Manual mills

MrMoo · January 27, 2003, 09:13:03 AM

Hi Folks,
I am looking for information on manual sawmills. I am tossing around the idea of changing mills.

I have looked through the old topics on manual mills and I have gotten good information from them.

In particular I am looking for information on the following mills:

Cook's Saw their MP30 or MP32
Quality Mfg. their Grizzly 30.

Anything that anyone has to offer would be great.

Brrrr its cold here this morning. I thought we left this cold stuff behind last week.

Thanks,
Mike

Tagerts_crossing · January 27, 2003, 11:05:09 AM

I saw a timber king 1220 on ebay with realy low hours. I don't know anyone who has one but I saw their video and was impressed. also look at the baker ( and dozens outhers) they have two mills that will be close to the size.
John

DanG · January 27, 2003, 11:31:17 AM

Mr. Moo, not to take away from the mills you asked about, but a really fine, manual mill is built, right up the road from you. Check out the T.A. Schmidd mill, made in Maine.

Sorry, I don't have time to dig up the web-site, right now.

MrMoo · January 27, 2003, 12:02:52 PM

DanG
I have been to T.A.Schmidd's website. It looks like they're from NY but that's still pretty close.
Their Maxi Trax mill looks pretty interesting. Are you using a Schmidd mill?

DanG · January 27, 2003, 12:37:38 PM

No, but I have seen them at the Moultrie show, and have talked to Mr. Schmid, several times. I was considering a manual band-mill, at the time, and looked closely at a lot of them. This is the one I would have chosen, if I hadn't decided to go with a big mill.

MrMoo · January 27, 2003, 12:55:15 PM

Thanks Dan,
Your feedback saying the Schmid mill was the one you would have chosen is the type of feedback I'm looking for.

Mesquite Man · January 27, 2003, 05:48:43 PM

I bought a TimberKing 1220 and really like it. It is well built and runs great. It would be a good one to consider.

Sitruc

ADfields · January 28, 2003, 01:38:39 AM

I have a MSG Industries 250E bi-directional mill and I just dont see a beter mill around for the price!! It's $5500 on 20 foot of track compleet. Stock with 13 hp Honda with key start, auto cutting fluid, cuts 28" and cuts both ways or 1 way. Will cut tapered sideing, tapered shingels and wedges without extra stuff to buy. The onley grip I have is it's hard to crank the head back to the top to start a new log, it's a bit of a work out. I have plans to put a counter waght and a 12volt moter and a bike chain on it for power up and down but it's not all that bad for now like it is. I shoped long and hard and the onley other manual mill I considered after running the MSG in this price range was the Wood Mizer LT16 but feel I can do a lot more for the money on the MSG for the buck. When I move up to a power mill it will be a Wood Mizer.

MSG has no web sight but the other info is.
West 8120 Luke ave
Spokane, Washington 99224
509-624-7575 and fax 509-624-2783

Good luck on the mill! 8)
Andy

Noble_Ma · January 28, 2003, 05:12:54 AM

Mr Moo,

I bought a Baker 18HD. It's the heavy duty version of the 18M. It's fully manual and came with a 20HP Honda electric start motor. It will handle a 30"diameter log 20'6" long. I bought it last spring and love it. Obviously, there is a lot of physical labor involved with a manual mill so keep that in mind. You're welcome to come down to Mass to see mine if you'd like. It's buried under a few feet of snow but I think I could uncover it enough to give you an idea of how it is built. Send me an Instant Message if you'd like more info.

Noble

bull · January 28, 2003, 05:39:11 AM

Mike Go Woodmizer LT 15. I had one for three years it paid for itself in 3 months..... I'd buy another in a heartbeat...... now they come w/ a bigger motor and electric start. I went to a hydralic machine LT40SUHD36 because I thought I could cut more. Never had a breakdown or computer problem with the LT15. 2 pulls and we were cutting. cold weather doesn't stop the little machine and you can expand w/bed sections of 6+ ft. and you can do it in about 10 minutes... start up money around $6000.00... email me at mpinepfp@aol.com
I will talk up this machine with you !!!!

