox on April 15, 2018, 08:21:29 AM
Looking good.  Good idea with charring the wood.  I don't know how much it takes to make it last, but charred wood (charcoal) is found thousands of years later cause it don't rot.
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: A.O. on April 18, 2018, 06:52:22 AM
Looking good.  Good idea with charring the wood.  I don't know how much it takes to make it last, but charred wood (charcoal) is found thousands of years later cause it don't rot.

Just an experiment with the charring, we will see what it does ...
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: Ox on April 18, 2018, 09:05:37 AM
I know the old timers used to char the ends of poles that were to go into the ground for pole barns, fences, etc.  They would make sure the char would come above ground a ways because the majority of rot happens at grade and just below a few inches.  If it didn't work, these fellas wouldn't have done it.  This is my way of thinking.  The old timers may have been a little ignorant about the world, but they knew what was worth doing on their home turf.  My only question is the amount of char.  To my understanding they would actually have the pole ends burning in a fire pit for a little while to get it good and charred black.  I'm not sure if the amount of char you did will last as long or what, but I'm sure it'll help to some degree and looks good to boot!  Kinda like a skip-stain and makes the grain kinda pop.
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: A.O. on April 18, 2018, 10:33:38 AM
I know the old timers used to char the ends of poles that were to go into the ground for pole barns, fences, etc.  They would make sure the char would come above ground a ways because the majority of rot happens at grade and just below a few inches.  If it didn't work, these fellas wouldn't have done it.  This is my way of thinking.  The old timers may have been a little ignorant about the world, but they knew what was worth doing on their home turf.  My only question is the amount of char.  To my understanding they would actually have the pole ends burning in a fire pit for a little while to get it good and charred black.  I'm not sure if the amount of char you did will last as long or what, but I'm sure it'll help to some degree and looks good to boot!  Kinda like a skip-stain and makes the grain kinda pop.

Yes to all that.. And these are not really below grade even though filled with compost. I may also try the "super char" like you are talking on some posts.
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: A.O. on April 18, 2018, 11:12:27 AM
So this morning.. maybe my largest log yet, and I don't need any larger..

(http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh136/hunt4570/South%20Carolina/SAWMILL/IMG_3653_zpsqeorh3bt.jpg) (http://s255.photobucket.com/user/hunt4570/media/South%20Carolina/SAWMILL/IMG_3653_zpsqeorh3bt.jpg.html)

This is my loading set up, the cross pieces just slide across and a notch in them hooks to the rails..

(http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh136/hunt4570/South%20Carolina/SAWMILL/IMG_3652_zpsfo7chriw.jpg) (http://s255.photobucket.com/user/hunt4570/media/South%20Carolina/SAWMILL/IMG_3652_zpsfo7chriw.jpg.html)

I'm pleased with how square its cutting... knock on wood...

(http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh136/hunt4570/South%20Carolina/SAWMILL/IMG_3654_zpsz3vzrbzy.jpg) (http://s255.photobucket.com/user/hunt4570/media/South%20Carolina/SAWMILL/IMG_3654_zpsz3vzrbzy.jpg.html)

Cutting a slab to cut 2x4's out of..

(http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh136/hunt4570/South%20Carolina/SAWMILL/IMG_3656_zpsiuwj2idf.jpg) (http://s255.photobucket.com/user/hunt4570/media/South%20Carolina/SAWMILL/IMG_3656_zpsiuwj2idf.jpg.html)

(http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh136/hunt4570/South%20Carolina/SAWMILL/IMG_3657_zpsbv5fejlt.jpg) (http://s255.photobucket.com/user/hunt4570/media/South%20Carolina/SAWMILL/IMG_3657_zpsbv5fejlt.jpg.html)

And the spoils from this mornings log.

(http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh136/hunt4570/South%20Carolina/SAWMILL/IMG_3663_zps6wcv6fez.jpg) (http://s255.photobucket.com/user/hunt4570/media/South%20Carolina/SAWMILL/IMG_3663_zps6wcv6fez.jpg.html)

(http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh136/hunt4570/South%20Carolina/SAWMILL/IMG_3661_zpsixi8u21z.jpg) (http://s255.photobucket.com/user/hunt4570/media/South%20Carolina/SAWMILL/IMG_3661_zpsixi8u21z.jpg.html)

Now back to it..

Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: mountainlake on April 19, 2018, 04:22:13 AM
 

 Looks good.  Steve
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: kbeitz on January 13, 2019, 08:02:12 AM
I hope you know that you just started spending money...
Lot of other toys to go with a mill.

Log arch
Planer
firewood shed
Lumber shed
cant hooks
Chain saws.
Splitting malls
de-barkers
band setter
band sharpener
logging tape
over head crane to roll logs.
wood working shop.
wood working tools
tree felling wedges
moisture meter
metal detector
electric motor for carriage lift
Blade welder



Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: A.O. on January 13, 2019, 09:37:45 AM
I hope you know that you just started spending money...
Lot of other toys to go with a mill.



Ok, your list.. the stuff I have I checked off, got a ways to go yet though.

Log arch
Planer   XX    I've got two of these now, just picked up a 16" JET, have had a Delta bench model for years.
firewood shed
Lumber shed
cant hooks X
Chain saws. XXX Got 3 of these, unless you count my "chainsaw on a stick" then I have 4
Splitting malls X
de-barkers
band setter
band sharpener  OH I want this one BAD!!
logging tape ??
over head crane to roll logs. That's what my cant hook is for right?  I also have the "hook" from a cant hook I can hook a chain to and use my tractor with on the biggons.
wood working shop. XX
wood working tools  XX
tree felling wedges  XX
moisture meter XX
metal detector XX
electric motor for carriage lift...  I wish! Got a nice hand crank though! ;-)
Blade welder

And you forgot the most important one. A tractor with loader/grapple/forks, without this one there is no reason for a sawmill!
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: kbeitz on January 13, 2019, 04:52:18 PM
You will find that a band setter in more important than a sharper.
A dull blade with good set will cut better than a sharp blade with no set...
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: Cutting Edge Saw Svc. on January 13, 2019, 09:37:30 PM

You will find that a band setter in more important than a sharper.


Far from the truth. 

There are individuals whom lightly face ground their blades, while maintaining consistent hook angle, that would get several runs out of their blades before failure due to cracks... and didn't own a setter.  Back in the day, the only sharpeners you could buy ground only the face.  Blade steel was much different back then too.




A dull blade with good set will cut better than a sharp blade with no set...



If a blade is dull, continuing to saw with it has no merit. 

A sharp blade with no set, hasn't been maintained properly or suffered damage. 

Why use either ??  Let alone debate on which one will saw better.   ::)

Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: kbeitz on January 14, 2019, 10:36:42 AM
I have proved this to myself. I use my band blades till they snap. You don't need to set a blade each time you sharpen, but when they still don't cut straight after a good sharpening it's time to set. This is the same for any blade even a table saw blade. If it has no set it wont cut even if it's sharp. In a pinch I have put set in a saw blade with an adjustable wrench and it cuts great. Say what you want but I have done this many times and I've seen it for myself. That's my story and I'm sticking to it...
Title: Re: Baby mill reccomendations??
Post by: kbeitz on January 14, 2019, 10:41:03 AM
I made my own setter very cheap... Works great...