bandsaw mill questions.

[banditbooker]

Ok, so I know this is a tractor forum and all, but I see some good input on here from people so I thought I'd post my question here. I had just bought a bandsaw mill and it looks like it was someone else's "build it yourself project" Anyhow, to anyone that knows anything about bandsaw mills was just wondering what you think its worth. It can cut up to a 24 inch diameter log at 16.5 feet long. It has a power feed and a log lift system. It also has power up but manual down for the carriage head. Everything else is manula. like turning the log and clamping it. It has a 13 horse engine on it to run the bandsaw and what must be a 3 to 5 horse to run the power feed. Anyhow, any input would be appreciated, I like it so far. I want to eventually paint it and add a few things to it. Just for the record, my tractor is in some of the pictures, so It's not totally out of line posting a bandsaw mill question on a tractor forum. haha

 

[Artisan]

Bill how do you strap the log going down past 1/2 way?

Or are you done and the rest is firewood?

 

[banditbooker]

Its designed that when you square it up you can clamp it down at the bottom. It will cut down to 1 inch boards.

 

[Artisan]

I went looking at these things yesterday and looked at a few prices. My vote would be in the 1600.00 to 2200.00 range in value. Pictures never show whats wrong w/ a unit so IRL review might knock some off this. I am NOT really qualified to place a value on it, others are, just IMO.

 

[Winmac]

It has most of the features (feed,hudraulic lift, etc) of a 20- 30k factory unit but i suspect functionalty and realiabilty is not quite as good. Judging by the pile of lumber in the background you are getting your money out of it, might be worth 2500$. the issue will be repairs when any part fails you may have to re-engineer the system to make a diffrent part work.

 

[SPIKER]

heck if you are looking to sell it I would pay those price range I've been looking but nnot a lot available locally most of the used mills are top name brand stuff that hold there value real well..

mark

 

[G.P.S.Investments]

Well :shocked: if you got the mill for under 5k you got a true deal..Regard less of the type of a $$$$$.I spent 10.5k for my Lm 2000 band mill no just manual everything,like turning logs,no power drive,plus I had to put the puzzle together myself :laughing: .But as my late told me PAINT does not make it run better.As I say "it looks better"..,any ways think about how it cost to weld ,cut,grind,traveling to pick up material to do the job,$$$$$$$$ then you will it out ways the cost :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :cool2: & the :tractor: ..Good luck on both :drool:

 

[Short Game]

I had a Wood Mizer once. I loved it. My ex-best friend/ex-business partner has it now. I still miss it. If I ever hit the Lotto, I'll get another one.

 

[Mike476]

As others have said, $15-$25K for a brand name saw with some of the same capabilities, mind you I've used a wood mizer LT 10 that is a basic saw that will cut just as nice. What really drives the value in a sawmill is the amount of bdft per hour you can cut with it.

 

[tlbuser]

Ublesss your trying to sell and someone wants to buy, "worth" has no real value.

We've got a timberking 1600, the only things missing from yours are leveling jacks on the four corners and a log turner.

 

[Army grunt]

Not counting my time, but I am sure theres3,000 in my mill.I built it a few years back. I like the coment"tlbuser


Default Re: bandsaw mill questions.
Ublesss your trying to sell and someone wants to buy, "worth" has no real value.
This is a great statement.
Army Grunt

 

[sparc]

I don't know how long you plan to leave those boards stacked as they are (or what you intend to use them for) but if this lumber will be processed into boards for making furniture, etc. from what I can see in the photos you need to be careful when stickering to keep the stickers one above the other so the load is transfered down through the stickers and not offset as I see on many of your boards.

If you leave them how they are (especially when first cut and still green) even for a day or two you boards will be ruined. You should think about setting up a level starting point (as measured with a 48" level) at least 12" above the ground or better yet over concrete and then sticker and stack there or you will have twists and/or waves in your boards. Cover the top and sides but leave the ends open for air flow through the stack. If stacking side by side leave a minimum of 4 inches between each stack for air flow.

Grunt; I like your hoist, nice job. Did you build the spreader bar?

 

[20 20]

I paid less then 4k for a new hudson model 6yrs back, the amount of wood projects that have been built because of that machine is in the 100+k area. The best advice I can give is make sure the bed stays straight{and level} keep it lubed up and most important sharp blade. I have out cut much bigger machines then mine{better lumber}, not because the machine was bad, but because of poor imporper maintenance and dull blades. A person can have the most expensive mill on the market but without good maintenance proper blade tension and a sharp blade they aren't going to cut anything worth while.

 

[banditbooker]

Thanks for all the input guys. I was busy yesterday hauling logs to cut on my new mill. I had paid 3500 for this one. I believe I got a decent deal seeing what others go for with the options it does have on it. I eventually want to put a log turning and hydraulic clamp on it. Theres a few other things I want to do to it to suite me personally. I did not cut all that lumber in the pic. We had that done for a shed out at our camp and a deck. I only had the mill a few days now and I'm still getting the hang of it. But I plan on building a 32 x 40 garage this year and I think this can save me alot of money. Plus I just like doing it. I get my winters off so it'll keep me busy. Its just set up where its at temporally. I need to wait for it to dry up a little bit so I can build a pad for it and my new garage. Nice job on your mill Army Grunt, I remember looking at your post on that back in the summer I think it was.

 

[rjmack]

Army Grunt;

that's an interesting milling shed you have there :thumbsup:

any chance of getting a few more detailed photos of how it's put together?

 

[Short Game]

pics

Is that incense cedar under that log dog? Sure looks like pretty wood.