New to me mill

crash · December 26, 2013, 10:27:59 PM

Howdy all. I'm a logger by trade, just bought a large circular mill, always wanted one. The mill has a big old Cummins, hydraulic log turner, 3 knees, and 4 extra blades. I plan to move it home this spring over layoff. Can a person make any money with these things? (dont need to get rich) I have the book Circular sawmills and their efficient operation, is there another good source for knowledge? I'm mechanicly inclined and a good fabricator. I'm looking forward to assembling and operating this thing but it would be nice to be able to make a little extra money to keep the "war department" happy. All thoughts/advice are aprieciated. Thanks in advance.

Magicman · December 26, 2013, 10:35:42 PM

I am of no help with your questions but Welcome to the Forestry Forum.

justallan1 · December 26, 2013, 10:41:57 PM

Welcome to the forum, Crash.
Sorry,I can't help much either.

Allan

Chuck White · December 26, 2013, 10:47:44 PM

Welcome to the Forestry Forum, Crash!

Brian_Rhoad · December 26, 2013, 10:48:01 PM

Free PDF download: Small Sawmill Operators Manual

http://naldc.nal.usda.gov/download/CAT87208435/PDF

Possum Creek · December 26, 2013, 11:05:29 PM

Sell the big money logs and saw the cheap logs, that way you have enough money to keep sawing. :D Joking aside, Crash you could see where your best profit is easy enough. Good luck PC

beenthere · December 26, 2013, 11:11:07 PM

QuoteI have the book Circular sawmills and their efficient operation

That is about the best there is for info in a nutshell. There are other sources, and one of those is surely this Forestry Forum. There are several experts here with a lot of circular sawmill experience, starting right at the top with the Boss... Jeff.

For others who may read this, here is a ling to the book referred to

Circular sawmills and their efficient operation
http://www.fpl.fs.fed.us/documnts/misc/circsaw.pdf

arnold113 · December 26, 2013, 11:30:27 PM

Welcome to the forum, Crash.

hunz · December 26, 2013, 11:47:36 PM

Welcome to the forum!

lyle niemi · December 27, 2013, 01:34:33 AM

Welcome to FF, I'm looking forward to seeing some pics, I also have a circle mill being powerd with a big ol cummins.

mad murdock · December 27, 2013, 02:35:10 AM

Welcome to the forestry forum. I don't have a lot of circle saw experience, but the name of the game is efficiency. A circle mill can process a lot of wood compared to a band mill, thoughtfull setup of the mill operation keeping material flow in mind is very important, and can make the difference between making some money or just making sawdust and wood chips, IMO. Knowing how to set up your logdeck, and probably just as or more important, the waste flow in chips and slabs, not to mention an edger, will all greatly increase workflow and efficiency. Trying to be efficient with a circle mill and no edger is really like trying to walk with a bum leg. Just can't git er done" the same. My suggestion would be to visit a few circle mills in your region, talk to the owners and see if they will take you up on some "free" help on the green chain for a day or two at each one. That will give you an opportunity to see how they do it, and what works and what doesn't, and will go a long way in helping you plan your mill setup, before you get the cart ahead of the horse with setting up your mill. Good luck, and I can't wait to see some pics of your new (to you) mill!

beenthere · December 27, 2013, 02:54:48 AM

My experience would lead me to believe a circle mill with no edger is slightly better than a bandmill with no edger. But granted, with an edger is much better.

Fairly easy (simple) for the circle mill off-bearer to collect a stack of 8-10 un-edged boards, then stack them on the carriage wide ones first, and build a stack aligning the outside edge. Then make one pass by the head saw. Return and re-stack with the other edge lined up in the stack. One more pass by the head saw and all the boards are edged.

Less time than stacking vertically for a band mill edging as I see it. ;)

But the circle mill is harder to operate alone, being without the off-bearer.

