What make and model? How extreme do I need?
I have about an acre of standing timber that needs cleared, and Blodgett inspired me to build a house with it.
There seem to be a million options, I’m like Gunner on Prom night, not sure what to do.
It’s not too late, it’s never too late.
Engineered-stone shower panels are waterproof, but proper installation relies on tight seams and silicone sealing.
"I have learned so much thanks to the searchable articles on the FHB website. I can confidently say that I expect to be a life-long subscriber." - M.K.
Dig into cutting-edge approaches and decades of proven solutions with total access to our experts and tradespeople.
Start Free Trial NowGet instant access to the latest developments in green building, research, and reports from the field.
Start Free Trial Now
Replies
Hi dustinf,
I'm kind of partial to WoodMizer. I have an LT40g25, no hydraulics, a few upgrades.
As for how extreme you need--It all depends on how hard you want to work on sawing logs, and how quick you want to saw them. Without hydraulics, I spend more time loading and turning logs. But I get them cut just the same. With a 1-acre woodlot, you wouldn't need to get too extreme in my opinion.
Here is a thread I did about some logs I sawed earlier this year.
http://forums.taunton.com/n/mb/message.asp?webtag=tp-breaktime&msg=121510.1&search=y
You can find used mills on the 'net, http://www.sawmillexchange.com Last flyer I got from Woodmizer, they were having some deals on used mills...but you're still looking at over $20k for a well set up LT40. Check out http://www.woodmizer.com , they have videos of the mills in action if my memory is correct.
Mitch
http://www.rdwoodworks.com
You sure you want to tow it around?
Lots of good reasons to set it up in one place if you can.
Not real sure what I want. I have some property(no utilities or security) that I'd like to clear and mill the timber.How do you transport logs to your set up? I was thinking it would be easier to transport the mill to the timber. I was thinking of leaving the milled boards stacked on the property to dry.This is still half day dreaming. To be honest I'm looking for some equipment to purchase that I can depriciate for few years.
It's not too late, it's never too late.
There are a million variables here, like how much timber an acre will saw out, that varies wildly. How much the value of the sawn timber is worth, etc. Even if you are out for a write off it might be more cost effective to hire it out. Crunch the numbers with as much info as you can acquire..
Yeah, you might be better served with a portable, something you can tow back and forth. I get it.Have you decided yet between a band or circular saw? Each has definite advantages. In the 70s and early 80s the Mobile Dimension circular mills were king around here, but that's just about when Woodmiser band saw mills started gaining serious market share, and nowadays the band saw mills are far more common, at least out here. Then there's something called a "swing mill" that lots of folks rave about, but I get the impression their strength is the ability to mill really big logs without moving them. I studied for about a year before deciding on what mill I wanted but I'm not real handy with mechanical devices so parts availability and manufacturer location were really important to me. The company I bought from doesn't even offer a trailer option so they probably wouldn't fit your needs.Do you know about http://www.forestryforum.com/index.php ? If not you might check it out. Lots of opinions and information there about milling, drying, handling lumber and logs. Once in a while I see folks over there that I see here, too. We use a small tractor to skid logs, move them around and load them onto the mill. We even use it to roll the big mama jammas while we are milling them. Great for moving lumber around too. I had a much harder time figuring out what I needed to move logs/lumber than deciding on a mill, but I'm really glad I took my time. I think I got it right the first time for once.What kind of timber you have there? Pine? Hardwoods maybe?
Lots of pine, oak, maple, and walnut.Not enough on my lot to build a house, but I have a friend that is an arborist. I need something productive to do in my spare time. TV and beer have made me lazy(that's what I'm blaming it on).It's not too late, it's never too late.
Makes selling it down the road much easier. Plus provides you with an option to generate some additional income with it..
a couple of considerations -
tow behinds are limited to 20' or so - that maybe fine/enough, but at times I find myself wishing I could cut longer timbers - if you were to build a timber frame, perhaps one of the stationary machines that ride on an extendable track might be the right machine for you -
at the least you need the capability to drag logs to the mill - I use log tongs to drag logs out of the woods with a tractor, then use a forklift to serve the mill -
hydraulics sure are nice...
