I am new to the milling business,My wife and I are planning to build a log cabin and we are going to mill our own lumber. We are currently looking at a burg mill that is on sale 36" throat with 13 hp honda. If anyone out there has a mill like this how well does it cut,are they reliable, are parts available, how is the company support. are they a reputable com? If there is anyone out there that owns one I sure would like to hear from you. This mill is on sale until the end of the month so I have to decide pretty quick. Thanks
Welcome to the Forestry Forum schlep.
I couldn't recall ever hearing of them, so I searched the forum and found there is some mention, and one member that mentioned said he liked his. Use the search function and search burg sawmill and you can see the few mentions of the mill. There ain't much.
I have the 42" Burg. I got it second hand with a few modifications. My saw had the raise and lowering of the head changed so it now climes a chain like the WM . It is a hand crank but goes threw a gear box with a fare reduction so there is no need for any lock. I t also has a small electric motor driving it only 5 hp. I will be going with a larger motor soon. As for how it cuts, I have not had any problems. The 30' of track is set on 8" I-beam and that is set on pears with 4X10 going across from side to side. So fare we are good and level. The saw has cut some nice lumber and it has not had any trouble. I have not called them yet so I cant comment .
Woodbe
Schlep and Woodbe welcome to Forestry Forum, this is a great place to learn about ALL sawmill stuff.
I googled Burg and found their website. Looks like a Bill Rake style mill with linn lumber mills persuasion. First I ever heard of them. It looks comparable to a Woodmizer LT 10.
Will you saw mostly hardwood or softwood logs?
good to hear from you people, i read the post on the one owner ,however there was not a lot of info there. I have never worked with a mill so this is all new to me. I will be sawing spruce that has been sitting for 1year and is peeled. I purchased the lumber from a sawmiller who decided to retire because of health problems in the family. Most of the lumber is 18" in dia. and I am hoping that this mill will handle it without investing a great deal of money .I do realize that it is manual and labour intensive and that is fine but I want something that is reliable,that is fairly easy to maintain,and easy to get repairs should something go wrong. Also I am 1500 plus miles from the manufacture and know nothing about the company other than the conversation I had with the owner and the pics on the web page. Having said this however looking at it and what is being offered its seems to be worth the dollar they are asking.
Quote from: fishpharmer on January 13, 2010, 07:11:41 PM
Schlep and Woodbe welcome to Forestry Forum, this is a great place to learn about ALL sawmill stuff.
I googled Burg and found their website. Looks like a Bill Rake style mill with linn lumber mills persuasion. First I ever heard of them. It looks comparable to a Woodmizer LT 10.
Will you saw mostly hardwood or softwood logs?
mostly spruce that has been dry for 1year
Quote from: woodbe on January 13, 2010, 05:58:43 PM
I have the 42" Burg. I got it second hand with a few modifications. My saw had the raise and lowering of the head changed so it now climes a chain like the WM . It is a hand crank but goes threw a gear box with a fare reduction so there is no need for any lock. I t also has a small electric motor driving it only 5 hp. I will be going with a larger motor soon. As for how it cuts, I have not had any problems. The 30' of track is set on 8" I-beam and that is set on pears with 4X10 going across from side to side. So fare we are good and level. The saw has cut some nice lumber and it has not had any trouble. I have not called them yet so I cant comment .
Woodbe
what was the reason this was changed . more efficient or just simplier to operate?
schlep, Welcome to The Forestry Forum..... 8)
From what I was told by the guy I bought it from was he didn't like it when the cable on one side over lapped and the other did not. I would think that would not make a huge difference but it all adds up. So fare I have just cut Doug Fir, Red Oak and Locust it all cut good with a sharp blade. This is my first mill as well. So in less there is something is going real bad I may not catch it. Hope this will help you.
