Checklist of things to do before getting sawmill.

[Ozarkian]

So as many of you have read on my other topic I started, I am going to be purchasing a Entry level bandsaw sawmill.  While I research the different options and obsessively search craigslist for "the one", what would you suggest I do in the mean time?

Keep in mind, nearly all of my funds are tied up to spend on the mill.  Would be nice to get a heck of a deal on a used one, but in case that doesn't happen I have to keep a tight grip on my finances. 

Here is what I have OR have access to:
4x4 Full Size Chevy 1500,
Flat Bed F-250 Pickup,
Husqvarna 445 Chainsaw 18" bar,
Access to already collected 200 +/- logs already stacked and ready to saw, and more available to cut down.,
Cant Hook,
20' Good size logging chain,
Four wheeler,
Old antique pulley,
Lifting Tongs,
Miscellaneous hand axes, broad axe, drills, and etc.  (kind of a hobby collecting old antique ones),
12' x 6' Single Axle Utility trailer, and occasional access 16' tandem trailer from neighbor for the longer heavier logs.,
And some other miscellaneous items I can't think to list right now!

Basically I am fairly experienced and resourceful in getting most logs to my back field.  I do NOT have a Garage/Workshop/Barn yet (first thing on to-do the list AFTER getting mill!)

Figured since you all or most of you have been there done that.  What did you do to prepare, or wish you had done before you brought your mill home?

Thanks!

[york]

Hi,yes have been reading,not sure i would get too far ahead on your log harvest and take care of the logs that ya do have....bert

[Ozarkian]

You have a point there Bert!  Appreciate the feedback, I just want to stay ahead!  I get ancy sitting around waiting.  Cutting tree's and moving them is where I am at peace (it gets me away from the kids for a little bit!).

[Ozarkian]

Guess I could start peeling em' again...   


 

[mad murdock]

If you have the bits laying around, or can scrounge some material, a log arch would be a nice tool to have so you can handle moving logs to your mill and save your back. You can incorporate your lifting tongs to use with the arch really easily. Use the search thread on here type in the key words"building a logging arch" or something along those lines. There are a few guys who have posted good build pics, plus it is a very doable project for you, will be a good confidence builder for the next time you need something and don't have it. 

[zopi]

Dude...you have more patience than me...I would peel em with a chainsaw....

If I bothered.
Best thing you can do while waiting os to surf around and learn as much about lumber, and drying, cutting grading, etc, as you can...and most of that info is free for download..USDA etc...many state universities..particularly Virginia tech, have ecellent material available for download....

[redbeard]

Some small items if you dont already have them is a good magnetic torpedo level, magnet with retractable handle to fetch nuts n washers when they fall in the sawdust. Good pair of tin snips to cut blades out of log when they break. A couple of plastic wedges. Iam sure these items and more are in the sawmill tool list on the forum. Nice looking logs!

[RockyMountainSawyer]

Ozarkian
Sounds like you are all prepared physically. You also need to prepare yourself mentally. That was my problem. I thought that as soon as I started making sawdust I would start making money. Wrong! Instead I had to work out a lot of bugs. With a small mill, you need to think about adding as much value to your lumber as possible. The more your lumber is worth, the easier and funner  it is to mill it. Don't assume that you can cut 1000's of bdft everyday. I think people get their hopes up that they can cut the maximum bdft on their mill all alone and without support equipment. Don't kid yourself, there are folks in this industry who are stronger and faster than you or I and they can't do it. Work smarter not harder. You might think that a couple hundred logs is a lot. But you will burn through it quicker than you think. You got to be realistic about your log supply. Having a niche and marketing it is the key to this game. Not a lot of people like to cut ERC, there is a good reason for that. When you scale your logs figure your lumber yield at about half. You will run into a lot of Swiss cheese looking stuff and pretty non the less. And most important never give up on you're dreams, do your DanG est  to prove dummies like me wrong. I wish you the best of luck in your endevour.   RMS

[Ozarkian]

A log arch does sound like an excellent idea, one I could pull around with my four wheeler...   
I have SEVERAL big logs that I chopped down and towed out of the woods with my old 96' Gmc Jimmy before I traded it off... they are still laying where I left them!  I wonder if a log arch would help with those???  This being one for example:

 

 

 

It's kind of fun peeling them with the Drawknife!  I have been told by many that I should use pressure washer to do it "it's faster", but the sound of the bark being peeled off is relaxing - and better exercise.  Which I definitely need...

