I need some input from experts / experience sawyers. I've gone through a million reviews, youtube videos, and these forums and I'm quite literally stuck between these two admittedly very different mills. Here's the decision I'm looking at, and before anyone says it, I realize this is not a straight apples to apples comparison. But for my anticipated use (based on my limited knowledge) these are my two top competitors. I always welcome "hey dummy, you haven't even considered this" type of input though :)
About Me - I have 180 acres of property in rural Virginia, with 150 acres fully wooded with 50-80 year old woods. Lots of black walnut, maple, poplar, pine, black locust, etc. I'm a casual woodworker with lots of project ideas. I LOVE the idea of milling my own lumber and can think of many projects. I am not, nor will I ever be, a professional sawyer. I have no interest in selling wood, just making some great lumber for projects, sharing with friends, etc. The property is large, with logging road throughout. I have a lot of heavy equipment including tractors, a backhoe, utility vehicles, etc. I have plenty of ways to move large logs. The largest trees on my property are in the 30" range. I might have a FEW larger than that, but the vast majority will be in the 15-20" range. I plan to build a 12x40' pole barn to house the sawmill and for general storage. I expect most operations will be done right there so a trailered mill is more of a luxury vs. a requirement. Time is critical for me. I work like a dog, so I prefer not to spend weeks building and maintaining a mill. I need it to come together quickly, and work when I need it to work with minimal fussing. Anything else and it becomes en expensive lawn ornament. If I'm being brutally honest, I would guess this mill will be used 4-5 times a year to crank out a few logs worth of wood. More if I'm suppying a major project, but that won't be the norm. My budget is in the $10k range.
Why the Woodlander HM130? It will handle up to 30" logs, looks much simpler to build (this is a MAJOR consideration), is 25% less money than the Norwood (albeit not a totally fair comparison), gets good reviews and seems to operate reliably. I really like Kohler motors, I've had a few and they just work. Every time. I like the Woodlander HM130XL which comes with a trailer for portability to other locations if I choose, and easy auto-leveling. While made in China it seems to be of reasonably high quality and is largely made with commodity parts. On the down side it can never be upgraded to hydraulics (which I'm not sure I'd ever need anyway), and has less overall capacity vs. the Norwood. All in all this seems to be the better "value" and given my anticipate light use, seems like a good choice.
Why the Norwood HD36? It will handle any log on my property now or in the future. It seems better made overall to me and can be upgraded endlessly. There is a huge following on-line which means lots of experience to tap into and youtube tutorials abound. I haven't read of seen quick as many "huh what was that" issues as I have with the Woodlander, although it seems all mills have their querks. The down side is that equally configured w/ a trailer it's $4k more than the Woodlander. The build process is incredibly intimidating to me (I'm sorry to say this is a huge factor). I've never seen so many bolts in my life and if it takes me 4-5 days to assemble - that's 3-4 months for me in terms of free time. Balancing that out - I'm not sure the trailer is absolutely necessary. I'm preparing a level gravel surface for the mill, eventually with a roof, so it will go onto heavy concrete blocks for stability and I can bring logs to the mill with my equiment.
So - sorry for the long post - but I want to get fully informed view and experiences. What would YOU suggest I do? What questions am I not even asking? What options have I not even considered? WoodMizers seem to be really solid, but to get into the size range of either of these mills the costs spiral out of control. Am I going to want hydraulics in 5-6 6 years and I just don't know it yet because I have no experience? Is the HD36 easier to build than I think?
Talk to me :)
-Jeff
Sorry to burst your bubble but I'd think you would be better off periodically just hiring a mobile sawyer to come saw your logs for you if you don't plan to saw more often than that. I'm thinking you could get 30K-35K bf of lumber sawed for your proposed $10K mill budget without including operating or maintenance costs. You'd still have to cut and stage the logs which will be your responsibility anyway. When not in use the mill would just be deteriorating. JMHO.
