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New from New York

Started by coolerat, November 12, 2014, 05:53:35 PM

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coolerat

Is it standard here to introduce your self??  If yes I'm Sean and if no then I am super sorry.

Which is the best mill to buy??  I want a 10hp or less mill with the stated goal of supplying all the Lowes and Home Depots within a 100 mile radius with lumber.  I have no experience, very little cash and don't like to work very hard.

Does this seem doable??

JK!!!  I been poking around some and see I can glean much information just by reading.  I have so much to learn.  My plan is to use the wood in my wood shop and possibly sell enough to keep SWMBO off my back.

One question I am gonna research is how important is parts availability.  I'm about a ½ hour from Hud-Son so if parts are an issue I can get them easy peazy.  If its not an issue then they are just another option.

terrifictimbersllc

Welcome to FF!  Yes, very standard.  Cant answer your question.  Nice having mill HQ nearby but at 28 miles each way, better to spend $10 on shipping.    WM NY HQ in Hannibal is only 58 miles each way that's good too.  Parts availability very important but how fast you get them not so important if you're not sawing every day.
DJ Hoover, Terrific Timbers LLC,  Mystic CT Woodmizer Million Board Foot Club member. 2019 LT70 Super Wide 55 Yanmar,  LogRite fetching arch, WM BMS250 sharpener/BMT250 setter.  2001 F350 7.3L PSD 6 spd manual ZF 4x4 Crew Cab Long Bed

Billbob

Quote from: coolerat on November 12, 2014, 05:53:35 PM
......Which is the best mill to buy??  I want a 10hp or less mill with the stated goal of supplying all the Lowes and Home Depots within a 100 mile radius with lumber.  I have no experience, very little cash and don't like to work very hard.

Does this seem doable??

Welcome to the FF.

Do you have access to a chainsaw, pulp truck with hydraulic log loader, trees or logs?  If the answer is no then...yeah, its doable.
Woodland Hm126 sawmill, LS 72hp tractor with FEL, homemade log winch, 8ft pulp trailer, Husqvarna 50, Husqvarna 353, homemade wood splitter, 12ft dump trailer, Polaris Sportsman 500 with ATV dump trailer

thecfarm

coolerat,welcome to the forum. How soon do you need a mill? There will be some shows next spring to check the mills out.
Model 6020-20hp Manual Thomas bandsaw,TC40A 4wd 40 hp New Holland tractor, 450 Norse Winch, Heatmor 400 OWB,YCC 1978-79

samandothers

Coolerat
Liked your post.  With a sense of humor you will fit in great her!  Try several saws and look for a dealer you like!

Chuck White

Welcome to the Forestry Forum, coolerat.
~Chuck~  Cooks Cat Claw sharpener and single tooth setter.  2018 Chevy Silverado and 2021 Subaru Ascent.
With basic mechanical skills and the ability to read you can maintain a Woodmizer  LT40!

blade69001

Welcome to the forum Sean,   As for your joke... I love it, and plan to share with my sons who are more interested in two legged deer than working.
Because I am sometimes as blond as I look could you clarify "SWMBO" for me? I am sure it is staring me in the face but all I came up with was
Single
White
Male
Boss
Overlord

Yep I laughed at it too.
Sean P.
Just being me, But it is ok you do not have to like me.

thecfarm

blade69001,She Who Must Be Obeyed.  Google it.  :)
Model 6020-20hp Manual Thomas bandsaw,TC40A 4wd 40 hp New Holland tractor, 450 Norse Winch, Heatmor 400 OWB,YCC 1978-79

blade69001

Ahhh I see now, I don't really have one of those.....YET!

Thanks cfarm
Sean P
Just being me, But it is ok you do not have to like me.

Sixacresand

Welcome to the Forum, Coolerat.  Since you are close to the Hudson and WM dealers, you should try some mills to see which ones you like.  (don't try a hydraulic mill or you will spend a lot more money  :D)
"Sometimes you can make more hay with less equipment if you just use your head."  Tom, Forestry Forum.  Tenth year with a LT40 Woodmizer,

RM Farm

Thanks, Robert

Woodland Mills HM126; Kubota L3200 with FEL, quick attach forks.