I have been doing TONS of research, looong before I even registered to post here.  Much of the stuff I have learned has came from here and various other forums.  This was my favorite, so I registered and now I am participating!    I figured that I can only learn so much reading stuff other people post.  Heck, maybe somebody could learn something from my post! 

[Ianab]

I wonder if a log arch would help with those???

The right size arch will 

They come in all sizes, from one you can tow with a bicycle, to one that hooks behind a D8 bulldozer. You can move a lot log log once you get it lifted off the ground.  Of course once you get it moving, you have to consider how you are going to stop again 

But a small arch that could tow behind an ATV or pickup can move a reasonable sized log. I'd go with the pickup for the bigger log, an ATV would move the smaller one on fairly flat ground.

Ian

[mikeb1079]

Figured since you all or most of you have been there done that.  What did you do to prepare, or wish you had done before you brought your mill home?

prepare for drying.

this may seem trivial, but after you get your mill you'll soon have many many boards to stack, sticker, and dry.  you'll need to have a large, flat area to start with.  then construct something to keep the lumber off the ground.  i like to use old railroad ties cut into 20" lengths.  then i'll make a row and level them out.  also you'll need to make some stickers, typically 1" pieces of dry lumber that will serve to space each board as you stack, i use 2x4 or plywood scraps.  you'll need a ton of em.  it's a bummer to have a ton of cut lumber and nowhere to put it, plus you can encourage warp, twist, etc by not stacking and stickering and weighting promptly.

 

[Ozarkian]

Flat ground is my entire property where we bought this house!  Notice in this picture how flat it is!  Also, my neighbors welding shop that makes me jealous every time I look out my back door into my empty, flat yard.... But there's plenty of  room for developing and making it just how I want it! 

The first bunch of tree's I cut will be made into beams. Then used quickly to construct a timber frame gazebo style building to put the rest of the sawn lumber under to dry, as well to cover the head of the sawmill from the elements. 

I've read that ERC can be used right away without it warping or shrinking much.  So that should be okay to do right? Any body with experience with that specific wood mind chipping in some advice?

 

[bandmiller2]

Zarkian,I don't see any equipment to lift logs on the mill.Unless you find a used portable mill with lifting arms you better get one that sits near the ground to help you load logs. Cedar logs are light but oak taint,its tough to hump a one ton log up a steep ramp.Be sure to keep your logs well off the ground,and good luck with your quest. Frank C.

[customsawyer]

I think you need to come down here and help me for about a month or two till you get the hang of it. There is no pay but the education is great.

[Red Pill]

You missed one thing on your checklist: Money. I'm in that boat, too.

[Ozarkian]

Money is always on the checklist, even after I deposit my checks!!!  Wish there were some tree's that grew money...  WAIT there is!  You just need a tool to extract the money from the trees...  Perhaps a sawmill will do the trick??? 

[hackberry jake]

I would be up DanG creek with out a paddle without a tractor, might think about one of those for your next purchase. Maybe you could mount a cherry pickers on a trailer or something along those lines. Try loading these cedar logs by hand. It's a 8' wide tandem axle trailer they're sitting on. 

[Ozarkian]

WOW!  Those sure are perty!  You had to use a tractor???  Little bit of grunting and using your legs and not your back would worked just fine.  Slacker!!!

Juusst kidding  Well, my father has an old Diesel Ford tractor.  It has been sitting for about 3 years now, has a crack in the block.  Haven't gotten around to investing any money into it, only was used for the large belly mower.  I may get it checked out and see what it'll cost to get up and running.  He now uses my old John Deere 757 Zero Turn to mow his "Hillbilly Golf Course".  It is his personal retreat, 30 acres mowed on some rolling hills with 7 natural year round springs surrounding the main hill...  He doesn't use holes like a normal course, yet has cow bell's tied to a stick in the ground with a bandana as a flag, even had one with a cattle skull on top of it... !  I'll dig for the old pictures I took and upload later.   

