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General Forestry => Sawmills and Milling => Topic started by: KY colonel on February 18, 2017, 07:50:04 PM

Title: sawmill advice what is the best sawmill
Post by: KY colonel on February 18, 2017, 07:50:04 PM
What is the best sawmill that will do cross ties for the price? Or what do you need to look for in a mill for ties. Thanks
Title: Re: sawmill advice what is the best sawmill
Post by: WH_Conley on February 18, 2017, 07:55:16 PM
What kind of production are you wanting to run? That could dictate anything from a band mill to a Scragg. What support equipment will you have, how many people? At this point in time, who are you going to sell ties and side lumber to?

By the way, Welcome to the forum and what part of the state are you in?
Title: Re: sawmill advice what is the best sawmill
Post by: paul case on February 18, 2017, 08:11:51 PM
For me it is which ever one is running at the time.

PC
Title: Re: sawmill advice what is the best sawmill
Post by: WV Sawmiller on February 18, 2017, 09:53:13 PM
KY,

   BTW - is this going to be stationary or portable?

   Welcome to FF. I thought I read recently where some of the primary tie buyers were no longer buying. I suggest you be sure you have a good stable market before getting too deeply involved.
Title: Re: sawmill advice what is the best sawmill
Post by: dgdrls on February 18, 2017, 10:27:35 PM
Welcome KY Colonel.

To your question, IMHO a circle mill.

What's your thoughts or direction on sawing Ties?

Best
D
Title: Re: sawmill advice what is the best sawmill
Post by: LeeB on February 18, 2017, 10:55:25 PM
Dodge!!!  :D :D :D
Title: Re: sawmill advice what is the best sawmill
Post by: 4x4American on February 18, 2017, 11:01:20 PM
Hurdle
Title: Re: sawmill advice what is the best sawmill
Post by: woodweasel on February 19, 2017, 08:14:18 AM
 the one that is paid for ;D
Title: Re: sawmill advice what is the best sawmill
Post by: Dave Shepard on February 19, 2017, 10:29:47 AM
Quote from: LeeB on February 18, 2017, 10:55:25 PM
Dodge!!!  :D :D :D

:D
Title: Re: sawmill advice what is the best sawmill
Post by: Dave Shepard on February 19, 2017, 10:31:37 AM
Quote from: 4x4American on February 18, 2017, 11:01:20 PM
Hurdle

I've seen a few YouTubes of Hurdle mills making ties. You'd need a full time loader operator to keep the logs coming and taking ties away.
Title: Re: sawmill advice what is the best sawmill
Post by: Jeff on February 19, 2017, 10:51:40 AM
You might want to search the forum on the state of the tie market right now before investing in a mill for expressly that purpose;
Title: Re: sawmill advice what is the best sawmill
Post by: Ohio_Bill on February 19, 2017, 11:50:18 AM
Quote from: Jeff on February 19, 2017, 10:51:40 AM
You might want to search the forum on the state of the tie market right now before investing in a mill for expressly that purpose;

I was thinking the same thing .
Title: Re: sawmill advice what is the best sawmill
Post by: Bandmill Bandit on February 19, 2017, 12:07:12 PM
Quote from: Jeff on February 19, 2017, 10:51:40 AM
You might want to search the forum on the state of the tie market right now before investing in a mill for expressly that purpose;

IT is a very real possibility that wood ties will be a thing of the past in the very near future.

There is a company that is working with ALL the rail road companies and government researching a rubber composite tie that is proving to be extremely effective. There is currently about 3000 mile of them under test here in NA and about 10,000Km in Europe. They range in age from about 3 year old to about 8 years old.

So far the results are pretty incredible.

Government and rail Company approval for general use is expected in the spring likley May.
once approved the change out will ramp up as production allows to change out all wood ties with in 10 years.

When a rubber tie is worn to where it needs replacing, It goes back the the plant and is recycled in to a new tie.
Title: Re: sawmill advice what is the best sawmill
Post by: JB Griffin on February 19, 2017, 12:37:53 PM
Cleereman. But seriously I can't recommend buying a mill just for ties now.
Title: Re: sawmill advice what is the best sawmill
Post by: KY colonel on February 19, 2017, 03:32:49 PM
Good info guys . I would want one that could do ties but that I could use on our farm for other projects.
Title: Re: sawmill advice what is the best sawmill
Post by: ozarkgem on February 19, 2017, 06:30:45 PM
Quote from: JB Griffin on February 19, 2017, 12:37:53 PM
Cleereman. But seriously I can't recommend buying a mill just for ties now.
Times  two. I think all the tie mills on here have been cut back. Better do lots of looking around and talk to the tie buyers before jumping in too deep for that market.  JMO  Waiting a few months will not change anything and might save you a truck load of money. One for the farm is a different story.
Title: Re: sawmill advice what is the best sawmill
Post by: BigZ La on February 19, 2017, 08:11:16 PM
Quote from: Dave Shepard on February 19, 2017, 10:31:37 AM
Quote from: 4x4American on February 18, 2017, 11:01:20 PM
Hurdle

I've seen a few YouTubes of Hurdle mills making ties. You'd need a full time loader operator to keep the logs coming and taking ties away.

Had to look https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pBYPYUAOEkI (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pBYPYUAOEkI)
Title: Re: sawmill advice what is the best sawmill
Post by: 4x4American on February 19, 2017, 09:24:56 PM
With that sawyer, you would need prolly 3 tail men, a loader operator, and a full time guy banding packs of ties :D




And maybe a guy feed coffee and water to the sawyer lol
Title: Re: sawmill advice what is the best sawmill
Post by: East ky logging on February 20, 2017, 08:09:43 AM
The tie market is about gone here in east Kentucky I haven't sold any since last summer. As far as a mill I have a woodmizer lt 15 that I have sawed a lot of ties on and a lot of lumber. It's all manual but I about always have at least one person helping usually two and you can saw quite a bit in a days time.
Title: Re: sawmill advice what is the best sawmill
Post by: KY colonel on February 20, 2017, 08:58:59 AM
i see the woodmizer 15 is under 8k that would be great. i looked at norwood and a turner mill and they both was in that price range on simular mills. that sucks about ties but do you have a hard time getting rid of your lumber in east ky?
Title: Re: sawmill advice what is the best sawmill
Post by: East ky logging on February 20, 2017, 09:28:26 AM
It's mostly in spurts seems like but I just saw when someone wants something I don't keep much on hand because I could never have what they wanted. Logging is my main business but sawing usually keeps us busy when it's to wet to do that. I could probably advertise and pick up more work but I've got about all I can handle now.
Title: Re: sawmill advice what is the best sawmill
Post by: KY colonel on February 24, 2017, 01:09:51 PM
how would i find buyers in ky. also is there a market for the wood chips if you had a chipper?