Raider Bill

Welcome!

FF Member Dave Klish [also his user name] lives in Oneida
The First 70 years of childhood is always the hardest.

petefrom bearswamp

Welcome to the forum.
But beware, sawdust is very habit forming.
Kubota 8540 tractor, FEL bucket and forks, Farmi winch
Kubota 900 RTV
Polaris 570 Sportsman ATV
3 Huskies 1 gas Echo 1 cordless Echo vintage Homelite super xl12
57 acres of woodland

Magicman

Welcome to the Forestry Forum, coolerat.   8)

I love your sense of humor.   :D
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

dgdrls

Welcome aboard Coolerat,

The Hud-Son shop in Barneveld is a pretty cool place,
Great folks at the shop.

Best
DGDrls

coolerat

Thank you all for the warm welcome.

I looked up Dave Klish, under the name Mapleflats.  I'm actually gonna have to make an effort to find this gentleman.  Its a super long and boring story how I got to be where I am now but something on his website is of some concern.  How I am getting to be able to buy a sawmill is we are leaving Oneida because our house was destroyed and then rebuilt and now being destroyed again.  And as it turns out the new place we have picked is on the same road as Dave lives and he mentions flooding on his website.  It does look like he lives much closer to the crick then our new place is to be.  Its the same crick as got us before.

I been dreaming of a mill for years and I'm not gonna lie, I dream of a Woodmizer.  I can't afford one, now or ever, but thats the dream.  I am willing to settle for whatever mill lets me cut some wood.  Hud-Son blows up our local Craigslist so I know what they cost and they are doable.  But I kinda like the Woodland one as well but they are in Buffalo which is about 3 hours away.  Thats kinda why I'm thinking about parts.  If I get some time and I'm gonna saw logs and a part breaks 3 hours vs a ½ hour could be a deal breaker.

hunz

You really had me going there with the first paragraph. I thought "this guy's dreams are beyond  anything they even make an answer for"!

Concerning the relative closeness to mill manufacturers. As long as you are within 500 miles of one, I don't really see an advantage of being very close to one when considering a mill to go with. Like one of the others guys mentioned, even 50 miles each way is too far for me to drive considering fuel cost, just eat the $10 shipping, save a few hours of driving, and do something else more valuable with your time.

  Some manufacturers think its a great selling point that you can pick up their parts at tractor supply. To me all that says is that your engineering only went that far.....by the time a guy drives to town and back to pick up say a bearing, he has spent $15 in fuel and wore $5 off his tires. One of the big mill.manufacturers like TK, Woodmizer, or Cooks can have it at your door step in 2 days for $10, or overnight it if need be. Just my $0.02 ;D
Dream as if you'll saw forever; saw as if you'll die today.



2006 Woodmizer LT40D51RA, Husqvarna 372xp, Takeuchi TL140

kelLOGg

Quote from: thecfarm on November 13, 2014, 07:39:16 AM
blade69001,She Who Must Be Obeyed.  Google it.  :)

Well, it predates "Rumpole". I learn something new everyday on the FF.
Bob
Cook's MP-32, 20HP, 20' (modified w/ power feed, up/down, loader/turner)
DH kiln, CatClaw setter and sharpener, tandem trailer, log arch, tractor, thumb tacks

coolerat

Quote from: RM Farm on November 13, 2014, 09:36:46 AM
Welcome coolerat!  :)

At my "real" job I lift about a million pounds a day on a busy day using hydraulics. I'm tired at the end of the day but less so then moving it by hand.  So I am familiar with the principle and like it.

