assembling my new sawmill

maple flats · 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 · 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 · August 26, 2021, 09:08:51 PM

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

maple flats · August 27, 2021, 10:55:25 AM

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

maple flats · 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.

TimW · 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 · 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 · 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 · 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 · 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 · 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 · 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 · 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 · 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 · 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 · 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 · 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 · 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 · 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 · 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 · 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 · 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 · 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.

maple flats · October 26, 2021, 09:45:52 AM

Yesterday I finally got the bolts re-torqued to spec, when the sky opened up. Today according to the forecast we will get 2-4" of rain, thus I won't go work on the mill. The next time I do get down there I'll check the tracking at blade tension, adjust as necessary and then do my first sawing. I have an oak slab that needs to be flattened, after getting it planed (after 6-7 years air drying, under a heavy weight) it still cupped. The slab is 9/4 x 20" live edge and I glued a 6" piece off another slab to end up with about 25" final. I of course had to saw off the live edge on 1 side to square it up before gluing the extra on.
Anyways, I will flatten it, both sides on the sawmill, then sand it smooth, epoxy it and mount it on a 53 gal oak barrel for a display table for selling my syrup. It's now 44" long, I may even cut it a little shorter for stability.
Once this is all finished, I'll finish the final items on the trailer to make the sawmill portable. I still need to add the tongue and the lights.
After that I have some logs waiting to be sawed and I'll also drop a few 18"-28" hemlocks to saw for building a saw shed. Let the fun begin, soon I hope.

maple flats · October 28, 2021, 01:13:43 PM

I got down for a while this morning and I adjusted the saw head level. I now have it set parallel with the bunks. Then I started adjusting the tracking but ran out of time. I have a Dr's appointment this afternoon. I hope to get time to finish the tracking adjustment tomorrow, then level the slab I mentioned recently.
I keep working on it in tiny baby steps for sure. hopefully when I have the mill ready to cut, I can get more done.