Norwood Tracks

[ksu_chainsaw]

Hello from the Middle East.

My wife has said that I can get a sawmill when I get back, and I have been looking at many different ones. I think the best one for me will be the Norwood Lumbermate.  I was thinking about a Lucas 613, but most of the timber that i have has lots of tramp metal on it, as I cut mostly fencerow trees. The price on this mill is one of the main factors that plays into the purchase of it.  I know that several people own or operate them.  I have two questions about them to start with.

1.  Which would be better, the 1 1/4" or 1 1/2" bands?  I will be cutting mostly hardwoods, from cottonwood to hedge.  I also have lots of ERC to remove from the pastures.  Also, what thickness and pitch would be the best?

2.  What do the tracks look like on them.  I have access to a good metal shop, and i would like to make a trailer that has built-in tracks for the mill.  If someone could send me a pic of it, it would be greatly appreciated.

I would like to build a mill, as I have worked on lots of different machinery, but I will start out with a pre-made one, and I might build a larger mill as I get time to.

Thanks to everyone for your help

Charles

[Danny_S]

Basically it's just a 1¼" x 1¼" x ¼"  angle that the wheels ride on. You can see it on this pic.



It rides on the edge of the angle, not on the angle..... get that? :D

[moosehunter]

The norwood web site has good pics. I have had mine for 2 months now. The trailer package is a good deal, although I have not used it much yet. The tracks (frame) look different but when put together are very rigid.
 Don't have enough experience to comment on blades and such yet.
 Stay safe.

[ksu_chainsaw]

Thanks for that pic of the track.  Dad and my neighbor get LOTS of reject steel by the semi load.  When i left, we had over 2000' of 3"x3"x1/4" angle.  I will have to tell him to save me enough for some tracks.  I have a 30' gooseneck lowboy trailer frame started at home, and i was thinking of mounting the tracks onto it.  The reason i would like to have a trailer and not the trailer package is because I like the way goosenecks trail and i can make a longer track easier.  I can also mount a hydraulic loader onto the trailer to load the mill.  I have a hydraulic power pack sitting at home that we currently run off of the 5K generator.  ;D  ;D
I can also put a toolbox onto the trailer to haul around the extra parts that I need to keep the mill operational.

Thanks again for all your help

Charles

[Danny_S]

I often thought a nice long and wide trailer would be nice, as long as you could load the logs on, you would have a nice deck to walk on and lots of room for like you said, toolboxes ect... you could even haul a few logs and lumber beside the mill. A nice hydraulic leveling system would be nice.

Good idea KSU, there are people who think as hard as I do.. :D

P.S. Good to have that access to steel as the price of it is skyrocketing.....

[D._Frederick]

ksu,

If there is a lot of metal in the logs you will be sawing, the 1 1/4 blade is lower cost for a throw away after metal.

My 2 cents worth. If you are going to spend 5K for a LumberMate, there are a number of mills in that price range that I would look at also. They come ready to saw instead of  boxes full of parts.

[Jason_WI]

They may come ready to saw but sometimes you have to go get them or pay someone to deliver it.

It is a good experience to build the Lumbermate as you get to know your mill before you even use it.

I have had my LM 2000 for almost 4 years now with only 2 complaints.

1 is the water lube system and 2 is the whimpy clutch they use with the 20 HP Honda.

I have made mods to my water system and many have done the same.

I chucked the clutch in the woods and put on a cast pully. No clutch but at least I can cut wood without smelling clutch pads burning up. I get better cuts with the consistant blade speed, especially in hard maple and ash.

I use 1 1/4" .045, 10 degree Woodmizer double hard blades. I have had good luck with them and with their Resharp system.

I also have the Edgemate edger. That can literally double your output in a day. Stacking flitches back on the mill gets old fast.

Jason

[ksu_chainsaw]

I'm leaning more than i thought I would.  Its good to know that there are lots of knowledgable people here on this forum.

I plan on getting the 23 hp briggs on the mill.  Is it the same clutch as what is on the 20 hp honda?  

I have been looking for lots of mills, but since I am from Kansas, only TimberKing is close to me(only 1 hr).  The Norwood was the only mill that I found that had the bigger motor standard for the price, and the shipping was more reasonable.

I would rather have knowlege of how the mill goes together, as just about everything that I have on the farm, I have had to go through and fix at least once(except that new JD 7610  ;D).

I have air power on the work truck and in the shop, so it should be no problem to turn the bolts together.  I also used to work in a welding shop, so reading plans should be no problem, or so i hope.

What are the different mods to the water system that people use?  I know that people have talked about it, but I would like to hear some different opinions.

Thanks

Charles

[Danny_S]

As for clutching, I always liked a idler wheel with a engagement system. Clutches are nice but as people have reported, they can go bad. Belts might burn up a bit faster with an engagement system but I still like that setup better. THat is just my preference.

[Norm]

Charles I'd stick with the 1-1/4 blades for your mill, I've used the 1.5's and the 1 1/4's. You may get more sharpenings on them but I felt they broke easier, I went back tho 1-1/4's and have been happy with them.

[sawwood]

KSU where in Kansas are you ? I am in Independence Mo
and have a frend that has the Norwood Mill. When you git
back and want to go look at it we can git to geather and
and go see it. Hope you and every one over there git home
safe and god bless you all.

 Sawwood
 Vietnam Vet,

[Mark M]

Charles

I have a bunch of pictures of my sawmill when I was putting it together. They are at http://www.pbase.com/mmathys.

I have the 1.25" inch blade. It works well for me. I think you will be very happy with this mill. I really like mine.

Mark

[Swede]

If I lived just one hour from TimberKings I would go there and deal with them!    I think it´s worth a lot having a supplier next door.


Swede.

[EZ]

I agree with Swede.
EZ

[dail_h]

   Charles,
   I'm pretty happy with my Lumbermate with 23 Briggs,a few problems with the clutch,but not enough to be unhappy with mill. I bought a bunch of 1.5 blades,but they seem to be a bit stiff. When they give up,I think I'll go back to 1.25s.
   Putting the mill together isn't difficult,just takes some time and patience. Would I do it again----BOY YOU BETCHA!!!!!