Author Topic: assembling my new sawmill (Read 4056 times)

maple flats · « **on:** August 01, 2021, 03:45:41 PM »

I received my Woodland Mills HM130MAX on 7/30/21, I bought it with their trailer. While I opened and unpacked the crate the trailer was in and sorted the parts, into my shop I will not start assembling it for a few days. I have another project to do first. Hopefully late this week I can begin assembly, trailer, then the mill. Pictures will come.
I'll need to assemble it outdoors, since I don't have enough room inside to do it. Once it's all set to saw, one project will be to saw lumber to build a shop addition, 32' long x 14 or 16 wide. The width will depend on room, I'm adding it to a shop with a hip roof and I want to follow the slope of the top portion on the hip, following that angle I haven't checked to see how high the low end would be at the 14 or 16' width, if it's not too low, I'll go 16'.

Daburner87 · « **Reply #1 on:** August 01, 2021, 08:29:57 PM »

It's been a fun process, got mine yesterday. Too much drinking last night slowed me down today though. You'll need a hand with the saw head for sure. I'm pretty strong, but I wish I had a helper for the heavier bits. I'm worn out.

melezefarmer · « **Reply #2 on:** August 02, 2021, 07:30:26 AM »

oops - wrong thread.

maple flats · « **Reply #3 on:** August 04, 2021, 07:59:07 PM »

So far I've only opened the trailer box (and the band blade sharpener because it got wet, all looked OK) and sorted the pieces to see if there was any damage. Today, among other things I was teaching my 12 yr old grandson to run the excavator. I recently converted a mechanical thumb to hydraulic. I saw that I need a tougher pin on the thumb, the 1" std. pin has a big curve. I'll shop for a tougher hardened pin, or I'll weld a steel bushing on either side to beef up the attachment point. I wondered if that would be tough enough.
My grandson did well, he just took his time. There are lots of controls to learn which does what.
Here is a picture of the excavator, taken before I added a thumb:

That little mini, about 8000# lifts about 2500# but you need to have the blade down and have the load out front in order to lift that much. I don't know how much it can lift out the side, but certainly not that much very far from the machine.
Maybe tomorrow we can move more logs , by the weekend I'd like to start assembling. my plan is to put up a 10x20 canopy tent over it, for shade and shed any light rain. If it rains hard, we'll wait for a better day.
When we get started with assembly I'll get some pictures.

maple flats · « **Reply #4 on:** August 11, 2021, 02:05:16 PM »

New plan for the thumb. I now have a 1" pin going thru an end on the hydraulic cylinder that is 1" hole and 2.25" long. My issue (yes, I should have been smarter) is that I used a stack of washers to center it in the 5" space. I bent the 1" pin big time.
My new plan, I have a piece of 1.375 thick alloy steel that is 5" long x almost 4" wide. I'll cut it to make 2 pcs about 2.5" x 4", mill a 1" hole in them, then weld them in to make the space the correct width, then put a new 1" pin thru it. That should correct that end. Then for the other end of the cylinder I have some 1/2" steel plate, I'll make 2 for filling the space at the other end of the cylinder, that pin has not yet bent. Then I may need to adjust the relief valve. The cylinder is rated for 3000 psi, I already pushed the O ring out on the cylinder, must be my old excavator is more than 3000 psi. If I need to back it off too much, I'll buy a cylinder rated for 5000 psi, otherwise I'd lose too much lift capacity and digging capability when I dig with it.
We grow too soon old and too late smart!

maple flats · « **Reply #5 on:** August 15, 2021, 09:05:55 AM »

I finally think I'll get started assembling my trailer, then the mill, this week or next. I'm thinking it may be a good time to design in a method to lift one end of the log to center the pith when needed. For those who have hydraulic lift for that, which end is the lift at on your mill? I'm thinking I want it at the tail end, thinking I will want the big end facing the operator, does that sound like the best plan?
My thoughts are to use an electric actuator to do the lifting, 12v. I'd design it with mechanical advantage.
My main question is what would be the best way to support the weight when lifting, the mill will be mounted on a trailer, should I add a cross brace on the trailer even before the mill goes on. My mill will be able to saw 30" logs and possibly at times I've been known to stretch things (I may on rare occasion trim a slightly larger log to make it work) but my longest log will be just under 17'. Suggestions please.
I have an actuator (12V) rated to push 1300+ LBS straight line, I think I'll design it with a max 3 or 4" lift, thus I'd get at least 2.5 x that less friction loss. max extension is 10"
Dave

Chuck White · « **Reply #6 on:** August 15, 2021, 08:55:42 PM »

Most of the hydraulic mills, and several of the manual mills have a toeboard on each end of the deck.

