Always wanted a sawmill of your own? Well here's your chance!

[Furby]

Custom sawing machine. ;)

[Stephen1]

My Turn,

      We bought property for a Sugar Bush 25 years ago. We cleared the land for the Sugar Shack and wondered what we were going to do with the EWP we had cut down, simple, lets get someone to mill it for us. Well it so happened that everyone we called was to busy to come and get our logs so we loaded them on a boat trailer and hauled them to the mill. That was the start of sawdust in my blood. the mill was a family run mill so we would get to hang out a little to see our logs turn into lumber. 5 years later the hydro came thru and clear cut the right of way on our property leaving us with another load of logs to deal with. this time we found a old gentlemen with a portable mill, not a band mill, diesel, belt driven powered from the back of his truck, with the mill on a portable trailer. Quite the operation. We milled over 5000 bdf that day. The blood is getting thicker now. Well 5 years ago I bought the logs for my log cabin and started building. One dream is almost complete the buiding of the log cabin.

The next dream is to have a sawmill.  I am close, I have spent the last 2 years researching, reading, searching the want adds,  then along comes the Skillmill. I have visited this web site dozens of time looking for more info, I even find the Canadian distributer. I have to pass his shop on my way for a family vacation, perfect, I arrange to stop in and see this mill in operation. The day we are to leave on vacation I break my heal, on the couch for 6 weeks. no mill this year. I even visit the farm show on crutches to see the Skillmill, but no demo was set up. Last week I get an e-mail from Peterson, that the Canadian Distributor will be in Kenora Ontario with a demo setup so I can see it run. Would have been nice but it is a 24hr drive to Kenora from here.
I believe it is the closest to what I need. Portable, one man operation, if needed, no need to try and move the logs by myself to the mill. I hope to see it in operation in June at the Bancroft show.
   With the Skillmill I can make my trim for the log cabin. The next project is a cabin\shop at my cottage out of 6x8s, cut from the sugar bush and the blowdowns from last years tornado. The T&G can be cut right on the Skillmill with new siding cut at the same time for my cottage.
Good luck to all in the this contest.

[wtf]

A salute to the folks at Peterson and FF, Great stories also (I can't enter, I have a mill)

Russ

[HSV]

Hi all,

aggiewoodbutchr: sorry it's taken me so long to reply.
If CSM does in fact stand for Custom Sawing Machine, I'm guessing that means that it was made to saw logs?  If that's the case, then I'm thinking it's pretty much a sawmill so I'm afraid that no, you can't enter.  But, it's great to see you come out of the woodwork  ;)

Well, we're down to 1 week to go.  So for everyone who was thinking of entering, go ahead and do it.  Everyone here is thoroughly enjoying your posts so far, and we can't wait to take a quiet hour or so next Wednesday and read over them all.

Thanks everyone 

[Radar67]

CSM- Chain Saw Mill

[Sprucegum]

CSM - Can't Saw Much

CSM - Coulda Sold Mine

CSM - Can't Stop Mumbling  ;D  ;D

[Jesse Frank]

Wow, this is a really nice thing you've got going!

I'm relatively new to the forum, but had the chance to meet JeffB and DanG along side Woodbowl and others a little while back ;D

Well, I'm a full time bladesmith working in the old norse traditions, and try to do as much as I can from scratch... Making knives/swords/tools with as many traditional methods as I can, making steel from dirt, to now making a shop in the traditional Norwegian grindverksbygg construction, using mostly tools that I've made myself, from cant hooks to chisels to handsaws and gantry cranes ;D Haven't used a bonafide mill before, but I did get to see DanG use his, which was awe inspiring in comparison to the jig I made for my little MS290 ;) I'm really just getting into woodworking, but like all other things, I'm throwing myself into it with both feet!

I'm diggin' that skillmill, I like that it's so versitile, especially that it will do shiplaps, as I'm hoping to build a viking style ship based on one of the boats from the gotsgad find, and as much siding as I can. The one man operation is fantastic, the fact that it's electric is good in my book, I would imagine lots less noise, and the fact that one can sharpen the blade yourself is to me a HUGE advantage. Add all that to the fact that I wouldn't have to beat myself up with that little chainsaw and you've got one heck of a package 8)

Good golly, I don't know if I can think of all the stuff I'd use that thing for. Like I said, building my new shop, I'm getting into traditional joinery and furniture making, the wife and I plan on building a house here on the property we bought last year(a year ago on the 16th), I've been into boat building, and the viking ship is next on the list after the skin on frame kayaks I've already got started(I think It would be neat to make some of those with self milled lumber, too). I think one of the coolest things I would do with it is to make lot's of old timey machines, like the capstan, and a tilt hammer, and any sort of machinery that you can think of that can be made from wood. I really like using ancient technology, keeping that part of our past alive. One of the most appealing things to me is the reuse old, well loved trees, and the fact that they will still be useful, instead of simply being burnt in a pile or worse, being sent to the landfill.

