How many board feet per hour on an LT40 hydraulic?

[Peter Drouin]

They're fine :D :D :D

[Delawhere Jack]

They're fine :D :D :D

I've got four brothers...... If looks could kill......... well..... Must be the Irish... :

[MesquiteSawyer]

Jeff,

Please accept my sincere apologies for taking a baseball bat to the hornet's nest.  I will try not to do that again.  :D

Honestly, all I ever really wanted was some good feedback on what to expect from an LT40, and I got some great answers, so thank you to all that contributed. 

Can I just say that I did a lot of homework before I bought my first mill, and actually ended up buying an 8" Lucas.  I kept it long enough to saw about 10 logs, and realized I was too stupid to figure out how to be efficient at it.   >:(   I called Baileys up and told them I wanted to return it, and they were awesome.  To this day, I bet they still talk about that crazy customer that returned his Lucas mill.  (To my knowledge, I am the only one that had ever returned one.  Talk about feeling foolish!)

I then proceeded to continue my research, and ended up buying a Baker because of the way they are built.  I was convinced it was the greatest mill ever!  If you have ever seen one, they are an impressive piece of iron.  I really think you could drive a D8 over one and it would be fine.    I quickly learned that setting up on location wasn't quite as easy as I had hoped it would be, but once you were set up, it was a cutting dude.   8) 8) 8)   

I might have made a very different decision if I had seen each of the different brands in person.  I was too timid to go find somebody that owned one in person and go make a nuisance of myself.  I should have found one of each and gone to pull lumber for a day around the mill.  I am finding that they all have great features, and each one of them contributes to the whole industry, moving it forward.  Having now run three different brands, including a swing mill, I can honestly say that a Wood Mizer is definitely the most ingenious setup.  The Baker is the strongest.  The Lucas was awesome for doing really wide crotch slabs.   

I think a sawmill is like anything else.  If one brand had it all, nobody else would be able to compete.  It is impossible to build something without sacrificing one thing to achieve another, because I think one thing is important, but my neighbor might place a higher value on some other feature.

I am confindent that Cooks and Timberking both make excellent mills as well, along with the many other brands that are available.  I know I have never owned any piece of equipment that I have not modified to make work a little more to my liking, and I am certain many of y'all are probably the same. 

With all of that being said, I have read along on the forum for many years, and have learned a tremendous amount from each of you.  "Thank you for the education!"

Now, if you still must fight about whose mill is the best, I can host a shootout here in Missouri and I will provide the location and the logs.  You guys can drag your mills down here and I can get a first hand education and a lot of milling done for free.   :D
I will provide an unbiased report on who whipped who, and then somebody can have bragging rights for a year.   8) 8) 8)

[JustinW_NZ]

Just going back to the original question;

One of the mills I work with here, there old LT40 Hydro has over 17,000 hours on its, still cuts as straight as...
I do know of another one however with slightly less hours that cuts, but that's about as nice as I will be about it... (the mill got rolled down a bank and they "tried" to fix it"  :

And as for board footage?
Here's the worst production figure I get as opposed to the best...

I've found with one helper doing LARGE HARD DENSE annoying hardwoods (eucalyptus) into flooring (loads of quarter sawn boards) I can get down as low as 1 cubic meter or 420board feet for a day (7 hours) BUT that's log to all edged and stickered / stacked and banded.
this is usually with the bigger end of the trees (you might only do a couple of logs in a day as often they might need splitting with the chainsaw first)

This is on a '97 LT-40 super running the lombardini diesel engine, so its got torque and I use every bit of it.
This is also portable so often I don't always have the luxury of other support equipment to nudge heavy stuff around (chews more daylight)
Plus farmers with tractors close to the mill make me nervious so I prefer to just do the job slow and steady, keep a watchful eye on the wood and churn out a great product without busting stuff.