The hydraulic toeboards operate right from the hydraulic control panel, while the manual ones operate by hand, with a crank!

Bindian · « **Reply #7 on:** August 16, 2021, 03:16:01 AM »

Yep, my Woodmizer LHDT have two toeboards. Awesome you get to teach your Grandson.
hugs, Brandi

Gere Flewelling · « **Reply #8 on:** August 16, 2021, 04:56:18 PM »

My mill is not hydraulic. I ordered it with a single toe board hydraulic jack controlled lift on the forward side as it is recommended by the manufacturer to always saw from the small end. I soon learned that it is near impossible to control where the small end of each log is when you have a pile of logs. Most people don't seem to grasp the concept when stacking logs for you to cut. I added a second toe board that works exactly like the original. The problem is that I put it down near the 15-16' crossmember thinking that would be best. I didn't take into account that there are lots of 8'-12' logs that need to be sawn and there is no toe board under the small end if the log gets put on backwards. I end up using a hydraulic jack on a block of 8"x8" setting on the ground under the mill right behind the axle. Had I mounted the second jack type toe board just behind the axle it would work for the 8,10,12, and 16' logs just as well. Someday I will cut off the second one I built and re-install it where it will work best. I find that it doesn't really matter to me which way the log is positioned on the mill I just adapt to the taper.

maple flats · « **Reply #9 on:** August 17, 2021, 05:26:21 PM »

Wow, I hadn't thought of 2, I may get another electric actuator and put one at maybe 2-3 ft, and one at maybe 9 foot (or 8' in from my first stop). If I sometime decide I'll need a third one at about 14', I'll get another. By then I should know how to build them.
Luckily, my brother likes making things and he has a small machine shop fairly well equipped. His equipment is all 75+ yrs old, but it all works well. He bought the old equipment realizing it was far superior to what he could justify buying new. His 2 main machines are a 48" long 12" chucked lathe and a huge Bridgeport milling machine that weighs about 5000#. It's 3 ph, but he uses a converter. Besides those, he's an excellent welder, stick, wire, and all of the specialty types, I forget what they are called.
In his little shop he used to adapt ss screw augers for some equipment for Scott Paper, changing the center attachment on the auger, a procedure his SIL developed to make installing and swapping them much faster as one wore out. It seemed, other machine shops didn't want to convert them, but my brother made good money doing it.
I do also have the option to lift it using a sling strap and my excavator, or the excavator and thumb.

Daburner87 · « **Reply #10 on:** August 17, 2021, 05:55:19 PM »

I've seen quite a few people using a modified scissor jack and using handheld impact guns to lift logs opposed to manually cranking. Works great from what I've seen. Plan to add two to my mill when I get around to it.

maple flats · « **Reply #11 on:** August 17, 2021, 08:05:22 PM »

Thanks for the idea, I'll use the actuator I have but may consider scissor jack for 1 or 2 more. I certainly have enough impact drivers and batteries to handle it.

WV Sawmiller · « **Reply #12 on:** August 17, 2021, 09:25:32 PM »

I don't think I had seen the firm suggestion to saw from the little end. Oh, I have seen where some individuals preferred it to avoid compression wood in the butt end but the trade off is sawing from the big end, especially when it approaches the maximum diameter of your mill, ensures once you start, if you get past the start you will make it to the other end. I don't know how many times I/most of us have sawed nearly to the end then find the log was too wide to fit between the blade guides and you have to back out, which is not generally much fun.

I am pretty sure most of us saw whichever end lands on the mill first.

