Norwood ML26 build

Riggs · December 27, 2011, 05:35:18 AM

A little while back I mentioned in another thread that I had purchased a new Norwood ML26. I wanted to start a thread with pictures (I hope) detailing the build.

I had my mill delivered to my work since a tractor and trailer would struggle to make it to my house. I then loaded it on my trailer and brought it home.

It was a little intimidating at first, but Norwood does a great job of labeling everything and laying it out for you. I highly reccomend reading the assembly instructions :P at least once before you start. Not something I am good at, I'd rather get started and try to figure it out as I go.
Due to the rainy forcast and my very limited number of days off, We (my Dad and I) decided we would assemble the mill in his shop on his trailer, then haul it to its final location. I may regret this decision later, but for now it made sense.

Once we got everything laid out it started coming together pretty quick...lots and lots of bolts, but again Norwood did a great job of laying things out where it was easy to read and understand. I would like to give a shout out to my Dad (who I am trying to convince to join the FF) he helped me all afternoon even though he was fighting a stomach virus. That's him you see in a couple of the pictures below.

I wish we had a little more room to lay things out, but I had to do with what I had. I apologize for the picture quality, I took them with my cell phone :-\

I will try to keep this updated as I go.

Magicman · December 27, 2011, 07:52:32 AM

Congratulations are in order for getting the Norwood and for making the assembly a Father/Son project. I'm also glad that you decided to document the assembly process. I have seen it described, but never actually watched the progress.

Riggs · December 27, 2011, 08:14:19 AM

Thanks Magicman, my Dad has recently retired, and is looking to stay busy. I'm happy to oblidge.

r.man · December 27, 2011, 08:17:42 AM

I second MMs enthusiasm for pictures. I am a very visual person and love to see what is being described. Having assembled many things on a once only basis I would add a recommendation that might only be helpful for someone like myself. I find I do a faster, better job if I read the assembly instructions at least twice with a gap between readings. Ideally the night before and the morning of assembly. Things seem familiar to me when I read them that second or third time and don't seem so baffling or daunting. Good luck with the assembly and keep the pictures coming. The quality was fine.

thecfarm · December 27, 2011, 08:48:05 AM

You know your mill inside and out when you are done. Looking forward to the end results like you and your dad are. My Dad never got to see my mill. He would of enjoyed it so much.

paul case · December 27, 2011, 09:02:04 AM

It looks like it is coming right together!
I bought a 42x60 all steel quonset building package once. It came all on 2 pallets. It also came with some 6800 bolts. That was a little intimidating too. We didn't use half of them. I guess they sent me enough bolts to put the metal ends together,but I didn't buy them.
You kinda need to do it just like the mouse eat the elephant, one bite at a time! PC

Macgyver · December 27, 2011, 02:07:47 PM

Great looking build. I bought the MX34 last year, and did just about the exact same thing, on a landscape trailer. I was hoping to be able to keep it set up and mill on the trailer, but the angle iron of the frame (on my trailer) wasn't rigid enough to stay square and level. Looks like yours is a little beefier. Norwood's a great company to work with, and they really do their best to keep you working. I've posed a few questions to them, and not one has gone unanswered for more than a few hours. Good luck, and have fun!

Tree Feller · December 27, 2011, 06:44:44 PM

This is gonna be interesting. Thanks for documenting the assembly process and keep the pics coming.

Riggs · December 28, 2011, 06:54:00 AM

Day 2

Before I start on day two, I want to clear up the deal about the trailer, we are only assembling it on the trailer in the building, so that we can stay out of the rain that always come with my days off work. When we complete the build, the plan is to unload it at it's final location, level it up, and then tighten it down. I haven't completely decided how we will unload it, but I'm sure we will come up with something.

The second day it started looking like a band mill. We installed the log stops onto the frame rails, and the log clamps.

Next came the sawhead assembly

Pretty soon, we could say it had a name,

The winch assemblies

At the end of the day, we had something I could hang my new hat on ;D

I have other images in my gallery, if you are interested. So far, we only have about 6-7 hours in it. Sadly, I have to go back to work today, the next work will be this weekend. Stay tuned.

Again, Norwood does an excellent job of laying this out so even people like me have no trouble, smiley_clapping and another shout out to my Dad for the help, and he joined the FF yesterday (pending approval)

Mike@Norwood · December 28, 2011, 10:51:12 AM

Good morning Riggs

Welcome to the Norwood family!!!

Nice pics, it looks like you have everything under full control. Hopefully we get to see a few pics of the sawmill in action.

If you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask. We're here to help.

You can reach us toll-free at 1-800-567-0404.

Have a great day!

Mike at Norwood

POSTON WIDEHEAD · December 28, 2011, 11:07:36 AM

Way to go RIGGS. Looks like your Dad will be coming out of retirement. Once you start sawing lumber, the fever spreads!

