What to do with Father in Laws Sawmill?

[JoshNZ]

I myself, couldn't help myself but try to get it started at a minimum. I know nothing about it but it looks neat! Good luck

[dgdrls]

Wanted to thank everyone for their advice and guidance.  Its nice to hear positive things about FILs setup, he was definitely skilled at many things.  

My wife is certainly not excited about me "logging" considering the her fathers accident and how it changed their lives, although she did buy me a nice Stihl chainsaw for Christmas.  I think her idea was cutting up down trees for firewood!  haha.....I wonder if it would make financial sense to hire a logger to drop the trees and then take the process from there or if you need to really do it all?  I would be cutting for wood to support my future projects, building a pole barn, mini cabin, mantle, etc.  

I'm going to do some youtubing this weekend to see some of these mills in action, then head back to the pole barn and check things out in greater detail.  

Thanks again!
Jason

Hey  jsahara24,

you have a reason to mill,  get a qualified logger in to drop the trees you need and fire that Betty up!

D

[Quebecnewf]

The more pics we see the more impressed I am . That edger looks real impressive . The planer is a old single sided planer . There great machines and once tuned up can plane up lots of lumber in a day . 

You updated your profile but I see for age you put N/A. I hate to say it but I think it is the complete opposite of N/A.

Tuning up the sawmill and getting everything running and spinning I would say the age of N/A is ok .

Out in the woods felling your first large hardwood tree an age of N/A is not going to cut it .

It's a fact that at 60 let's say your not a quick and nimble as you are at 30 .

I'm 60 now and have been logging part time all my life . I would not want to be just starting to learn it now . I log only softwood and even with my experience I would be real nervous going into cut large hardwood trees . If I had never cut any logs at all I don't think I would even chance it at my age . 

Be safe and learn all you can 

Quebecnewf 

[jsahara24]

More than anything else, you need to find someone who has run one of those mills.  I don't know how to tell you to find him, but he's out there; a retired sawyer who would enjoy helping get you started.  Ask around; surely a logger or chainsaw shop  can get you in the right direction.  Watching a well run circle mill is fascinating; a good sawyer can plan out his cuts to minimize the number of turns and maximize the yield, and a good sawyer and offbearer can make it look simple as they do the same things all day long.  The problem is that unless you have a pretty good idea of what he is doing, it's sometimes hard to read the sawyer's mind.  You can read all that you want, but nothing will prepare you for sawing like having someone with experience explain to you what he is doing step by step.  Cutting for grade or sawing ties or sawing pallet lumber or making framing lumber; every one is a little different.  You need to know what it is you want to get out of the logs, and have someone teach you how to do that.  That's a very nice setup; it would be a shame to sell it off.

Good advice and thanks....If I get it going again it wouldn't be on a commercial level, just for personal use.....so I would probably be doing it by myself most of the time, perhaps with some help from the wife or my brother occasionally....Everyone seems to say you need multiple people to run it......
A local logger select cut the property about 15 years ago before I was involved, perhaps meeting with him would help clarify the situation....

[jsahara24]

The more pics we see the more impressed I am . That edger looks real impressive . The planer is a old single sided planer . There great machines and once tuned up can plane up lots of lumber in a day .

You updated your profile but I see for age you put N/A. I hate to say it but I think it is the complete opposite of N/A.

Tuning up the sawmill and getting everything running and spinning I would say the age of N/A is ok .

Out in the woods felling your first large hardwood tree an age of N/A is not going to cut it .

It's a fact that at 60 let's say your not a quick and nimble as you are at 30 .

I'm 60 now and have been logging part time all my life . I would not want to be just starting to learn it now . I log only softwood and even with my experience I would be real nervous going into cut large hardwood trees . If I had never cut any logs at all I don't think I would even chance it at my age .