Thanks for the outstanding opportunity!
Jesse Frank

[steverina]

Firstly we would like to let you know we are writing on behalf of our Dad, who wistfully mentioned to us that there was an awesome competition being held for a sawmill, knowing our Dad and believing he deserves a prize (for being the best Dad amongst other things) we've opted to enter for him. We must apologise for the delay in getting this in, if Dad was aware of it, we would have had to have it in by 6.15am on the day of opening!! 

Dad was born in Middleborough, UK where the only tree you'd find was when someone was throwing their shoe rack at you or something you hung your cups on, he left at 16 to join the merchant navy and see the world, and through various adventures he met our mother and eventually settled in Beautiful New Zealand, a land full of native and introduced forestry with his young family. 

He has since retired to sunny Northland on 50 acres of tea tree, macrocarpa, torara, cabbage, wattle and the dreaded GORSE tree filled land, with paddocks full of this insidious weed (gorse) he has been hard at work clearing his land manually and has developed  tennis elbow from the over use of his machete, until he was blessed with a "STIHL brush cutter" and a very small but eager beaver chainsaw, both of which he has put to great use almost daily, he has recently formed a friendship with another tree cutting hobbyist who to Dad's long lustful interest has a PETERSON sawmill with slabber, from the first time our Dad set  his eyes on this amazing machine in action it stopped him in his tracks ............. literally he was driving down a country road one day and spotted three men working with their "Peterson" he just had to stop there and then and made his way over to the milling action and was there for at least 2 hours, probing for the answers to all his questions, so you could just imagine his joy when he discovered his new found friend  obtained one of these mill, They have a combined age of 128 and the mill takes a lot of time for these geriatrics to set up, after they have finally managed to get it ready the day is over, and they have to hope to start milling the following day. As you can envision it is a full commitment by both men to get out and start this process.

There are lots of large logs scattered all over Dad's land, but these are hard to get to with his mate's mill, Dad reckons this skill mill would be ideal for these places.   

We recently drove 3 hours one-way to another township to watch a mill demonstration and Dad drooled all over this piece of, in Dad words "Bloody Great Machine", he now spends many hours a night on the Forestry Forum website picking up tips and advice on how the maintain the equipment he currently owns.

Our Dad is one of the most deserving and workaholic people we know, I can promise you this mill will live a hardworking and much loved life, with our very own Foreman of the North.
Please make an old mans dreams come true! smiley_old_guy

P.S I'm getting married soon, and I've got a perfect spot for a macrocarpa table!!

[beenthere]

About me:  I've been into trees as a hobby and a profession for the last 45+ years, and never owned a sawmill (but have operated and tailed on everything from large circle mills to small chain-saw mills). I love the smell of fresh-sawn wood from logs. I even had the golden opportunity to help with the big redwood log sawing extravaganza in Wisconsin a few weeks ago. I have about 20 acres of mature hardwoods that include walnut, white oak, white ash, basswood, soft maple, and have planted about 6,000 trees over the past 40 years of ownership. It's getting about time to turn some of these trees into lumber, instead of only firewood. This firewood pile includes a few good size (not the highest quality) white oak that could make some fine oak lumber, or fence posts, or dimension. That log end is 20" diam.



About the Skillmill website: I've watched the video several times and the portability and set-up time are very intriguing, and fit some interests I have in milling some of my own timber. The more I think on it, the more I believe I would want to saw out lumber larger than 4 inches, say at least 6", so that would be a suggested improvement for me (or I just need to get the larger Peterson mill  ;D). I do like the electric motor, as I would then have the perfect reason to finally buy the generator set for other uses, and for back-up to house electrical power.

About winning? I would buy the gen set right off, go logging and bring in some higher quality logs from my timber stand (improvement practices, for sure), and start sawing boards and dimension. Probably cut some of my red and white pine planted in 1965, and start a new shed to house the new toys and a solar drying kiln right away. Time would tell if I then would want to cut wider stock, and decided to upgrade to a larger swing mill, like the ATS.

