Want to buy a sawmill - Talk me out of it!

[2manyrocks]

Cutting is the easy part. Finding a place to sticker the wood out of the rain can be a hassle. Green boards weigh much more if handling by hand. The romance of owning a portable band mill quickly wore off for me. I recently had a guy offer me good money for my Baker mill and I seriously thought about selling. My biggest headache is if the Honda sits for any length of time I can spend half a day removing the carb and cleaning plus trying to remember where all the springs and linkages go.

I run my carb dry after each use. If there isn't already a fuel shutoff, I'd install one if there is room for it.

As far as talking OP out of buying a sawmill, it's just time consuming to cut and saw wood into dimension lumber.

 

[newbury]

It is an AWFUL idea, AWFUL GOOD. My Woodmizer 10 (plus a bunch blades) was about $4K back in 2012. But I've got plenty of space to store it and wood to dry.
Note - unless you like wood that curls and twists stay away from sweet gum, it's pretty but will twist a lot.

 

[JPRambo]

I got a Huson Sawyer mill in April. Since then I have cut over 1000 bd ft of white and red oak. I did build a solar kiln out of 2x4s and plywood left over by the carpenters who built my house. They are work to use but the lumber will be used for book shelves and a chicken coop. I have a few other project planned.

 

[ponytug]

Do it. Do add the solar kiln to the plans, and definitely work out how to drain the fuel tank and the carburetor after use.

I would keep an eye out for a planer at auctions locally. It makes a world of difference. The mill down the road may be a better option for you.

All the best,

Peter

 

[Eagle1]

I should never look at threads like this......

 

[Jstpssng]

I should never look at threads like this......

I've wanted a mill since long before TBN started. At one time I had complete parts for an old circular mill but it was way too worn out to use. I finally bit the bullet and ordered mine, after selling a piece of land. Unfortunately my age is catching up to me. I wish I had bought it when I was the OP's age, I would have gotten a lot more use from it.

 

[HawkinsHollow]

I keep 2 people that bought a lower end manual band mill with similar plans. They both came to the conclusion that milling generic construction lumber was too much work. Milling hardwood for woodworking that’s much more valuable was a different story.

Yeah, that makes sense. I am sure I will be milling plenty of 1x and 2x stuff but that is not the main reason I want it. The majority of the stuff I have in mind is wood trim/accent wood for the addition, nice looking stuff to make faux beams for the vaulted ceiling addition, large timbers for a timber framed covered patio, timbers for a timber framed pavilion at the property, etc. Things that would be extra expensive at the local hardwood lumber mill. I think with those projects alone this thing will pay for itself.

 

[Camofurever1]

I've wanted a mill since long before TBN started. At one time I had complete parts for an old circular mill but it was way too worn out to use. I finally bit the bullet and ordered mine, after selling a piece of land. Unfortunately my age is catching up to me. I wish I had bought it when I was the OP's age, I would have gotten a lot more use from it.

Funny, when you are finally able to afford all the toys you have wanted all your life, now, you are too old to play with them..... I am in the same boat.

 

[Jstpssng]

Funny, when you are finally able to afford all the toys you have wanted all your life, now, you are too old to play with them..... I am in the same boat.

I can still play with them, just not as long.

 

[MoKelly]

I can still play with them, just not as long.

Kind of like the Toby Keith song —- I’m not as good as I once was, but I’m as good once, as I ever was!

 

[MAX-24-Dean]

You guys are no help. Half the time I post on here someone always tells me it is an AWFUL idea. Where are those guys at when you need them?

Its a great idea, if you have the trees! But it is kind of like buying tractors, get one just a little bit more capable on your first purchase. The next size up. A manual mill is a lot more work- equaling more time spent for the results.
Fortunately for me my neighbor with the automated diesel woodmizer lets me run my logs through it, with him behind the controls. Just cost me 30% of the lumber and he knows he is giving me a good deal.
Hope you can swing getting a mill!

 

[Spitzair]

I certainly aint gonna try to talk you out of it! My dad bought a mill in 1991 as a way to make some money when he was laid off from his regular job during the slow time of year. Yeah, his was top of the line loaded with all the options and hydraulic log handling package you could get at the time so it was quite expensive, but he still uses it very frequently to this day. The amount of money he’s saved with it over the years has paid for the mill many times over, I’m sure you’ll find the manual mill you’re looking at will do the same. The way lumber prices are these days it won’t take long.

 

[newbury]

Things that would be extra expensive at the local hardwood lumber mill. I think with those projects alone this thing will pay for itself.

Things like 2x4x8 going for $12@, or a 4x4x8 for $20?
It was really handy to be able to saw lumber when lumber skyrocketed during the Covid induced lumber price escalation.

 

[HawkinsHollow]

Things like 2x4x8 going for $12@, or a 4x4x8 for $20?
It was really handy to be able to saw lumber when lumber skyrocketed during the Covid induced lumber price escalation.

And there is no guarantee it won't happen again. Chances are the way our economy is going chances are better than average.

Thank you for all of the great replies gentlemen. You HAVE NOT done a good job talking me out of it though. I think most people like us see the value and potential in a sawmill. And realize, given the right set of circumstances, it is a smart play.