However economics dictate my log cutting be powered by a strong back and a weak mind.

dboyt

Coolerat, welcome to the forum!  I think the biggest advantage to being near a dealer is that you can see the mills in action.  Other than that, not so much, as long as you can get parts delivered to you in a reasonable time.  Most of the commonly replaced parts-- belts, spark plugs, filters, etc. are available locally, and you'll probably keep some on hand.  As for working hard, I'm with you on that.  I don't work hard around my mill at all.  Don't know why I'm so tired at the end of the day!  Keep us posted on your search for a mill.
Norwood MX34 Pro portable sawmill, 8N Ford, Lewis Winch

Farmer Jim

Welcome to the forum.  Helpful supportive folks everywhere you turn here.  Now my 2 cents.  I own a Hud-Son mill.  I bought based on size it could cut (36", which turned out to be incorrect as the head only lifts 31") and cost.  I have used the mill since 2000 and immediately returned the original track when quality control issues became obvious ( the lack of uniformity in the angle iron was not dealt with during construction, so when the track was assembled the head would go higher and lower while rolling down the non-uniform track) I had a custom welder fabricate an accurate and solid track.  The lift mechanism at that time was an ATV winch which is hard to get stopped at the same thickness each time.  The hold-downs they were using didn't work well and required customizing.  The guides would not stay in adjustment and I finally got a set of Cook guides for it.  The 20 HP Briggs V-twin engine has been nearly problem free and I have been happy with it.  It is not my intent to bash the company, my whole point is to suggest you look at as many mills as you can, watch them being operated and look specifically at the areas I mention, because the procedures that get repeated over and over while sawing are critical to efficient sawing, quality lumber, and a lack of frustration while doing something as fun as making lumber.

The lift mechanism must be user friendly and have repeatable accuracy.
The track must be fairly precisely built or the lumber won't be uniform.
The hold downs must be effective, because having to fiddle with any thing over and over while sawing leads to frustration and wastes time.
The guides must be well made or lumber quality will suffer.

Again, just my 2 cents.
"I won't be wronged. I won't be insulted. I won't be laid a-hand on. I don't do these things to other people, and I require the same from them."  J.B.Books

manoverboard

Welcome to the Forum, Coolerat. Lots of good advice here. My peeve is customer service, after the sale. I've learned allot from WM and bought some books and videos. Your definitely in the right spot for knowledge and research, a plus is that is all free here! Good luck! By the way, Ill be in Accord towards the end of December, you close?
TimberKing 2000, 35hp Diesel, Kubota L3800 w/loader

scully

Wood- Mizer is in Hannibal not far from you stop up and check it out
I bleed orange  .

coolerat

Quote from: manoverboard on November 15, 2014, 06:35:58 AM
Welcome to the Forum, Coolerat. Lots of good advice here. My peeve is customer service, after the sale. I've learned allot from WM and bought some books and videos. Your definitely in the right spot for knowledge and research, a plus is that is all free here! Good luck! By the way, Ill be in Accord towards the end of December, you close?

Until this moment I had not heard of Accord NY.  I'm in Upstate NY, that looks to be near the city.  I'm about 3 hours north/west.

I've heard some bad chatter about the Hudson hence my concerns with regards to parts and such.  One thing being poor teaches is if your gonna go cheap go real cheap so you can fix it.  I love looking at high dollar stuff and respect it. But what I hate is low dollar stuff at a mark up.  Not saying at this point Hudson is that.  I was actually gonna head up there today but ended up looking at the Kubota dealer daydreaming.  Haw I mentioned I daydream alot??

In a minute I'm actually gonna watch some Youtube videos on a real cheap mill.  I'm interested because its cheap enough I can both afford it and not be afraid to "make it mine".

In the interest of full disclouser last night I watched some Woodmizer LT10 videos and I got the orange fever pretty bad right now.  It just makes sense to me as all my current outdoor equipment is Ariens and Husqvarna with Kubota on the way its almost as if Woodmizer is my destiny.   

coolerat

Well I am about videoed out for one day.

The folks who run the mills for the videos know what they are doing and they all look good.

Then I run into opinions.  Mine and others.  Mingled with facts that are hard to find.  One thing I'm having a hard time getting around is Woodland is striaghtup made in China.  WM seems to be US.  Hudson is US and local to boot.  But made in US out of steel from China and on and on.  Plus I ain't half against China as I once was cause half the stuff I buy comes from there.

Super cornfusing.  Still fun though.

Rando

Take a look at Quality mills made in Utica also. I have a Grizzly 30 and it does what it's supposed to do.
I'm about 40 minutes south of you, outside of Norwich.

coolerat

I have seen them.

I don't know a thing about them.

Better start looking!!!!

