Hi Everyone

[FlyBigSky]

I have a couple of questions about my Harbor Freight Sawmill.

1. Is there a digital Laser measuring device that can be mounted on my saw head? I would like a device that I can zero out before the cut and go to the dimension I want to cut as I lower the sawmill head.

2. Are there any parts available to modify my sawmill so that I can raise and lower the sawmill head by way of electric motor instead of the hand crank?

[Magicman]

No answers from me but Welcome to the Forestry Forum, FlyBigSky.

The fabricators will come along with suggestions.   ;)

[DDW_OR]

FYI - i spent a couple minutes looking at the mill online:
for the price you may want to buy a second mill. take the two beds and connect them together.
save the second head for parts.

here is a photo of the digital encoder that Timberking uses with the setworks computer.



  


 

[Chuck White]

Welcome to the Forestry Forum, FlyBigSky!

[plowboyswr]

I have a couple of questions about my Harbor Freight Sawmill.

1. Is there a digital Laser measuring device that can be mounted on my saw head? I would like a device that I can zero out before the cut and go to the dimension I want to cut as I lower the sawmill head.

2. Are there any parts available to modify my sawmill so that I can raise and lower the sawmill head by way of electric motor instead of the hand crank?

In answer to you questions #1 Can't help you with. #2 Yeah a small electric winch (like for a fourwheeler) can be used to raise and lower the head and when I get my bracketing figured out I will post some pictures. Going to be bolting to the main frame running the cable up and over using the existing pulleys and back to the original bracket on the frame. Then will come the battery holder and charging system. Also if you haven't done it yet take your push handle and move it up to the top cross bar. this will gain you 4-6 inches of height on the head. there are a couple of threads on these little mills just type it into the search bar above and make sure to have it on this board not this thread.  ;)

[never finished]

 The answer to #1 is yes. Grizzly tool used to sell them. Do a search on digital read out here on the forum. Grizzly don't sell them any more, but once you figure out what your looking for you can find one on ebay. I can't do the picture thing or I would show you mine. About $50 and well worth it. 

[Kbeitz]

I used a hand winch powered with a wheelchair electric motor.

[FlyBigSky]

Wow, thanks everyone for all the great ideas. I'll be checking out the leads for sure.

[Kbeitz]

These 3 items work well together.



 



 



 

[sandsawmill14]

i put a electric winch on my hudson mill and it works great i just used the controls that came with the winch it even has a remote 
far as the laser they make it but it will cost more than the mill ultrasonic can be used to but not much cheaper the digital readout that was mentioned work but the more you spend the better you will like it  :-\ i have tried 2 and cant get one that doesnt lose track of where it is before the log is finished  :( not saying someone doesnt make one but the ones for planers and such cant handle the vibration of a mill at least mine couldnt the encoder is the best bet but you have to have a digital read out to know where your at  good luck  and welcome to the forum

[FlyBigSky]

Thanks everyone. I knew this would be a great place to get some answers on these things. I haven't had time to look yet, but I will be searching on Ebay and Amazon for some of these things you all have suggested here. I'll post what I come up with.
I found this sliding scale today. It's not laser though. I actually need one that will constantly read the distance to the top of the log.

http://s10.postimg.org/5stnfzo15/Screen_Shot_2016_09_22_at_9_30_50_AM.png

[tnaz]

Welcome from Fl FlyBigSky.

[Sixacresand]

Hi FlyBigSky.  Welcome to the Forum. I had WM LT10.  It had a air assist lift cylinders but it was still hard for me with a back to raise the mill head.  I created and installed a hand cranked winch, which worked great. 


 

[goose63]

Hay BigSky is the talking berd saloon still in St Regis?

Welcone to the F F

[kelLOGg]

Thanks everyone. I knew this would be a great place to get some answers on these things. I haven't had time to look yet, but I will be searching on Ebay and Amazon for some of these things you all have suggested here. I'll post what I come up with.
I found this sliding scale today. It's not laser though. I actually need one that will constantly read the distance to the top of the log.

http://s10.postimg.org/5stnfzo15/Screen_Shot_2016_09_22_at_9_30_50_AM.png

This looks identical to the unit that several of us (including me) bought a couple of years ago. It worked great in the warmer weather but eventually gave erratic readings in cold weather (< 35 to 40 deg). It wasn't the battery! To verify the erratic nature of it I put my unit in the house where it was ~70 deg and voila - it gave a stable reading again. They are designed for a heated shop. Other FFers have reported the same observations. Search for DROs in the FF search tool. I ended up giving it away to a friend. If you buy one, definitely ask if it for cold weather operation and you live where it is a lot colder than I.
Bob

[terrifictimbersllc]

Other FFers ...

Is it good to be called this? 

[plowboyswr]

Try this
https://forestryforum.com/board/index.php/topic,90230.msg1388849.html#msg1388849
or maybe this
https://forestryforum.com/board/index.php/topic,86306.msg1321604.html#msg1321604

[FlyBigSky]

Hay BigSky is the talking berd saloon still in St Regis?

Welcone to the F F

Yes, I believe it is still there. I have never been inside it though.

[FlyBigSky]

 This is the only thing I've found. I contacted the seller and asked what the operating temp range is on this unit. I'm surprised that is not listed in the specifications. I'm betting he will confirm what you guys said about not working in the cold. We have plenty of cold weather here in Montana as you know, so it probably won't work here much of the year like you mentioned above. I guess I'm stuck for now with the Neandrathal Scale that comes on the mill.

Q:  I'm surprised this site doesn't let us host photos from our computer. The only way I see to do it is to pre-host them somewhere else and post the link on here.

Q:  I am not receiving email notifications from this site, and I have not found that is settings any place. Any advice on that?



http://www.ebay.com/itm/12-LCD-Digital-Readout-Read-Out-DRO-Table-Magnetic-Remote-for-Milling-Machines-/331590534969?hash=item4d34560739:g:tOMAAOSw9N1Vi4Cb

OFFSITE IMAGES NOT ALLOWED

[pineywoods]

I'm surprised this site doesn't let us host photos from our computer. The only way I see to do it is to pre-host them somewhere else and post the link on here.

You are about half right. No pics directly in the post, but each user has an exclusive gallery on here to pre-host them. That way they don't dis-appear, and the post size is kept down to a reasonable storage size. Plus you can browse other users pic gallery, lots of good viewing...

[Jeff]

Q:  I'm surprised this site doesn't let us host photos from our computer. The only way I see to do it is to pre-host them somewhere else and post the link on here.

HOW TO POST PHOTOS

Q:  I am not receiving email notifications from this site, and I have not found that is settings any place. Any advice on that?

You don't get notified automatically on anything. You have to select to be notified on the post or board, and you can manage your notifications from within your profile.

And by the way, you can't "Host" photos from your own computer anywhere. If you try, only you can see them, and if anyone else can see them on your computer, you have some serious security issues.

[FlyBigSky]

I'll have to try and figure out how to put pics in my albums. I've never had to do that on any of the many forums I've been on, so just have to figure that out. Thanks for the reply.

[Jeff]

This isn't any of the many forums you have been on. It is the Forestry Forum.

[Kbeitz]

One way It can be done... You can take time laps pictures and post it as a video
on youtube and past a link here.

[Magicman]

Why try to bypass a system that works so well here on the Forestry Forum?   :-\