New member with sawmill question

[4speed]

Hello everyone.
I recently joined the forum and plan on buying a band saw mill next spring. I own a small business and would like to build my own post and beam home and maybe do some side work with the mill. All I know is I lay awake at night sawing lumber and building! I have looked at many mills and wonder if anyone has any experience with a Log Master mill. I would be purchasing their LM1 model. They are manufactured here in Nacogdoches and it would be within driving distance to go pick one up.
Thanks in advance for any advice!

[POSTON WIDEHEAD]

Welcome to the FORESTRY FORUM, 4-SPEED. If your loosing sleep because of the "no-mill" syndrome.....I went through the same thing.

Don't know about a LOG MASTER, but it'll make saw dust! And it appears that's what you're missing in your diet. :D

Good Luck.....you'll have a good time on the Forum!

[riverswamp sawyer]

Welcome to the Forum...... I dont know anything about logMaster mills but I DO know that when you get a sawmill and start sawing ya wont have any problem going to sleep at night!!

[Woodwalker]

I've got a Logmaster and will buy another should the need arise. The mills are built to last, off the shelf parts and good local people to do business with.
Welcome to the forum,
Wade

[Bill Gaiche]

Welcome 4speed. A sawmill will make you sleep good at night, bg

[ForestMan]

I looked at those online.  They are a bit more expensive than I paid for mine, but they also look very sturdy too.  Good luck finding a mill, and welcome to the forum.

[Magicman]

Welcome to the Forestry Forum 4speed.  Calling and making an appointment to spend a few hours at the factory might be time well spent.  They should also be willing to give you a list of Logmaster owners.  Again, Welcome.   

[WDH]

Tcsmpsi here on the Forum has one.  Maybe he will chime in, but I know that he has sawed a whack of lumber with it.

[Norm]

Yep Mr Top Cat has one and it looks like a nice stout mill. Good luck. 

[sgschwend]

I met a fella here on the forum who I believe has one.  He really liked it, I haven't talk to him in awhile.  I hope he will see your post and give you some pointers on making a purchase.    PM me if you don't hear from him.

Steve

[4speed]

Thanks for all the "Welcomes" and the info. I plan on visiting the manufacturing facility soon. After I purchase it, be prepared for a thousand questions and plenty of pictures!

[customsawyer]

Welcome to the forum. There is a search button at the top so you might be able to find answers to most of your questions.

[thecfarm]

4speed,welcome to the forum. Build a post and beam home will pay for that mill quick. What size motor did you decide on? Do you have trees on your land? If so how are you getting the logs out?

[4speed]

Sorry for the delay in answering. My second son was born on Wednesday and I haven't been close to a computer since.
I have trees on my property as well as my neighbor that wants some cleared. My parents also have land and have offered trees. The sawmill has an option for a 30 HP engine. I don't know if that would be overkill or worth the extra money as the price difference in the base model 13 horse and the 30 horse is $1,925.00. Probably not worth it, but I've always been one of those "better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it" type of people.

[Ianab]

Congrats on the new arrival, I know how much time they can take up  :D

You might base your engine choice on log size? If you are cutting smaller logs (under 18"?) then you may not get much improvement from the bigger engine.  If you were maxing out the mill with it's 30" cut, then more power would be a big advantage.

The 18hp would still gnaw it's way though a big log, but it would be a bit slower.

Depending on your budget you might be better spending the difference on log handling equipment like cant hooks and a logging arch. Being able to handle the logs easier may be a bigger improvement than just more engine power on a manual mill?

Ian

[Chuck White]

Welcome to the Forestry Forum.

Great place to learn stuff and help others too.

[T Welsh]

Welcome 4speed,start asking questions.I found this forum about 8+ years ago before I bought my mill and it was a Great help,I must have read every thread that had to deal with a Woodmizer,must have been a million :D pull up a seat and sit a spell! Tim

[LeeB]

Go for the bigger motor.