Alligator

I don't know how handy you are? These guys seem to make a really well built mill. You can buy the pieces you don't want to build and build or acquire the others. Their prices are competitive. They are along way away from you. Doesn't cost any thing to watch their video. Linn Sawmills http://www.linnlumber.com/index.html I'm looking, not shopping yet.
Esterer Sash Gang is a  Money Machine

coolerat

Uh, yeah, so am I the first one to join the forum and read alot and experience "mission creep"???

I joined with the Woodland in mind with a vague somewhat blurry picture of a LT10  popping in from time to time.

Now to be honest a LT70 can do all I want.

Alligator

Quote from: coolerat on November 15, 2014, 06:13:01 PM
Uh, yeah, so am I the first one to join the forum and read alot and experience "mission creep"???
I joined with the Woodland in mind with a vague somewhat blurry picture of a LT10  popping in from time to time.
Now to be honest a LT70 can do all I want.

My mission has been creeeeeeep for 25 year. Probably will for another 3 or 4. My first 20 years working was in a sawmill. Better be careful you will get sawdust in your blood it doesn't come out.
Esterer Sash Gang is a  Money Machine

FarmingSawyer

Welcome to the forum! I live 40 min away from the manufacturer of my mill, and I rarely go there for parts or anything anymore. Most stuff I get locally at NAPA or order upgraded parts online. It just doesn't pay to make the round trip unless I'm headed that way anyway....and breakdowns never happen on a schedule.....Except the day 5 lightbulbs all blew within 30 min of each other. They'd all been installed new in the addition the same day...8 years earlier.
Thomas 8020, Stihl 039, Stihl 036, Homelite Super EZ, Case 385, Team of Drafts

mesquite buckeye

Welcome. ;D

With a little luck you too can become a ******** Ken doll. ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D :snowball:
Manage 80 acre tree farm in central Missouri and Mesquite timber and about a gozillion saguaros in Arizona.

Billbob

I've had a Woodland for about a year.  Works great.  Yep it is made in China but it is as solid as any other brand in the same price range.  No worry about parts.  It is designed so that most parts (bearings, belts, etc) can be sourced at your local hardware or automotive shop.
Woodland Hm126 sawmill, LS 72hp tractor with FEL, homemade log winch, 8ft pulp trailer, Husqvarna 50, Husqvarna 353, homemade wood splitter, 12ft dump trailer, Polaris Sportsman 500 with ATV dump trailer

coolerat

Quote from: mesquite buckeye on November 17, 2014, 10:12:16 AM
Welcome. ;D

With a little luck you too can become a ******** Ken doll. ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D :snowball:

Is being a Ken doll a good thing in this regard??

petefrom bearswamp

What mill is made in Utica?
Hud-Son is only about 18 miles north on rt 12.
MY BIL had a Hud-Son but I dont know if he still has it.
Are you going for hobby, limited production or higher production.
Bigger mfrs make heavier duty stuff.
WM Cooks etc.
Kubota 8540 tractor, FEL bucket and forks, Farmi winch
Kubota 900 RTV
Polaris 570 Sportsman ATV
3 Huskies 1 gas Echo 1 cordless Echo vintage Homelite super xl12
57 acres of woodland

Robert Owens

Welcome to the forum and I hope you enjoy the saw milling process as much as I do. Although they are not close to you, Cooks makes a great sawmill that is built heavier than any of the others I checked out before buying my MP 32. I would take the time to go see them in person operating so you can see how each compares. Most companies can share with you people in your area that have mills so you can see them and talk to the owners about what they like and dislike about the mills. It took me a little over a year to research and travel to see 5 different mills before I chose to go with the Cooks. Time well spent considering The amount of money one can spend on a mill due to all the different options available.

rockman

Quote from: coolerat on November 15, 2014, 04:19:06 PM
Well I am about videoed out for one day.

The folks who run the mills for the videos know what they are doing and they all look good.

Then I run into opinions.  Mine and others.  Mingled with facts that are hard to find.  One thing I'm having a hard time getting around is Woodland is striaghtup made in China.  WM seems to be US.  Hudson is US and local to boot.  But made in US out of steel from China and on and on.  Plus I ain't half against China as I once was cause half the stuff I buy comes from there.