Be safe and learn all you can

Quebecnewf

Thanks for the PDFs links and the other posts of encouragement!
I am 37 years old and plan to live on the farm for the rest of my life...but I do not have much interest in cutting down a bunch of trees myself, but I do have interest in being able to cut trees into lumber for future projects....I was thinking before I started this post that maybe I should pick up a more simple to operate bandsaw mill because this setup seemed above my pay grade, but now that i'm starting to understand what everything is and does i'm thinking maybe it is within my grasp.....
Regardless of what I decide getting an education in the matter is something I know I will always appreciate....

[dgdrls]

The more pics we see the more impressed I am . That edger looks real impressive . The planer is a old single sided planer . There great machines and once tuned up can plane up lots of lumber in a day .

You updated your profile but I see for age you put N/A. I hate to say it but I think it is the complete opposite of N/A.

Tuning up the sawmill and getting everything running and spinning I would say the age of N/A is ok .

Out in the woods felling your first large hardwood tree an age of N/A is not going to cut it .

It's a fact that at 60 let's say your not a quick and nimble as you are at 30 .

I'm 60 now and have been logging part time all my life . I would not want to be just starting to learn it now . I log only softwood and even with my experience I would be real nervous going into cut large hardwood trees . If I had never cut any logs at all I don't think I would even chance it at my age .

Be safe and learn all you can

Quebecnewf

Thanks for the PDFs links and the other posts of encouragement!
I am 37 years old and plan to live on the farm for the rest of my life...but I do not have much interest in cutting down a bunch of trees myself, but I do have interest in being able to cut trees into lumber for future projects....I was thinking before I started this post that maybe I should pick up a more simple to operate bandsaw mill because this setup seemed above my pay grade, but now that i'm starting to understand what everything is and does i'm thinking maybe it is within my grasp.....
Regardless of what I decide getting an education in the matter is something I know I will always appreciate....

That rig can be a money maker for the farm. 
I sent you a private message ,
D

[Jeff]

I was thinking before I started this post that maybe I should pick up a more simple to operate bandsaw mill because this setup seemed above my pay grade, but now that i'm starting to understand what everything is and does i'm thinking maybe it is within my grasp

Well, I learned how as a kid of 18. Thrown into the fire when they fired the guy teaching me how to saw 6 weeks in because my production was so far ahead of his. Oh boy, those were some times. And here we are now. All part of why this website exists. You can do it.

[Vautour]

@Jeff... That's the funniest story ever... :D

[WDH]

I would think that if you are only going to saw for personal use, that is way too much mill.  You might be better off to sell it and invest some of the $ in a much more user friendly portable bandmill that you can easily operate by yourself.

[Quebecnewf]

I would think that if you are only going to saw for personal use, that is way too much mill.  You might be better off to sell it and invest some of the $ in a much more user friendly portable bandmill that you can easily operate by yourself.

WDH makes a good point . For sure a bandmill is more of a one person friendly setup.

your young and interested so take your time and soak up all the info you can before you make your move .

one problem I see is while the mill is a sweet setup it's a big job to break it down and move it . This of course drives the selling price down . That being said I'm quite sure you can get a fair price for it if you decide to sell .

i see lots of reading and pondering your move in your near future .

keep us in the loop and ask away with the questions . We're here to help and inform


Quebecnewf

[SawyerTed]

You have a dream setup sitting in your lap.  The only thing is you need to love making sawdust.  Somehow you have to ask yourself and answer honestly if you love handling logs and making lumber.  It is hard work and I've never met anyone who made a fortune sawing lumber. 

If you love making sawdust, then getting that setup running and learning to saw on it is what I would do.  

If you decide sawing isn't for you, that sawmill will be worth more running than sitting 

[moodnacreek]

Too much mill? Never enough mill. And I should know. That set up represents a lot of hard work. With the right conveyers you can saw and edge by yourself like I do. You won't set any records for sure. You stop and stack when all the decks are full, the longer the decks the more you can saw.  Let me tell you it's all about the iron, the more the better.  There is one problem and that is the generator. Compared to a belted diesel they burn a lot of fuel and if your not producing something that will pay it hurts. The problem is that to do the one man thing I have done requires electricity.