If time is really as important as you say I would highly recommend you hire a portable sawyer to come in and saw out your materials for your projects. If the mill is already assembled it still takes time to learn to saw and more time to sharpen blades. You will spend plenty of time just getting logs to the mill and then moving lumber and stacking for air drying. I have sawn out houses for people that wanted mills and then they completely changed their minds after they saw how much work it was. Now if you just really really want a mill, I say go all out and get a super hd woodmizer and then grin every time you crank it up.lol
Hiring a portable sawyer is something I've considered actually. It doesn't let me learn much in the way of new skills though, and it requires careful time scheduling and management. That assumes I could even find someone willing to work with me at all. There's something attractive about "I've got a 1/2 day, let's saw some lumber" approach that you just can't get by hiring someone. I'd bet a LOT of mills out there realistically only get used 5-6 times a year. As in - most of them. Folks just aren't always brutally honest about it. Saving money isn't really the sole purpose of this, there's something to say for learning a new skill, playing with fun new toys, and truly doing it myself. :)
If there is a possibility that you will sell or upgrade the sawmill, then I would be looking at resale value. A Wood-Mizer LT10 is $3,995, an LT15START is $5,295, and an EZ Boardwalk Jr is $4,700. All within your price range. There are also other possibilities so check out the Sponsor list on the left. Do plenty of research and do not make a hasty decision.
Catch the bug, get a good mill you won't have to upgrade, don't worry if you catch it, you will be sawing a lot more than you think, Go by and visit a local portable mill and watch and try it or go to a demonstration, call woodmizer etc. If nothing else its a fun hobby.
I just went through buying a mill and feel your pain. I was looking at the LM29 and just didn't want to get involved in putting it together. I ended up ordering an EZ boardwalk jr. The bed comes in one piece. I also see no problem with just sawing when ever you want. Sometimes having the equipment on-hand is worth the piece of mind alone. I bought a tractor when we moved to our property. Lots of folks thought I'd never use it much. Now I can't see how I'd do without it and those same folks always need something done with the Tractor :D. I will say I don't think I would have bought a mill w/o having one. Enjoy whatever you decide to get.
Your situation sounds very familiar. Sounds like you've got the criteria laid out pretty well and you're on the right track to figuring it out.
Where in VA are you located? That makes a difference. There's probably someone fairly close to you with a mill to look at, talk to, or hire for portable work.
Your apprehension about assembling the HD36 is a bit of a red flag. If you really don't have the spare time to assemble, you probably don't have the spare time to saw. There is a lot to sawing besides just sawing the logs and that really doesn't become obvious until you're in the middle of it. Also, owning a mill requires an ongoing commitment to maintenance and adjustment. Some people take to that, and some don't don't. Depends on your general mechanical skills.
There is something magical about going out and sawing your own logs when you have a little free time. There's no doubt about that. It may not fit your spare time budget though. Spare time does tend to acccumulate though when you're motivated on a given project. That being said, building some buildings takes time too.
One thing you might think about is getting the cheaper mill, but having a portable sawyer come in and saw when you have a lot of logs. All depends on your budget. And your spare time.
The bigger HD36 is a good choice if it suits your budget. I wouldn't let the assembly thing dictate that decision. Assembly is one-time thing. Sawing logs is forever. You can probably get a friend to help if the assembly thing is really an issue. If you're close to me, I wouldn't mind giving you a hand. MagicMan is right about looking at alternatives before you make a decision. Even though that complicates the decision it is important. I bought the smaller Woodland HM126 and I've been happy with it. The HM 130 wasn't out at that time or I would have certainly wanted the upgrades it offers. People that own the other mills are happy with theirs too. One thing though - more horsepower is always better. It's all depends on the budget.
Good luck with your decision.
I am located in Northern(ish) Virginia. Home is Warrenton, VA and my country home is very near Sperryville, VA. I haven't a clue how to go about finding local sawyers. Anyone who is willing to drive I'm happy to compensate you for your time either in cash or in wood. I do have quite a lot of trees, from cherry to walnut to oak. . . .you name it I've got it in abundance.
