How big a pad for mill.

ohiowoodchuck · April 07, 2021, 12:22:06 AM

Hey guys. I'm going to order a woodmizer lx25 next week. Since there behind 23 weeks, I figured this would give me time to get a pad poured. So I was going to order a track extension, so I can saw 16' lumber. How much longer then 16' should I pour. Also how wide should I go. I'd like to be able to walk along the mill on concrete instead of uneven ground.

petefrom bearswamp · April 07, 2021, 09:16:15 AM

The pad for my mill (now gone) is 12x26, modified alaskan slab, 6" 3500# mix with re rod around the edges and wire in the main slab.
Been there since 01 and still 100 percent intact.
IMO dont skimp on size or design.
My mill shelter is now my winter boat storage.

Woodpecker52 · April 07, 2021, 10:01:11 AM

Think about shed and lumber storage under roof and off the ground, then there is that dry kiln and saw sharpening shop and so on... etc.

ohiowoodchuck · April 07, 2021, 12:10:10 PM

Thanks for the info. I got a good sized pole barn to store in. I just don't want the mill inside.

mart · April 07, 2021, 12:44:59 PM

I poured a slab last fall for my LT15. Mine has a 24 foot bed. The pad is 16x36. I plan to build a shed around the mill this year. Here's a couple of pictures. If you're not building a shed then you could easily get by with less pad. After years of milling on whatever ground the mill was on, it's nice to be able to walk on a flat, solid surface. Makes sawdust clean up a lot easier as well.

Freshly poured and broom finished.

With the mill in place after three weeks of curing. Temps were getting low so I waited a bit before placing the mill.

slider · April 07, 2021, 03:04:53 PM

I started with a 10x22 pad on the side of my shelter just for the mill. After fighting wet uneven ground and water for years i pored the whole shelter 50x148 . Now i can stack lumber so much better and scoop sawdust much better. Clean up under the mill with a backpack blower is done in 10 minutes .

Ohioian · April 07, 2021, 03:43:55 PM

FYI ordered my lx25 the 1st week of September and was told mid December to early January, 7 weeks later received a call that the saw was ready to ship.
Set mine up on a 10' x 20' wooden platform and wish I would have gone 16' x 30'. Like a few have stated a little larger comes in handy

alan gage · April 07, 2021, 04:35:42 PM

If you're not pinching pennies I'd go big enough for a functional building. Someday you might decide you want to put a roof over the mill or someday you might move the mill (or sell the mill) which will leave you with an empty pad asking for a building to be erected on it.

Alan

firefighter ontheside · April 07, 2021, 04:52:45 PM

I have an LT15 with only 12' of track. I put up an 18x26 carport and have a 7x18 pad poured at one end. That gives me enough room for the mill and then about 3' of walking space on the operator side.