Woodbe
(//)
The burg sawmill is made here locally and I have talked with a couple of owners and they seemed very happy with them. One of them had a barn over flowing with wood that he had milled on his, and his mill was still cutting good when he demonstrated it for me. He had spent the day watching me mill up a large deck of logs for his neighbor and invited me over after I had finished. Both of the mills that I have seen had a solid foundation under them and there was no plans to move either of them.
Quote from: Magicman on January 13, 2010, 08:29:11 PM
schlep, Welcome to The Forestry Forum..... 8)
thankyou///////
Quote from: backwoods sawyer on January 14, 2010, 12:45:45 AM
The burg sawmill is made here locally and I have talked with a couple of owners and they seemed very happy with them. One of them had a barn over flowing with wood that he had milled on his, and his mill was still cutting good when he demonstrated it for me. He had spent the day watching me mill up a large deck of logs for his neighbor and invited me over after I had finished. Both of the mills that I have seen had a solid foundation under them and there was no plans to move either of them.
great, I guess that is the way we will go then,we were mostly decided but wanted to hear from people that have seen them work,thanks for the info, I guess we will have work to do soon.
Here is a picture of my Burg mill. I just wanted to see if I could get them set up on the post. I am still working on the back wall and roof so we can stay dry when working. The log deck showed up while I was gone. Some of my good friends set it all up on a Sunday afternoon. Well good luck with your mill.
Woodbe
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/21006/2631/1023090933c.jpg)
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/21006/2631/Mill_deck.jpg)
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/21006/2631/Mill2.jpg)
schlep, Tis good to see someone else from Saskatchewan on the forum...
Those dry spruce logs must have come from north of you eh eh. Where abouts did they come from?
Brad.
Quote from: Coon on January 15, 2010, 03:23:37 AM
schlep, Tis good to see someone else from Saskatchewan on the forum...
Those dry spruce logs must have come from north of you eh eh. Where abouts did they come from?
Brad.
Also good to talk to someone local, the logs come from prairie river,i am building in Somme ,Your not far away ,do you know anyone with picker truck,looking for someone to move 35 cords about 13 miles?
I just looked at my profile and it needs changed.... I am actually living in Wynyard but do own some land north east of Kelvington.....
I may know someone.... will make a couple of calls and see if a friend of mine still has his self loading trailer.... Just wished I had my small grapple log trailer finished. It would take a few loads but would do the job a cord at a time.
Brad.
Can't have mine ..... I like it too much ! ;D
The parts are mostly off the shelf.
Saws good !
Mr. Burg is a good man to deal with !
Check my photos. You will find pictures of the mill and log plus lumber sawed.
It comes with a track and bunkers but yah have to supply a sturdy frame under it.
Head aligns nice.
Good engine.
Jeff
:D nice looking job, Well we took the plunge and ordered it. I will be mounting it also on a trailer, really would like to hear from you how your turner works,would be interested in trying to do something like that as well. can't wait for it to get here but sounds like a while ,back ordered for 8 weeks or more so I guess I just got to wait////
Yup, I waited about three months for mine but it was worth the wait. I'm a big fan of manual mills but a bigger fan of log turners. They can be as simple as an over head chain fall. My turner isn't the best but its better than nothing. I have some new cylinders but no time to install them. For now try the search option.......
Jeff
when you got yours was there much setup? Also I was wondering if one should go to a centrifical clutch rather than the lever setup as I see most of the other brands are set up that way? One other question that I forgot to ask was how wide the two rails were on the 42" saw because I want to start building the trailer.
My 42" Burg uses track that 62" to the out side. The bottom of the L goes to the inside of the track. At least that is how it is done on mine. You may want to ask Burg to make sure that it hasn't changed.
Woodbe
thank you, maybe I will give burg a call to be sure before I start.
You have to assemble the track. Comes in two parts. A big box with the saw head, bunkers, dogs etc. The angle iron track is separate. The saw head also needs some assembly. Not bad.
