if i buy( Saw Mill ez board walk 40 is this the best mill at $8000 range?

[buildmyown]

about the ez board walk 40.  #1 how much does this weigh? #2 what if they close there doors one day, and you need parts can you find them else where?# 3 is the log turning add on work good,and can handle big heavy logs or do i need to find a after marker log turner ? # 4 can you find after market rail for longer logs? they want to much money for a 10 ft add on? i know thats alot of questions ,but if you know let me know plz:) : oh is it worth getting the 28 hp honda over the 24 hp?

[derhntr]

I am no help on this mill. I am sure folks will chime in soon. Never can have to much HP.

[buildmyown]

ya horse power! thx:)   8)

[paul case]

I started out with one.
1. I think it weighs less than 2000#. I hauled mine home on a 1 ton flatbed. I bet on their trailer it would pull easier than a boat,
2 I dont think they use any parts that couldnt be sourced from surplus center.com or a local auto parts or hardware store. They have a very simple and effective design.
3 I turned some 30''x 16' logs with it. IMO it is very good.
4I imagine you could get someone to build an track extension fairly reasonable. I built one for mine.
5 more hp is better. My ez model 40 only had a20 hp honda and it would cut fine. Something to remember is that when sawing for lumber or the best grade you spend just as much time making narrow cuts as you do making the wide cuts.

PC

[buildmyown]

just saw this on wood mizers sight i will link it for people:)

https://woodmizer.com/us/Resources/Wood-Mizer-Learning-Center/ArtMID/5164/ArticleID/134/how-to-choose-a-sawmill     you may need to copy and paste.this http?

[buildmyown]

i will list what im thinking to buy for everyone to see so far im thinking.
the mill ez board walk 40 $7350
honda engine upgrade 24 to 28 hp $250
trailer pkg,and log turner its a hand winch $ 600 total $8200 plus shipping:(

Standard Features...

    20 ft track made from 6" channel steel
    Leveling stands
    24HP Honda Electric start engine (28 hp upgrade available)
    19" diameter band wheels
    Heavy duty sealed bearings
    Cuts at an angle for easy operation
    4 quick-clamp dogs
    Blade lube system
    Cuts 40" dia by 16'6" long logs
    Spring assist lift on head
    One lever operates clutch, throttle, and blade lube
    Guard prevents blade from cutting into clamps
    Optional Wheels and axle easily removable for stationary use
    Track extensions available in 4', 6', 8' and 10' lengths.

i should add im looking for my own use ,and some part time milling for extra income not a full time thing.

[Kbeitz]

I would be wanting the 10' extension to go with...

[buildmyown]

 they want $800 for a 10 ft  thats way to much i will try to find someone that can prefab this!

[dgdrls]

Take at look at the LinnLumber sawmills or the Thomas built, they may be alternatives you like.

Members here have both,

D

[buildmyown]

ok i will thank you i think i looked at one of them.

[tmarch]

I have the model 40 and like it for what I do (cut for my own use).  As far as the parts, they are available in my location so no problem.  I thought about getting the extension, but you need some support equipment to handle the logs at the length it will cut without the extension and adding length will demand more or bigger support equipment, looking at my needs it didn't add up.  All in all any manual mill will require a lot of work and adding length will just make it more work.  So far I've been very satisfied with the mill.

[thecfarm]

I have a Thomas. Few things I like about it,just press the throttle and saw,I can move my bunks to cut a piece of stove wood. I have not leveled my mill for years. I think the board walk is a good mill too. Just too far for me to go look at it.  ;D

[TKehl]

Maybe a dumb question, but if a person gets the extension, does it include extra log dogs?

[buildmyown]

 its dam well should for $800 bucks?

[buildmyown]

to tmarch i was thinking of getting a bobcat to drag the logs from the woods,and lift the logs on the mill,and lumber,to pallets,and stack. with forks on the bobcat.

[Bruno of NH]

I would recommend some type of support equipment

[woodworker9]

to tmarch i was thinking of getting a bobcat to drag the logs from the woods,and lift the logs on the mill,and lumber,to pallets,and stack. with forks on the bobcat.

I know a lot of folks here don't like skidloaders, but I've been a daily operator for 26 years and counting, and I love the versatility of mine.  I can make that machine stand up on 2 wheels and dance.  I use mine with forks to move logs and slabs around, as well as loading big logs onto the mill, and it does a great job. 

I wouldn't hesitate to recommend a bobcat with forks, provided you size your skidloader purchase to handle the weight of the logs you plan on moving.  My New Holland is rated to "lift" 2500 lbs., but I have a weight kit on it, and it easily moves 3500 lb. machines with forks.  I think it would handle a 4000 lb. log without a problem, provided I don't try to lift it 10' in the air.  A foot off the ground is all I need.

