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brag on your mill

Started by plowboyswr, December 18, 2011, 08:28:45 PM

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SamB

My  TK1220  is a solid little sawmill which serves my needs very well. It gets used in cycles and may sit idle for weeks or months at a time, but it was paid for the day I brought it home. A quality machine to mill some lumber where high production isn't an issue and a smaller investment is appealing. A roof over the mill and a couple cant hooks. :)

tcsmpsi

Quote from: JP135 on December 19, 2011, 10:02:02 AM
Quote from: tcsmpsi on December 19, 2011, 09:40:19 AM
I wouldn't say I couldn't do without, purt nearly any/everything.  But, there are a couple things about my mill that I do like considerably.  I like the plain weight/heft of its compenents.  I like the simplicity of its design and function.  I like the mesh design of the wheel covers, as I can always see what's up in there, no clogging up of sawdust and such, helps keep all components in side cool.  I like the spacing and 180 degree application of the clamps, and that it throws sawdust on the offside.   And, of course, I like having the factory a little over an hour away.

Yours is a LogMaster?

Yes.



 
\\\"In the end, it is a moral question as to whether man applies what he has learned or not.\\\" - C. Jung

paul case

My mill has a BIG mouth, or is that throat?  The ez boardwalk mdl 40 will handle that log you are talking about.
I think most folks could agree that a manual mill is a good place to start, and if you enjoy it and find enough work to justify it move up to a bigger mill. If not almost any manual mill will come in handy or at least don't cost a fella that much to try. PC
life is too short to be too serious. (some idiot)
2013 LT40SHE25 and Riehl edger,  WM 94 LT40 hd E15. Cut my sawing ''teeth'' on an EZ Boardwalk
sawing oak.hickory,ERC,walnut and almost anything else that shows up.
Don't get phylosophical with me. you will loose me for sure.
pc

Ianab

QuoteWe had one that the wind took out last year that was 32" on the small end, 42" on the big end, and 35' to the first branch just as strait as any oak or walnut would hope to be. Now I know that it would take one heck of a mill to handle that, but a feller can dream can't he.

When the logs get bigger you need to look at a swing blade sawmill. Peterson or Lucas. Sure they are (mostly) manual, but they are very light weight. You don't even bother moving a big log like that, just take the mill to it, set it up and start sawing. My mill can handle logs up to ~60", but you can drag it around on a little utility trailer behind a quad bike.

A different sort of mill from the ones you have probably been looking at - but a very versatile machine.

Ian
Weekend warrior, Peterson JP test pilot, Dolmar 7900 and Stihl MS310 saws and  the usual collection of power tools :)

countryjonez

i love my lt10!! not fast not easy,but pound for pound its a tough little mill for a great price. anyone looking to saw that doesnt mind some work will love this mill and the price tag.
If God be for us who can be against us ?

wormy

i have a 95 woodmizer lt40 hd got it at a good price because it is an older modle but it is solid as a rock and has all the hydrolics. it would be hard for me to go with a lesser mill now because i like spending my time sawing not loading and turning logs.

Sixacresand

I agree with CountryJonez.  The LT10 does a great job for the money.  I like having a sawmill on the farm and not  be in the sawmill business.
"Sometimes you can make more hay with less equipment if you just use your head."  Tom, Forestry Forum.  Tenth year with a LT40 Woodmizer,

logboy

Quote from: Ianab on December 19, 2011, 08:05:41 PM
QuoteWe had one that the wind took out last year that was 32" on the small end, 42" on the big end, and 35' to the first branch just as strait as any oak or walnut would hope to be. Now I know that it would take one heck of a mill to handle that, but a feller can dream can't he.

When the logs get bigger you need to look at a swing blade sawmill. Peterson or Lucas. Sure they are (mostly) manual, but they are very light weight. You don't even bother moving a big log like that, just take the mill to it, set it up and start sawing. My mill can handle logs up to ~60", but you can drag it around on a little utility trailer behind a quad bike.

A different sort of mill from the ones you have probably been looking at - but a very versatile machine.

Ian

I'm with Ian in that I'm one of those evil swingblade sawyers with the funny blade that pivots from horizontal to vertical.   :D  But hey, we don't have to edge our boards.  ;D If you want to cut all sizes including the really big stuff without a lot of fuss then try a Lucas or Peterson.  They won't nickle and dime you with a lot to go wrong or maintain. Get the slabber with it and you can cut table tops.  Big logs are niche market if thats what you want to do, and a lot of my business is the big stuff others cannot cut.  I just landed another job tonight slabbing a 60" x 40" burl for a guy.  A surprising amount of my business is from guys that own a bandsaw or even big commercial mills who can't cut the big stuff.  Heaviest log I slabbed was a 38" diameter 19' WO for another forum member.  The biggest diameter I have cut is 60" (max I can cut) at the fork and 48" at the butt.  No need to rip it into quarters or in half with a chainsaw first, or use any heavy equipment to move it down the road, or rotate the cant either.  Set the mill up around it and saw it until its gone. 

I like Lucas Mills and big wood.  www.logboy.com

Piston

Logboy,
That is pretty impressive...

