How to get logs up on a manual mill for newbies

Jeff · October 23, 2023, 04:43:01 PM

I needed to saw a log today, so turned the camera on today (with zero edits) to display how I can easily load a log up on th the sawmill without equipment. There are a ton of newbie sawmill owners out there that can probably use any help they can get, even from me!

How to Build a Machine to Lift logs on to your Manual Sawmill - YouTube

Old Greenhorn · October 23, 2023, 05:36:17 PM

Hey Jeff, I liked that one, mostly for the visiting time. Seemed like you're feeling energetic and in top shape! Good to see you are doing well and still having fun with the mill. I used the same method for stacking my log pile, but I use the winch on my Mule for the pulling part. Made this short video 3 or 4 years ago I think.

Stacking the log pile - YouTube

doc henderson · October 23, 2023, 05:53:55 PM

great video gents!

47sawdust · October 23, 2023, 07:30:44 PM

Very nice video ,Jeff.
Kinda surprised at the amount of traffic noise.
Must have been rush hour.

Jeff · October 23, 2023, 07:51:43 PM

Ya, there is morning vehicles to the quarry and such, evening, and then spurts when the ferry comes in, but some days you wont see a vehicle for some time. This is the most direct rd, to and from sault st mary, from this part of the u.p., and that is really the only large town.

Magicman · October 23, 2023, 08:22:07 PM

Down here in the non-glaciated, Grits eating South we call it "cross hauling".

RetiredTech · October 24, 2023, 06:36:01 AM

Quote from: Magicman on October 23, 2023, 08:22:07 PMnon-glaciated, Grits eating South

I gotta remember that one! smiley_clapping

customsawyer · October 24, 2023, 06:41:58 AM

Put a thumb on the backhoe. :D
You have to know I'm picking on you. I'm sure someone on Youtube is going to say something smart about the backhoe in the background of the video.

SawyerTed · October 24, 2023, 06:59:06 AM

I thought about the backhoe too.

Probably took less time to load the log than to walk over, crank the backhoe and drive it over!

And sometimes you do things because you do.

doc henderson · October 24, 2023, 08:11:29 AM

now you can do the magic hooks on each side of the bucket, should you choose. good to have options!

Percy · October 24, 2023, 09:30:12 AM

Pretty slick. "Yoda Voice" Paid attention in physics class did he. 👍👍

Jeff · October 24, 2023, 10:45:11 AM

There are many ways I could put them up there. This was more to show those with little or no experience handling wood you can do it without equipment. Honestly, if it were not for wanting to make a video, I would of thrown the ramps on the ground, and just hefted that log up there and suffered the consequences.

Jeff · October 24, 2023, 10:47:53 AM

@customsawyer the wise comment so far on youtube was that my title was click bait, and my rope hooks and strap was not a machine.

customsawyer · October 24, 2023, 12:02:18 PM

I knew there would be some on there. :D

chet · October 24, 2023, 12:56:39 PM

According ta google :P In mechanical terms: A machine is any system structure that can be used to complete a task by utilizing energy. ;D

Resonator · October 24, 2023, 01:27:38 PM

"The problem's plain to see, too much technology,
machines to save our lives, machines dehumanize."

(Old rock 'n roll song lyrics about a robot machine).

;D

Cdaniels1377 · October 24, 2023, 02:12:10 PM

First post on here, I just got a lt28 with the log deck package and power feed. My back is pretty crappy, I have to use a wheelchair sometimes to get around so I'm allready having discord about running the winch cable different ways each time. I'd like to add an electric winch with a wireless remote to the side of the frame solely for loading logs so I can leave the front hand crank setup for the log turner. Would I be better off fabricating an arm that would go up taller or would I be ok just mounting the winch right to the frame provided it's out of the travel of the head? Im in the up of Michigan so it has to be in my polebarn until I can build a wide enough saw shed.

beenthere · October 24, 2023, 02:39:00 PM

Cdaniels
Welcome to the Forestry Forum.
Look forward to seeing your ideas develop.

Jeff · October 24, 2023, 03:16:20 PM

Cdaniels1377, my mill, when I got it, had a winch and electricals mounted right on the frame here.

Jeff · October 24, 2023, 04:27:53 PM

Quote from: 47sawdust on October 23, 2023, 07:30:44 PM
Very nice video ,Jeff.
Kinda surprised at the amount of traffic noise.
Must have been rush hour.

This is more typical. I took the south rd into town yesterday.
I had to go get milk and a box of screws. - YouTube

Maximus · October 24, 2023, 04:58:35 PM

I like the solutions here, everyone has their won methods.

Getting older, I'm being s-u-p-e-r careful with the one back and two knees I have. I always use my tractor forks for moving/loading logs, and then often again for removing the larger cants and planks from the mill bed. It's pretty amazing what kind of log

control one can develop with a little practice.

For long heatlthspan, I highly recommend that method, but again, to each their own!

Having a trailer-mounted mill that I move around quite a bit, integrating a log rack didn't make much sense for me. I thought maybe I would eventually get frustrated having to use the tractor for every log, but that never happened. It's fun again, every time.

OzarkChris · October 26, 2023, 06:38:49 AM

Speaking only for myself, I really appreciate y'all for your insight, knowledge & experience. As a very green and extreme newbie when it comes to bandsaw milling, 99% of the posts I've seen here have either been extremely informative or humorous enough to make my day. As I've mentioned in a post or two, I just got my first bandsaw mill (No I still haven't gotten it built yet - the new house seems to be taking all my time recently ;D) and have been going through the posts trying to get osmosis to work on this old brain of mine!

As far as your video, I really thought it was informative. Hopefully, if/when I can get the trailer upgrade for my HM126 I'll be able to implement something like this. For me, I'm in a wheelchair from a military injury, I'll use my track chair to pull the rope. I've been thinking about putting a hitch on the back of the chair to pull the mill around the property if/when I can afford the trailer upgrade! The VA wants me to have hobbies so they gave me this track chair to pursue these kinds of outdoor hobbies. It's been a challenge to continue to use a chainsaw to buck up the logs, but I am hopeful the bandsaw mill will be easier on this old body than the chainsaw mill was. As I tell others, just because you can't do some of the things the same way you used to be able to do them, shouldn't mean you have to stop doing those things - just adapt and overcome!

Thanks to all of you for your patience and words of encouragement to the newbies like me!

This is a pic of my "outdoor movement adaptor" :D (right after a long needed bath) on a good day she'll do about 0.5 mph at full throttle but has enough torque and traction to pull logs around!

SawyerTed · October 26, 2023, 07:11:10 AM

@OzarkChris you are an inspiration through your determination!

I appreciate your service and the sacrifices! Thank you!

jpassardi · October 26, 2023, 08:07:08 AM

Ditto that! Much appreciated.

Sadly, our Country now seems to take better care of illegal immigrants than our Veterans. Sorry for the rant but this really bothers me.

WDFL · October 27, 2023, 04:05:19 PM

Hey Jeff, I enjoyed watching the video. Love the dog.

That gave me an idea, I can use a towing strap and just tie a rope in the middle to use (until the LT40 comes in).

I wish I had a video of the time I tried to pull logs up a ramp, broke the aluminum ramps. Would have been a demo of how NOT to do it.