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

[Smokeydog]

Sometimes you can slab off for a 24” square or cant if not too much flare.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

I'd be loading that onto a trailer and hauling it to the local log yard. There's no way I'd wrestle that thing around.

I've milled bigger ones than that, you get a bunch of lumber out of them!

SR

 

[Jstpssng]

I've milled bigger ones than that, you get a bunch of lumber out of them!

SR

No doubt. You also have a better mill, equipment suitable for the task, considerably more experience, and often have younger muscle to help with the heavy lifting.

I just do it as a hobby, and am still a novice. That log can produce a much more valuable product at a commercial hardwood mill.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

The real work is turning big logs, and my winch makes easy work of that, and I rarely have help when I'm milling.

Anyone could build one for their own mill...

BTW, I wasn't implying that I have a better mill or that I know any more than you or anyone else here, I was just saying that I've done quite a few big logs, and they are just time consuming on a smaller mill.

SR

 

[Jstpssng]

BTW, I wasn't implying that I have a better mill or that I know any more than you or anyone else here,

I wasn't either... I know what you have and what I've got.

Happy New Year!

 

[Smokeydog]

Small mill part time operator I’ve sold some large logs to, sells thick, sometimes one live edge mantles to a lucrative market. Black walnut, white oak and red cedar are best sellers.

 

[Joel/ak]

We have cheap harbor freight mill. Worked great for it intended purposes for the last 8 years or so. Went out today to run and the small predator engine was locked up. Oh well, 1 more thing to add to my honey do list

 

[Jstpssng]

We have cheap harbor freight mill. Worked great for it intended purposes for the last 8 years or so. Went out today to run and the small predator engine was locked up. Oh well, 1 more thing to add to my honey do list

At least you can run down to Harbor Freight and buy another, and it shouldn't be that difficult to switch over.

Is there any chance you got moisture in the engine, and a ring just got a little rust spot? Sometimes a little Marvel Mystery Oil or transmission fluid will loosen those right up.

 

[Joel/ak]

I'm hoping. Went out today to fire up log splitter and mill since hunting season is done and I can make noise.

I'll go back this weekend and pull the sparkplug and see what I can do

 

[Jstpssng]

Is it still scheduled to be delivered tomorrow?

 

[HawkinsHollow]

The eagle has landed!!

 

[Jstpssng]

Let the fun begin!!!
My neighbor bought a Woodland Mills, the same summer that I bought my Woodmizer. He said that he had some type of problem so he called them up and they talked him through the diagnosis. It turns out they had done something wrong at the factory so they sent him a new part, which he had in a couple of days. Everybody makes a mistake once in a while, what matters is how it's handled.
This was during the summer of Covid. (2020)

 

[Eagle1]

Like a kid at Xmas?

 

[jonsstihl]

check the belt tension. and by check I mean slack it off an re-adjust. Mine was set by a gorilla at the factory and I Checked it and found it was not to loose but didn't realize it was too tight. Have fun.

 

[HawkinsHollow]

A little update:
I had to flatten a spot for the saw at the mill. It has been pretty wet here, more rain tomorrow. Then a nice dry spell which will allow some gravel on this spot. My buddy gave me a great piece of advice. Use good sized gravel so you don't get little rocks stuck in the bark. I plan on using 2-3" crushed concrete that I can get for $20/ton.

Once I get gravel down I will build the PT wood base for it.

The mill is going together really well! This thing is HEAVY duty!

I hope to be milling by next weekend!

 

[deezler]

A little update:
I had to flatten a spot for the saw at the mill. It has been pretty wet here, more rain tomorrow. Then a nice dry spell which will allow some gravel on this spot. My buddy gave me a great piece of advice. Use good sized gravel so you don't get little rocks stuck in the bark. I plan on using 2-3" crushed concrete that I can get for $20/ton.

Once I get gravel down I will build the PT wood base for it.

The mill is going together really well! This thing is HEAVY duty!

I hope to be milling by next weekend!

That is indeed a smart tip about larger gravel! Although I suppose after milling just a few logs, you'll have sawdust and bark bits covering the ground everywhere anyway.

Is that area flat? Looks sloped away towards the cliff, but photos are deceiving. Any plans for a roof structure over the mill? Or is tarping the plan.

Good to see some assembly progress. That lift cart looks pretty dang handy - on my wish list as well.

 

[HawkinsHollow]

That is indeed a smart tip about larger gravel! Although I suppose after milling just a few logs, you'll have sawdust and bark bits covering the ground everywhere anyway.

Is that area flat? Looks sloped away towards the cliff, but photos are deceiving. Any plans for a roof structure over the mill? Or is tarping the plan.

It is pretty flat. I will make it flatter with gravel and might have a bit of variation in the legs of my wood base to level it perfectly.

I plan on building something like this over the head for now.

I had one of those 10x20 tarp structures from HF. Well after a couple years it ripped but I saved the majority of the steel tubing and still have enough to build something like this over the head. Better than nothing. I am not sure this is going to be the final resting place for the mill so until I figure that out everything is going to be set up on a provisional basis.

 

[MattB4]

Regarding rock and dirt caught up in the bark. Try as much as possible to never drag your logs. If you have the equipment lift them and carry them to put onto your mill.

 

[HawkinsHollow]

Regarding rock and dirt caught up in the bark. Try as much as possible to never drag your logs. If you have the equipment lift them and carry them to put onto your mill.

Yes sir, check!!

Also thinking about getting a bark removal tool as well. Some people use those debarkers for the end of a chainsaw, some used aggressive grinding wheels on a angle grinder. I am leaning towards chainsaw debarker as I do not have electricity at this site.

 

[2manyrocks]

If you don't plan on keeping your mill in that one location, gravel will keep the mud down, but then you will have gravel mixed with mud and sawdust when you move your mill. When my friend brought his portable mill on wheels over, there was a lot of walking back and forth in the sunshine (a shed would have been awesome), a lot of sawdust, and a lot of boards to stack. Keeping the logs clean has a lot to do with the sawmill blade staying sharp and cutting efficiently. And not cutting into logs that have wire stuck in them.