New to the sawmill game..

[Henry-Adams]

I was raised on a farm back in the day but somehow lost sight of those roots. For the last 17 years I've been working as a Deputy Sheriff and a Paramedic and to be honest I've had enough of both. Since I love to work with my hands and being outdoors I thought I'd find something else to do that encompassed both of those loves.

Well I think I may have found it. After I moved to the great white north here in Michigan I made a new friend that owns a Woodmizer bandmill. I've spent a fair amount of time working with his mill and found that I just love it. He has gotten to the point that he's having to turn away more work than he can take in and suggested that I pick up a mill myself. Being long on home equity money and short on brains I thought what the heck.

Well the long and short of it is I'm on my way to Indianapolis on the 19th to pick up my pretty new Woodmizer LT40 HD.

And so the learning curve starts. Any suggestions you all might have would be a warmly appreciated.

 ???

[Bro. Noble]

Welcome Henry,

You're off to a good start having done at least three things right--------got some hands on experience before you went any further,  got a good mill,  and joined up with the best possible source of information that you could possibly find 8)

[Bibbyman]

Welcome to the Forum!

Now you need to get (if you ain't got already) a digital camera and keep us posted of your new adventure.

[oakiemac]

Welcome!
My suggestion would be to go to the pig roast in Harrison Mi on Aug 7th. At the roast you can meet a lot of people that has done this for a long time. It will be a great chance to ask questions and talk with knowledgeable sawyers.

[leweee]

in the mean time read Tom's sage advise in the Knowledge Base under "business tips" & Milling... Bandsaw. from a man that Knows. Lewis

[GF]

My fulltime job is computers,networking, and telecommunications. I have to admit on hot days its nice to have an inside air conditioned job.  But yet it is nice to go out and cut some lumber and get away from the meetings, computers, and politics mostly..

Sometimes hitting a nail is better than having several thousand people without email, internet access etc.  To me cutting lumber is much much more relaxing.

Just my thoughts.  ;)

[EZ]

Welcome to the group, Henry. And good choice with the mill.
I have a good friend that is a sheiff and he puts up with alot of crap, but he said the pay is good and the benefits are great. Wont you miss the benefits.
EZ

[Henry-Adams]

I want to thank you all for taking time to help the latest dust maker newbie.

Bro. Noble; I don't have that much experience running the mill but I at least have the general idea. I just have to keep reminding myself that God loves fools too.

Bibbyman; I do in fact have a digital camera and if I can figure out how to post them here I'll keep you all in the loop. I'll make sure to take it with me when I go to Indy, Wow only 4 days left to go.

Oakiemac; A pig roast! If I can get the time away I'll be there. Where can I get more information on the place and time?

Lewee; I've read every page at least twice and I keep referencing Tom's advise. If I can learn 10% of what he's forgotten I'll do OK.

GF; Your right about hitting a nail. There is something satisfying about being able to just stand back and say "I built that"

EZ; The pay was alright but not that great. Before I left the Sheriff's Office I was a tactical supervisor on the SWAT Team, which I loved. But the truth of the matter is I don't want to be in the position to be judged by some moron on the 6:00 news that doesn't have a clue what he's talking about. That and I'm getting a little long of tooth. At 45 it's been getting harder to keep up with the youngsters on the team, not that I would ever let them know that. Benefits? This morning I sat out on the dock with a cup of coffee, watched the sun come up over the lake and listened to the loons. These benefits are pretty good too.


 8)

[pappy]

Welcome Henry,

To upload pics -- top of the page -- Forum Tools  -- Uploading Photos --

Tom gives you the info you'll need and ifn you got troubles just ask.

The piggy roast link  https://forestryforum.com/cgi-bin/board/YaBB.pl?board=general;action=display;num=1088369600;start=0

You live so close you should be there -- I wish I could  :'(

Your gonna like it here  

[sigidi]

Welcome Henry!!!

good luck with it all.

One question to all... If I may?

Does one have to have experience before buying a mill? and does watching one live about three years ago count as experience??

Thanks,
Allan

[Swede]

 Worked at a lumberyard 6 months in 1971.  When i went to my first costomer I had NEVER opened a log in my life but tested Amerika-Sågen on my yard,  found an old 3"x5" x9'  (pine) on the ground here and made 6-8 cuts. Who need experience?  8)

To tell the whole truth.........I did read "some" and talked to some people too before that job.........

Swede.

[Bro. Noble]

DanG right ya gotta have experience before gettin a mill ;)

Seeing one live three years ago,  or even a picture of one will do : :D :D

[leweee]

Experience is not a prerequist to ownership... but it sure helps ;D When your covered in pitch ,sweat & sawdust your experienced. 8) 8) 8)