new to it all!

[willmyers0169]

i have recently ordered a Lt15 from woodmizer and it will be ready for picked 2-21-14. What i was wondering if you guys could help me with is i want to have everything i need when the mill gets here so i can go to work, the only thing i have so far is a chainsaw and skidsteer to move logs, what are the best cant hooks for my mill and anything else you guys can think of.. thanks in advance

oh yea great forum, have learned alot already!

[thecfarm]

willmyers0169,welcome to the forum.
.Cantdogs, or a peavey,Logrite is a sponsor on the left. There is a place that tells what a cant dog and peavey is on that site. made in the USA too. Blades for the mill. Will need a plastic wedge to put in the kerf of the log when a blade comes off. Can be brought at any chainsaw place. You will need chains or straps to pick logs up with. I would build a log deck a little bit higher to put 4-5-6 logs on to and then roll them on to the mill. Heavy equipment and sawmill don't mix.
What's the plan for the lumber? Will need stickers if going to stack lumber.
Give some thought on your waste,sawdust and slabs.

[willmyers0169]

thanks thecfarm, i live on a farm so chains and straps are everywhere, as of right now im mainly only cutting siding for a garage and some material for a pole barn. As for the scrap i guess it will make it into the burn pile.  The sawdust ? not sure yet, maybe compost pile.  Thinking about building a Kiln also.

[Mooseherder]

Congratulations Will and welcome to the Forestry Forum.

[justallan1]

Welcome to the Forestry Forum, Will.
As already said, I'd take a look at what blades you want for the species of logs you have, and have them with the mill for when you pick it up. Safety glasses or a face shield is a must, something everyone has, right up to the minute you want them. ;D
If WM has an online book on your mill, I'd read through it a couple, few times to be familiar with every aspect of it.
ASK QUESTIONS! Everyone here is more than willing to help.

Allan

[thecfarm]

Thinking of building a kiln? Go to the Drying and Processing Board,there are a bunch of threads there that will keep you busy.

[pineywoods]

Ahead of time, make provision for sharpening blades. They are going to dull faster than you think. WM resharp is a good option for starting out. You may want to sharpen your own or find someone local, but don't wait till all your blades are dull before thinking about it..

[Magicman]

what are the "best" cant hooks for my mill

Actually Logrite is the only cant hook.  http://www.logrite.com/  They are also a Forestry Forum sponsor.

I was a non-believer for many years because I just did not know.  I now regularly use 5 Logrite tools, the last of which is only a month old.   ;D

Welcome to the Forestry Forum.   

[dgdrls]

Welcome willmyers0169

LOGRITE Hands down!!


 

Congratulations on your new mill.
Lots to be excited about, but take your time
read the book on doing the alignment
and go through the steps.
You will learn the process and your mill will cut 100% right from the git-go!

Oh yeah  safety, safety safety!!

DGDrls

[lyle niemi]

welcome aboard!!

[stanwelch]

Welcome Will.  I'm quite sure you will like your LT15. It is a well built and fun saw to operate.
Second the Logrite peavy. Especially for the manual mill I recommend the 60". I also find a leaf blower real handy to clean up around the mill and clear sawdust from the lumber before sticking.

[Chuck White]

Welcome to the Forestry Forum, Will!

Recomend a Leaf Blower as recommended by Stan, and a chainsaw!

[Ocklawahaboy]

I'm not too familiar with your model, have an old LT40.  I keep a little tool bag with some essentials.
Shims for the heavy slabs
Hammer
Short piece of metal pipe for tightening blade
Chain saw tool
Carb cleaner
Common hand tools
Etc etc etc
I know you are thinking that you have all this around but it is nice to have a set for the mill.

[customsawyer]

Welcome to the forum. If you are going to do very many larger logs you might want to look at the 78" Mega hook by logrite.

[dboyt]

Safety glasses or a face shield is a must, something everyone has, right up to the minute you want them. ;D

Good call.  Add to that hearing protection for you and visitors/help, steel toe boots, and leather gloves. Your first logs will probably go for cants and stickers for drying lumber, so start out with low-grade logs.  Learn the sawmilling side of things first, then move on to the kiln.  There is quite a learning curve, but you'll get good advice here on the forum.  Oh yeh, you'll also need a digital camera so you can post photos!

Welcome to the forum.

[Bill Gaiche]

Welcome aboard. I agree on the camera. You have to take photos of all the things you buy, lumber sawn and projects you build. Always take the time to make things as easy for yourself as you can, because there is a lot of ways to get a bad back, pinched fingers, cuts and scrapes. But your going to enjoy yourself with the new mill. bg

[willmyers0169]

thanks everybody for the tips. very helpful. i think i will go with the 60" logrite to start with, hopefully it will be what i need.  thanks again for taking the time to help a newbie for much appreciated!!!

Will

[Red Clay Hound]

Welcome to the forum Will.  That's a good mill you have coming.  Enjoy! 8)

[YellowHammer]

Congratulations!  That's a workhorse mill you've got coming.  I had one and loved it.  You might go ahead and pick a spot to put it, if its not a trailer model, level up a pad for it to set on. 
Might get some nice logs rounded up so they are stacked and ready.  Then get a pen and just keep crossing the days off the calendar. 8)
YH

[willmyers0169]

thanks guys, yeah yellow hammer im counting down the days like a kid at christmas.  Question, do yall recommend setting the mill on say 6x6 posts or just flat on the ground with the little leveler feet that woodmizer provides. its not the trailer model (yet)  and ive got a nice flat spot picked out for it

[Bill Gaiche]

Set it on the 6x6's you mentioned. It will stay leveled better. The extra height  will help the back. bg

[WDH]

thanks everybody for the tips. very helpful. i think i will go with the 60" logrite to start with, hopefully it will be what i need.  thanks again for taking the time to help a newbie for much appreciated!!!

Will

You need two cant hooks.  The 60" and the 78" mega-hook.  You need the mega-hook because you will invariably put logs on the mill that are too big to turn with the 60" cant hook.  Don't ask me how I know this  .



 

You also need a good hatchet, wedges, and a bottle jack to level the big logs that you will invariably put on the mill.

My LT15 is permanently mounted on 6 x 6 beams with a log deck.



 

18" or knee high is a very nice working height. 

[willmyers0169]

awesome pictures WDH, how did you attach the mill to the 6x6's through the leveler holes?  do you know the dimension of  the LT15 (width) i would like to go ahead and have the 6x6's laid out when the mill gets here. Thanks

[WDH]

I screwed a 2x4 onto the 6x6's along the rail of the mill bed to keep it form sliding off when you turn the big logs that the 78" LogRite mega-hook will turn. 

Here is Forum member Raider Bill doing an action shot on the mill.  If you look carefully, you can see the 2x4 that prevents the mill from sliding off the 6x6's. 



 

The mill is just mounted onto the 6x6's.  I found the little screw leveler feet to be a pain.  When you turn a very big log, the mill can shift if it is just sitting on the little screw leveler feet.  This way, it will not move at all.  You can shim up the rails to get them dead level with all cross bunks exactly the same height.  Use a string to make sure everything is lined up perfectly. 

You are going to love this mill.

[POSTON WIDEHEAD]

those pics make me have nightmares.