;D ;D
-Matt
"What the Lion is to the Cat the Mastiff is to the Dog, the noblest of the family; he stands alone, and all others sink before him. His courage does not exceed his temper and generosity, and in attachment he equals the kindest of his race."

Celeriac

I will speak up to say that I like my trailer mounted Mobile Dimension 128. It's an oddball, being a circular mill that edges. By design the mill lends itself more toward cutting dimensional lumber, but it does fine cutting 4/4,etc. If one were cutting a lot of grade cherry and walnut it would not be the right mill. Conversely, I did take my mill down to the camp to cut White Pine for a barn project. The mill really did well. The finished lumber was much better than what the other sawyer cut with his WM. 

I think that if you are serious about buying a mill that you should look around locally to see what is available on the used market. Buy something reasonably priced and in decent condition. If it's too expensive you'll feel guilty about not using it. If it's a wreck you may get discouraged early on. I picked up my mill at a local farm sale for a good price. Most likely nobody else knew what it was  ??? It has seen a hard life and I'm still working the bugs out. But it has been a worthwhile education.
Currently learning the ins and outs of a Mobile Dimension 128.
"What's that?"
"My sawmill."
"Looks like a VW ran into an antenna tower!"

shelbycharger400

QuoteIt has seen a hard life and I'm still working the bugs out

kinda sounds like any piece of equipment..new or used!

Woodwalker

Quote from: tcsmpsi on December 19, 2011, 09:40:19 AM
I wouldn't say I couldn't do without, purt nearly any/everything.  But, there are a couple things about my mill that I do like considerably.  I like the plain weight/heft of its compenents.  I like the simplicity of its design and function.  I like the mesh design of the wheel covers, as I can always see what's up in there, no clogging up of sawdust and such, helps keep all components in side cool.  I like the spacing and 180 degree application of the clamps, and that it throws sawdust on the offside.   And, of course, I like having the factory a little over an hour away.

[/quote
Quote from: tcsmpsi on December 19, 2011, 09:40:19 AM
I wouldn't say I couldn't do without, purt nearly any/everything.  But, there are a couple things about my mill that I do like considerably.  I like the plain weight/heft of its compenents.  I like the simplicity of its design and function.  I like the mesh design of the wheel covers, as I can always see what's up in there, no clogging up of sawdust and such, helps keep all components in side cool.  I like the spacing and 180 degree application of the clamps, and that it throws sawdust on the offside.   And, of course, I like having the factory a little over an hour away.


Mine is a Logmaster  also and it's a solid built piece of equipment. It's built with off the shelf parts. About the only thing on the mill you won't find at NAPA is the 36" CNC cut steel band wheels. The only drawback is that I have to take a two hour drive to go visit and look at the new mills.
Just cause your head's pointed, don't mean you are sharp.

mandolin

Plowboy, if want a small mill to cut just for you or your friends, for the money you can't beat a Hud-Son. I've had a 228 for 4 years and I love it. Its all manual. I guess I'm just a glutton for punishment
2008 Hudson 228
1945 Boice-Crane Planer
1953 Ford Jubilee Tractor
Husqvarna 455 Rancher
Dehumidification kiln
Complete cabinet/furniture shop
Professional turkey boxcall tuner

Magicman

First Welcome to the Forestry Forum plowboyswr.  I would not want to eliminate any of my sawmill's features.  The hydraulics are the workhorses that easily and quickly do the log handling, the Debarker cleans the saw path and keeps the blade from quickly dulling, the Setworks insure uniform and accurate lumber.

That being said, do not hesitate to explore the used sawmill market.  I did.  Also, take Paul Case up on his field trip offer.  It will absolutely be time well spent.
Knothole Sawmill, LLC     '98 Wood-Mizer LT40SuperHydraulic   WM Million BF Club Member   WM Pro Sawyer Network

It's Weird being the Same Age as Old People

Never allow your "need" to make money to exceed your "desire" to provide quality service.....The Magicman

plowboyswr

Thanks to all the replies and all the feedback I enjoy reading everything here on FF still trying to absorb all the info and knowlage thats contained here. Glad I found this site. Mm I fully plan on taking paul up on his offer soon as I can find the time. We have a big project going on here at the farm so I cant seem to get away just yet. But I keep reading and learning!
Just an ole farm boy takin one day at a time.
Steve

TWCCO

Quote from: plowboyswr on December 26, 2011, 10:07:53 AM
Thanks to all the replies and all the feedback I enjoy reading everything here on FF still trying to absorb all the info and knowlage thats contained here. Glad I found this site. Mm I fully plan on taking paul up on his offer soon as I can find the time. We have a big project going on here at the farm so I cant seem to get away just yet. But I keep reading and learning!
LOGMASTER LM-4 51 hp cat diesel, full hydraulics,36" x 24' log capacity.....cuts like butter !

Magicman

Welcome to the Forestry Forum, TWCCO.   :)

Knothole Sawmill, LLC     '98 Wood-Mizer LT40SuperHydraulic   WM Million BF Club Member   WM Pro Sawyer Network

It's Weird being the Same Age as Old People

Never allow your "need" to make money to exceed your "desire" to provide quality service.....The Magicman

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