Quote from: Everest123 on March 12, 2019, 08:44:52 AMHiring a portable sawyer is something I've considered actually. It doesn't let me learn much in the way of new skills though, and it requires careful time scheduling and management. That assumes I could even find someone willing to work with me at all. There's something attractive about "I've got a 1/2 day, let's saw some lumber" approach that you just can't get by hiring someone. I'd bet a LOT of mills out there realistically only get used 5-6 times a year. As in - most of them. Folks just aren't always brutally honest about it. Saving money isn't really the sole purpose of this, there's something to say for learning a new skill, playing with fun new toys, and truly doing it myself. :)
Well, that makes a big difference if this is mostly to be another hobby. Plz update your profile with more details such as where in rural VA you live. That will help others close to you to chime in. I think you will find sawmillers, especially those doing it part time or as a hobby, love to talk and show off their mills and techniques. I'd bet there are several close enough you could go visit and at least learn the basics. Go to all the shows and demonstrations in your area. Let the dealers know and they can let you know about the shows, demonstrations and maybe even any good used mills they hear about in your area.
You are probably right though about many mills getting little use. It amazes me to see someone offering to sell a 5-10 y/o mill with only 100-200 hours on the mill. I think in a lot of cases after they get their mill they find it is a lot more work than they originally thought. Rolling logs and stacking lumber and slabs is hard work.
It is also very likely you can find a very good used mill within your budget and possibly even one with hydraulics which will really make your productivity improve and make the process a lot more fun.
Good luck.
Edit/Add-on: I see you posted location as I was writing. Check the WM home page under services for Find a local Sawyer. There should be several near you. Also check the Extras box here on the FF for any near you.
There are some guys on the FF that are near you. They'll check in shortly I'm sure. Craigslist and the Woodmizer Sawyer's network are both good places to look for sawyers near you. You're welcome to stop by here if you want to take a short road trip. My setup is pretty low-key, but it works for me.
Sounds like you've got the beginnings of sawdust fever. It's not a bad thing. Most of us here are afflicted by it and we're all managing. I went through a long process before I jumped in and bough my little mill. My only regret was not doing it sooner.
Google is your friend. I did a search and found several portable sawmills near you.
I've updated my profile with my location, thanks I didn't realize that was even an option. I feel like a used mill is absolutely the way to go - but I've had zero luck finding any. Not even one. I found a few sites dedicated to listings, but they only had $100k commercial mills. I've seen them EVERY so often on Craigslist, etc. but very rarely and the ones I've seen are really old and basically look like rust buckets. I'm not in a burning rush to buy a mill, except for the sale Norwood is running right now. Their prices are discounted quite a bit, at least based upon what I can see. Sale runs through early April. Heck I'm still clearing the area the mill will eventually go. So this doesn't have to happen "right now". I love the idea of getting a local to come out and mill logs, or heck I'll haul a few logs to them. I've got a trailer and can throw a few on.
Jeff,
Be sure to check with the Sawmill Exchange for good used mills and let Marty Parsons (WM Rep in Shade Gap PA about 140 miles from you) and Jim Whitley down in Albermarle NC (NC WM Dealer about 4 hours from you). The Sawmill Exchange are a sponsor here with link on the left side of the page. Good luck.
I have gone through what you are going through now. I settled on a Norwood LM 29 and have no regrets. The job of putting it together is a fair bit of work though. I happen to enjoy that sort of thing so I didnt mind it at all. My time was sparce as well, so it took a couple weeks just doing a little at a time. So if you value having something come altogether dont consider the Norwood. Unless you can find one used. For me its been great. I would buy it again in a heartbeat.
If you want to compare apples to apples, then Norwoods Frontier models are more in line with Woodland Mills Sawmills.
OBNOXIOUSLY LONG LINK FIXED BY ADMIN
Products | Frontier Sawmills (https://www.frontiersawmills.com/en_us/products?)
Thanks for fixing my link ;D
@Jeff (http://forestryforum.com/board/index.php?action=profile;u=1),can you fix Dana's post. Please.
Thank you!!!