Magicman · « **Reply #13 on:** August 17, 2021, 09:34:27 PM »

Yes I saw logs as they land on the sawmill bed, but I absolutely prefer to enter logs from the top end rather than the butt end.

The only exception are 8' logs because the toe board is forward of that bed rail.

trimguy · « **Reply #14 on:** August 17, 2021, 09:53:32 PM »

Why do you prefer to saw from the small end ?

KenMac · « **Reply #15 on:** August 19, 2021, 06:18:48 PM »

Quote from: trimguy on August 17, 2021, 09:53:32 PM

Why do you prefer to saw from the small end ?

I find sawing from the small end is more efficient for me due to less walking to measure pith height and also because it's easier to plan cuts since you know the log gets larger as you advance into it. Hope that makes sense and doesn't confuse you.

WV Sawmiller · « **Reply #16 on:** August 19, 2021, 06:47:57 PM »

The top end also tends to be less dense and easier to cut especially compared to the butt log which may have significant compression wood on some logs/species.

trimguy · « **Reply #17 on:** August 19, 2021, 08:21:59 PM »

Thank you.

maple flats · « **Reply #18 on:** August 21, 2021, 01:32:07 PM »

getting far too much rain. I did get a 10x20 canopy put up to assemble under, but it was raining hard as we finished. Maybe in 2 days we can actually begin trailer assembly.

GAB · « **Reply #19 on:** August 21, 2021, 05:43:02 PM »

I prefer top down as the roller used to center the pith is easier to see when it is up.
Twice today I raised the far roller when trying to split the difference.
Ah-Yup you guessed it. I forgot to lower it both times.
Someday I may get to see the door those wedges are intended for.
GAB

Daburner87 · « **Reply #20 on:** August 21, 2021, 10:04:19 PM »

Well I can say mine is just about done. Hurricane Henri kicked me into gear. It's coming basically right on top of me and I finished the crane I built to lift the saw head, and lowered it onto the trailer today. Originally expected the mill to arrive in October so I'm way ahead of myself, exhausted but I'm happy. I was able to put her in my oversized carport and she is completely covered and dry. I don't see the storm creating too many problems, in fact I see some good potential to get some free logs out of it.

maple flats · « **Reply #21 on:** August 25, 2021, 01:23:56 PM »

I finally got started assembling my sawmill/trailer, as usual I forgot to take some pictures. I'll get to put in about an hour or 2 again tomorrow. Hopefully I remember to get some pictures to post.
So far I only got 1 section of track on each side and 2 sections of trailer side rail (frame) along with 1 bunk. Tomorrow I hope to get 2 more sections of track on each side and 1 or 2 more bunks. Before I do that I'll need to get it set level front to back and side to side.

maple flats · « **Reply #22 on:** August 25, 2021, 05:41:44 PM »

New plan, I now see that Woodland mills offers a toe board accessory. It rides in a track that goes between the track horizontal members and is just a scissor jack. I'll be ordering one tomorrow. It can easily be moved from one end to the other or wherever needed. It can be run using an included handle or by using a 1/4" cordless impact driver to turn a bolt head. I have 4 such drivers and a whole pile of batteries, that will be my preferred method.
I'll save the actuator for some other project, rather than taking the time to design, build and attach it. (which may have turned out to be 2 or 3 times.)

ljohnsaw · « **Reply #23 on:** August 26, 2021, 12:15:35 AM »

My original toe board lift:

But, I replaced it with a 4T hydraulic bottle jack. Sometimes even that has trouble with some of the bigger logs!

kelLOGg · « **Reply #24 on:** August 26, 2021, 06:58:12 AM »

I welded bottle jack platforms about 12 ft apart between the rails of my mill for log levelling. I have a 3rd moveable 2 x 6 platform for short logs. I have to make sure it is in place before loading the log.

maple flats · « **Reply #25 on:** August 26, 2021, 08:50:59 AM »

That certainly looks rugged. The Woodland mills accessory looks like it can be placed after loading the log as long as there is a few inches of log hanging over the bunk an at least 4" before the next bunk. It's far more compact.
I just placed my order, in the meantime, if I need to shim one end I'll lift it using my excavator.

maple flats · « **Reply #26 on:** August 26, 2021, 06:55:29 PM »

We got a little more done today before the heat and humidity sent me home. So far we (my 12 yr old grandson Logan and I) have gotten the track assembled, 4 sections out of 6 and bolted the trailer frame sections (4 so far) out of 6 long and 4 short sections total.

