Run both bandsaw and circular saw

[Haklof]

Hello, new to the forum!

This summer i will be getting a free extra sawmill, an old circular saw! Its 8meters (26ft) long, 15hp electric motor and 3 saws, No idea how old it is, but probably 50+ years. 
The thing is, i already own a woodland mills hm126 and i really like it, Never tried a big and old circular saw before. I really want to keep the bandsaw and think of using both the mills, but not sure when one is better than the other.

The guy im getting it from said he would use the bandsaw for making the log square, then use the circular saw for making whatever i need. I'm really not sure whats best to do. Is it better the other way around?

Which is better for bigger or smaller logs, which is faster, etc

What pros/cons does the two types have against eachother, and how would you solve this?

Thanks in advance!

[FactorySeconds]

Depends on if you have help and good support equipment. I'd avoid more handling of wood than you need to do so moving a log halfway through the process seems like a bad idea.

I'd just use them both and you'll naturally find where each mill works the best for you.

[Ianab]

3 blades and 15 hp electric? Sounds like a Mobile Dimension saw. Do you have a picture to confirm?

Pros: They are fast, handle really big logs, boards are edged as they are cut and you don't have to roll and reposition the log as you cut it. 

Cons: Board width is limited to the main saw size and the circle saw has a wider kerf (more sawdust) 


Operations that run 2 mills might use a larger circle mill to do the initial break down of a log. They are fast, and the circle saws are less affected by a bit of bark and dirt. Then the nice clean cant is pushed on to a band resaw, with a narrow kerf, allowing an extra board to be recovered from the cant. But for a one man operation that doesn't seem very efficient, one saw will always be idle, and you have to handle the wood an extra time. 


You will probably find that the MD mill becomes your go to for construction lumber and/ or  large logs. It will cut 6x2s from a big pine log as fast as you can stack them, Grade sawing smaller and more valuable hardwood, or live edge slabs will be for your smaller band mill.  

[btulloh]

Turn a log into a cant on the circle saw the put the cant on the bandmill for break down. 

As said above, working with both for a bit will reveal a strategy that fits what you're doing.

Do you some experience with circle mills?

Good luck with new addition. Sounds like a great adventure!

[stavebuyer]

3 saws and 15 hp sounds like an edger.

[Ianab]

3 saws and 15 hp sounds like an edger.

OP says it's 26ft long... 15 hp electric and the optional 2nd edger blade is still a current config on the MD web page.   The MD is a "twin saw" setup, which threw me at first, but can run 2 edger blades.

[Haklof]

3 blades and 15 hp electric? Sounds like a Mobile Dimension saw. Do you have a picture to confirm?

Pros: They are fast, handle really big logs, boards are edged as they are cut and you don't have to roll and reposition the log as you cut it.

Cons: Board width is limited to the main saw size and the circle saw has a wider kerf (more sawdust)


Operations that run 2 mills might use a larger circle mill to do the initial break down of a log. They are fast, and the circle saws are less affected by a bit of bark and dirt. Then the nice clean cant is pushed on to a band resaw, with a narrow kerf, allowing an extra board to be recovered from the cant. But for a one man operation that doesn't seem very efficient, one saw will always be idle, and you have to handle the wood an extra time.


You will probably find that the MD mill becomes your go to for construction lumber and/ or  large logs. It will cut 6x2s from a big pine log as fast as you can stack them, Grade sawing smaller and more valuable hardwood, or live edge slabs will be for your smaller band mill.  

Im sorry, i wrote wrong in this post. I meant to type that i get 3 extra blades, its a single blade saw  :D its an old "farm saw" as we call it in norway, many old farms had these saws, some are still running. Im unable to post a picture