I don't think one acre can justify an expensive mill - pencil out all the expenses and you'll find the savings on modest amounts of lumber doesn't come close to paying for much of a machine - if you are sawing 'special' wood, it's a bit more justifiable -
which brings you back to a portable mill which you will find more versatile - I got my for my own use, but 3-4 times a year I'll go on the road and saw for a day or three, grossing about $6-700 a day - a nice little kiss that I always find a use for - -
Guy I buy from has a modest Woodmizer (no log-flippers or any such) and a tractor with forks on it. He can do a lot with it. You need the tractor, and you can use it for a lot of other things.
You need the tractor, and you can use it for a lot of other things
Amen, And make sure you have a thumb!!!
Know for sure I use the hoe thumb more than any other hydraulic tool on my place.
David and other fest goers got to see Jim's setup. Jim's is permanent on a concrete pad whch makes for ultra stability, plus an electric motor vs gas engine which is undoubtedly a lot quieter and lower cost to run.
What surprised me on Jim's was he was able to run a 1-1/2" blade on a 1" set of wheels - Jim left a 1/8" slice off a log sitting in an obvious spot to impress everyone with how well he had it aligned and the blade set <G>
OTOH, as for mobile, my neighbor at the cabin has 60 acres of DFir and alder, which he mills in 'retirement'. He has a mobile woodmiser with full hydraulics but the thing has not been moved for at least 8 years. Built a 40x60x24 ft high storage shed with big palners, etc there also. His 2 log handling pieces of equipment are a bobcat with 4:1 bucket and a D7 with 4:1, can move pretty big stuff with the D7.
His mobile outfit has a 20 ft extention, so he can do 36 ft logs.
Told Jim one of my retirement projects will be to build a band mill, pretty sure I'll make it mobile, as the base frame will be a few old truck chassis to start with.
I know absoultely nothing about logging or milling but this is an awesome thread! I loved seeing the pictures and listen to you guys talk about it.
Not something we really see down here in Florida. At least I never have.
Very cool stuff!
Go into the Forestry Forum...lots of millers live in FloridaView Image
The Woodshed Tavern Backroom
The Topics Too Hot For Taunton's Breaktime Forum Tavern
Andy, Is that part of Knots?
Scratch that...I found the link in the message above. Tnkx
Edited 9/30/2009 6:35 pm ET by Oak River Mike
http://www.logrite.com/mainarch.html
View Image
The Woodshed Tavern Backroom
The Topics Too Hot For Taunton's Breaktime Forum Tavern
Hey brotherman, you get your mill yet? Been doing any timberframing?
Hey brotherman, you get your mill yet? Been doing any timberframing?<<<<Hey Jimbo, I wish...Right now I'm living vicariously through you. It's all kinda depressing trying to sell our shack. I think I can lower the price to 'free' and no one's gonna buy it as beautiful as it is inside and out.
Our guess is people in these here parts want the front of the house to look 'distinguished and affluent and stupid me designed it so it actually looks like what it was...a farm house.
Some people drive up then drive away w/o even looking inside. They 'think' it's too small from how the front looks....mean while it's 4980 sq ft inside. I even bought stick on numbers to put on the 4 sale sign out from that says that...to no avail...so we're barely squeeking by paying the mortgage {{{{shuddering}}}}}}.If we lower the price one more time we'll be living in a cardboard box soon....so the answer to your question again is....I'm saw millin' and timber framing in my dreams...ugh.Thats THE reason we never made it to your shindig several weeks back......we've been livin' on the edge of the ledge.....the story of my life....lol.
View Image
The Woodshed Tavern Backroom
The Topics Too Hot For Taunton's Breaktime Forum Tavern
I'm thinking it's a sign from the Universe, that maybe you two are supposed to be right there right now.
It will all unfold the way it's supposed to.
Where are you headed if you sell? Taxes got to be hurting you as well as mortgage.
