Finally pulled the trigger

[jimdad07]

After about six years of running an Alaskan saw mill with a Dolmar 9010 I finally ordered a band mill today.  I ordered a Hudson HFE 30 with 28' of track and the extra 15 blades to go with it.  I'm gearing up for a barn build and I'll have way too much cutting to do for my chainsaw rig.  Hopefully I'll be picking it up next Friday, I'm about 2 hours north of them.  Taking a long weekend next week to enjoy the new mill.

[rooster 58]

  Awesome! Nothing like getting  a new big boy toy

[thecfarm]

rooster should of posted long in there somewheres. 28 feet!!!! 

[jimdad07]

rooster should of posted long in there somewheres. 28 feet!!!!  8)

I have a load of 20' pine logs coming for my TF barn build.  Pushing the Alaskan down a 20' log to cut my beams would be like pushing a car uphill with a rope.

[jimdad07]

8) Awesome! Nothing like getting  a new big boy toy 8)

But how do I convince my wife that it's "always been in our yard"?

[sandsawmill14]

thats easy but you may not have time. just put all your stuff in the yard sorta where you want the mill . wait till she has complained for a couple of months then when you finally give in to clean up you just move everything but the mill. she will be so happy you moved almost all your junk she wont even notice
my wife's grandfather did this with a new truck several years ago and it was 2 months before his wife caught up with him

[jimdad07]

thats easy but you may not have time. just put all your stuff in the yard sorta where you want the mill . wait till she has complained for a couple of months then when you finally give in to clean up you just move everything but the mill. she will be so happy you moved almost all your junk she wont even notice ;D :D :D :D
my wife's grandfather did this with a new truck several years ago and it was 2 months before his wife caught up with him :D :D :D

Very brave man.  I bribe my wife with direct deposit every payday.  She bribes me with silence and peace.

[4x4American]

thats easy but you may not have time. just put all your stuff in the yard sorta where you want the mill . wait till she has complained for a couple of months then when you finally give in to clean up you just move everything but the mill. she will be so happy you moved almost all your junk she wont even notice
my wife's grandfather did this with a new truck several years ago and it was 2 months before his wife caught up with him

     I think there's a name for that- southern ingenuity!   

[Sixacresand]

Way to go,  jimdad07.  I know you will enjoy it and do some pretty work with it.

[Magicman]

Congrats.  Please share your experience which will help others.   

[sandhills]

Awesome! Nothing like getting  a new big boy toy

But how do I convince my wife that it's "always been in our yard"?

I'd hire member Raider Bill, I've heard he's good at painting things camouflage  .  Congrats on the new mill!

[jimdad07]

Thanks guys, the next week is going to take forever.

[Tom L]

Awesome! Nothing like getting  a new big boy toy

But how do I convince my wife that it's "always been in our yard"?

I'd hire member Raider Bill, I've heard he's good at painting things camouflage  .  Congrats on the new mill!

congrats on the new mill,

have jeff send a letter to your wife, congratulating you for the free sawmill you won in some competition.
you could leave it where ever you want then

[Delawhere Jack]

Congrats on the new mill. When you start running a band mill, you'll wonder why you didn't make the switch sooner.

Have you made any plans for all the time you're going to save? 

[21incher]

Congrats on the new mill. I love my little HFE-21. You could spend the week preparing a good flat base to put the mill on.

[jimdad07]

Congrats on the new mill. When you start running a band mill, you'll wonder why you didn't make the switch sooner.

Have you made any plans for all the time you're going to save?  ;)

That time will be spent begging for adult favors from my wife for the rest of my life....it will be worth it....

I've tried and made about every configuration of chainsaw mill you can think of.  Some worked well, some didn't.  In the end it's still a chainsaw.  I finally have a project that justifies the mill.  Going to be busy on that one.

[Nomad]

Congrats on the new mill. When you start running a band mill, you'll wonder why you didn't make the switch sooner.

Have you made any plans for all the time you're going to save? 

[Nomad]

Congrats on the new mill. When you start running a band mill, you'll wonder why you didn't make the switch sooner.

Have you made any plans for all the time you're going to save? 

     More importantly, have you told the Better Half about all the things you can make for her with your newfound hobby?

[coalsmok]

Just let her see some of the things that have been made by the members here in the wood working section.  Then you will be busy for life with all the projects. I'm very careful now about letting mine see anything on there. Also kinda have to rush her through craft shows now. I'm already on the hook for a back deck, some more trivets, picture frames, trim for the house ............. You get the picture I'm sure.

[OffGrid973]

Congrats on the sawmill, you will love it.  I did chainsaw for a while then switched to WM LT10, life changing.  Took me two years to build my barn and putting the rolling door on two months ago was the best feeling ever.  Make sure you have the right ability to move logs around, without a front loader I rely on a winch positioned in the middle of my track to roll big ones

Post some pics when it gets setup or during...level strong ground is key.