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Timber buddy mill.

Started by BargeMonkey, December 04, 2021, 06:39:21 PM

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mudfarmer

Let us know how the sawyer likes it. I am guessing the tailgunner won't  :D

Brad_S.

Awesome machine! I've been wondering about them since I first saw the name. The logo is a complete rip off of timber harvester; are they in any kind of connection between them and the old timber harvester company? I'm still a diehard timber harvester supporter even 15 years after they disappeared.
"Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans." J. Lennon

BargeMonkey

No relation. Amish built, the best of everyone's design. No def 😆. The mill we sold was the 2nd to last Timberharvester made ? when the guy dropped it off in 2001 ? This new mill will eat a Timberharvester or a Cooks alive, no comparison.

Walnut Beast

With it being stationary, heavy duty and big horsepower I'm surprised there are not more guys using them. It looked like the marketing is pretty Amish old school. And not being able to crank very many units out probably has a little to do with it. The new one I seen sell on proxi bid with setworks was really nice and incredible value.

moodnacreek

I see there is another small band made in N.Y. called Echo.

woodduckhunter

They are Amish, so there s not a lot out there about them.  Am strongly considering one after all the problems I'm having out of a brand new mill.  How is this mill and how are they holding up in general?

woodduckhunter

There are periodically some new ones that pop up in the auctions as well.  Mills appear to be very simple.

BargeMonkey

 All and all it is a good mill. The thing that was the selling point was how the wheels where supported, thru shaft and bearings either side. 120 hp, 2.5" bands, it will walk thru softwood. Mud saw is overkill, turner is very aggressive. 
 Your going to have minor issues, stuff not quite set right, more bugs than anything else. They require supplied air, and the mills aren't built with a fuel tank, you supply that. As far as build quality it's a nice machine. 

Southside

Franklin buncher and skidder
JD Processor
Woodmizer LT Super 70 and LT35 sawmill, KD250 kiln, BMS 250 sharpener and setter
Riehl Edger
Woodmaster 725 and 4000 planner and moulder
Enough cows to ensure there is no spare time.
White Oak Meadows

BargeMonkey

Debarker cylinder, throttle and a couple other things, I would have to be standing looking at it to tell you. 

customsawyer

Two LT70s, Nyle L200 kiln, 4 head Pinheiro planer, 30" double surface Cantek planer, Lucas dedicated slabber, Slabmizer, and enough rolling stock and chainsaws to keep it all running.
www.thecustomsawyer.com

nativewolf

That's a lot of HP but then the 125 HP unit is also running hydraulics, right?    I think a full industrial production Clearman is only 125HP (electric-so up that to get the diesel comp) but that's a full 6 " band.  

That's a neat option.   Seems you could do hurdle mill type production.  
Liking Walnut

woodduckhunter

What kind of production numbers have been had?  I know it varies, lets say 7x9 hwd ties in 12-15 inch logs? Thinking about going circular at this point though.

BargeMonkey

 Haven't run it enough to give an honest #.  Looking at a BIG edger, have to move some stuff around inside to actually be productive with it, 2x people hustling I bet you could saw 12-15kft a day easy. 

nativewolf

Quote from: BargeMonkey on June 14, 2023, 07:08:20 PM
Haven't run it enough to give an honest #.  Looking at a BIG edger, have to move some stuff around inside to actually be productive with it, 2x people hustling I bet you could saw 12-15kft a day easy.
You'd be right there with a couple of people on a hurdle mill and I guess much less cost.  Seems you picked a winner winner chicken dinner mill.
Liking Walnut

mudfarmer

It is real nice having air at the mill 👍😎 At the circle mill it had been setup by the original guy with a compressor on the Detroit and a couple decent shop size tanks, with drops plumbed all over. The "throttle" was actuated with ain air brake can, normal dash valve at the sawyer's station. 

At the end of the day you have high volume high pressure air to clean off the mill and live deck, by the edger, conveyors (long wand nozzles on drops++) and you have air available for cylinders, air tools etc

Glad to hear it is cranking along!  Maybe there is a guy with tt loads of low grade red oak that needs turned into fence boards?? Long shot I know  :)

woodduckhunter

Hi all, any new reports on these mills?  I thought I had all of the bugs worked out of my new mill, but it doesn't seem as if that is ever going to happen.  So, it has to go down the road before the 2000 hr warranty.  Currently at about 500 and need to make a decision with lead times, etc.  Have got it narrowed down to the timber buddy or meadows/hurdle.  But, if I can get the production numbers up there would rather run the band setup.  Thoughts?

BargeMonkey

 I can let you know in a few months, been so busy I don't think there's 300hrs on this one now. It puts wood out, not horrible on fuel, the 2.5" bands are nicer, overbuilt bearings. It's Amish made, your going to find some things that make you scratch your head a little. 

moodnacreek

Unless you have a vertical edger on the mill a big edger is the way to go. I passed on several combo edgers back in the 90's cheap and i kick myself these days for not buying one. Didn't have the experiance back then. To get by with my board edger I have a 4 speed trans in the feed drive and in first gear I can edge 3" locust and single cut 4". Putting stuff back on the carriage with the mill I have now is too much trouble. Get a big edger.

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