[paul case]

HIllbilly golf  huh?
Is that softball golf? or is it just the course that is hillbilly?
Softball golf is a lot of fun. PC

[POSTONLT40HD]

GOLF?......GOLF?......DID SOMEBODY SAY GOLF? Let me go get my clubs........

[terrifictimbersllc]

The worst cracking I ever saw in a log was one that had been peeled then set up off the ground for a few months.  Forget what kind it was but it was at least 2 ft in diameter and there were almost no boards from it that were not cracked.  I've no experience really with peeling so I'm out on a limb here, but my gut is telling me one would not want to peel logs too far in advance of sawing. 

[Ozarkian]

FORE!!!  It's a golf course that is Hillbilly for sure!  Never heard of softball golf?   I dug up some pictures I have taken of it.  It's not public or anything, just my Father's hobby.  He sure has all the dog's involved, they chase after his ball whenever he goes out.  Used to be extremely irritating, but then we got used to it - and actually appreciated the dog chasing after the ball AND returning it! 

 
 
 
 

The skull was one the Chocolate Lab dragged home one day and was chewing on... where he got it we dont know!  I took this picture a few years back after I noticed my dad put it on a stake!  Thought it was funny haha 

I have been peeling the eastern red cedar logs because my original intent was to built a log barn.  I then started thinking about residing our home and needing to have boards for my projects, thats where the idea to get a sawmill was born.  So I have stopped peeling the logs, have about 20 of them done now.  I won't be sawing those already peeled ones in the pictures up, I will be using those as log supports for a covered porch as I will be replacing the porches on my home as well.  Whatever is remaining will be cut down and turned into log furniture.

[Magicman]

I don't do golf, but it looks like your Papa is enjoying it and dogs gotta have fun too.   

[thecfarm]

I had a place all set to go for mine. Mine is not portable,did not buy the axle kit for it. I have it so I saw towards the house. I can see someone coming. Going to need a tool box for certain wrenches too keep on the mill.

[Ozarkian]

Hi thecfarm,  so what your suggesting is to make sure that the location I place the mill be somewhere I am sure I will want it?  That's a good idea to have it within visibility of my driveway.  Considering the mill will be somewhat loud and i'll be wearing earplugs it would help quite a bit to see somebody come, whereas I normally listen for gravel and then look.  Great idea!  Thanks 

Yeah, I am not much of a golfer myself.  I do enjoy taking a swing at some golf balls with my pops, which is why I appreciate them fetching the balls for me...  As long as my aim doesn't take the balls into the woods!  Then it takes them quite some time to come back with the ball!  They have some pomeranians too, probably should get them some little football helmets...  Couple of times they got in direct path of the ball and got hit  was an expensive visit to the vet and some time for the pup to recover from the trauma.  He did learn after that happened the second time to stand to the side and wait until the club ball fly's away. 

The chocolate lab Mac (R.I.P), was not even our pet.  His owners lived 2 miles away, about 8 years ago he showed up at my parents home.  He acted as if he had lived there his whole life!  He right away began terrorizing my dad's golfing game, really irritated him...  My Dad always tried running him at first, because when he got a ball near the bell or hit the bell Mac would grab the ball and run off!    Finally located the owners and they picked him up... not even an hour later the Dog was back, they said as soon as they got home he would get out of the truck and run to our house, even in the middle of winter. 

They eventually only checked on him weekly, then monthly, then hardly at all.  He turned out to be my Father's true best friend for 7 years until he (Mac) passed away last year.     I buried him on my Father's golf course and put a berm on his grave with some golf balls and planted some flowers.  Buried him where he went to die.  The place he truly loved.

Golf hasn't been the same, but Mac sure did train the Pomeranians and a mutt mix how to retrieve the ball.  But none of them make an impact on my father as he did.

Sorry for getting distracted and sharing that story, after digging up the old pictures it brought back some memories that I had recently stopped thinking about. 


