Swinger portable sawyers for hire

[hackberry jake]

Why don't you see more swingers in the "portable sawing for hire" category in the states. I know they're popular over seas. Is it because our average log size is too small to be efficient with a swinger? Or maybe American customers want wider boards? Or maybe we have more metal in out trees than they do?

[POSTON WIDEHEAD]

I have heard there are more SWINGERS over seas than in the U.S. 

[Ianab]

I'd guess log size is the main reason.

When your "normal" logs are 3, 4, 5ft dia a portable band saw just doesn't cut it. A swingblade or twinsaw handles them easily, and you can still cut 12" logs if needed. If your logs are 12-24" then pretty much any band saw can handle the job.  A manual one will do it cheaper, and a hydraulic one may do it easier with the power log handling and board dragbacks etc.

The Swingblades come into their own for the occasional oversize log, but if that's only a small percentage it may not be the best mill for the job.

Neither mill likes hitting metal. Damage to a swingmill blade is usually not serious, worst case is you loose the carbide tips and it needs repairing

Wide boards? Everyone goes "wow" over wide boards, but 99% of the time they get ripped into narrow ones for actual use...

Most portable mills here are Swingblades or Twinsaws simply due to the log size. Woodmizers etc are a real unusual sight.

Ian

[JohnM]

Even with those reasons, wide boards/log size/etc, am I crazy for really, really, really wanting a swing mill?  I'm not sure when or if it's going to happen but I've completely and totally sold myself on getting a swinger.  (Leave it alone Poston.  ;) :D)

JM

[terrifictimbersllc]

Probably not crazy.  You have a space, like a hole, in your brain that probably only a swing mill will fill.  You will probably have to spend $20K or more to find out what happens when you fill it. After that you will have a used swing mill, no $20k,  more experience, and no more hole. Then it will be something else. 

[hackberry jake]

Do you regret buying yours TT?

[POSTON WIDEHEAD]

Even with those reasons, wide boards/log size/etc, am I crazy for really, really, really wanting a swing mill?  I'm not sure when or if it's going to happen but I've completely and totally sold myself on getting a swinger.  (Leave it alone Poston.  ;) :D)

JM

John, I hope you get the SAW you're looking for.    Hows that? 

[metalspinner]

I see a need for both.

If I were to get into the sawmill ownership world it would be with a swingmill and a small bandmill - like an lt-15.  I've hired both types of mills many times over the years to saw urban logs. MHO is that the swing mill really shines for the range of log types I come across from the city and its portability - into a backyard or down into a gully.

The reason for the small band mill, in my make believe world, is mainly to use as a resaw and for secondary cutting options in support of my range of woodworking interests. Of course regular sized logs can be efficiently sawn on the bandmill, too.

Yep, that's what I want. One of each. ;D

[Peder McElroy]

I have both and I like them the same.They each have there place in the milling world. I use the Lucas 618 for large logs and framing lumber and the woodmizer LT40 HD for larger beams and framing lumber and siding. I use mine as fixed in place and not portable.
Peder

[sgschwend]

I have had both and used them by myself or with helpers.

The swingmill was only used with a stationary frame to create a workable material handling scheme so that it was as productive as the higher production band mills. Otherwise you are going to work harder with a swing mill.  I would suggest that the hydraulic band mills purchase price is higher but their is a noticeable labor savings. 

The sawdust is different between them, the swing mill chips are bigger so they take more space, after about 1000 bf the pile near the mill is a foot deep.   I could run 3-4mbf with the band saw for the same volume.

[metalspinner]

sgschwend,

Otherwise you are going to work harder with a swing mill.  I would suggest that the hydraulic band mills purchase price is higher but their is a noticeable labor savings. 

Theres the difference between a sawyer and a tailer.   ;) When tailing lumber off the band mill, I am always much more worn out at the end of the day than tailing off the swinger.

The deck of the portable band mill is much higher and I am constantly reach out and up.  Plus, the slabs coming of the bandmill can be much heavier than off the swinger. And for run of the mill cutting on either saw, the boards are generally larger off the bandmill due to its wider cutting capacity.

[sgschwend]

I am not surprise that your impression is different from mine, that is the great thing about this type of forum we can all learn from our collective experiences.

On the left cost we are mostly cutting softwood even though there is plenty of hardwood around.  So the material produced tend to follow a set pattern: dimensional lumber, siding and lastly beams.

We often cut long logs 16-22' long.  Cutting short logs is fairly uncommon, given the choice I reserve that length for butt ends (the tapper would be a big issue otherwise).  A green 22' long 2X6 will weigh 80lbs, so anything over 2X6 is going to be a bit of a wrestling match to pull off the mill.

[sigidi]

I totally understand the "need" for a swinger I was just on the phone today saying I will have great grandkids and still own a Lucas, no way I will ever sell mine unless another is already on the road to my house!!!

In my opinion you get a whole heap of flexibility, I get hired by a local Peterson operator to slab for him and also he passes on my number for mobile jobs cos he doesn't want to move his mill. Mine packs up nicely on the back of my ute and have had occasions to set it up in some crazy spots  I have milled logs up to 5' wide right down to 8" diameter, sawn timber from 350x350mm down to 19x19mm pretty much everything  ;) 8)