Checklist of things to do before getting sawmill.

[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???