 

[Tom L]

Figured since you all or most of you have been there done that.  What did you do to prepare, or wish you had done before you brought your mill home?

prepare for drying.

this may seem trivial, but after you get your mill you'll soon have many many boards to stack, sticker, and dry.  you'll need to have a large, flat area to start with.  then construct something to keep the lumber off the ground.  i like to use old railroad ties cut into 20" lengths.  then i'll make a row and level them out.  also you'll need to make some stickers, typically 1" pieces of dry lumber that will serve to space each board as you stack, i use 2x4 or plywood scraps.  you'll need a ton of em.  it's a bummer to have a ton of cut lumber and nowhere to put it, plus you can encourage warp, twist, etc by not stacking and stickering and weighting promptly.

 

this has been my problem from the get go and still is. you wind up cutting so much wood that you run out of room to stack and dry it. I am still in the works trying to figure out where I am going to put all the stuff. right now my garage and shed are so stuffed I can't move around in them. but I want to keep sawing so the problem continues.

[Ozarkian]

right now my garage and shed are so stuffed I can't move around in them. but I want to keep sawing so the problem continues.

Easy!!!

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CLEARANCE SALE -  INVENTORY REDUCTION - EVERYTHING MUST GO!!! 
                         ---        MAKE OFFER!        ---
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Now put that on a hand held sign, and pay some eye candy to dance around holding sign pointing people to your wood pile!

 

[FeltzE]

Don't peel your logs for sawmilling, sawmilling is best on green fresh cut logs, drop those you have in the pond to keep them wet if possible,  ERC cuts well and holds for a long time but in our area (Piedmont zone in NC) we don't get much clear ERC very knotty and not good for finish products. I hope that knotty stock isn't your bread and butter.

Eric

[Ozarkian]

Nope, much of that is for log furniture and miscellaneous hobby projects and maybe some boards.  Much of the bread and butter is still standing, and several large ones down.  But what I don't think many of you realize is I am not doing this to sell lumber...  I am doing this to build my own barn, make siding, and build some some fun craft projects.  It would be cool if some of the craft projects sold, but I would give them away to family for gifts if not.  It'll still be FUN. 

I am not going mobile for money, I would tow it to cut my own lumber for my own projects, from free wood.

[paul case]

A little off the subject but here goes

Softball golf is like golf as in you try to hit the ball in a hole far away. use softball instead of golf ball and you throw it up and hit it with a softball bat until you land it in a 30' or so circle of the hole. Then you use the bat like a putter and putter it in the hole. A man near Quapaw has an 18 hole course set up in his yard. Pretty neat and a whole lotta fun. PC

[losttheplot]

  I do NOT have a Garage/Workshop/Barn yet (first thing on to-do the list AFTER getting mill!)

Figured since you all or most of you have been there done that.  What did you do to prepare, or wish you had done before you brought your mill home?

Thanks!

I wish I had made a better "cut list" of the timbers and boards I need to complete my shop.
If you haven't already, you may want to make up a "cut List" to go with your building plans.
I assume you dont have to satisfy any build codes or inspections.

If your mill only cuts 10ft you may have to get creative.
Does ERC work for construction lumber or do you have another species ?


As far as making things and selling/giving them away.
Try and work out what you want to make before you cut the lumber.
If you think sawmills are expensive you should try buying a board stretcher............

"I am not going mobile for money, I would tow it to cut my own lumber for my own projects, from free wood."

What is this free wood you speak off ?

[buildthisfixthat]

welcome ozark may want to build a log deck so you can roll the logs right on to the saw

[Ozarkian]

Log deck would be nice, I will work on my initial cut list. The Eastern Red Cedar is my primary lumber I will be using. I can obtain some others if needed but my plan is to use 90% cedar for building.  I am building Agri for the barn, so that is less plans, but I will still build as if it was not. Don't want roof falling on my head! Am beginning the designing stage now, hoping to build 20x40 maybe little smaller. With stalls on side.

I did get a reply from ad on CL! Was offered the following:
EZ BOARDWALK JR.
BAND SHARPENER
5 BLADES
DELTA 15" PLANER
2 SPEED 3 HP 220 VOLT
DELTA 10" TABLE SAW UNISAW 52" TABLE 3HP 220 VOLT ,
DELTA VERSA-FEEDER 2 SPEED THAT WAS USED WITH TABLE SAW RIP BOARDS
HITACHI 10" SLIDE COMPOUND SAW WITH STAND USED TO CUT BOARDS.

For the GRAND TOTAL of...

What would you pay???