Hi all,
I am the newest new guy here, name's Jon, live in Vermont. I have been running a Logosol M7 for about two years, only for hobby use, stacking lumber for woodworking. Runs a Stihl 066 powerhead, which for the last two months has been outfitted with a 28" bar and skip chisel chain for clearing my land. Scary saw.
Last week, though, I had an offer I couldn't refuse, a local guy was selling his father's WoodMizer LT30, 1984 vintage, as part of the estate. I got it for a song, but it's pretty rough. Hasn't been run in about four years, the machine has been stored outside, but the headrig has been under cover. What bothers me is the track that the headrig rollers run on is pretty well rusty and pitted, and I'm worried that the rust will be a problem. I'm bringing it to Woodmizer's New York HQ next week, but would like to know if there's anything in particular that they should be checking out on this thing. i will be using it to saw cants for a new 3100 square foot timber frame house and 1000 sf shop building for me and my family.
Still debating whether or not to keep the Logosol - it's a nice little mill, but seems to be redundant now. I think I'd like to sell it.
Anybody want to give me good advice about maintenance and upkeep of a bandmill, or in general about sawing and milling? Highly unlikely that I will use the mill to cut logs for anyone but myself, although I'm now looking at a way to latch onto a decent piece of woodland. I guess you could call me a lumber collector - I have weird stuff sitting around the shop that most people would burn, so finding logs to saw won't be too much of a problem.
Welcome to the forum Jon.
I can't help you with that specific mill but there are several others here that can.
Congratulations, Jon my old Logosol hooked another one ;)
Just to let you all in on a little secret, Jon bought my used Logosol M7 when I bought my Peterson. We spent a few hours cutting up some pine here at the property then he loaded up and drove away smiling....I was trying to give him several months advance on the learning curve, I got the mill in a box.
You will have to give us some pictures of that new one now....sometime soon I'll post a picture of what that pine looks like now, we used it for stall fronts in the barn.
Captain
Welcome Jon!
I started sawing last year with a 1990 LT-30. There's a few differences with your machine but not many.
Mine too had been stored outside, but once we rebuilt the carb, greased it up and tightened everything, it works great.
Lubricate the track with ATF and steel wool it and it should be alright.
Did you get the manual? If not, Woodmizer will get you one.
Good luck!
Your mill sound like its in the same shape that mine was in when I first got it. I had to sand blast the whole thing (Mobile Dimenson Mill) and prime and paint it. Fortunately they had stored the engine inside. It'll take a little sweat and work but I'm sure you'll find it was worth it. Good luck.
Oakie
Welcome to the FF Engineer. I like old tools.. I say they've got experience and how what they need to do..
Please update us on your restoration project. I think it would be valuable info for others that come across old Wood-Mizers looking for a second time around.
Welcome aboard Jon. WM can get you a manual and that will cover the complete maintenance routine. Should be easy to get back into shape.
Thanks for the comments, all. The mill is definitely "weathered" but has a good history, and I was able to see it run a couple of years ago. I bought it from the original owner's son. I was able to get the manual, a dozen or so blades, and I don't think anything's missing. He even gave me copies of the old Wood-Mizer news magazine that they apparently sent out to all the owners.
The mill is on a trailer package, and really it's only the trailer part that's all rusty - the headrig has been under cover, and except for a rather large hornet's nest, it's in good shape. I didn't realize that it also had the automatic feed and the electric start and winch, so I'm better off than I thought. For less than half the price of a new LT15, I think I did pretty good. ;D I'm really looking forward to putting the mill through its' paces.
You sleep at night knowing you practically stole that mill for that price......... ::)
Jason
If your mill will be left outside,even occasionaly to keep the top rail from rusting I brush on a coat of ATF then cover with two pieces of 3/4" ID air hose I split open with a utility knife. You can use a damaged peice of hose for this. It will stay on at 70 MPH on the road. Works great for me on my 1997 LT 40. Lots of happy sawing with your new toy!!
Welcome to the Forestry Forum. Hope that you enjoy your sawmill has much as I do. ;) Good Luck!!