[longtime lurker]

Too much mill? Never enough mill. And I should know. That set up represents a lot of hard work. With the right conveyers you can saw and edge by yourself like I do. You won't set any records for sure. You stop and stack when all the decks are full, the longer the decks the more you can saw.  Let me tell you it's all about the iron, the more the better.  There is one problem and that is the generator. Compared to a belted diesel they burn a lot of fuel and if your not producing something that will pay it hurts. The problem is that to do the one man thing I have done requires electricity.

Yup, on the list of things I've never said is we need less sawmill.
For myself I love electric.... that constant torque is sooo sweet after a just barely big enough diesel. And it's expandable in terms off plug in the next good toy. 220 kVa is big though for whats there, but not stupidly so.

Here's the thing.... what you have here is a handset mill that's in fair order (might need debugging but its pretty much good to go by the look). It's in a shed. You've got the power source, you've got the blower to remove sawdust, you've got a decent edger, and a planer that is servicable. It's a workable sawline, and a sawline is far more than just a sawmill.
You've also got a small source of logs, albeit a logger went through 15 years back so the cream is gone but they do keep growing. You also have (extrapolating) a logger. Logger's are a good thing when you run a circle saw because 80 acres of woodlot wont keep it fed for long.

What you lack is
(1) machinery to handle logs and lumber, unless you've got them but I'm going on what I can see. So you'd be up for a loader and a forklift, or a tele, or at least a bobcat or tractor with FEL.
(2) experience with running a saw, or in the wood business in general.

In what I'm about to suggest there are a lot of what if's... I don't have the faintest as to what market conditions are like there, or the depth of your log supply, or any of the 30 other things that would need to be considered. But...

Find an honest, experienced guy that knows what he's doing. Then either lease it to him, or put him on shares or something. Get it running, get a few dollars in the door, start upgrading (hydraulic carriage is a no brainer). You've got the guts of a viable stand alone business sitting there... that's not a setup that was built to cut a few boards for the farm, and 20 years ago it would have been competitive. He didn't put in a 220kVa genset to run that, he had an expansion plan for sure. I'd start with your logger - he'll know a guy who knows a guy who fits the bill.

[WDH]

If I get it going again it wouldn't be on a commercial level, just for personal use.....

[Ljohnsaw]

 :P

[jsahara24]

Lots of great ideas and I like to always consider all my options....Thanks!

We do have some equipment, a bobcat 845 skid steer with forks and a John Deere 850 with a front end loader.   As for trees id say the property is ready to be seletively logged again, there are a good number of mature trees but I agree they would run out pretty quickly doing it commercially.  I would also need to hire someone as I am not leady to leave my job.  

As for selling it, it would be a pretty major project just to get it dissassembled and out of there i'd think.   I don't think our equipment would be enough to get it loaded.  

I am going to continue learning and wait to make any decisions for a while... 

Thanks

[jsahara24]

Is this a hydraulic carriage?  

[crowhill]

37 years old and that equipment all sitting there, can only say wow! What must be spinning in your head! I would be out visiting some old timers to find some answers as to how this could play out. Even if it were a bandsaw you would still have most of the same questions I'm sure. Just take your time it'll come together. Good luck!

[Ron Wenrich]

The problem with handset mills is that they aren't worth a whole lot.  They're usually bought by people who like the old mills or someone one who uses it for a hobby mill.  They cost less than a bandmill, will put out production a whole lot quicker, and aren't all that difficult to run.  The hardest part of the mill is already done.  It is already put in place and is ready to run.  So, if you're looking for a hobby mill, you're all set.  If you're looking to sell it, you could make it a stipulation that the buyer removes it.  