The manual clutch works OK but this spring I was thinking of trying a centrifugal clutch. I would still keep the manual clutch for a back up or if I was going electric. Start with the manual first. Slowly engage it a an idle. Keep an eye on belt tension so that the clutch works right but the belts don't slip. I hot glued a file handle on to the stock clutch handle.
Align it per the instruction.
Jeff
Thanks Jeff, great info, I think I will go with the centrifical clutch right away. seems kind of a pain to have to throttle back and manually stop the saw when just using the throttle would do. Just wish I had ordered sooner as the weather is terrible now,could be getting everything ready before spring when I could use it instead of watching blowing snow/
Throttle an manual clutch is really no problem.I have my garden tractor style throttle mounted on clutch lever, I can do them both at once. It does have some advantages ie my engine seems to start better with some throttle ,blade doesnt engage etc.
I agree that the manual clutch isn't all bad. Pros and cons to both. If I do add a centrifugal clutch it's nice to know that I can still finish the day out with the manual.
Jeff
Quote from: coastlogger on January 25, 2010, 02:12:48 PM
Throttle an manual clutch is really no problem.I have my garden tractor style throttle mounted on clutch lever, I can do them both at once. It does have some advantages ie my engine seems to start better with some throttle ,blade doesnt engage etc.
I don't think it will be a problem just more conveniant, and you make a good point about starting the engine, never thought of that. And as Jeff says you can have the best of both worlds.
Your building the frame/trailer so I thought I would mention that the Burg heads are just the ticket for edging your hog dressed lumber BUT they are not made to turn a log against. I welded a pocket on the frame of my trailer so that a 2x4 could be slid in there. The 2x4 is what I turn the log against.
Jeff
thats a good idea also, sorry I didn't get to respond sooner I was in Alberta for a while. Did you just use one? Could one make something that can be raised and lowered instead?
I use two for turning the log. Sure, you could design it how ever you need. I still used the bunkers from my homemade rig plus the Burgs so space was a bit of a problem.
Jeff
jeff, I was going to ask you also is there different blades for sawing different types of wood, when I purchased the saw it came with one blade so I ordered 6 more of the same. As I am only cutting spruce is this the best blade for the job?
I think it comes with a 3/4 spacing. I also use the 7/8 spacing. They seem close but I might pick the 7/8.
Jeff
I stopped and talked with a burg owner today, he had a beautiful pacific yew log on it that he was setting up to mill. I will be by there again in the tomorrow as I have my mill set up over on the coast now. He seems to be real happy with his mill and had it set up on a concrete slab.
Quote from: backwoods sawyer on February 22, 2010, 11:10:14 PM
I stopped and talked with a burg owner today, he had a beautiful pacific yew log on it that he was setting up to mill. I will be by there again in the tomorrow as I have my mill set up over on the coast now. He seems to be real happy with his mill and had it set up on a concrete slab.
If you go there again could you measure the distance between the two tracks. Woodbe says his is 62" wide, I phoned burg's and they are so busy I got his voicemail. He called back the next day and my wife took the call and understood 52" .So now before I start my trailer I want to be sure and the one I purchased is a 42" model
He was not around today when I went thru, course it was pouring down rain and I had soaked thru, but I will be past there again tomorrow. Been milling Myrtle wood all day, after a while that stuff will make you light headed. Are you wanting outside measurement?
My 42" Burg has a 52" track.
Jeff
Quote from: Puffergas on February 25, 2010, 06:31:14 PM
My 42" Burg has a 52" track.
Jeff
my wife says - SO THERE
Quotemy wife says - SO THERE
Never argue with the boss ! ! !
Jeff
Schlep, HOW do you like your Burg mill? I am considering it and wanted your input now that you have had it awhile! (seeing your 2010 post!)
Thanks
Welcome to the forum, Schlep hasn't been on the forum for a couple years so it might be a while before he answers.
So what interests you about a Burg mill?
What are your plans for the pile of wood you will saw?