Sawmill. What do I need to know.

[TnAndy]

I bought a Woodmizer LT40 in 1991, and totally recommend them. The models have changed numbers some....mine has the 34"x21' capacity, and is a "manual" mill. (has the power drive of the saw head, electric up/down of the head and in/out of the blade guide) Unless you plan to saw full time, the manual model is completely adequate for part time use.

I have around 60ac of timber and have been selectively cutting for 30 years now, along with buying logs when I can or simply getting them for free (lot of times) if I'm willing to go get them. With your 250ac and a willingness to work at it, you'll find a ton of use out of a mill, AND as Rob says, you can sell the mill down the road if you decide to. I probably will in another 20 years.....or so......

I also started with an Alaskan, building my first shop building with it.....and it changed my world to go to the Woodmizer. You'd probably be amazed at all the things you'll find to build once you have a supply of inexpensive lumber. I've built all kinds of sheds, a new shop, 3 rental houses (not on my property), buildings/barns for other people and furniture galore.

Sawdust isn't much of a problem, but slab wood can be if you don't use wood for heating....I do heat with wood, but still end up piling a lot of mine up and simply burning the pile from time to time.

Cutting a 30' beam on a 21' mill....it can be done !

Cut tapered lap siding....I use it everywhere on my buildings.

Four 12' logs out of a 24" DBH poplar tree = 100 2x4s and 90% of them better than anything you'll find a Big Box store.

My shop...100% cut off my place.

Hog housing:

Chicken housing:

Firewood housing (aka 4 cord sheds)

 

[TnAndy]

Hay housing (cattle stalls underneath)

Round bale housing:

Vegetable housing....arches made of dead green white oak.

Renter housing

Bird housing

Dining room table for a buddy of mine's new house (which he cut all the framing for using my mill I lent him for a few months)

Nah, if you have a sawmill, and run out of projects, it's ONLY because you just ain't looking hard enough ! :laughing:

 

[EddieWalker]

Andy, I really enjoy seeing your pictures and what you have accomplished!!!!!

 

[TnAndy]

And you might check out used mills.



Sawmill Exchange

SawmillTrader.com - The Sawyer's Trading Place! - Sawmills

 

[TnAndy]

Andy, I really enjoy seeing your pictures and what you have accomplished!!!!!

Thank you Eddie. I still drool over that gazebo of yours.....true wood art man !

 

[Sawyer Rob]

I have been impressed with Norwood mills, so check them out. I feel like WoodMizer is the best, but they are also the most pricey.

"These days", the only thing they are the BEST at, is advertising!

SR

 

[N80]

Andy, thanks for the post. Those are some of the things I'd like to do. I'd also like to do a big gazebo but it would not be anything like Eddie's. I'm not that gifted.

Also good point about commercial lumber. The quality these days is awful. My back porch steps were made of (yellow) treated lumber. Installed by a professional contractor. They were literally rotten and falling iapart in less than 6 years. No special circumstances or unusual exposure. Some sloppy work but that's it. With regular nont-treated 2x4s, 2x8s etc, I spend forever in the big box or lumber yard sorting through the pile just to find stuff that isn't twisted, splintered or covered in bark.

There is a deer stand in my creek bottom that has been there for nearly 20 years. Just a ladder with a seat. It was made of the wet green treated lumber. It is in contact with the ground and is under water 3 -4 times a year when the creek floods. It is still solid.

 

[N80]

"These days", the only thing they are the BEST at, is advertising!

SR

Which brand would you get if you were buying one today?

 

[Rustyiron]

Rob has a Norwood mill iirc. I've had the band mill itch for a long, long time and never really understood why Woodmizer is so popular. A friend has one and is constantly having electrical "issues" and the cantilever design has always been a big "why" for me, one "leg" is inherently unstable and not long ago WM introduced a 4 legged mill. :confused3:
I'm not knocking WM and a lower end manual mill is not all that electric motor, switches, wiring and solenoid dependent and for me, I just don't understand the single beam and cantilever design from an engineering standpoint, just like when Chevy switched to holding up a 4x4 truck with torsion bars:confused2:, just not for me but there are plenty of folks with WM saws and GM trucks.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

Which brand would you get if you were buying one today?

My mill is a Lumbermate 2000, it has been stone reliable,

And has no problem staying dialed in, I can saw out veneer if I want,

I have looked at most of them, and milled lumber on many of them. As to what brand I would buy, depends on what category of mill I was buying, but in a manual mill, I'd be looking HARD at the Norwood and Ez Boardwalk brands...

SR

 

[N80]

Rob has a Norwood mill iirc.

I have no experience with Norwood equipment but years ago when I was looking at their tractors I was not impressed. But when budget is an issue, and it is, and when use will be light, then a Norwood might be the ticket. I will certainly give them a look.