Now, one thing to add to the "great mill debate"
In NZ we have very limited choice so feel lucky you people that can choose! - although we do have great choice for swing mill setups here  ;D
So woodmizer was really my only true commercial choice for a bandsaw mill to fit with my needs which is fine, but I have to say after watching some of the video material from other suppliers bashing the monorail design I just thought there out and out lying or making an issue from nothing? put me off those companies right away. (again not that they sell into the asia/pacific market anyway)

Just my 10c worth anyway...

OH PS - I'm in New Zealand

Cheers

Justin

[Tom L]

Hello everyone; I am going to ask a loaded question of the experts, so here it is... :

I am wanting to hear realistic production numbers for an LT40 hydraulic mill with a 24 - 26 hp gas motor and a helper to offload.  I know the numbers are very dependent on situation and setup, but I am just curious what's possible.   

A friend has 40 acres of very nice red and white (post) oak that will make a sizeable pile of clear saw logs.  I have a flooring mill that is willing to pay $1.125 for FAS down to $.63 for #3 common, all I can bring them.  If I sell those logs to any of the local mills, they will pay $.40 on a clear butt log and $.25 on the next two.  Is it worth the extra time to mill them, or should I just take the logs straight to the mill and take what they pay?  I have done a fair amount of logging, and have not seen a nicer stand of timber in the area.   There is also some very pretty white oak that would go to the stave mill, but I feel like the red oak could bring substantially more if it were sawn.  I sold my Baker two years ago, and am considering a Wood Mizer because of all the great things y'all have to say about them. 

Also, how many hours do y'all have on your Wood Mizers, and do they still cut perfectly true?  I still get hung up on the monorail design, but it has GOT to be easier to set up than my Baker.  If y'all promise they cut true so long as the band is sharp, I will believe you.

Thanks in advance for any input, and I sure do appreciate the information you all share with us ignorant folks so perhaps we won't be so ignorant anymore. ;D :

(Oh, I just remembered, the avg diameter of the butt logs will be around 18".  The landowner is a cow man and wants grass in place of his trees.)

I'm no expert just my opinion
your best brd ft per hour will come if you have  a great setup, logs flowing in, scrap taken away efficiently, and boards handled only once. you can get some great brd/ft per hour with a great setup. mostly by myself I average around 150 brd ft per hour. that is doing everything on my own. not setup perfectly. that is for sure.
I have worked a couple of portable jobs with lots of helpers and large equipment and the sawing was very productive.
close to 500 ft per hour. doesn't matter to me what type of mill you have, everything breaks down and needs service and maintenance, it is all in the setup and material flow.

[Alligator]

The most lumber gets sawed on the dinner bench before work and at lunch.

[POSTON WIDEHEAD]

The most lumber gets sawed on the dinner bench before work and at lunch.

You're right 'Gator. 

[red oaks lumber]

i'm fine ;D if i was to get upset.. me would be escorted to  the woodshed and givin some leather goods, a belt in the mouth and a boot in the rear( old saying) :D :D

[Bruno of NH]

I'm scared some one from WM might come after me in my sleep because I have a Thomas Band mill
Jim Bruno of nh

[Dave Shepard]

There are bigger worries, somebody might mail you grits.

[thecfarm]

@POSTONLT40HD,I betcha none of my relatives went to WI to your Grand-Paw grits mill.  :D Pony express would of taken too long too.

[BigJim2185]

It's all fun and games to argue about which mill is better than the others (I'm with Bruno - Thomas is best, and I'm basing it on tons of experience...tons of experience watching their videos on youtube).

But some arguments can go to far and I think a couple folks may have stepped out of line here.  I mean seriously...we're all in agreement that 30-06 is the best deer cartridge, right?

[thecfarm]

I'll jump on the Thomas Bandsaw Mill Wagon too.  ;D
And I will even throw in a spring time sawing picture.



 

[Delawhere Jack]

It's all fun and games to argue about which mill is better than the others (I'm with Bruno - Thomas is best, and I'm basing it on tons of experience...tons of experience watching their videos on youtube).