I bought a Thomas. A very rugged mill,all manual. I am one of those that don't put many hours on it. I bought it for my own use,not to saw for others. Now a tractor I put more hours than most do. And speaking of tractors,you have one to get the logs out of the woods? I also have the same amount of acres. I am very,very fussy with my woods. I cut the tree down and clean up the mess. Than I have to build with what I saw. It takes A LOT of time to do it all. You will have the talkers that can do it much faster than you can. Yes,they can do it faster,but what equipment do they have? I did not want to spend $20,000 for a mill. I would rather spend that on a tractor and a logging winch. ;) Than the talkers have the lumber delivered and build with it. No trees to cut,no mess to clean up,no lumber to saw. There you go,TIME. But I am happy with what I do. If you don't make yourself happy,no one can do it for you. :D
If I could afford the 36" Norwood with trailer and extension, I would be looking at the Woodmizer LT28! Within inches for log size, and width of cut, but it can handle a 21' log. It has power feed option, no hydraulics but, its good for 350 bf/hr (fully assembled) and it's a Woodmizer!!
I realize you said it's not what you really want, but hiring someone to saw your logs for you is the way to go in your situation. You mention being a wood worker and have some nice timber there, you don't want to make it into designer firewood in your limited spare time, after spending a bunch of money on a saw. The problem with a mill that gets used now and then are the same as any other piece of occasional use equipment, belts get flat spots or dry rot, bearing seals let go and fail, rust finds its way into an inconvenient spot, mice build a nest in a carburetor or eat the soy based electric wire insulation, the result is the same, you spend your free time getting things back into operational status rather than working.
With good logs I could easily saw out 2,000 BF of lumber for you in a day without breaking a sweat. You, and whom ever you con into helping you tail for the day, however will be guaranteed to break a serious sweat, along with the "I can't lift my arms" syndrome. :D Then you can focus on the rest of your projects. You are still involved with the whole process, but you don't need to deal with bands, maintenance, breakdowns, etc.
One thing you don't mention is your age, we are all getting older by the day and hydraulics become all that more mission critical as those days pass by. If you do buy a mill, don't buy a Chinese one. There are so many little details that can be wrong and will impact the mill function and lumber quality and consistency. Having real customer support to assist you when you have an issue is worth it's weight in gold when it comes to sawmills.
Great info so far!! A couple of things I noticed:
@Dana Stanley (http://forestryforum.com/board/index.php?action=profile;u=41245) I looked carefully at Frontier Mills, but this video instantly shut down my interest - Norwood Frontier OS-27 Bandsaw Mill in Action - YouTube (https://youtu.be/SlvKE7UxDMw) I have no idea what I'm doing so when I see professionals struggling with a mill like that, I immediately move on. The whole mill clogged up several times. Yikes!
@thecfarm (http://forestryforum.com/board/index.php?action=profile;u=436) yes I have a lot of equipment. My tractors I use constantly. I have a Kubota m7060 with multiple attachments including a large root grapple and a Danuser Intimidator. It's a beast. I will investigate Thomas Mills. I haven't even stumbled across that brand yet.
@Dana Stanley (http://forestryforum.com/board/index.php?action=profile;u=41245) well shoot.....the LT28 is in my price range and it's fully assembled, with expert instructions??? Dang it.... Now this is a three way shootout!!! :)
I think I'm going to sit on this a while and try to find a local Sawyer to come mill some logs with me... No hurry and the WM LT28 has me rethinking all my choices and research!!!
Jeff,
I watched the video too and there were things I did not like either - I was concerned about the helper getting too close to the sawdust shoot chute and I'd worry about a broken blade shooting out there but maybe that is not a factor with the design of this mill. As to the mill getting clogged up with sawdust I did not hold that against them as some type of wood (Tulip Poplar and Cedar) are subject to that sometimes due to the nature of their bark.