[Kbeitz]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cnZkyGjXpoI

[paul case]

That guy would be toast at my place.

I worry about the motors running out of oil when tipped so extremely. He looks like some kinda wannabe compared to the black sheep.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cYh3ciokvV0

PC

[buildmyown]

yes sir woodworker9 i called about a new tractor that can lift 2500 lbs a new kubota they want almost $ 40,000 joke. thats about what i want to spend on my house build:)

[ladylake]

to tmarch i was thinking of getting a bobcat to drag the logs from the woods,and lift the logs on the mill,and lumber,to pallets,and stack. with forks on the bobcat.

I know a lot of folks here don't like skidloaders, but I've been a daily operator for 26 years and counting, and I love the versatility of mine.  I can make that machine stand up on 2 wheels and dance.  I use mine with forks to move logs and slabs around, as well as loading big logs onto the mill, and it does a great job. 

I wouldn't hesitate to recommend a bobcat with forks, provided you size your skidloader purchase to handle the weight of the logs you plan on moving.  My New Holland is rated to "lift" 2500 lbs., but I have a weight kit on it, and it easily moves 3500 lb. machines with forks.  I think it would handle a 4000 lb. log without a problem, provided I don't try to lift it 10' in the air.  A foot off the ground is all I need.

About the only downside to a skid loader is they tear up the log yard, no machine can get around better.  Steve

[woodworker9]

yes sir woodworker9 i called about a new tractor that can lift 2500 lbs a new kubota they want almost $ 40,000 thats about what i want to spend on my house build:)

Good gear is never cheap.  Used ones are far less.  Pretty good machines around here that aren't beat to crap or slapped out for around $10K.  You can do better, but you might end up with a mechanical nightmare.  I don't drink or smoke, so I save my money and spend it on quality tools, because I earn my living with them. 

If you're mechanically inclined, plenty of worn out machines waiting on a 2nd chance......

[Bruno of NH]

Mahindra makes a heavy duty tractor that has lots of lift with the loaders

[Hilltop366]

My brother has a old case skid steer, I find the biggest down side is you can't load or move something with a chain by yourself.

The only time it is safe or possible to get out of the skid steer is when the bucket is on the ground which makes it impossible to hook and unhook a chain.

I will add that generally a tractor will lift a lot more with the rear 3 point hitch than a front loader, or just having a set of forks on the rear of a 2 wd tractor will be a lot less costly.

[buildmyown]

a video to see:)
(Video removed by admin)

[buildmyown]

another video to see:)

https://youtu.be/ZnQLCju1SGY

[TKehl]

Just thinking out loud, but I think an old tractor, log arch, and either hydraulic arms on the mill or a bit of earthworks to use a natural slope with a log deck would overall be cheaper than a skid steer.  Can't say more versatile because they each have their pluses, but 3 point equipment is generally cheaper and more plentiful than skid steer attachments.

[buildmyown]

i dont know much about tractors,but if the right deal came along i may bite also they can tip over on you. a bob cat i can do my own dirt work and extra income also. with a bob cat you can make your saw mill stage maybe high ground on one side and low on the other so you could just roll the logs on the mill, take off the lumber on the other side. using forks with the logs the lumber,and pallets.

[plantman]

I was recently given some white oak. One of the logs was about 40" in diameter and 12' long. I calculated that it weighed about 7000 lbs. Point is that you're going to want to buy the biggest machine you can afford. I would love to own a wheel loader to handle big stuff. Another option would be to buy a decent size track excavator with a thumb on it. A excavator is a very versatile machine capable of doing a lot of things. I own small ones . The small excavator I own only weighs about 7000 lbs but enabled me to drag that 7000 lb log off my trailer.
As far as the mills go. I like the look of the EZ boardwalk but I'm thinking about buying a swingblade mill because it's much faster at cutting dimensional lumber.

[buildmyown]

i get what you thinking, but is there frame in the way of moving the timber in and out?

[plantman]

I would seriously consider this swingblade mill if I was mostly stationary. It's supposed to be portable but I think it might take about 1 hour to breakdown and loadup plus it's not lightweight.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Wzc6GxSWHA
Then you have the Turbosaw, the Peterson, and the Lucas. All are not cheap but they can saw a lot of dimensional lumber in a day, many times what a bandsaw can saw.
I recently came across this one too.
https://goodwoodmills.com.au/

i get what you thinking, but is there frame in the way of moving the timber in and out?

[Magicman]

many times what a bandsaw can saw.

That would be very debatable. 

[paul case]

I am pretty sure that each mill has its place to shine.