Taxes here are less than most everyone around me and mine are a mere $19500 a year...ugh! Never expected to still be here.Where next? Sure wouldn't mind somewhere with just a bit warmer weather and in the mtns. Considered Asheville, NC for a long time but there's very little work there right now....but I'm thinking if and when the economy picks back up and with all the influx of new people there with money it may be a a good place to be.I hear that more then 1/2 the people from there right now are all transplants.Then we considered looking in that Blodgett kid's neck of the woods in the great north west,,,,Who knows...first things first I reckon.A cardboard box over a heat grate is always possible...lol
View Image
The Woodshed Tavern Backroom
The Topics Too Hot For Taunton's Breaktime Forum Tavern
Been to both places. Asheville's a nice spot, but people have figured that out and it's filling up.
I could be happy in the Pac NW.
Wow, I've never seen a hand cranked band saw mill. How much effort to make that puppy move?http://www.tvwsolar.com
We'll have a kid
Or maybe we'll rent one
He's got to be straight
We don't want a bent one
He'll drink his baby brew
From a big brass cup
Someday he may be president
If things loosen up
Not hard at all, man. Pretty much limited by how fast the blade can chew through the log, but other than that it's easy.
There are lots of mills on the market with similar designs. The Woodmiser in that class uses what looks like cloths line instead of a chain and it seemed to work fine when I test drove it.
Several companies make mills you simply push through the cut. Some of them have long straight handle bars mounted on the back of the carriage for just that purpose. The Norwood 2000 is built that way. I found one of those for sale used right up the road from me but we couldn't agree on a price.
You can buy a small manual mill new for a few thousand dollars. Pretty darned handy, especially if you get into resawing. I can slice a very thin flitch with mine - translucent - got big ideas for veneering if I ever get into something highly figured or need some curved casework.
You ever get out this way we'll smoke up some meat and mill us some sawdust. Got a peavy with your name on it.
Ahhh. The couple of Wood Mizers I've been around were push button everything. Very slick.Had a buddy with a circular saw mill... that was tense operation!If you keep that peavy as bait, we'll surely make it out there.Looks like eastern red cedar Doud's slicing up... or maybe he's making hampster bedding?http://www.tvwsolar.com
We'll have a kid
Or maybe we'll rent one
He's got to be straight
We don't want a bent one
He'll drink his baby brew
From a big brass cup
Someday he may be president
If things loosen up
If you missed it.
Mike,
What do the ping pong paddles and balls do with the milling process? :)
Told ya I didn't know nuthin' about this! LOL
That's for Breaktime
Good one!
But seriously, that is pretty cool. So it just slides down the rails? Man, this thread has got me really hooked!
You CAN push it through the log, or hand turn a crank that propels the mill via a sprocket and motorcycle chain. We get a far more consistant feed rate, smoother cut, with the crank.
I might have some photos on my hard drive that illustrate that, I'll see. If not, I know I have some negatives of the guys milling this spring that I plan to print this fall as soon as the darkroom opens again.
Let's see...yeah, this one you can see me cranking that handle...
Very cool Jim. Thanks
In the foreground of this one is a good look at that handle (ignore the goofball fondling the board in the background).
So I ask you, you see any signs of rain in those photos? Hmmm?
No. Makes you wonder why the guy even put a roof over it.
protect the ping pong table...
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming<!----><!----><!---->
WOW!!! What a Ride!
Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!
"Some days it's just not worth chewing through the restraints"
That's for shade. The sun is hard on my complection.
Hey. You ever read any John Updike?
No. When he died I heard an interview on the radio. Interesting guy. Maybe I'll pick one up soon. You reading his stuff ?
Yeah, I've read a couple of the "Rabbit" books and am currently knee deep in "Witches of Eastwick". Not as good as our man Russo, but well worth the read. Has a good sense of mood, of historical context.
here's a couple of the woodmizer at work -
View Image
View Image"there's enough for everyone"
Now THAT'S a sawmill. I'm jealous.