Super cornfusing.  Still fun though.

Take a look at Turner mills also, Hand made by Bill Turner in Oxford N.Y.

Kevin
kioti ck-20 loader backhoe, box blade, disk, log arch
Husqvarna 455 rancher
Lincoln Ranger 10,000 welder

coolerat

I believe the one made in Utica is called the Woodchuck.

Use is to be feeding my woodworking hobby will a vague plan to sell off extra. Basicly to be one of the guys I been buying from over the years. When I see a sweet pile of cherry I don't see dollar signs I see hope chests.

Spring and summer I like to be outside and sawing looks like fun to me. Fall is my busy time at work so nothing gets done around the house. Winter is shop time.

For my own needs I can get plenty of free logs. Quality unknown as I never had a mine. As I say yes to the logs I belive more will be availbile so I might be able to sell some.

I'm not opposed to getting rich at it but that is not my intention.

johnnyllama

I also would suggest checking out Turner Mills south of you in Oxford NY. Bill Turner makes every mill himself with one other employee. We bought a used one with a couple hundred hours on it after visiting his shop. Almost every part on his machine is available at your local NAPA or Tractor supply. His units use rubber trailer tires/wheels that require no lubrication for the blade and he has a great double bearing blade guide system. Any one of his mills can start as a manual and be upgraded to add hydraulics as you grow. We can cut 1/8" veneer or 24" wide table slabs with precision. It's a basic mill but it works great. Ours has a Honda twin, hydraulic loaders, and electric head lift. It's a manual as far as turning logs and pushing through the log, but for the quantity we cut, mostly for our own use, it's been great.
Turner Bandmill, NH35 tractor, Stihl & Husky misc. saws, Mini-excavator, 24" planer, 8" jointer, tilting shaper, lathe, sliding table saw, widebelt sander, Beautiful hardworking wife, 2 dogs, 2 cats, 23 llamas in training to pull logs!!!

Busy Beaver Lumber

Welcome Coolerat

My two cents for what it is worth from one New Yorker to another ( I was born and raised in queens NY, but also spent a lot of time in upstate NY in the middletown / Wurtsboro area)

I own an LT-10 now for about 3 years and absolutely love that little mill. Have had some pretty big diameter logs on it as well and it cut right through them like butter. First job i did with the mill paid off the entire cost of the mill, plus left we with a decent profit to boot.

It has been extremely reliable and not in need of any parts. very easy to adjust and maintain and the 10hp motor has always started on the first or second pull.

I have routinely been able to achieve the 160bf/hour rate Woodmizer advertises.

By chance, a year after I purchased my LT-10, I met an engineer from  Woodmizer that led the design team on the LT-10 and him and i have become good friends. He loves hearing about all the wood i have milled using it. I have since grown to know other Woodmizer employees and can tell you that they are all extremely nice tom deal with and very customer oriented.

Would not hesitate to buy an LT-10. If someone stole my LT-10 tonight, I would be on the phone ordering a replacement one from woodmizer in the morning. I would tell you to order it with the 10hp motor. I think the 7hp would get the job done, but it sure is nice to have the extra hp if you can afford it.

Looked at some of the mills made locally in your area and did not feel that they were as good as the LT-10.

Here are some pics of mill and wood it cut a few months back.



  

  

 

Fred
Woodmizer LT-10 10hp
Epilog Mini 18 Laser Engraver with rotary axis
Digital Wood Carver CNC Machine
6 x 10 dump trailer
Grizzly 15in Spiral Cut Surface Planer
Grizzly 6in Spiral Cut Joiner
Twister Firewood Bundler
Jet 10-20 Drum Sander
Jet Bandsaw



Save a tree...eat a beaver!

mesquite buckeye

Quote from: coolerat on November 17, 2014, 03:34:52 PM
Quote from: mesquite buckeye on November 17, 2014, 10:12:16 AM
Welcome. ;D

With a little luck you too can become a ******** Ken doll. ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D :snowball:

Is being a Ken doll a good thing in this regard??

All depends on the degree of neutrality one is willing to accept. ;D
Manage 80 acre tree farm in central Missouri and Mesquite timber and about a gozillion saguaros in Arizona.

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