I think you are well advised to go watch a mill or two before taking the plunge. The first one I ever saw in operation was mine as the WM rep demoed it after he delivered it. He did a good job demoing but many steps I did not realize at the time because he was pretty smooth. Also I did not even know what kind of questions to ask. I will say WM customer support is first rate although I hear similar comments from other sponsors mill too. Good luck.
hey jeff. I skimmed through the posts and have not seen a reference, but you can look at sawmill and woodlot magazine. Most recently they looked at firewood processors, but a year ago they did all the major sawmill brands. sawmillmag.com . You can get back copies for download and a good fun source of info on products, other sawyers and woodlot issues. sorry if this was already posted and I missed it. I have timber king and did that because in part they are made 3 hours from my home. good luck.
Why not look at the actual frontier youtube page when doing your research? They have a ton of videos over viewing the products. The video you posted was demo concept machine and they new this was a problem and fixed it on all production machines.
Frontier Mills (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpivbZQBxRPm4k9fwWYF6iQ)
I just found a used WoodMizer LT10 on Craiglist on facebook for $2,500 with a track extension. Only a few miles from me. Maybe I should just go for an already depreciated mill to test the waters and see how I like it / time I can spend. Any thoughts on just a simple entry level WM? Looks like a soild mill. . . . :)
When I got my Norwood LM2000 it had a piece of expanded aluminum in the sawdust chute. It clogged all the time. My first mod was to cut that screen out of the way. Never had a problem with sawdust building up around the band since then.
I do not know the new price of such a mill, but may be a bargain. go have a look, if the price is right, and not too much to fix, it may be a place to start. I hear nothing but good things about Woodmizer. can always sell or trade on a bigger more automated mill in the future.
Quote from: Everest123 on March 14, 2019, 11:09:33 AM
I just found a used WoodMizer LT10 on Craiglist on facebook for $2,500 with a track extension. Only a few miles from me. Maybe I should just go for an already depreciated mill to test the waters and see how I like it / time I can spend. Any thoughts on just a simple entry level WM? Looks like a soild mill. . . . :)
Sounds like a pretty good plan.
I bought my LT40 used and have no regrets. It was old at the time and need some adjustment, but I just followed the step by step instructions in the owner's manual and was very easy to do. If the LT10 you're looking at doesn't come with an owner's manual, Wood-Mizer will set you up with one, most likely a digital download.
I'd jump on that used mill while it's available.
Good luck.
FWIW I had the same concerns on the Frontier and did some research on them and the ejection chute was redesigned and I was told not an issue on them now. Also I think that these guys were in a manual mill shootout trying to cut as much as they could, as fast as they safely could. The video was the original OS 27. They have since added a smaller and a larger model to their lineup. I can't offer opinions on the quality, but I ordered one and it's en route shipping now. Since these are fairly new saws, there isn't a whole lot of end user feedback out there yet but I'm sure that will change over time. I simply didn't want to deal with a used mill (there are none anywhere near me anyway) or spend too much on a mill that will primarily be used as a hobby venture. A warranty is also a little more piece of mind also. Keeping my fingers crossed on it's quality and performance, but so far the folks at Norwood have been great on the phone and via emails answering my endless questions... time will tell I suppose, so we'll see!
24" is limiting, but you would likely get all your money back on resale!
Quote from: Magicman on March 12, 2019, 09:18:43 AM
If there is a possibility that you will sell or upgrade the sawmill, then I would be looking at resale value. A Wood-Mizer LT10 is $3,995, an LT15START is $5,295, and an EZ Boardwalk Jr is $4,700. All within your price range. There are also other possibilities so check out the Sponsor list on the left. Do plenty of research and do not make a hasty decision.
Some very sound advice right here ^^^^^. I started with an LT15 as a hobby. Later sold it and purchased an LT40 when I got more serious about sawing. An LT15 will saw everything that an LT40 will saw. Just not as fast.
When one is first learning to saw, the "not as fast" can be a good thing. Gives you more time to think thru your next move. More time to size up the next cut. More time to avoid boo-boo's...