Hey. Is that cherry you're milling? Or?
red cedar - I know there's some photos posted here of me sawing walnut, but I don't have time to search for them now - I like the machine - the new ones with computers and lasers are more refined, but I'd rather maintain/repair mechanical controls - one thing that would really be nice is the feature that has an electrically run carbide tipped circular saw that kerfs the log so the band is always sawing into clean wood - bands just don't stay sharp as long as I would like and it's mostly dirt/grit in the bark that dulls them - I do find that I always lean into the lever and controls, pushing the cutting head thru the cut - the feed motor does 90% of the work, but being able to feel the cut tells me a lot about the sharpness of the blade and whether I'm sawing as fast as the machine wants - always a fine line between speed and accuracy - "there's enough for everyone"
oh, ya - and now I'm looking at these....http://kalamazoo.craigslist.org/tls/1389067907.html"there's enough for everyone"
Sweet! That's a helllluva buy if you have 3 phase power.
I'm guessing you know that Woodmiser sells a debarker that works just about the way you describe. I think it would be pretty easy to mount a small router right there but haven't got to it yet.
Still trying to mount a skilsaw (or 2) right behind the blade so I am slicing and edging in each pass when I want to - sure would save handling.
And yes, you get in tune with the blade, how it's cutting/feeding. Kind of goofy to say but you really become one with the machine.
Dang David, dat's a deal!We have a 12" 3ph Northfield jointer, that Wadkin looks twice as heavy.Do you 3ph for the farm?http://www.tvwsolar.com
We'll have a kid
Or maybe we'll rent one
He's got to be straight
We don't want a bent one
He'll drink his baby brew
From a big brass cup
Someday he may be president
If things loosen up
as a matter of fact, I do - keep talking - there's so many places to spend money..."there's enough for everyone"
Okaaay... is that a 16" Wadkin? We paid 2000 bucks for the 12" Northfield... I'm thinkin' the Wadkin is a 6-7000 dollar machine.I've taken cedar logs like you're sawing in that pic, and squared them up on the Northfield, not to mention straightening out 14' stuff... plus that powermatic looks pretty light, too<G>You'd be getting set for under a dollar a pound!http://www.tvwsolar.com
We'll have a kid
Or maybe we'll rent one
He's got to be straight
We don't want a bent one
He'll drink his baby brew
From a big brass cup
Someday he may be president
If things loosen up
talked to the guy a couple of hours ago - both machines are 16" - and heavy... came out of the Whirlpool Corp pattern shop - he's had people look at them and they are intimidated by the size and weight - as am I he says he thinks the jointer is 3000 pounds - I kinda doubt it, but I'd hate to drop it on my foot...floor space is also an issue - I don't know if I could put that jointer on wheels or not - I suppose if I'd get the right castors....If I get that, what do I do with my 24" planer?"there's enough for everyone"
So, I just looked that jointer up... seems it's like a $12,000 machine... rack and pinion fence arrrhhh, arrrrrrhhh, arrrrrhhhAnd, every guy needs 2 planers<G>http://www.tvwsolar.com
We'll have a kid
Or maybe we'll rent one
He's got to be straight
We don't want a bent one
He'll drink his baby brew
From a big brass cup
Someday he may be president
If things loosen up
Dave, put the 24" up on craigslist. I bet it would be a good seller. Might even get more for it than the replacement.
ya, but I can only do that if I get my 36" machine - I've given consideration to this machine http://picasaweb.google.com/pleasantstmachinery/Buss36InchPlanerWDROWired230volt#- this place has great machinery - http://picasaweb.google.com/pleasantstmachineryI do quite a bit with wide boards and need a minimum of 24" capacity - I've been looking for a machine in the middle, between my old and slow 24" Crescent and my light duty finishing planer by Delta - I've never had a jointer, other than a hand plane....these machines are tempting - "there's enough for everyone"
Hey ...would youz guyz do me a solid...if you just haveeee to post stories and pic about saw mills would you mind putting up a big SM first so I can be forwarned (like POL) so I won't read those posts....I'm very very jealous ya know...lolView Image
The Woodshed Tavern Backroom
The Topics Too Hot For Taunton's Breaktime Forum Tavern
""would you mind putting up a big SM first "' Given their level of pleasure at posting .. and your level of pain at reading the posts shouldn't that be.... "S&M" ??? Life is Good
Edited 10/1/2009 7:45 pm by dovetail97128
Given their level of pleasure at posting .. and your level of pain at reading the posts shouldn't that be.... "S&M" ???<<<Only because even if I see a big SM.....I'm gonna read the posts anyway...so yeh...that'd be a BIG S&MView Image
The Woodshed Tavern Backroom
The Topics Too Hot For Taunton's Breaktime Forum Tavern
hehehehehehe, good one man. I'll remember that. "SM" hehehehehe
well, I talked to the planer/jointer guy again tonight - if the weather is dry, he's going to deliver on sunday afternoon - about 120 miles for another $100 it's unusual that I don't try to beat these guys down, but my heart's just not in this one - we'll see - "there's enough for everyone"
Nice score.