I see I need to rotate the pic, now to figure out how to do it.
This shows the last part we got done today. I hope to add 2 more tracks tomorrow, but I'll be alone, my grandson is going to the state fair tomorrow and the parts are heavy for me to handle unless I can figure out an assist.

As you can see, I rotated the picture, thanks for the help.

beenthere · « **Reply #27 on:** August 26, 2021, 09:08:51 PM »

Rotate your pic in your gallery. There is an edit function there.

maple flats · « **Reply #28 on:** August 27, 2021, 10:55:25 AM »

I did rotate it in my gallery, now it's correct.

maple flats · « **Reply #29 on:** August 27, 2021, 11:02:25 AM »

While I had planned to work on the sawmill assembly today, the weather changed my plans. This morning it is 100% humidity so I cancelled those plans. 80 degrees and 100% humidity isn't worth it. This afternoon the humidity will fall below 100% by a little, but only because the temperature will climb faster than the dew point.
Did I ever mention I like fall, winter and spring better than summer? This is why. In the winter I can dress to keep warm, in the summer only an AC will help.

Bindian · « **Reply #30 on:** August 27, 2021, 02:34:05 PM »

Quote from: maple flats on August 27, 2021, 10:55:25 AM

I did rotate it in my gallery, but how do I fix it in the post?

I would add the rotated photo, then delete the laying on it's side photo.
hugs, Brandi

maple flats · « **Reply #31 on:** August 30, 2021, 11:36:27 AM »

Thanks Bindian, that is how I fixed it. Now I need to load some more pics into my gallery.
I got a little farther, but only a little. I now have all track sections attached, but only one cross bunk.
I had to do a chore in the blueberries, prepping to plant just 1/4 acre more in a different variety. Rototilled 2x using the 5' tiller, but only about 3" deep so far. Then I added 400# of granular sulfur. It rained shortly after which will help get it down into the soil. In a few days I'll till it in deeper, about 5" is good, then by spring the PH will be right down to the root zone to plant the 250 new bushes we ordered.
Next, back to assembling the sawmill. Cooler, less humid air will heat in by Wednesday. I hope it stays long term.

maple flats · « **Reply #32 on:** September 02, 2021, 08:38:31 PM »

I did get a little more done assembling the sawmill, but only a little. The temperatures finally fell to where I could pack more syrup into retail containers. While my main thrust was to do the syrup, while it heated, 10 minutes here, 5 minutes there I added the front and back cross bunks, and I set 4 jacks at the corners as instructed in the assembly manual. I'll be back doing more syrup for at least 2 more days, maybe 3. Tomorrow I'll likely finish packing amber syrup, then on to packing 2 barrels worth of dark syrup (60 gal), I'm essentially out of dark ready to sell, both at my only local retail outlet and for online orders.
After that I can wait a few days and among other things calling me I'll get some time assembling the sawmill/trailer, then I'll need to bottle more bourbon barrel aged syrup.
I did take pictures but when I was getting ready to upload them, I decided they didn't really show much of what I had done. I'll get more when I get back to assembling the sawmill, likely next week. I think I'm close enough that it will start going much faster when I resume.
Even though I've had the sawmill for 5 weeks as of tomorrow, I likely have only gotten maybe 6 hrs total into the assembly I think 3-4 more should finish it, both trailer and sawmill. Of the roughly 6 hrs in, I had my 12 yr old grandson for 2 of those, the rest I was solo. My grandson will be with me tomorrow, but most of the time will be working on maple syrup, packing, attaching labels, grade labels and pricing, then hauling it either home, to my retail outlet or into my coolers in the sugarhouse. All backup stock is kept refrigerated, at about 35F in one cooler, and at 20-22F in the other.

maple flats · « **Reply #33 on:** September 07, 2021, 07:48:16 PM »

1 or 2 more days, then I think I'll be back to working on my sawmill (again). I had cooler weather so I packed a bunch of syrup from barrels into jugs. The temperature were manageable when I had a 16" fan aimed at my work station at the bottler. I still have 7 more gallons to pack, after I take a bunch of syrup to my only local retail outlet tomorrow (they were very low in stock). Restocking will take 1.5-2 hrs, then I'll pack the remainder, after which I can get back to the sawmill. I've had it since 7/30, still not done. In that time I only have 7-8 hrs actually into it.
Pictures to come.