Quote from: marcnaz on March 14, 2019, 02:50:29 PM
FWIW I had the same concerns on the Frontier and did some research on them and the ejection chute was redesigned and I was told not an issue on them now. Also I think that these guys were in a manual mill shootout trying to cut as much as they could, as fast as they safely could. The video was the original OS 27. They have since added a smaller and a larger model to their lineup. I can't offer opinions on the quality, but I ordered one and it's en route shipping now. Since these are fairly new saws, there isn't a whole lot of end user feedback out there yet but I'm sure that will change over time. I simply didn't want to deal with a used mill (there are none anywhere near me anyway) or spend too much on a mill that will primarily be used as a hobby venture. A warranty is also a little more piece of mind also. Keeping my fingers crossed on it's quality and performance, but so far the folks at Norwood have been great on the phone and via emails answering my endless questions... time will tell I suppose, so we'll see!
I bought an OS27 with an extension, trailer, and trailer extension. The manual is needs work (wrong part numbers, "?" in places where part numbers should be, etc.) and I am constantly calling Norwood with questions. They are helpful, but there is only one employee that seems to know anything about the Frontier line. Everything is built really well, but they obviously rushed it to market without taking the time to provide a sufficient manual. The trailer is even worse. There are parts missing from the drawings that are integral to assembling the trailer. I was also shorted the complete trailer extension in shipping. Really regretting not buying from Woodland at the moment but once I actually get this thing assembled and run it, I may change my mind. I expected that a company like Norwood adequately trained their employees on each of their products. That does not appear to be the case.
How many times have we seen reputable companies make the decision to make some or even all of their product line in Asia? How many times have we seen results like the ones described above? It's pretty sad really.
Quote from: Delta66 on March 21, 2019, 05:49:51 PM
I bought an OS27 with an extension, trailer, and trailer extension. The manual is awful (wrong part numbers, "?" in places where part numbers should be, etc.) and I am constantly calling Norwood with questions. They are helpful, but there is only one employee that seems to know anything about the Frontier line. Everything is built really well, but they obviously rushed it to market without taking the time to provide a sufficient manual. The trailer is even worse. There are parts missing from the drawings that are integral to assembling the trailer. I was also shorted the complete trailer extension in shipping. Really regretting not buying from Woodland at the moment but once I actually get this thing assembled and run it, I may change my mind. I expected that a company like Norwood adequately trained their employees on each of their products. That does not appear to be the case.
Well my OS31 is scheduled for delivery today. I didn't get the trailer or any extensions. Please let us know how things go once you get it assembled and cut some logs. I was told before mine shipped that the manual/instructions were upgraded/fixed. Getting shorted parts would be pretty frustrating. I would expect a new line to have it's minor issues when first rolled out, but not major ones or unhelpful support staff. Especially from a company who has been making mills for years and has somewhat of a rep for quality. Once I get it I'll take a couple photos as I attempt to assemble it and post my thoughts and results on a new post/thread. Although I'm mechanically savy, this is my first mill so maybe my input will help other new folks looking for a first mill with their decision.
Please post as much info as you can. I am looking to order something by May and have the frontier on my list. Just so little info on it.
A Norwood rep called me yesterday and told me that the parts I'm missing won't be available for at least a month to 6 weeks. I'm going to set the saw up in it's 11' version and do some cutting.
I am working on getting some videos to Youtube, but don't have much free time to devote to video editing in the coming weeks. I have one up already that's just a general unboxing with a few of my thoughts. I am not a video professional so there are a few mistakes in it. Feel free to ask me any questions as you go through the process.
Care to share a link to this video?
I would think they could at least give you a few blades for the headaches.
=
Delta66 we are here to ask for help not to hear bellyaches. I don't see any requests for help so, tread lightly.
Well, that LT10 was gone in a flash. The guy had 3 offers for it and I called him 18 hours after he posted it. So in terms of resale, that's a BIG plus for Woodmizer. WOW.
Per all of the advice I've stepped back from "rushing into" a purchase. I'm strongly leaning towards the Norwood HD36 when I do pull the trigger though. In the meantime I'm building my new storage shed / lumber yard where the mill will ultimately go. It's a 48' x 14' pole barn of my own design. Only have front 5 and back 2 corner poles in, but those are the hardest. This will take me at least two months to complete :)
I'll post back here when I do pull the trigger. Again, likely going to go with the Norwood HD36.