[Kansas]

I would suggest you look less at distance from where the mill is located to your house, and more to quality. Something that looks extremely stout doesn't mean it has the engineering behind it. It sounds like you are going after a smaller mill. There are a lot of quality, used very little, personal sawmills out there floating around. Also check the mills from Woodmizer to Baker to Cooks, start clicking on the banners at the left. Check the sawmill exchange, the for sale section here, and woodmizer's used section on their website. Also know what you are going to be cutting for size of logs. Then figure out what size of posts and beams you need. If you have big logs and not great big post and beams, a swingmill might be the way to go. Whatever direction you go, sounds like your getting ready for a grand adventure. Good luck!!

[tcsmpsi]

Hey, 4speed.  Congratulations!   ;D 

Yes sir, I have an LM1.  Danny is right.  I have cut a lot of lumber with it.  Norm is right, too.  Good and stout.   ;D

I was last up at LogMaster about 6 months ago.  There are a few differences in the newer ones that I wouldn't mind having.  Mine has a 13 HP Kohler, which I have had no trouble with.  I bought mine before they offered the trailer version. I had them build mine to suit my needs.  I have had no trouble with the mill, with exception of the tensioning bolt, which they supplied me with more than what was necessary to replace.    They used to use bushings in the carriage wheels, but went to bearings and I changed those out (with a set supplied by them). 
It is a good, simple machine.  I like it.  There are others which have some things I like and some, no so much.  I find it a good value for what it is.   Herman and Ed (father and son) are good folks.     It was a toss up between it and some of the sponsor's mills, but, in the end, I like being able to go to the source in a couple hours. 

You would be welcome to see my set up work, or they can be very helpful at the factory, too.



 

[4speed]

Thanks for the congrats and the invite, tcsmpsi. I will pm you one of these days and take you up on that offer.

[bandmiller2]

4 Speed,I can't remember hearing anyone complain they had too much horse power.Get hydraulics you won't regret it. Frank C.

[4speed]

Thanks for the advice, Frank. I have watched countless hours of sawmill dvd's and youtube video (my wife thinks I need therapy). I do believe that hydraulics are worth the extra expense. I'm all about working smarter.

[JD350Cmark]

I have watched countless hours of sawmill dvd's and youtube video (my wife thinks I need therapy)

I'd call those videos therapy.

[plowboyswr]

I'm in the same boat you're in! :D

[paul case]

Video therapy is ok but sawdust therapy is the cure!  PC

[Magicman]

But there is no cure for "Sawdust Therapy"   

[steamsawyer]

Video therapy is ok but sawdust therapy is the cure!  PC

At one time or another I suppose I have watched nearly every sawmill video on Youtube, especially the ones that have "steam" in the title... Most of them numerous times. : Since I haven't sawed anything since the first of the month I think I'll ride out to the mill and put some sawdust in my boots, then just walk around for a while... Maybe the rest of the day. 8)

Here's an idea, might bring a bag home....... In case of emergency ;D

Alan

[Magicman]

Just hang it from the ceiling so when you start climbing the walls, you can grab it and apply the antidote.

[mandolin]

I had the same problem for years. Dreaming of owning a mill of my own. But I couldn't afford one on a policemans salary. I retired from the department in 2008 and got my annuity money from the state. I immediately went and bought my Hud-son, mainly because of the price and the fact that there is a Hud-Son dealer about 35 miles away. But, Logmaster is a good mill. I've never run one but just from looking at them if seems be be a real solid mill. I don't think you would go wrong with one.

[Magicman]

there is a Hud-Son dealer about 35 miles away. 

You got my curiosity on that Roger.   ???

[bandmiller2]

Gets imbarassing you pull a handfull of change out of your pocket and its half sawdust you don't want to dump it on their floor so you put it back in your pocket. Frank C.

[Magicman]

That is why I always wear a welder's waist apron when sawing.  The "no sawdust in the pockets" keeps the wife happy also.   ;D

[steamsawyer]

I always use a leather weldor's apron too. It also keeps the pine sap from soaking through your clothes.

[tcsmpsi]

Thanks for the congrats and the invite, tcsmpsi. I will pm you one of these days and take you up on that offer.

I will likely start milling another couple stacks of logs after the first of the year (usually on Sundays)...depending on what other 'trials' develop.   :D