VB-Milling · « **Reply #34 on:** September 08, 2021, 07:23:13 PM »

Quote from: maple flats on September 07, 2021, 07:48:16 PM

1 or 2 more days, then I think I'll be back to working on my sawmill (again). I had cooler weather so I packed a bunch of syrup from barrels into jugs. The temperature were manageable when I had a 16" fan aimed at my work station at the bottler. I still have 7 more gallons to pack, after I take a bunch of syrup to my only local retail outlet tomorrow (they were very low in stock). Restocking will take 1.5-2 hrs, then I'll pack the remainder, after which I can get back to the sawmill. I've had it since 7/30, still not done. In that time I only have 7-8 hrs actually into it.
Pictures to come.

Hoping you can get back to it as time allows. Following along....

maple flats · « **Reply #35 on:** September 09, 2021, 05:37:14 PM »

I was going to get my 12 yr old grandson to help work on assembly in 2 days, but that has changed. The county where we are is a fairly low density county (population) but the covid numbers look bad. We went from 16 to 35 to 116 to over 200 new cases in 4 days. With my grandson attending in person classes in school (he is fully vaccinated) I still won't chance it. My wife had breast cancer 14 yrs ago and ever since her white cell count has been scraping the bottom. I can't chance bring anything home to her.
For that reason, I'll work on it solo.
I still have 7-7.5 gal of Dark maple syrup in my bottler. Today I stocked my rack and made a list of what I still need. Tomorrow I'll go to the sugarhouse, get the counts there then decide what sizes to pack that syrup in. Then on Saturday I'll work on the sawmill, solo. I do enjoy working with my grandson and he likes to work with grandpa, but we need to protect grandma.

maple flats · « **Reply #36 on:** September 12, 2021, 04:02:26 PM »

I only got about 1 hr in yesterday, spent most of that time swatting mosquitoes. With the rain we've had far too often every mosquito hatched and is hungry this year. I don't ever recall them this bad in the daytime. I had on 2 different mosquito repellents but they seemed to attract mosquitoes. I also set up a fan aimed at me, which helped, but every time I moved I had to move the fan.
When I got home yesterday I ordered a pedestal fan that has 2 speeds, one rated to move 8,000CFM and one at 9,000CFM. That should blow the buggers away. I had planned before that to get a fan to blow the sawdust away from me while operating the mill, now I'll have it sooner rather than later.

Old Greenhorn · « **Reply #37 on:** September 12, 2021, 05:57:27 PM »

I am usually not bothered too much by mosquitoes, but my wife is a magnet for any bug within 1,00 yards. She is always with the spray stuff, bug repellant, or whatever and I shy away form it as not worth it. But the other day I had to harvest mushroom logs on short notice and was in a poor location and the mosquitoes were eating me alive to the point I could not concentrate on were the saw tip was. One one of my runs up to drop logs I mentioned it to here and she gave me a can of 'Yard Guard' and said here, try this. "yes dear" I said and put the can in the mule with no intent of actually using the stuff, it can never work on hoards like that I thought. (but after 44 years of marriage I have learned to play along without complaint, it's easier that way for us both.) But I got back down there and they were driving me nuts, so just for the heck of it I grabbed the can and sprayed the area around where I was working. Holy cow! It didn't clear them out, but it discouraged 80% or more and it was actually quite workable. This weekend I am splitting and stacking firewood and its the same situation and I found the yard guard makes a huge difference but wears off after about 4 hours.
So, Just a thought. I really should get my fogger working again, that did winders, but you have to apply it in the wee hours when there is zero air movement. That would keep them down for a couple of weeks. Uses an chemical made of chrysanthemum seed oil. Supposedly 'organic'. Anyway, just thought I would throw that out there. We are all going crazy with these buggers after all the July rains.