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/54688/20190324_162001.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1553505411)
I'll be watching.
Well, given that the Norwood sale ends in a week or so, I threw caution to the wind, and in an fit of impulse I ordered an HD36 with a 4' bed extension and the trailer package. I added a carriage cover and a 10 pack of blades. So with that decision made - what elese should I be ordering? :)
A cordless impact driver if you don't already have one.
A Logrite pevey or cantdog. Sponsor on the left,nice people,made in the USA!!!
Congrats on the mill. You will like it!!!
Congrats on the purchase of your mill you will enjoy making boards out of trees .
Quote from: btulloh on March 29, 2019, 07:01:03 PM
A cordless impact driver if you don't already have one.
I do not have a cordless impact drill, but I do have a corded one. Is this for assembling the mill? What's the main use case?
Lot of bolts to tighten. Anything to make that go faster and easier is a good thing.
Plus, if you don't have a 1/4 impact drver it's a good excuse to get one.
Gotcha. Thanks, I did order a bunch of 9/16th bits and socket / extensions. I'm trying to get all the tools I'll need in advance of the delivery to make assembly as easy and effective as possible. I will add this to the tool list.
I use and am overall happy with dewalt batt. stuff, you can get a drill/inpact combo with a case @big box stores on sale occ. I have a ton of the 18 volt stuff, got my wife some of the newer 20 volt stuff to keep in the house.
Quote from: doc henderson on March 31, 2019, 03:36:09 PM
I use and am overall happy with dewalt batt. stuff, you can get a drill/inpact combo with a case @big box stores on sale occ. I have a ton of the 18 volt stuff, got my wife some of the newer 20 volt stuff to keep in the house.
I have two of of their drills, an older 18v and a newer 20v - both are going strong after many years of semi-regular use. I recently added a cordless circular saw to the mix and I'm pleased with it so far. I'm 100% sold on Dewalt. I ordered up the 1/4 " impact drill, very compact. Looks like a great tool. I bet I'll put all three of my drills to good use across my "work crew" when we assemble the mill :)
the impact is what I use to drive screws and tighten nuts and bolts. it starts to hammer/slow down when it meets resistance so you do not strip screw heads or torque your wrists when tensioning.
That's pretty country where you live. I might have to drop by one day - - after you get the mill assembled.
When is your mill being delivered?
Quote from: btulloh on April 01, 2019, 08:55:14 AM
That's pretty country where you live. I might have to drop by one day - - after you get the mill assembled.
When is your mill being delivered?
Indeed - this is my slice of heaven! Midlothian isn't too far away, I'd love to have you up some afternoon. Delivery of the mill is pending right now. I leave for vacation in a week and didn't want to risk the delivery being scheduled while I am out of town. So I'm a few weeks out from delivery still. Likely the third or fourth week of April.
It would be great to get some pointers on the mill from someone with more experience.
This weekend I'm doing a HUGE push to clear a bit more, remove some dangerous trees and get the roof trusses up on my pole barn that will house my mill. I also ordered two Logrite Cant Hooks (I went with the 60"). I figured best to have two on hand if I have a helper or if one ever is lost to the forest gnomes.
Two cant hooks is a good thing. I think the 60" is best all round length, but it's also nice to have a short one (like a Mill Special). A hookaroon is nice to have too - I'd even say it's a must-have.
Good luck with your preps. Sounds like you've got a lot to do before the mill gets there.
I had a guy call me yesterday to see if I wanted a large pine from up The Homestead. Forty inches dbh, 100 ft tall. Sounded like a white pine from his description. You may want to run over and grab that. :) Details to follow.
That sounds like a nice pine. White pine makes superior ship lap and v match.
Quote from: btulloh on April 04, 2019, 09:07:00 AM
Two cant hooks is a good thing. I think the 60" is best all round length, but it's also nice to have a short one (like a Mill Special). A hookaroon is nice to have too - I'd even say it's a must-have.