I was watching the video for d and L and I can see a place or 2 that a band mill could do better. Like cutting those ''house logs''. 3 passes would cut them out on a bandmill, but it took 2 passes per side on the swing blade. A band mill is limited by size  but  so are circle mills to an extent.

How much lumber a mill of any kind can cut depends greatly on the skill of the operator.

PC

[ladylake]

One of my first customers told me I cut about 3 times faster than a swing mill in small pine logs so who knows.  Steve

[plantman]

Seems to me that the drawback of the bandsaw is that it doesn't edge the wood and each time you attempt to flip the cut slab or cant on it's side to edge  you have to level it front to back. Plus the flipping takes time and separate hydraulic mechanism which adds cost and complexity. Not only that but I don't care what anyone says, a bandsaw will be more likely to create a wavy cut than a ridged circular blade. I don't own either. I'm just saying.

[paul case]

Buy you one. use it a while and you will wish you had the other too so life would be complete.  ;D :D : 8) 8) 8) 8) 8) 8) 8) 8) 8) 8) 8) ;D :D .

PC

[Magicman]

As has been mentioned, each of us are "experts" in our own back yards.  I have been sawing with my bandmill for 15 years and I don't produce "wavy" lumber.  ;)

I watched FF member Meadows Miller saw the 30" top end Red Oak log featured in this topic:  LINK
He was sawing with a Lucas sawmill and was getting one 1X6, etc. with each pass and had to change his sweaty shirt before finishing.  After canting, I would have been getting 3 with each pass. 

[paul case]

I reckon you would have been sitting and sawing too.

PC

[Magicman]

Yup, wearing out sawmill seats.

I don't care what anyone says, a bandsaw will be more likely to create a wavy cut than a ridged circular blade.

I would agree with that being a correct statement.  Poor sawmill alignment, inexperienced "sawyers", and dull or improper blades will produce wavy lumber.

[derhntr]

Heck just get one of each and you will have all the bases covered.  ;D

[plantman]

I see your point. The bandsaw works better than the Lucas because it is automated but at the cost of a lot more moving parts and complexity. I must admit to seeing numerous people on craigslist milling mountains of lumber with their Woodmizers. That probably wouldn't be happening if they were pushing and pulling a Lucas all day. Kind of reminds me of when I was a kid cutting lawns with a 21" Sensation lawnmower. We all graduated from those pretty quickly and now we're all happy fat and rich ! Ha ha ! 

As has been mentioned, each of us are "experts" in our own back yards.  I have been sawing with my bandmill for 15 years and I don't produce "wavy" lumber.  ;)

I watched FF member Meadows Miller saw the 30" top end Red Oak log featured in this topic:  LINK
He was sawing with a Lucas sawmill and was getting one 1X6, etc. with each pass and had to change his sweaty shirt before finishing.  After canting, I would have been getting 3 with each pass.

[MbfVA]

New at this, still.  I would like to put in my vote for manual to start with, whether swing or band, since my learning has been aided by the sound (even w ear protection) and feel of pushing the mill through the wood.  But once I learn what I'm doing, I can see where automation would be nice if I were trying to do a lot of sawing in a given day.  Especially with the near 100° days we've had around here recently.

I don't know of very many bandmills that will handle that 40 inch log referred to earlier, certainly not the typical wood-mizer (or any of them, according to stated specs) or the ez boardwalk referenced herein, though I believe there are bigger band mills out there with larger capacity throats.  My Peterson WPF can be moved to & assembled over up to a 5 ft log.  The 8 inch model (mine is 10 in) extends that capability to a 6 ft log, because of the smaller blade.  Peterson and Lucas, maybe others, will custom build an even larger mill.  I would be willing to bet that some of the smaller band mill makers, like the guy in New York, would probably build whatever you want if it was "engineering feasible", and you were willing to pay.

The thought of moving a 7000 lb log around gives me the willies, even if I could use my 33,000 lb Liebherr loader to do it (lifts 17k, my A300 Bobcat is only rated for 3k lift).  And that's assuming that the log deck on the bandmill could handle it.  Cutting it down to size with a portable swing blade mill where it sits sure sounds like a good way to go.

As has been said many times on this forum, it depends on what you're doing-- there are so many considerations to take into account.  My plans at this point are to get a band mill eventually, and I will be looking for a good used one as I was when I bought the Peterson.

[derhntr]

More than a few of us have sawed 40 inch diameter logs on our typical WM's  ;D

[MbfVA]

 Can you saw a 40 inch log without removing your blade guides ?  Just asking cause I want to know--wm is likely the band mill of choice when I can buy one to work with my swing blade.

