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

Jstpssng · Dec 24, 2023

fruitcakesa said:
I was lucky enough to find my mill used about an hour away. Had 45 hours on it. Saved about $1k

Lucky. Finding a good used mill around here is like finding a good used logging winch.

fruitcakesa · Dec 25, 2023

Jstpssng said:
Lucky. Finding a good used mill around here is like finding a good used logging winch.

I also found my winch the same way and it was only 20 minutes away from my house

HawkinsHollow · Dec 28, 2023

Shipment confirmed and January 2nd delivery appointment! Now that is FAST, especially during the middle of the holidays. I plan on putting it together 80% of the way in my shop while i get the mill site ready and then trailer it over in 3 pieces and set it up at the property. I have had lots of Christmas downtime to plan and plot, watch videos, make lists, etc. I am ready. Kind of excited to start a new year milling lumber. Stay tuned!

TractorTYMe · Dec 28, 2023

Congrats, you will have a new hobby now.

Jstpssng · Dec 28, 2023

I bought my Woodmizer because it's made in USA but Woodland Mills seems to have better customer support.

D&D · Dec 29, 2023

HawkinsHollow said:
I have had lots of Christmas downtime to plan and plot, watch videos, make lists, etc. I am ready. Kind of excited to start a new year milling lumber. Stay tuned!

If you haven’t seen it yet, this guy has Some videos worth looking at

Urban Logging – Matt Cremona

mattcremona.com

ponytug · Dec 29, 2023

D&D said:
If you haven’t seen it yet, this guy has Some videos worth looking at

Urban Logging – Matt Cremona

mattcremona.com

I agree. He has quite the series, and that homemade mill to tackle the monster silver maples that he had in Michigan is amazing. The tip of painting log ends upon arrival has helped me.

The saw mill base is something to behold, as is the effort to make it flat and keep it flat. There is another woodworker in the Southwest who made a video series making a mill off of Matt's plans.

All the best,

Peter

Smokeydog · Dec 30, 2023

Might be needing a bigger tractor soon.

Jstpssng · Dec 30, 2023

Smokeydog said:
View attachment 841456 View attachment 841457

Might be needing a bigger tractor soon.

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.

HawkinsHollow · Dec 30, 2023

Now that is a log!! My mill will only mill a 26" log 24" boards. I am pretty ok with that! I could see times wanting stuff bigger at points, but wrestling monsters like that on the regular might get old.