I've had the band mill itch for a long, long time and never really understood why Woodmizer is so popular.

Well, there is no doubt that they are tops in marketing. That is not a knock on them. The level of marketing is not in itself and indicator of poor quality. The other possibility is that they might be good. Of the three or four saw mills that I know of locally all of them are WM and all are old and still in use.

A friend has one and is constantly having electrical "issues" and the cantilever design has always been a big "why" for me, one "leg" is inherently unstable and not long ago WM introduced a 4 legged mill. :confused3:

None of the current base model WMs are cantilever. They either have two legs or four. Nothing wrong with 4 which is what the lowest end model has. None of the models I'd be considering have any electronics outside of the Kohler engine.

just like when Chevy switched to holding up a 4x4 truck with torsion bars:confused2:, just not for me but there are plenty of folks with WM saws and GM trucks.

The WWII German Panther tanks used them. I think my 03 Ford had them up front. So did my 84 Nissan. No problems. Its just a spring, and very adjustable when needed.

Anyway, I'm not focused on any one brand. I do want it to be a brand with at least some regional representation. There is a dealer about an hour from here that carries Wood-Mizer and Timbery saw mills. Never heard of Timbery.

Sawyer Rob, I'll look into Norwood and Ez Boardwalk.

I do not mind spending more on a tool if it is worth the money. On the other hand, I love finding a low cost alternative to high end stuff, as long as it is worth the savings.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

Norwood doesn't now, nor has it ever made tractors!!

SR

 

[N80]

Maybe Norwood saw mills is a different company from the one that used to make the low end tractors. I went to their website. It is awful. You can't get any information on the different models without sending them your contact info. I'm not going to do that but I will see if I can find a dealer.

Never mind, I found the link.

 

[N80]

Comparing the lowest end Wood-Mizer and Norwood mills, the WM appears cheaper but the Norwood comes with an adjustable saw guide and more powerful motor. When you spec the WM the same as the Norwood, the price is the same. The two mills are very similar when spec'd the same. I think the Norwood's adjustable feet look more robust than the WM.

Will certainly look at both of these models.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

Exactly what two models are you talking about?

I've milled on the WM10 and the lower cost Norwood mills...

SR

 

[Jstpssng]

Are you confusing Norwood sawmills with Nortrac tractors, by any chance? The latter is sold by Northern Tool, but I've never seen one in the wild.

 

[N80]

Are you confusing Norwood sawmills with Nortrac tractors, by any chance? The latter is sold by Northern Tool, but I've never seen one in the wild.

Yes..

 

[N80]

Exactly what two models are you talking about?

I've milled on the WM10 and the lower cost Norwood mills...

SR

I was looking at the Lumberman MN26. Going to look for a dealer in the region.

 

[caver]

There are trade shows where many mill manufacturers set up. I was lucky in they had one 35 miles up the road one year.

 

[N80]

Update:

Took delivery of a Woodland Mills HM126 with the extended trailer. My daughter and her husband went in half with us. Why Woodland Mills? Several reasons:

1) Cost. For a basic mill they are one of the lowest priced manufacturers. After deciding that I did need it to be on a trailer, cost was a real issue. The basic Woodmizers and Norwoods on trailers cost a lot more.

2) Availability. Woodmizer is currently backed up for at least 44 weeks. When I contacted them a few months ago and told them I could pick it up myself they said it would probably be more than 44 weeks. I had to wait about two months for the Woodland Mills. And to be clear, impatience was not the driving factor. I am seriously concerned that supply chain issues are going to get much worse before they get better. My wife agreed and said get something right away. We are not "preppers" but we do pay attention.

3) I like the basic 4 post design of the WM mills. I like the simplicity of their designs.

4) The company. I think most people understand that Woodland Mills saw mills are not the top of the heap, especially in terms of options and special features. However, I have heard over and over again that they are great people to deal with and a company that stands by its products. They are constantly refining things based on feedback and the reputation of their customer service is very good. So far they have been stellar to deal with.

Someone mentioned dealing with all the scraps. We also got a pto chipper from them. It will handle up to 6" material.

As for log handling we have already been felling trees and the Kubota L400 with pallet forks clamped onto the bucket work fine. I have ordered a skidding hook. I have a landscape rake which you can drop the rake off of which just leaves a boom behind the tractor. Will chain the skidding hook to the middle of that boom. Have been skidding with choke chains behind the box blade up until now. Will say how the jury rigged set up will work.

Anyway, I appreciate all the advice that you guys provided and will update with our experiences with the mill. Will assemble it this weekend.

As a side note, this mill is not intended as a money maker. It will be a hobby and the labor will be enjoyed. When it is no longer useful or we no longer need lumber we will sell it.