I wish good luck to all who have submitted their stories and wish the winner the most fun of all.

[HSV]

Hi everyone!

Well, a new week has already started here in New Zealand.  It's supposed to be Autumn (Fall), but the weather is warm and sunny, we're hoping it continues this way.

There are only three days remaining in the competition, so those who haven't already, get your stories coming in!  We have already started the judging process for those who have entered, I'll tell you how it's happening:

Each staff member gets two randomly selected stories.  That person judges their two stories only, rates them from 1-10 based not on spelling and grammar, but on personality and emotion. 

We will then find the 10 highest ranked stories and will send those through to Chris(Husband) and Kerris(Wife) who along with Tammy and Jeff B. will draw the winner at the Forestry Forum site this coming Friday May 18 at Noon.  Make sure you're there for the draw    I can't be  :(

I'll tell you now, the guys are pretty impressed, one of our Fitters in the factory has already rated one entry a 10  8)  Before you ask, no way, I'm not saying who!

Let's close the competition at 6pm EST Wednesday.  I will post the 10 finalists shortly thereafter.

Get your entries in quick.  It's getting very exciting!!!   ;D

[Dale Hatfield]

What a cool contest. Here is my entry
I didn't come from a milling or timber family. I  was brought into this world by a hard work man that spent his life digging coal then working in the steel mill . We were raised in a pretty rural area but a postage stamp was our piece of property, out of all the farms and woods around us. What a great place to grow up creeks to jump in ,fields to run in and woods to get lost in. My playground was the neighbors land we didn't have to buy it or build it. I was happy being in the outdoors. High school years I spent longing for what we didn't do. I wanted to raise cattle, horses and farm. Since we didn't have the land I found ways to make this happen for me. I spent every free  moment of time I could working with people that  had animals and picked their brains and got my hands dirty. I showed cows at the county fairs ,groomed draft horses that  pulled the hitches. Milked cows and plowed and planted.

High school was over and I needed to find a college so I went to  forestry school. It was their that I caught the sawdust bug. First  I spent a year in a Timber harvesting class, then on to my true forestry classes. Then into Tree care classes. I spent 3 years at a 2 year school looking to make myself a well rounded  person in the world of trees. I became pretty skilled at tree climbing and timber cutting and that's where my focus stayed.

Fast forward a few years I landed a job at the same college I went to school at.  I now spend my days working with the same type of kid I was. I teach Timber harvesting/tree care. Inside of that we have a small mill a Lt15 that the students get to use and learn to read the outside of a log. We took them full circle a few years ago  from standing trees to building a new office.
This is were I caught the sawmill bug. I love nothing more to roll a log onto the mill . Then to see all the neat and beautiful grain patterns that come out.

A few years ago I found the chainsaw carving world . I dove head long into that It has now became my second job.
Now that I'm married and looking to settle into a place of my own.  My wife and I raise a few horses and dogs. So now I need a mill more than ever. The project list is building and the money like most is always short.
But the projects could be accomplished with a mill. A  House , horse barn and sheds, fence and rustic furniture.
We don't own wooded property. But I have an endless supply , of what we call urban logs. Logs from tree removals and lot clearance. Yes Yes they have some problems  some rot , hardware and  such. But I hate to see these logs go to waste. They will make great lumber on the skillmill. Siding ,trim and an construction lumber. Plus I can add my slabbing setup and make the slabs I need for the carvings.

Thanks
Dale Hatfield

[ksu_chainsaw]

Well here goes nothing, or my entry into the contest.

1.   Tell us a little about yourself.  What is your background?  Do you have woodchips in your blood?  Have you used a sawmill before - if so, what kind and in what application?

Well, I started out cutting 50+ cords of firewood a year during high school to pay for my truck, and I thought that all the large logs that I was turning into firewood would be better used if I turned them into lumber.  I was also using the money from the firewood sales to buy lumber for woodworking projects.  I bought a Logosol Timber Jig to try out, and realized that I was not utilizing my time efficiently- if I figured in my hourly rate, I was paying 2-3 times the cost compared to buying the same board from the store.  When I was deployed to Iraq, I saved up and was going to purchase a mill when I got home, but the wife changed my mind and we used that money as a down payment on a house, and I didn't want to get a loan for a hobby item.  I went to visit Larry Kopas and ran his bandmill a little bit, and that made me want a mill even more- still looking at the money situation.  I also went and visited Paul W. (woodsteach) who has a Brand X mill, and realized that for most of what I wanted to cut, a swing mill would be ideal. 