[derhntr]

My Lt40 will raise blade to cut at 36 inches. Might not be ablr yo make a sq cant in 4 cuts but it is very doable. And you are correct about 24 inches being widest sq cant

[MbfVA]

24 inches is a big deal in my view since it takes in countertop width.  The Woodland mills model 130 is 1 inch short on that, for example.

I can slab that width, but otherwise 20 inches double cut is my swing blade mill's limit.

[plantman]

However, with a swingblade mill you can cut lumber off the top of a log and then flip the log and cut lumber off the opposite side leaving a wide slab up to 4' wide on the D&L and perhaps wider on the lucas.

[f350rd]

Welcome, I have the EZ 40. I have modified mine from the start. I added leveling jacks to the main deck and to extension, also added v rollers to ext to load on main deck for transport. I have some pics in profile. I use a New Holland skid steer with grapple to load logs. I have cut 36" t0 40" x 16 and 20 ft with no problems. I built my own chain style log turners and add carriage drive and lift using on board 12volt system to power everything.

[plantman]

That's a nice looking mill I see in your profile pics F350. I like those modifications. Do you get much waving when you're cutting wide logs ? What brand of blades do you use ? Do you think the EZ Boardwalk is a better mill than others ? Would you buy it again ?

[f350rd]

plantman, Welcome to the forum. I do not get any wave at all, if I do time to change blade. I use timber wolf blades 10 degree rake various offsets for different wood. I did a lot of research before making choice. For the money mill for mill yes it is better built, all heavy steel. Nothing to put together unless you order axle kit. Plus I also to in to consideration how easy it was going to be to modify. After all the mods I probably have around 14,000. that includes building 2 wireless remote operated chain log turners. I also built a resaw attachment similar to Woodmizer conveyor type, haven't got pictures of it yet been to busy. My daughter can run the mill and she is small 5'5" 110 lbs soaking wet. My son-in-law is going to by the EZ junior just to have one. he loves the mill even before all the bells and whisles

[f350rd]

Forgot to mention I sharpen and set my own blades. They seem to cut better after once used and then sharpened.

[plantman]

F350, so if you were sawing 3' oak logs how long could you cut before changing a blade ? Every hour ? Every day ?

[f350rd]

It depends if the wood is green or dried. Green I can cut 8 hrs if nothing is hit in wood. Dried change 3 - 4 hrs. I try to keep logs clean from dirt, this will kill a blade quicker than cutting dry wood or green. With new blades I run them for a couple hours then change them regardless of cut quality. new blades need to be broking in and stretched.

[plantman]

I've looked at a lot of mills and dollar for dollar the EZ Boardwalk looks great. The only thing is that I could typically get logs which are at least 3' or bigger and then I'd have to spend time cutting them down with a chainsaw with sounds like a pain in the "you know what" . Otherwise I could buy a Lucas mill but that cost $16k plus $1200 for the slabbing attachment, plus freight . That's a lot of beans if this turns out to be nothing more than a hobby.
Good thing about the swingblade mill is that it's a lot easier to sharpen and you're not moving and turning the log which would save considerable time. So even though it costs a lot, it probably would make more money in the long run.

[f350rd]

plantman, I just bought Granberg chainsaw mill 72" cut for big slabbing job on oak 48" - 50". With the right equipment and setup its not that bad mounting a winch for pulling chainsaw mill through log. usually big logs I get are slabbed for customer. My own is cut in dimensional wood and some slabs. I have one customer bring in 5 - 6 ' oak 8' long for all slabs but he said to hot to get it cut down. the swingers are great for dimensional lumber but sometimes I have to cut max width boards for custom jobs. I have one that has 25 to 30 inch flat sawn cuts 12 to 16 feet long

[plantman]

Just curious, who are the majority of your customers who want slab material ? I think the key to this as a business is to find a market for quantities of wood such as people building sheds or to use the wood for your own projects making items with high dollar value .

[paul case]

I think you are right.

I started off with a plan to build a house from the lumber I sawed from my own logs. In 2008 the economy did a nose dive and the logs I was selling went from $.60 bdft to $.18. I wouldnt sell them for that so I bought a mill and built a 2000 sqft house from them. I had a lot of people bringing me logs to saw for them along, and I enjoyed sawing so when I finished  the house I decided to try to find a way to sell my lumber for a profit. I made some ties and a lot of pallet deck boards that were 5/8x4x40''. Then I started getting some orders 3x4-10 from another small sawmill like mine that couldnt keep up with making enough lumber for pallet orders. The 3x4 are a finished size for a heavy shipping skid. They kept ordering more and more until I upgraded mills to and LT40hd and than another and now we have a 4yo mill and a older one.

I had to talk to a lot of people to get that put together but it sure has been a good way to go with my cants. I have a couple other different buyers of lumber now as well and still make lots of ties and cants.

PC