Sawmills

[Sam ward]

Hi everyone . New here . Lots of good information here . Looking to by a mill for personal use .looking at Hudson's patriot or warrior models
Anyone have experience with either of these? Any advise appreciated . 

[Gere Flewelling]

Welcome Sam! I would suggest you find some one who has or has had one of these Hudson mills to get their opinion. More importantly find a logging show where one is being demonstrated.  If you are sawing small logs and take the time to learn  how to make the necessary adjustments to the saw to keep blade tracking and blade guide aligned properly, you will likely have satisfactory results.  When I was researching what mill to go with a few years ago, I spent many hours watching YouTube videos on the subject.  Woodmizer, Norwood, and Cook's put out some great videos explaining how their mills work.  Of course everyone claims theirs is the best.  I checked out the Hudson's at a couple of shows and decided they weren't what I was looking for.  But you should check them out and decide for yourself.  I wish you luck. I have never regretted making sawmilling my hobby.  Some guys need their Harleys or Mustang's, but I will take a sawmill any day.

[thecfarm]

Sam ward, welcome to the forum. First off what's the plan for the sawmill, besides sawing lumber. Just for yourself? Sawing for others? I only saw for myself, so I only need a manual mill. Ez Boardwalk should be on your list. I have a Thomas, a bit far for you, they are in Maine.
Check out the Logrite sight for a cantdog or a peavey.    They are a sponsor on the left. Nice people and you will need one. Or maybe two.  ;D

[Sam ward]

Thanks for the advise fellas. The plan is to cut timbers for a timber frame.

[GAB]

It has been at least 2.5 years since I looked at a Hudson sawmill, at a fair.
My first thought was that the frame was way too chinzy to saw accurate lumber unless it was bolted to a very flat concrete floor or mounted on heavy leveled timbers (at least 8"x8").
With an electric motor and as a shop tool it could be a useful toy.
GAB

[John S]

Since you are located in southern PA, I suggest that you go to Parsons Woodmizer in Shade Gap and check out their small models starting with the new LX55.

[Sam ward]

Thanks again for advise .

[Magicman]

Yup, this would warrant some serious consideration:  LX55

[Jcald327]

Second the look at woodmizer lower cost options.  Incredibly cheap to get the woodmizer name and support.  They'll help with the mill, apparently keep you name in a database for people looking for a lawyer in your area, and list it if you ever decide to upgrade (let's face it, very few people just 'quit' sawing).  And you'll get at least half with a vast majority getting between 60 and 8p percent of their money back.  There are even some who turned a profit by keeping their mill in tip top shape for some years and inflation outpaces depreciation.  Theres a reason you cant get away from their adds while your browsing.  They're the biggest name, PERIOD.  I'll be looking for a bandmill this year to compliment my Lucas, best believe I'm going to at least heavily consider woodmizer.

Shameless plug, dont forget to get your logrite cant hooks, basically required equipment for a mill.  Buy once cry once.

[Magicman]

Did someone mention Logrites?? 



 

[Bruno of NH]

Go Woodmizer or Ez
You won't regret it.

[crowhill]

Welcome to the forum Sam ward! I went through Sawmill Exchange when looking for a mill. They helped me find a good used band mill that was about two years old. I feel I got a good mill, with hydraulics and more of a mill than I had thought I'd be able to own. If not for their help and the hydraulics I'd not be running the mill today. Mine is now 18 years old, a TimberKing B-20. There are a few others out there that hold up just as well. You just need shop around, look at mills in operation, talk with those running them, determine what your needs really are and read the daylights out of the forum! Good luck with your venture.. if you really catch the sawing bug you're in for a fun, long term ride!

[Magicman]

Used sawmills can be tough to find which also explains why they retain their value so well.  I also bought my sawmill (3 years old) through Sawmill Exchange, and I would not take less for it than I paid 17 years ago.

[TKehl]

The plan is to cut timbers for a timber frame

This is rare that I would say this, but if you just want timbers, that is a great application for a chainsaw mill.

If you want to cut more than that, then yes a sawmill is the ticket. ;)

[Sam ward]

Thanks to everyone for the information.