maple flats · « **Reply #38 on:** September 13, 2021, 09:06:05 AM »

I put 2 cans of Cutter's brand of "yard guard" in my truck yesterday. I've never used it in the past, but I will today to try it out.

maple flats · « **Reply #39 on:** September 25, 2021, 03:56:37 PM »

Slow going, but I finally got all of the log bunks on the sawmill, next will come 4 jacks, then raise the mill, remove the steel shipping crate and then add 2 more jacks. I think I can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel, I just hope it's not an oncoming train

maple flats · « **Reply #40 on:** September 28, 2021, 05:29:51 PM »

Today I pulled the steel shipping crate out from under the trailer frame, added the 5th and 6th jacks, then I added some of the cross braces that attach low on the 45 degree angle on the frame siderails. I still have 2 more regular ones and 2 or 3 specialized ones, then I'll add the axles and wheels. Getting closer, but the next 2 days I'll be doing more syrup. The sawmill will have to wait. After the next barrel (bourbon aged maple syrup) is all bottled I can return to working on the sawmill.
The temperature has moved into the comfortable range which helps quite a bit.

maple flats · « **Reply #41 on:** September 29, 2021, 08:52:29 PM »

Today I worked on syrup, all I got done on the sawmill is add the 4 carriage stops I had missed in an earlier step. I'll likely be 2 more days bottling, labeling, pricing and repacking into cases on all of the back up stock. Then I'll add a portion of the stock to my store inventory, including the new size I've added. After that I'll be back to working on the sawmill assembly. If all goes well I think I'll finish and be ready to saw some lumber sometime next week.
While I've had the mill for 2 months now, in reality I've only put in about 10 hrs into assembling it, on day 1 only I had the help of my 12 yr old grandson for about 1.5 hrs. After that his football practice as school started went to every day right after school, until 5:00, then he had supper and homework to do.

VB-Milling · « **Reply #42 on:** September 30, 2021, 07:51:13 AM »

Quote from: maple flats on September 29, 2021, 08:52:29 PM

Today I worked on syrup, all I got done on the sawmill is add the 4 carriage stops I had missed in an earlier step. I'll likely be 2 more days bottling, labeling, pricing and repacking into cases on all of the back up stock. Then I'll add a portion of the stock to my store inventory, including the new size I've added. After that I'll be back to working on the sawmill assembly. If all goes well I think I'll finish and be ready to saw some lumber sometime next week.
While I've had the mill for 2 months now, in reality I've only put in about 10 hrs into assembling it, on day 1 only I had the help of my 12 yr old grandson for about 1.5 hrs. After that his football practice as school started went to every day right after school, until 5:00, then he had supper and homework to do.

Tough to find the time. Hope you have a chance to get it assembled next week.
Looks like they resent the email about the update to the blade tensioning and tracking procedure yesterday. Make sure you follow that process when the time comes.

maple flats · « **Reply #43 on:** October 03, 2021, 05:06:45 PM »

That toe board accessory I ordered on Aug 24, arrived 9/30/21`, less than 5 weeks, not bad. When I ordered it said shipping by Nov 30, thus it arrived 2 mos early.
I see it rides on the track,on each side, but it sets on the bottom, flat, not up on top of the track. It is portable, so I can place it on either end as necessary, thus I don't need 2. It has a hand crank and also can be driven using an impact driver cordless tool. It just happens I own 5 of them, and one is rated DeWalt's highest torque of any brand of cordless 1/4" impact drivers, it should do well. I also have a DeWalt cordless 1/2" impact driver if needed, or I have a pneumatic 1/2" impact and most of the time my sawmill will be within air hose reach of my shop.
I ran into a health issue on 10/1, woke up with diverticulitis, still on antibiotics but it feels normal now. I'll be back to working on packing the rest of my bourbon barrel aged syrup in the next 2 days, then back to assembling the Woodlander HM130MAX again.