Hey. I've caught myself wondering several times this week about what propels the carriage on your mill. Hydraulics? Electric? Some type of slip wheel/belt device?
a 12 volt motor controlled by a rheostat - sprocket and chain arrangement - if you look closely at the bottom picture in post #29, you can see the chain hanging/drooping along the frame of the machine - "there's enough for everyone"
Rheostat. That the operator twists to adjust speed?edited to change "speed" to "feed rate"
Edited 10/2/2009 10:47 pm ET by jimblodgett
ya, a little pointy knob on the control panel - the paint is well worn around that area - the whole mechanism is 'soft' - it doesn't take much to stop the feed, a bit of debris on the chain, a little build up on the rail, the blade running into the metal clamp (actually, I haven't done that yet, but the scars show that the previous owner did at least three times) - I did run into a ceramic insulator embedded in a log - they don't saw worth #### -"there's enough for everyone"
Jim,
In this picture I have outlined some of the controls on my mill.
View Image
The blue is the feed rate; The red is the forward and reverse carriage direction; The green is the blade guide; The yellow is the debarker(on/off toggle on right, in/out toggle on left).
When the forward is selected for carriage direction, you control the speed of the feed rate by turning the knob(in blue) clockwise to go faster.
Mitchhttp://www.rdwoodworks.com
http://www.freewebs.com/glenndalepedalplane/
Thanks Mitch.
Hey. That "in and out" control for the debarker got me thinking. I'd think you would have to keep a pretty close eye on that if there's much taper or irregularities to a log. Is that a problem? Do you have an easy line of sight to that blade?
Jim,
I usually don't have to watch the de-barker much, but it is right in front of the blade guide, so I have a decent view of it. Here's a pic of the de-barker from the other side.
View Image
As you might be able to see, there are springs that allow movement around irregularities and knots in the log. My biggest problem is when I have a deep bend and I forget to keep the de-barker blade close to the log.
Mitchhttp://www.rdwoodworks.com
http://www.freewebs.com/glenndalepedalplane/
Here is another view of the de-barker:
View Image
Mitchhttp://www.rdwoodworks.com
http://www.freewebs.com/glenndalepedalplane/
Nice fruits of your labors<G>Maybe take some pics of how you get them in your shop?We've got the Northfield on a 4x4 sled kinda deal. One person can rotate it enough, so that by opening a door and moving some other tools, we have run 16' stuff through... but it only weighs 5-600lbs LOLhttp://www.tvwsolar.com
We'll have a kid
Or maybe we'll rent one
He's got to be straight
We don't want a bent one
He'll drink his baby brew
From a big brass cup
Someday he may be president
If things loosen up
I am interested in your 'sled kinda deal' - I don't have room for this unless I park momma outside, and experience tells me that is not a good idea - I do have room to place it against the wall (I think) - and then move it into position when I need it - I do have a pallet jack - that may play a role - right now my shop is full of apples - I'm going to unload these machines and tuck them out of the way and hook things up in about 6-8 weeks when I reclaim my shop - every august I move my wood shop onto my mechanical shop floor space (with various machines tucked away in a line-up) so I can use my shop space to handle fruit - I can still do woodwork and I can still do mechanical, just not very conveniently - repairs only, no major projects, not that there's time anyway - takes two men about two hours to make the move - nearly everything on wheels, and a piano dolly for those things that are not - the 24" planer remains hulking in position...."there's enough for everyone"
They're more like sled runners and they mostly keep the legs from catching when it's dragged inch by inchHow many apples will that pallet fork lift?http://www.tvwsolar.com
We'll have a kid
Or maybe we'll rent one
He's got to be straight