[woodnut]

I'm glad you asked about sawmills Sam. And sure glad everyone gave helpful advice. I just put the down payment on a LX-55 with a 14hp. and feel better about my decision now. I hope the pull starter will not give me any problems. And hope this new model is a good one like the other woodmizers. Will sure let you know!

[SawyerTed]

HUD-son sawmills were the first mills I was looking at.  The price and capacity are very tempting.  What I determined was the HUD-son mills will cut logs into lumber but they are very light weight frames and beds when compared to other mills with similar capacity. 

As mentioned above, any mill will need to be setup on a solid base to hold up to large logs.  My fear in looking at the HUD-son mills is they wouldn't hold up to a lot of logs at or near the stated capacity.  

Being budget minded is important but the old adages "Buy once, cry once" and "being penny wise and pound foolish" apply.  There's a reason some other brands are more expensive with similar capacity.  Durability does come with a price. 

I'd encourage you to keep shopping and comparing other sawmill brands. If you go back to the HUD-son you will have educated yourself to know what to do to make it work for your purposes.

[Weekend_Sawyer]

Don't rule out Norwood.

I bought my LM 2000 in 2002 and have been happy with it ever since.
It's a manual mill with a 20hp honda gas engine. I have replaced one blade guide bering and one coil pack in the engine. It's easy to set up, easy to maintain and easy on the eyes!!! Wasn't too bad on the wallet either.

I use woodmiser blades and resharp.

I also use logrite cant hooks.
Best on the market.

Jon

[AnthonyW]

Welcome Sam. IMO, there are two levels of mills, the Hud-son/Harbor Freight, then there are the Norwood/Woodmizer/EZ/Timberking. A used "Woodmizer" tier mill is going to be as good if not better than the Hud-son/Oscar mills.

As you can see from my pic. That is an 1997 Woodmizer LT25; purchased for $5k, plus invested another $1k in PM parts to get it running the way I want. That mill will cut a 24 foot long, 32 inch diameter log and comes with the trailer 'package' built in.

[YellowHammer]

The WM LT15 is a workhorse mill, not very expensive and bed sections just bolt on, so you can make the track as long as you want, for milling long timbers.

[Old Greenhorn]

All the advice you have gotten above is pretty spot on. When looking for a mill it is best to look at your requirements in a little more detail. What am I using it for (already answered that, I see), what size logs will I have access to (speaks to required capacity), what funds do I have available, how much production will I need? All these are important questions that will drive the 'right' decision for you. Then there are the 'driven questions' such as how will I handle logs (hydraulics?), where can I stack, sticker, and dry wood, etc.? These things define what fits for you.
 I have a Hud-son 328 I bought used with 24' of track. This I think is a little bigger than what you are looking at, but the design is nearly the same. Engine HP is very important, more is better. It will take a 28" log and i can mill up to about 21' without going crazy. To improve the wobble I get on wide cuts or really hard wood I added holes in the track and lag bolted it to 6x6 timbers that I made and set on leveled cement blocks. Huge improvement. I can add more track anytime I want. Hud-son is in central NY and has responsive support and parts. I also have planned some additions to this mill. For now, it fits my bill just fine and I think I bought it for a steal. I replaced the cash for a better mill purchase for some labor to strengthen this one up. Everything is manual, so you are pushing the mill by hand (easy) and loading logs and turning by hand (not always so easy and sometimes you need another strong helper, see above comment about good cant hooks).
 Yes, if I had the money I might have gone for the Woodmizer, great machines. But I didn't have the money, I am a year and a half in, have only milled a few thousand BF and I love it.
 You have to define what is best for you. Also, finding a guru that can teach you about milling and help you get started is a big help, although everything I learned (and am learning) comes right here from this Forum. There are a few 'lesson humps' we must each get through.

[ladylake]

 The one thing I'd be looking for on a lower cost mill is roller guides, I don't think the sandwich type control the blade as good soon as they get wore a little.  Brand really doesn't matter that much but the heavier built the better.  The lower level Hudson's I've seen at shows did seem kind of  light on the frame but it sure would take much to mount on some 6x6   or heavy I beams.   Steve