Congrats on your new mill!

mad murdock · December 28, 2011, 12:29:56 PM

Way to to riggs! Nice pics, And thanks for posting. Like Poston said about the fever, yer dad will not regret trading a stomach virus for an acute case of SIB!(sawdust in blood). I can't wait for the action shots!

Jeff · December 28, 2011, 12:47:46 PM

Assembly on the trailer bed looks to me like an excellent choice. I think I would have never thought of that, even though I have a trailer, and would have been bending over working right on the garage floor. I can feel the crook in my back just thinking about it. Working off the trailer height makes it look like great fun. I can imagine the excitement as it comes together

I've always thought that that (Tom would be proud, double word) assembly process of a new Norwood mill is an invaluable tool for the owner, knowing every nut and bolt.

Quoteand another shout out to my Dad for the help, and he joined the FF yesterday (pending approval)

He should have been approved right away, as long as he gave a topical reason for joining. People try to join all the time with a reason like "Information" or "To Learn" or things like that. That is the same stuff the spammers use, so to get approved, you need to prove to us you are here for a valid reason. If he didn't get approved or has trouble, let me know. We'll get him in.

submarinesailor · December 28, 2011, 12:52:12 PM

Riggs,

With that many nuts and bolts and if they are NOT locking nuts, I would be using a bunch of the middle grade Lock Tight. Was to be sure it doesn't come apart at the wrong time.

Bruce

Jeff · December 28, 2011, 12:54:21 PM

I looked back at the log, "Old man Riggs" was approved with a very good reason for joining.

Tree Feller · December 28, 2011, 06:14:36 PM

Outstanding build, Riggs. It's even exciting on this end to watch the mill come together. I also think it was a good choice to assemble the mill on the trailer. That's a lot more convenient than working off the floor.

Keep the info and pics coming.

kevinlt15 · December 28, 2011, 09:00:51 PM

THIS FORUM NEVER CEASES TO AMAZE ME 8) ;D Good luck with the assembly riggs

customsawyer · December 29, 2011, 04:11:59 AM

Great post and pics.

Riggs · December 29, 2011, 05:03:38 AM

Thanks for all of thr positive responses, submarinesailor they are indeed locking nuts so hopefully no issues.
Assembly on the trailerwas an iffy idea at first, but but I think it's going to work out just fine. I am enjoying the assembly way more than I thought I would, and am having "withdrawl" while back at my real job. Hopefully Saturday we will be able to get a good bit more done.
Thanks again,
Riggs

thecfarm · December 29, 2011, 08:41:05 AM

Must of been another thread I mentioned this. Start an album or a video. You will really enjoy it 20 years down the road.

cutterboy · December 29, 2011, 08:20:46 PM

Riggs, congratulations on your Norwood. This is fun watching the mill come together. I bought a Lumbermate 2000 ten years ago and have had very little trouble with it. (the bolts are still tight).

It's nice to see your dad working with you. I'm probably about your dad's age and you are about the age of my oldest son. Those rare ocasions we get to work together means a lot to me and I bet your father feels the same way working with you.

Posting pictures of your project is a great idea. Keep them coming. Ralph

Riggs · December 31, 2011, 07:08:07 AM

Day 3:
I got to start back a day earlier than I had expected. Day 3 saw things come together pretty well. We installed the coolant tank, control arm, the scale, the blade tensioner, the engine

and the backside of the blade guards. You can really start to tell what it is now. Again everything went off without a hitch with one minor exception. We had trouble with one bolt in the blade tensioner, and ended up having to manufacture a new bolt out of a threaded rod and a nut. I'd post a picture of that, but frankly my welding skills aren't all that good. ;D

Here you can see the control arm, the handle for the tensioner, and the coolant tank, all added on day 3

This is my 86 year old Grandpa, who along with my 3 year old daughter were the supervisors for the day

Must have been a supervisors meeting :D

This is where we stood at the end of the day, with the engine and blade guards on.

One side note about working on the trailer inside. When you get to the point that you are standing on the trailer to work...pull it out of the building, I adjusted that DanG garage door more times than I care to recall with the top of my DanG head. >:(

Hopefully we will have things ready to set up before I have to go back to my real job.

WDH · December 31, 2011, 07:21:50 AM

You are doing a fine job. You will always have the richness that comes with working with your loved ones.

Riggs · December 31, 2011, 07:26:35 AM

Thanks WDH, I will never forget this, that much is for sure.

Macgyver · December 31, 2011, 10:20:26 AM

Hey Riggs,
One thing I thought about when I saw your guards go on. If you have the chance, I recommend installing a thin protective layer on the inside of the guards. If you're like me, and learned a few lessons the hard way, the blade pops off, and cuts a ring in the plastic. If you have a sacrificial piece of luan, or MDF, or sheet metal inside its cheaper to hit that and replace it rather than the molded guards. Just make sure everything clears on the inside. Wish I had done this on mine. I was told they were made of plastic to cut down o noise, which makes a lot of sense. They look great too.