Here are the pictures I promised. Jon (Engineer) and I cut this pine with the Logosol M7 as part of his "training".
(https://forestryforum.com/images/04_01_03/stall%20fronts.jpg)
(https://forestryforum.com/images/04_01_03/stall%20door.jpg)
This is the wife's horse barn. I'm in big trouble for not being finished yet, but finding time with a 3 1/2 year old around is tougher than it used to be. I try to tell her that every day that I use the sawmill, we save money as we don't have to buy shavings for bedding. Sometimes it works.
Once I get the outside trim painted and the doors hung, I'll post a picture of the outside. I have to get busy with the wiring and insulation in the tack room this fall.
I thought Jon would be especially interested to see what the wood was used for.
Captain
Very nice horse stalls. That's a lot fancier than any horse stall I've ever seen. That lumber turned out really well.
Going off on a tangent: What's ATF? Automatic Transmisison Fluid? Or something else?
Yep. Dat's all it is...
I didn't know there was a level spot in Vermont big enough to set up a woodmizer.
I helped re-assemble a log home outside of Bennington, it was the first time I'd heard of having to blast a foundation. the diggin's mighty tough when it's granite.
Welcome.
C
Funny you should say that - I only have a spot big enough for the mill and a log crib. Everything else is the side of a hill.
The digging's great on my site - 14 feet of clay over bluestone. ::) Got lots of water though, and all the mud I could ever need.
I live just north of Bennington, BTW.
I can't remember the name of the village but it was on the east side and there was a big apple orchard up the road.
I got to help put up a scribe fit home, big portico in front I think the gal was gonna turn it into a B&B.
C
engineer do you know Kathy and John Fairley I think his dad used to own the nicols department store in bennington. My sister lives in Hoosic NY I love that hill outside of town to the east beautiful country around you.
The "hill" to the east being Glastenbury Mountain, or maybe Woodford Mountain? Yep. Nice view of it right out my kitchen window. New house will have a view of Mount Anthony, but only in the winter.
I don't know the Fairleys personally, but sure do remember Nichols Department Store.
C_Miller - maybe the town was Shaftsbury? There's a few orchards around, but only maybe three of any significance. Not a whole lot of log homes either, especially big ones, but it still doesn't ring a bell. I grew up here, so there isn't much that escapes my notice.
Spent a while looking over the new mill yesterday, after I got the signal and brake wiring unfutzed. Engine has only 755 hours on it, seems that's not too bad, it's a 14-horse Kohler. Hoep I don't have to replace it for any reason, they're expensive. Unfortunately, I can't start the mill because it has no battery (and the battery box is shot to hell, rust scales and holes). Will any 12 volt battery work? I think I'm going to have a local welder make me a new box out of stainless steel, something that will fit a smaller lawn tractor battery. Everything else seems to be in great shape. You learn more by spending an hour playing with stuff than you do by spending half a day with the manual.
I can't wait to get cutting with this machine. I have a house to build, DanGit! ;D
If the mill is an HD I wouldnt go with the smaller battery My 93 hydraulic has a deep cycle marine battery and i have replaced it once with just under 2000 hours now. And yes the "hill" is surley a mountain it is maybe route 7 runs into 101 in NH.
Go with a full size battery, a deep cycle starting battery would be best.
The carriage drive is going to take its juice from the battery and the stator on a 14 horse motor may not keep up with the draw.
I use a Yellow Top Optima battery.
Jon,
Welcome aboard. I think you found the right place. These guys can bale you out of most anything mechanical or electrical. They'll make you laugh if nothing else.
Gus
Deep cycle 12 volt with lots of amps. Try not to run the hydaulics without the engine on. They will really drain your battery. There are some fusable links inline from the battery that you may need to replace also. They are flat metal ones.
When I had to replace the battery in my LT40 the best price I could find was at Sam's Club. Was going to buy a Delco Marine at about $100.00 and I think the one at Sam's cost about 60.00. Had more amps also. Welcome aboard and good luck with the restoration of your mill. I have a good friend that has one of about that vintage.