The Forestry Forum

General Forestry => Sawmills and Milling => Topic started by: drgnrdr on February 27, 2014, 01:59:51 PM

Title: Need suggestions for milling room width
Post by: drgnrdr on February 27, 2014, 01:59:51 PM
I know, never big enough.  But what I am after is what would be a decent size clear span width-wise for just working the mill.  I have no edger or other equipment and no plans for them.  Just trying to figure out how much room I would need for offbearing, clean up, etc. without posts getting in the way.
Title: Re: Need suggestions for milling room width
Post by: shelbycharger400 on February 27, 2014, 03:10:24 PM
What are you planning to cut for length?  That makes the width part easy between posts.   Better have atleast 10 to 15 feet clear in front (side to load ) so you have room to load and stage logs
Title: Re: Need suggestions for milling room width
Post by: jmouton on February 27, 2014, 04:49:19 PM
               our mill shed is  14 x 30  , with room to drive through with the mill on both ends  and about  30 ft in front to load logs  and move around,   if i had to do it again , i would make it bigger  with more room all around ,  you never have enough room,,



                                                                                                                  jim
Title: Re: Need suggestions for milling room width
Post by: drgnrdr on February 27, 2014, 05:42:33 PM
Jim, yours sounds similar to what I was thinking, except maybe a little wider.  Mine will need to be drive through due to how it is situated and will need some earth moving first to level.  I would like to use my own lumber for this but at some point width wise will probably have to bite the bullet and buy trusses.
Title: Re: Need suggestions for milling room width
Post by: drgnrdr on February 27, 2014, 05:56:44 PM
Shelby, no extension for the mill so 21' would be the longest.  Don't really intend to cut as a business in the shed, would like to go mobile eventually and custom mill.  I need a place to protect the mill and cut for myself, probably 8 footers most of the time but who knows where this will lead.  New territory for me.
Title: Re: Need suggestions for milling room width
Post by: shelbycharger400 on February 27, 2014, 06:04:31 PM
temp shelter...aka blue tarp.
Title: Re: Need suggestions for milling room width
Post by: drgnrdr on February 27, 2014, 06:10:16 PM
Tarping now with a heavier duty silver one.  Winter wind has just about seen to it after a couple months.
Title: Re: Need suggestions for milling room width
Post by: James MacDonald on February 27, 2014, 07:13:16 PM
I am in the planning process also. Looking at an initial structure 10x30, covered with 6 posts, 3 each end on 10 foot centers, with a slab.  Eventually will be 30x90.  My idea is to set the posts and pour a slab 20x30, half to be open air. The extra slab will give me lumber staging area, plus a place to build trusses on the flat, for the final structure.  I found a great source for planning all of this I would like to share. I can not do a link, yet but I urge you to google Mid West Plan Service.  They have lots of pole barn agricultural plans for free, as well as a good truss design booklet. For 14 dollars I got their designs for glued trusses, publication MWPS-9 that is excellent. Using it you can pick and choose the free span and spacing you like, as well as roof pitch, snow load, and lumber grade. In the back of the book are work sheets for your choice and you can develop your lumber size and length list.  This will be my cutting list, as well as my log purchase list for my 2 year, pay as I go project.
I am like jmouton, I want to be able to drive in and out with my equipment and mobile mill.  Very exciting summer in both our plans!
Jim Mac
Title: Re: Need suggestions for milling room width
Post by: 5quarter on February 27, 2014, 11:57:09 PM
Welcome James and thanks for the resource.  :)
Title: Re: Need suggestions for milling room width
Post by: drgnrdr on February 28, 2014, 05:48:34 AM
Thanks James, I will look at that.  I was looking at a similar site by LSU at lsuagcenter.com/en/our_offices/departments/Biological_Ag_Engineering/Features/Extension/Building_Plans/barn.  They also have free barn and truss plans.
I am also looking at a product called perma column that would allow me to use my own untreated posts, I see some big name pole building companies are using a similar product but I am not sure if they are strong enough for an open sided building.  More research required.
Title: Re: Need suggestions for milling room width
Post by: petefrom bearswamp on February 28, 2014, 06:13:03 AM
Mine is 12x26 4 post with trusses with a 6' overhang on one end and could be wider.
I serves the purpose however.
It is drive thru and has a modified Alaskan slab floor 6" and 12"deep x 18"wide   for the perimeter footings. 4 runs of 1/2" re rod in the perimeter and mesh in the floor. 4000 pound mix.
Been there since 2002 and hasn't moved so far, but this winter may make a difference.
Title: Re: Need suggestions for milling room width
Post by: James MacDonald on February 28, 2014, 07:39:55 PM
Dragon Dr. I will look at your resource as I can never get enough knowledge. That is why I spend so much winter time reading FF. We are blessed to have such a communication resource for others like us!  I think the perma columns are an expense beyond necessary. I do like to hit concrete with my tractor than the metal skin of my barns..... But I am getting utility poles that have been pulled and milling them for my uprights.  Have been advised to do plenty of detecting for metals but can get a 18 foot pole for less than the cost of your base.  Set 'em deep, with bagged concrete, hit them rarely and they will out last this old man.
Pete from Bearswamp, I spent 12 of the best years of my life living in Danby NY above Ithaca. I remember tough winters but you built a hell of a slab. Way beyond what I have planned in MD. I am sure it will survive the winter.  I have a TK mill that I want to keep the mobile feature so will have the 30 section for log loading, one end wall to south covered to protect the operator, Me.  I would love to have a 6 foot overhang and want to know how you did it. Please send pictures.
Jimmy Mac
Title: Re: Need suggestions for milling room width
Post by: bandmiller2 on March 01, 2014, 07:31:14 AM
This would apply to folks with limited space like stuffing a mill in an old chicken house. Build a railroad, a car with "V" wheels riding on angle iron same hight as your mill bunks. Load a log outside roll it and load it, then stack the slabs and boards back on the car to roll out. Everything enters and leaves through the ends. Frank C.
Title: Re: Need suggestions for milling room width
Post by: drgnrdr on March 01, 2014, 07:06:20 PM
That is a good idea, Frank.  I had considered that if I left enough room on the loader side, I could pull the occasional longer log through with the tractor and not have to make the loader door opening quite so wide, solve some span issues.