 

[ponytug]

Yeah, that makes sense. I am sure I will be milling plenty of 1x and 2x stuff but that is not the main reason I want it. The majority of the stuff I have in mind is wood trim/accent wood for the addition, nice looking stuff to make faux beams for the vaulted ceiling addition, large timbers for a timber framed covered patio, timbers for a timber framed pavilion at the property, etc. Things that would be extra expensive at the local hardwood lumber mill. I think with those projects alone this thing will pay for itself.

And there is no guarantee it won't happen again. Chances are the way our economy is going chances are better than average.

Thank you for all of the great replies gentlemen. You HAVE NOT done a good job talking me out of it though. I think most people like us see the value and potential in a sawmill. And realize, given the right set of circumstances, it is a smart play.

In all seriousness, I think that you have thought this out and are thinking about it in a sensible way. You have the need, the trees, the ability, and an interest in it.

I'm generally in the camp that @MAX-24-Dean suggested of buying something a little above the base machine. Sometimes buying the cheapest works and sometimes not. Our old farm had an ancient, tractor belt driven 4' circular wood saw (yes, it was a beast, but very mechanically simple). Having powered travel allowed it to get through large quantities of lumber pretty darn quickly. I would certainly consider a powered travel option pretty seriously. It might open up some custom milling for you.

All the best,

Peter

(Yes, I know, not helping to talk you out of it...)

 

[LD1]

IF you are into woodworking, like hardwoods.....mantles, cabinets, flooring, trim.....working with cherry, oak maple, etc....I can see it as being worthwhile.

But to fool yourself into thinking you are saving anything by making construction lumber....forget it. You will never replicate the dimensional accuracy and stability. And gonna be more hassle than its worth. After you get that first bunk of 2x4 studs milled, dried, planed, then watch it further shrink and twist or crack....you realize how dumb it was and shoulda just went and bought 2x4's for $3ea

 

[HawkinsHollow]

In all seriousness, I think that you have thought this out and are thinking about it in a sensible way. You have the need, the trees, the ability, and an interest in it.

I'm generally in the camp that @MAX-24-Dean suggested of buying something a little above the base machine. Sometimes buying the cheapest works and sometimes not. Our old farm had an ancient, tractor belt driven 4' circular wood saw (yes, it was a beast, but very mechanically simple). Having powered travel allowed it to get through large quantities of lumber pretty darn quickly. I would certainly consider a powered travel option pretty seriously. It might open up some custom milling for you.

All the best,

Peter

(Yes, I know, not helping to talk you out of it...)

If there is one thing I have learned in my time here at TBN, buy bigger than you think you need. The model of mill I am looking at is not their smallest, it is the next size up. Capable of sawing 26" logs into 24" boards. I am tempted to go to the model that can stretch that into 30" logs and boards. But that is $1400 more expensive and getting into a price range I am less comfortable spending right now. But I have not ruled it out yet. I am watching Marketplace closely as well. But I saw one (albeit out of my area) that they wanted above retail for ragged looking one.

 

[MattB4]

Now that you have been talked into a sawmill let me give you the problems. Once you get it you realize that you need all kinds of things to make having it better. A covered work area, planers, additional saws, log handling tools, someone to help you when you are cutting heavy awkward to handle things. Equipment to move around logs and your stacks of lumber.

Your simple investment balloons into a obsession and your back starts to give out. All kinds of 'new" friends will suddenly show up wanting custom lumber for free. Your wife will likely leave you, and the dog will growl at you, because you ignore them to be out at the mill. The kids you thought that would help you are busy and hiding away when you need them most.

Your life will never be the same.

 

[HawkinsHollow]

Now that you have been talked into a sawmill let me give you the problems. Once you get it you realize that you need all kinds of things to make having it better. A covered work area, planers, additional saws, log handling tools, someone to help you when you are cutting heavy awkward to handle things. Equipment to move around logs and your stacks of lumber.

Your simple investment balloons into a obsession and your back starts to give out. All kinds of 'new" friends will suddenly show up wanting custom lumber for free. Your wife will likely leave you, and the dog will growl at you, because you ignore them to be out at the mill. The kids you thought that would help you are busy and hiding away when you need them most.

Your life will never be the same.

I don't doubt anything you say.

 

[D&D]

Now that you have been talked into a sawmill let me give you the problems. Once you get it you realize that you need all kinds of things to make having it better. A covered work area, planers, additional saws, log handling tools, someone to help you when you are cutting heavy awkward to handle things. Equipment to move around logs and your stacks of lumber.

Your simple investment balloons into a obsession and your back starts to give out. All kinds of 'new" friends will suddenly show up wanting custom lumber for free. Your wife will likely leave you, and the dog will growl at you, because you ignore them to be out at the mill. The kids you thought that would help you are busy and hiding away when you need them most.

Your life will never be the same.

Working that kind of mill pictured gives me a back ache just looking at it. It’s at ground level.
We’ve got a Timberking 1600 and at the end of the day often wonder how much was really saved. Blades, fuel, lube, debarker, metal detector, chainsaw, cant hooks, tractor

Will your local building code let you use ungraded lumber for residential construction?