SawyerBrown · December 27, 2013, 06:47:14 AM

Welcome to the Forestry Forum, crash. No help either but is there a story behind your handle?

bandmiller2 · December 27, 2013, 07:21:09 AM

Welcome Crash,its easy to augment your income with a mill its tough to earn all your beans with one.Do your homework and set it up right with a good roof over it stockpile some logs so when you can't log you can mill.It helps to find a nitch,but the word will get around and you will find your spending more time in the mill and less in the woods.I run my circular mill alone but then again I'am retired and just a puttermiller.If you will be cutting alone you can make up all sorts of rube Goldberg conveyers and kickers to make it a little more efficient.Keep us posted. Frank C.

thecfarm · December 27, 2013, 11:40:24 AM

crash,welcome to the forum

crash · December 27, 2013, 09:40:04 PM

Thanks for the welcome, and the replies. Will post pics when I go back in a couple months to figure out how to disassemble and haul this monster home, kinda wish I would have payed more attention when I was there but at the time I didnt figure on owning that beautiful piece of equipment. There was an edger near it but sadly the scrap man found it along with the sawdust conveyor.
SawyerBrown there are many stories, but they can be summed up by saying that many of my "adventures" as a younger man (at 31 Im still a young fellow) ended with a "crash"
My intent is to mill for fun and pay my costs while doing so, I guess the better question I should have asked is what is the approx cost of ownership of an older circle mill? fuel is an obvious big one, I dont normally jump into something blind like this. The only other small mill in my area that I know of is a fellow with a bandmill.

SawyerBrown · December 27, 2013, 11:03:17 PM

Quote from: crash on December 27, 2013, 09:40:04 PM
SawyerBrown there are many stories, but they can be summed up by saying that many of my "adventures" as a younger man (at 31 Im still a young fellow) ended with a "crash"

:D
Well, I don't claim to know the fine points about logging, but I guess "crash" is a good thing if its a tree falling. Unless it lands on your truck... I will tell you that "crash" in sawing is usually not a positive event ;D. Anyway, good to have you with us!

slider · December 28, 2013, 07:54:39 AM

crash check out members Lyle nemie and spd748 great builds on both these guys.

crash · December 29, 2013, 05:00:38 PM

Quote from: slider on December 28, 2013, 07:54:39 AM
crash check out members Lyle nemie and spd748 great builds on both these guys.

Boy howdy yea they are! Thanks again everyone.

lyle niemi · December 29, 2013, 06:04:20 PM

Quote from: crash on December 29, 2013, 05:00:38 PM
Quote from: slider on December 28, 2013, 07:54:39 AM
crash check out members Lyle nemie and spd748 great builds on both these guys.
Boy howdy yea they are! Thanks again everyone.

I have alot of trial and error Crash, iffin you have any question at all dont be skeered to ask. If I was to set up another mill it wouldnt take me near as long as this one did, I dang near had a few brain meltdowns..lol

ddcuning · December 30, 2013, 08:54:16 AM

Welcome Crash. I have a Frick 00 circular mill powered by an older Cummins HRF-6. Good to have you on the FF and look forward to pictures.

Dave C

crash · January 05, 2014, 03:44:46 PM

Well fellers and felleret's, I went to the mill the other day to make an offer on some support equipment, and figure out some logistics... Took some pic's, also rescued an edger from the scrap man (thought he had already gotten it). The motor is a NHB cummins can anyone tell me what the rest of it is? I'm getting pretty dang excited, can't wait to make some noise and saw dust
https://forestryforum.com/board/Smileys/default/cool.gif

crash · January 05, 2014, 03:46:30 PM

Well shoot. Apparently I'm not smart enough to get pictures to go from the computer to FF...?

lyle niemi · January 05, 2014, 04:02:12 PM

Quote from: crash on January 05, 2014, 03:46:30 PM
Well shoot. Apparently I'm not smart enough to get pictures to go from the computer to FF...?

took me a while to figure it out also

beenthere · January 05, 2014, 04:31:34 PM

Follow the primer in "Behind the Forum" (first thread) and it is not hard. Just get your own gallery set up in your profile, .. let us know at what point it fails for you.

And always use the "Preview" button before the "Post" button to see if you have what you want. Or use the "Modify" button to correct and edit your post.

We'll help you over the hump.