I'm not sure what part of Schuylkill county you're from, but I know how some loggers in the area that "selective" log.  All depends who was in there last as to the quality that was left.  You might be able to find someone to come in and cut some trees down for some weekend cash.  You can then drag them in to your mill for your own use.  Getting a logger in to cut your timber for your use is probably a different story.  For them to move in equipment, they'll want to do a sizable cut.  They're also more expensive then a weekend cutter.  They would only fit you in when they don't have anything better to do.  If you go the weekend cutter route, I'd talk to a few local mills to see if they knew of someone who would do that work.  

I'd also stress you should have a forester at least look at the timber knowing that there wouldn't be a timber sale involved.  It takes out the sales motive.  If you want to have it managed, have them mark the timber for future growth.  That might end up being taking out the junk that has been left behind.  It could mean a lot of firewood.  

If you need someone to give you pointers on your mill, I have a bit of experience on both handset and automatic mills.  I don't think my back will take running a handset mill any more, but I still remember how it's done.  40 yrs industry experience.  I'm down in Lebanon county.  

[Jeff]

I'd love to come over and teach and play if I weren't so far away. If you can get Ron to come, you wouldn't be able to do better than that.

[longtime lurker]

Is this a hydraulic carriage?  

No that's your carriage drive... the winch that pulls the carriage back and forth past the saw.

Handset or automatic refers to the carriage itself... the way the knees/headblocks (the upright bits the log lays against on the carriage) is operated to move the log sideways to determine the depth of cut. Yours is handset.... someone with a strong back gets up there and
works those big ratchets to shift the log sideways for each cut.


 
Automatics use either hydraulic or pneumatic rams to do the same task from the sawyers position. It's a whole lot faster and easier and means you need one less guy to do twice the amount of work

[mad murdock]

That set up there with 2 or 3 people would spit out more wood in a day than you could use in a couple months of building projects. It is set up for some good production.  Would want a fork lift or tractor with forks for the material flow that mill would generate. Very nice setup!!

[Woodpecker52]

Headblocks move log face  out into saw blade path relatively easy, springs move the blocks back easily also,  Setting the dogs was not that hard,  Hardest part was manual turning of the logs when blocks moved back a well greased block and good cant hook a necessity , Turning log would give you a good workout but work is good for the body and you quickly get use to it.  I would suggest you go to Utube and watch clips of people using a manual circle mill.  Some excellent ones.  It does take 3 to 4 people to run on any production basis and for safety reasons are needed.  I had a Corley mill similar to this frick mill and it still operates down the road, but for a hobby basis I am glad I got a bandmill which I can operate by myself and at my own pace.  I would not even attempt to run this circle mill without other people. Sawyer, One or two to turn logs, and one to off load lumber etc.  The sawyer is the one that has to understand what is going on all the time.  Some of the things I remember, How much log to expose first,  when To turn log and always when to call it quits on the cut,  I usually ran into trouble at the end with some last cuts slipping off the dogs etc.  Getting the carriage speed, blade speed right, not overheating the blade, blade wobble, clatter, sighting down the blade, carriage cable slip or jerk,  Once had carriage jump off rails but lucky blocks did not hit the blade.  When things go bad they can go bad in an instant.  Now I only have to worry about a band breaking and it is always enclosed by safety shield.

[Ron Wenrich]

I sawed many a day with just one other person on the mill.  It isn't ideal, but you can get a fairly good production.  To saw decent production, I used 2 other people.  With 2 people, I was sawing all the time, and the extra was bringing in logs, moving and stacking lumber.  When you get to automation, you need more people because of the jump in production.

[luap]

Is this a hydraulic carriage?  

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That is a hydraulic motor connected to the cable drum. In your picture of the husk there is a yellow box with drive belts and a lever. That is a oil tank hydraulic pump combination. The lever will direct the flow to the motor and cause it to rotate, thus moving the carriage. Direction will depend on which way the lever moves and speed will depend on how far the lever moves.