Opinions on two saws, and open to other suggestions.

[cutterboy]

Jason, you can't go wrong with Norwood. I have a Lumbermate2000 I bought 13 years ago. It still saws straight and true and I've had no major problems with it.


  

 

[KnotBB]

Those five trees have more wood in them than 20+ of the smaller ones.


Cut the roots on the stump with a cat or back hoe all the way around (no tap root).  Then push/pull the stump out.  If you need explosive force use one stick of dynamite some fertilizer soaked with diesel and a blasting cap.  Not too much fertilizer.  And stand clear.

[Pattern Maker 437]

Sounds like a great plan Jason, wish I had some property with timber.
I am also in the process of buying a sawmill, a WM Lt35hyd.
The people at Wood-Mizer Portland have been great.
Good luck !   Paul

[Brucer]

Some folks say, buy as much mill as you can possibly afford, and sell it when you're done. I tend to take the other view -- buy what you're comfortable with and if it's too slow or too small, sell it and upgrade.

As for handling big logs, I had a customer buy half a dozen big logs from my supplier and ship them to my site. The biggest was 44" in diameter, 17' long. He borrowed a big chainsaw with a 30" bar and halved the log -- it didn't take him that long.

I put the half log on the mill with the Cat loader and lifted it upright so the flat was against the side stops. Then I cut the top  10" off and set it aside for quarter sawing. After that it just a matter of turning and trimming.

Remember, if you have to quarter a bigger log, with one flat face down and the other against the side stops, the top side of the log will fit in a relatively small throat opening.

On a limited budget, I'd go for more horsepower.

[dboyt]

On a limited budget, I'd go for more horsepower.

Amen.  For any budget, get the most h.p. available.  Good advice on technique, by the way.

[Banjo picker]

I guess I will have to slightly disagree...a diesel eng. needs to be loaded to work correctly....with a large diesel and fairly small ...for the most part logs....it will not be pushed hard enough to load it properly...If I were buying in right now...I would opt for a mid sized engine...probably gasoline....in the mid thirtys as to hp. range.....just my thinking...but ...thoughts I have paid to learn...Banjo

[Seaman]

IMHO,
Don't spend money until you see a swing mill at work in person. Much more versatile.