maple flats · « **Reply #44 on:** October 08, 2021, 08:42:48 AM »

I sort of finished the base, I am calling it the base because I got in a hurry to do one project. I assembled the trailer to the point that the trailer frame and the tracks, the log bunks and the trailer frame braces are complete, but I didn't yet add the axles, tires and other finishing touches to the trailer. Then yesterday I started assembling the mill head. At this point my plan is to finish the mill head carriage, stand it upright and lift it onto the track tomorrow if all goes well today. Then I'll set an oak slab I've been needing to resaw to remove a curve it took on while drying, then finish the project I'm doing with that, and after that is finished I'll go back and add the rest of the trailer build to make it portable. I'll get some pictures today.

maple flats · « **Reply #45 on:** October 08, 2021, 12:35:12 PM »

I got my sawhead stood up and the rear posts are attached to the base carriage, after lunch I'll attach the top of the frame that connects all 4 posts at the top.
I did take a couple of pictures and however far I get today I'll take another picture or 2 and upload them to my gallery so I can post them. I'm hoping to be ready to set the sawhead on the tracks tomorrow and to be ready to saw this week on the slab I need to flatten. After that I'll just lock the sawhead down and go back to finishing the trailer assembly. Lots of little stuff for that and until that is finished I can't put any logs on the mill. But, the light at the end of the tunnel is getting brighter and I don't hear a train coming.
Once this is ready to saw, I've got some Hemlocks to fell. I won't need all of them yet, but I counted about 25 at 20"+ DBH in my woods. The first of them will be made into a pavilion type roof for me to keep the sawmill under, and to saw under too. After that it's a toss up, I plan to build a small sawshop adjacent to the pavilion roof just to keep my sawmill tools, my planer and sawmill accessories. I slso plan to add an addition to my 14x28 shop, it will be 16x32' and be attached to the side of the existing shop. I'm trying to decide how to do that. My 14x28 shop is a shed with a wooden floor, thus it likely moves with the frost, the addition I'm planning to make it a pole barn. I'm not sure how the handle the movement between the 2. Any Ideas?
I also plan to build another storage shed to house my ATV and some other equipment. That will replace a 10x10 tent shed that collapsed under the snow load last winter, after doing ok for about 10 years.

maple flats · « **Reply #46 on:** October 11, 2021, 08:15:54 PM »

Today I got the sawmill head stood up on the tracks. I still need to adjust the frame and then torque the bolts. I also still have several smaller things to do, maybe I can finish those tomorrow. If I do, I'll take the slab down the next day and flatten the surfaces, top and bottom. Once done, I'll final shape it. I did one corner to decide how I wanted it to look, 3 more to do. I'm likely going to route the top outer edge in a slight rounded shape. If that goes well I'll take the slab back home to sand it smooth and then epoxy it.
I did get 2 pictures today, I'll upload them tomorrow and post them.
Once the slab project is done, I'll finish the sawmill/and trailer, then I'll saw some lumber, finally. It will be nice to be making lumber again. I think it's been 4 years since I used my Peterson, then i sold it last May. Now I have lots of projects planned. First a 16x32 addition on my shop, and followed by 2 smaller storage buildings, one by the normal resting spot for the sawmill, the other to replace a collapsed tent shed.

maple flats · « **Reply #47 on:** October 15, 2021, 10:21:23 AM »

I now have the saw head on the track/trailer, oil in it and gas, battery hooked up too, still doing little things. Today I added the second of 3 log clamps, working under my tarped pavilion, (it's raining). My plans were to add the third log clamp, re-torque the frame bolts and fire it up, BUT, the mosquitoes drove me out. I do have a 30" pedestal fan but no way to get it under the pavilion roof. That makes to too hard for mosquitoes to fly. When I build my sawmill wooden pavilion it will be set up for the fan. My 15+ acres are about 20% wet land, with all of the rain 2021 has brought us, those pests are the worst ever. I guess , being at the head waters of that water flow makes it so I at least don't ever flood. The mosquito problem will end with the first hard frost.

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Author Topic: assembling my new sawmill (Read 4056 times)

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