But some arguments can go to far and I think a couple folks may have stepped out of line here.  I mean seriously...we're all in agreement that 30-06 is the best deer cartridge, right?

Obviously you have no concept of trajectory and it's effect on point of impact at estimated ranges!!! 270 Winchester is the greatest deer cartridge ever devised!!!

If I had to hunt with an 06' I'd turn vegetarian!!!

;)

[red oaks lumber]

sorry but, how can giving feedback on equipment be stepping out of line?life dosen't sugar coat things and neither do i.

[Peter Drouin]

sorry but, how can giving feedback on equipment be stepping out of line?life dosen't sugar coat things and neither do i.

:D :D :D :D :D :D

[POSTON WIDEHEAD]

life dosen't sugar coat things and neither do i.

But you are a sweet guy.         :D :D :D :D :D :D

[BigJim2185]

sorry but, how can giving feedback on equipment be stepping out of line?life doesn't sugar coat things and neither do i.

Your posts were all just fine by me.  I was referring to the guys implying there may be a better cartridge than the .06, when any objective analysis makes it clear that other cartridges AT BEST kill deer 85% as dead.  BTW, noticed the mounts on your office wall in a previous thread - nice work. 

Obviously you have no concept of trajectory and it's effect on point of impact at estimated ranges!!! 270 Winchester is the greatest deer cartridge ever devised!!!

If I had to hunt with an 06' I'd turn vegetarian!!!

;)

The 270 certainly has its merits.  If I ever have a daughter, I will teach her to shoot with a 270 until she is ready for her first real gun.  Ehh, who am I kidding - I'm just jealous you have mule deer and get to take clear shots over 50 yards :D   

[POSTON WIDEHEAD]

A 243 is not bad for training those youngsters too. My 12 year old took his first 200lbs. 8 point with a 243.
this past season.  ;D

[BigJim2185]

Since we're officially fully off topic, congratulations!  Tried to find a pic quick in your gallery, but didn't see one.  Point the way if there's one around somewhere.  200lbs dressed?  My son is just turning 1.  Can't imagine how proud I'll be when he gets his first big deer.

[Magicman]

 

 
What chew talkin' 'bout  ???


  
Everybody knows dat ah Browning A Bolt .280 whoops um all.   :D

[Delawhere Jack]

sorry but, how can giving feedback on equipment be stepping out of line?life doesn't sugar coat things and neither do i.

Your posts were all just fine by me.  I was referring to the guys implying there may be a better cartridge than the .06, when any objective analysis makes it clear that other cartridges AT BEST kill deer 85% as dead.  BTW, noticed the mounts on your office wall in a previous thread - nice work. 

Obviously you have no concept of trajectory and it's effect on point of impact at estimated ranges!!! 270 Winchester is the greatest deer cartridge ever devised!!!

If I had to hunt with an 06' I'd turn vegetarian!!!

;)

The 270 certainly has its merits.  If I ever have a daughter, I will teach her to shoot with a 270 until she is ready for her first real gun.  Ehh, who am I kidding - I'm just jealous you have mule deer and get to take clear shots over 50 yards :D   

Who are you calling a MULE!?!?!    :D David may be a goat, and last week he was a turtle......and a squirrel before that, but ......... wait, now I'm getting confused........

OH YEAH, 270 Winchester or else EAT YOUR PEAS! 

(Actually, took a BIG doe at 242 yards a couple years ago. She bolted into the thicket but only about 20 yards before she expired. 120-130lbs before dressing.)

[tule peak timber]

WOW, nice pics !!!

[Delawhere Jack]

Guess we've all got deer season on our minds, just around the corner! 

[POSTON WIDEHEAD]

Everybody knows dat ah Browning A Bolt .280 whoops um all.   :D

I suppose you've shot 1 million "BORED BUCKS".  :D :D :D :D

Looking at your first pic....not much body mass to your deer but nice rack.  ;D