We don't want a bent one
He'll drink his baby brew
From a big brass cup
Someday he may be president
If things loosen up
theoretically, 100 bushel - "there's enough for everyone"
sooo, how many bushels in a jointer?http://www.tvwsolar.com
We'll have a kid
Or maybe we'll rent one
He's got to be straight
We don't want a bent one
He'll drink his baby brew
From a big brass cup
Someday he may be president
If things loosen up
that is the question, eh? pounds or $? actually, that machine is only about 14 bushel of #1 HoneyCrisp (that's gross, not net...)this guy threw out '3000 pounds' for the jointer - (which is 75 bushel of apples) - I really don't think it's nearly that much - 1000, maybe... but whadda I know? - I bet I can get it unloaded - you shoulda seen momma's eyes light up when I showed her the add! who knew that planers and jointers were also aphrodisiacs!? and when I whisper "3-phase electricity" in her ear...ah - life on the farm...."there's enough for everyone"
Who's getting afrodesiaked? LOLhttp://www.machineking.com/image_show.php?item_id=1381&type=super&vc=4b7a268f31c1a443788f43bb59413d7dhttp://www.tvwsolar.com
We'll have a kid
Or maybe we'll rent one
He's got to be straight
We don't want a bent one
He'll drink his baby brew
From a big brass cup
Someday he may be president
If things loosen up
View Image"there's enough for everyone"
View Image"there's enough for everyone"
Beautiful.
more stuff!
you should check out how I'm decrying materialism in the tavern - -
View Image"there's enough for everyone"
Nice score. Seeing that planer reminds me of hauling our 24" Powermatic home from Portland about 1976 or so.
Crested a hill, maybe 1/8 mile on the down hill side doing about 60mph and blew out a front tire on my pick up. Planer was just sitting in the bed, not strapped in.
Tapping the breaks and watching the rear view mirror as that planer came sliding toward the rear of the cab.
Heck of a ride home.
Life is Good
Oh man.
View Image"there's enough for everyone"
three extra sets of knives for both machines - sharp -
View Image"there's enough for everyone"
Yet another reason I want to be a David Doud when I grow up.PS I thought of you when I read GM was shutting down Saturn. You can't blame Nader this time.
It's not too late, it's never too late.
droollliinngggView Image
The Woodshed Tavern Backroom
The Topics Too Hot For Taunton's Breaktime Forum Tavern
OK, I'm jealous.
Got a 6" planer last week from my dad and thought I was in heavon, then you go and get that!
yabba dabba dooo!http://www.tvwsolar.com
We'll have a kid
Or maybe we'll rent one
He's got to be straight
We don't want a bent one
He'll drink his baby brew
From a big brass cup
Someday he may be president
If things loosen up
I've had a Norwood mill for over 7 years. Totally manual and simple and smart made. Permament set up for stability and weather coverage. Track is set up for 12' stuff but since its just angle iron u could make it 60' long. Blades are cheaper than my shop band saw and can saw 26" wide. Logs have been skidded by horses; truck and have a sled for hauling down driveway without impregnating log with gravel.
You'll find out real soon the sawing is fun. Its dealing with the slab and making good stickered stacks that'll keep ur lumber staright and dry that makes all the work.
Lots of guys went into portable sawing business around here and theres very few left. Hard way to make $ every time. I cut alot of odd shaped ; big slabs and geometric shapes that a custom sawyer wouldnt want to bother with. With the European Ash borer coming my way soon I know ill be cutting lots of ash soon.
If you are going to sawing framing and even sheathing for a house make sure you can use it as per code. I bought 3000bf of 12" pine from a guy whose building inspector wouldnt let him use it unless it was graded and certified. Yep 7/16 OSB was deemed better than 1" thick diag. sheathing.!
Man, that is some p0rn site!!!!
Recomended for people that like tools!>G<
Where I'm located you have to have a grade stamp on the lumber to use it for a house.