Good luck with your preps. Sounds like you've got a lot to do before the mill gets there.
I had a guy call me yesterday to see if I wanted a large pine from up The Homestead. Forty inches dbh, 100 ft tall. Sounded like a white pine from his description. You may want to run over and grab that. :) Details to follow.
Oh goodness, make my day and tell me that White Pine makes good lumber for my mill. My grandfather planted HUNDREDS of white pines across our property 30-40 years ago. I have whole stands. The *DanG things break and blow over all the time. I was paying hundreds to have them removed. In fact I'm clearing probably 10-12 trees to make way for my barn. These aren't huge, maybe in the 16-18" range (a few bigger). My plan was to save all the straight and crotch logs to practice with on the mill. I'll have a HUGE stack. I've also got a pile of maple and white oak logs, but my plan is to start with the pine and make all my mistakes on the first few dozen logs :)
I actually have a shorter cant hook, I think it's an antique with an old hardwood handle. Sure looks old. It works great though, although I've only used it for rolling firewood logs.
I've got the same problem. One of the reasons I bought a mill. They grow so fast in this climate that they are not very dense. The limbs get to be huge, and in border areas they get unbalanced. They break off at the ground, they uproot. We had a 15 acre pasture that got planted with them around 1965. The bugs got in them 15 years ago and they got clear cut and sold for pulp. There's still a hundred or so scattered around some other areas, and most are in the 18 to 25 inch range. On average, one a month will come down on its own.
I've used them to make shiplap paneling for a cabin, siding on my mill shed, ceiling boards on a porch - any number of things. WP actually makes good b&b siding for me where I've got wide eaves and they don't get the full brunt of the weather. I'll probably use some for posts in an outbuilding at some point. Just size them bigger to get the strength.
They'll be great for you to practice on and you'll be able to use the material for something. If I don't have a particular use in mind, I just saw them about 7/8 to use for siding. This also planes into 11/16 paneling if later I decide that's what I need. The WP planes pretty well, but it's best to use a byrd head rather than regular knives. Because of grain reversals and the knots, you can end up with a lot of fuzz and tear-out using regular knives.
For practice, the WP will give you a lot experience avoiding blade deflection when hitting knots. The knots aren't as hard as regular pine, but they're hard enough and there are plenty of 'em.
All those WP's of yours just became and asset instead of a liability.
Addition: WP may not be the best choice for battens because of the knots. You end up with weak spots in the batten. I usually make the battens from VA pine to go with the WP siding.
Your WP will make good shelving also. Better than the #2 Pine Shelving they sell at HD.
Following and waiting to hear a review, good or bad.
Quote from: willscot on April 14, 2019, 10:37:18 AM
Following and waiting to hear a review, good or bad.
Overall I'm very pleased with the HD-36. I've been running it for about a year now. I did have some issues with assembly that were due to some manufacturing issues with the side rails. Trevor at Norwood pretty quickly got me onto the solution and I was able to move past that. But it was a little bit frustrating. I believe that a solid bed design like those in the Woodmizer Mills are likely superior in the long run and certainly easier to work with. I did manage to slightly twist my deck with a very heavy log because I had one of my Jack feet sink in to some soft ground. Not entirely the mills fault that was partially a setup issue, so I have to own some of that. If you are thinking about getting this Mill I highly suggest the auto dogging system and the hydraulic toe rollers. I got vthe manual version that you just jack up by hand. But it is tremendously helpful at leveling out funky logs and if you are going to work by yourself the auto dogging system is absolutely essential if you are going to work with logs of any size.
My only other advice would be to think about the length of logs that you expect cut. Space your crossbunks accordingly during assembly. I have a hard time with 6ft logs because I have several feet of the long hanging off one of my crossbunks. Of course I could always disassemble partially and put them where I want them exactly but that's a bit of a pain in the ass. I'd make sure you can handle 6', 8' and 12' logs by having the distance between crossbunks be 5.5', 7.5' and 11.5'. If I were to assemble the mill again that's exactly what I would do. The instructions do not give you tips like that.
-Jeff