GarryW · January 28, 2003, 06:00:27 AM

Mike,
Woodmizer will be at the NH Farm and Forest Exposition in Manchester, NH on Feb. 7 and 8. It might be a good time to see an LT15 and maybe some other mills as well, though I really didn't see others listed in the participant's list.

bull · January 28, 2003, 06:10:59 AM

Mike, other guys are faster at this computer stuff....
I will be in Manchester NH on the 7th w/ the Woodmizer guys to talk up the LT 15............... hope to see you there
Bull/Mike Pineo

bull · January 28, 2003, 06:12:54 AM

mike / correst email: mpineopfp@aol.com :

DouginUtah · January 28, 2003, 08:24:34 AM

Andy,

I'm replying to your comment that MSG doesn't have a web site.

Try http://www.msgind.com/mills.html

:D

It is listed on my sawyer's web page.

jwoods · January 28, 2003, 09:59:42 AM

Mr. Moo

I have a TA Schmid. It's done a very good job for my weekend warrior sawing. If you check the facts, TA Schmid mill have larger capacity than any other. I wouldn't be afraid to try to make money with it. If you're not handy with a welder, the Maxi-Track package is definitely worth it.

ADfields · January 28, 2003, 05:07:37 PM

Thanks Doug. When did thay start that? I asked them not that long back and was told no.
Andy

Kevin · January 28, 2003, 05:15:16 PM

I have the LT-15 and I`m very happy with it ...and the service.

Go Orange

MrMoo · January 29, 2003, 06:52:52 AM

Thanks to everyone who contributed info on the manual mills.

I'll be looking into some of the suggestions.

louisbasle · January 30, 2003, 01:33:09 PM

Mr. Moo,
I've has a TA Schmidt mill for five years now and love it. For the money i think it's the best. The owners are very good to do business with. If your around the Troy,NY area call me and I'll demo for ya......
lou basle
(518)663-9924

MrMoo · January 30, 2003, 01:42:10 PM

Thanks Louis,
The TA Schmidt maxi trax interests me.

Do you notice any flex in the frame of your mill. I am really trying to find a mill with a frame that does not flex.

I mill on gravel & the weight of the logs compresses the dirt under the feet. I put patio blocks under them but still get compression. Eventually the middle legs of the mill don't have support & the middle of the mill sags. I end up having to true things up every couiple of logs.

My neighbor has a WM LT30 and that frame does not seem to flex. JC Saw build their mills with 1/4 inch tubing so that must have little flex. I also wonder what Quality mfg is doing since they only support their frame at each end of the mill.

MrMoo · January 30, 2003, 01:43:58 PM

This is to Mike Pineo

I tried to send you an email the other night but it was sent back saying your email address was unknown.

Is the address correct? Let me know & I'll try again.

Mark M · January 30, 2003, 01:55:33 PM

Hi MrMoo

I don't know if you've seen this site but it has links to most of the manufacturers.

http://www.sawmill-exchange.com/links.htm

I finally settled on the Norwood, but gave serious consideration to the Woodmizer, Baker, Linn, Cook, Hudson, Kasco, and several others. It really hard trying to decide when so many good mills are out there.

Good luck

Mark

ADfields · January 31, 2003, 02:28:51 AM

MrMoo, when you look at how steel will flex it's not how thick it is but how tall it is. Wood Mizer's have a 8 inch tall tube to keep the flex down. It dont need to be thick as it's 8" tall and thats the strenth of it not how thick the wall is. Same in a floor joist, a 2x8 will flex less than a 4x4 even thow it's the same amount of wood in both. Thick, heavy steel in the wrong plain can even make it flex more. If you have a mill now and the onley gripe you have with it is flex why not slip a pair of 2x8 3/16 web I beams under it so it will stop diping on you? Thats about $250 in steel and it would be even less likeley to dip than a WM. Also could get rid of all but 4 stands that way so it wont dip on you even if it sinks.
Andy

bull · January 31, 2003, 05:07:43 AM

Mr.Moo
   my typing in skills are modified point and poke so iI may have hit the wrong letter

   mpineopfp@aol.com or pineoforestprod@aol.com

   They should both work, will be waiting for the email....

thecfarm · February 01, 2003, 10:05:46 AM

Check out Thomas Bandsaws in Brooks ME.I have one.Prices start at $3500-$15000.I spent$7200 and like it.Mine doesn't flex either.I did buy the option for more tubing,just in case.I have a 20hp motor,can cut a 20 foot log,and have a 32 inch throat.
http://www.thomasbandsawmills.com/
They will be at the Shootout in Bangor,ME this year.Come see it there.You can go to Brooks,too.they have one all set up there.I like mine,it's very simple to fix,if anything does get out of line.