2.   Click here to take a look at the Skillmill website if you haven't already.  This is the mill you may be winning.  What features appeal to you the most?  Do you have any suggestions on how we could improve the mill? 

I have been drooling over this mill since it was introduced.  I like the fact that it is an electric mill, as I have a generator that can power it, and in town the neighbors wouldn't complain as much about the noise.  I also like the infinite angle adjustment for making tapered posts for remodeling work.  A suggestion for improving the mill would be to have extensions available to cut a 16' board with the mill.

3.   Finally, tell us what you would use it for if you won?  Do you have trees on your property?  Do you make furniture etc?

If I won this mill, I would use it to build my wife's horse barn, her horse fence, and my daughter's playhouse.  I also would use it to redo our hay trailers with better decking than 2x treated SYP.  I think that 8/4" Hedge would be a lot longer lasting deck.  Although I don't have any trees that could be turned into lumber on my small yard, my family has over 50 acres of timber ground, and the farmers in my area are always wanting to gain more ground.  I have rescued many LARGE cottonwood logs from a dozer pile in the past few years- anywhere from 30" dia to 60" dia logs.  I would love to be able to turn those logs into lumber for myself, instead of the local pallet mill picking them up and turning them into pallets.  In my full time job, I build everything from small retirement and recognition plaques to shipping crates to custom cabinets.  I would love to turn some of the trees that are pushed into burn piles into lumber that is then turned into long lasting furniture or awards.

Thanks,
Charles Wist

[lawyer_sawyer]

Well to tell about myself is something I am not the best at but the opportunity is one I can't turn down.  I am currently waiting for the State of Michigan to let me konw that they need a new attorney to practice law.  I went to law school and have taken the bar and waiting for the results of that.  To get to the bar was the 3 years of law school which is where I was introduced to the idea and desire to own and operate a sawmill.  I don't remember exactly how it came to pass my finding the forestry forum but once found I visited often as a lurker and then joined.  After joining and reading ....and reading ...and reading i pretty much fell in love with the Peterson style of sawmill.  The reading also included watching the videos on their website and sending away for the demo video.

Apart from lawschool and reading the forum I was in the first few years of my marriage and my wife who thinks this is a slightly odd obsession has been very supportive.  I have one helper already who is two and a half who wants to help carry every heavy thing Daddy carries.  He hasn't quite figured out that when you help to carry you are supposed to make it easier by lifting not heavier by pulling down but the smile on his face makes it difficult to tell him he is doing it wrong.  My next helper on all projects is on the way and should be here some time in the first of august.  My wife is definitely hoping sooner but whenever God says its time is fine with us.

My wife apart from thinking this an odd obsession made it possible for me to see my first sawmill in operation.  Friends of her parents run a circle saw over by Lake Michigan and the owner had a bandsawmill that he cut a couple logs on to show me what it was like.  after being at his operation and feeling the fresh cut lumber it is hard to not desire to do it yourself.  could say the addiction fully took hold that day from what was just a recreational approach of my reading on the forum.

The last thing to maybe talk about is my name on this forum.  at the time I registered both careers were very appealing and I come to realize that you can do both just one is full time and the other is part time.  waiting on the state and waiting on the drawing puts both of the careers up in the air but the drawing comes before the state so maybe I will have to change my name to sawyer_lawyer

I will be moving back to a city environment after a year in the country because of a job opportunity with a friend of mine.  The desire to own a sawmill has not diminished but the ease of owning it is greatly increased with the ability to tear it down to the components like The Skill Mill
the attachment or option I like the best about the saw is the angles of adjustment that are available.  I have some friends who could use rough cut siding for some of the homes they are building.
The one idea and I couldn't tell from the vidoe or the photos would be a cord holder so that it would be above the track and not pulling on its connection at the motor.  I feel silly writing this because I am sure it has been thought of but I didn't notice it and it would be safer to not pull on the electrical connections.

my use for the mill would be as I had said helping friends who would need rough cut siding first of all.  After that i will probably become a good friend of the city where I am going and try to get as many logs from them as possible.  I would cut wood for my own use or for people I know who might use the wood themselves.  nothing set in stone for sure but I have made a couple of pieces of furniture for my wife and I and I can see new projects in the future if I make my own boards.

Since I will be moving shortly and my wife is pregnant I won't be allowed to go anywhere for the drawing.  if you have to be present to win that is not something I can do. 

I think this is a great contest and wish all the applicants the best
Good luck all

[DoubleD]

Ok here is my enter. When i saw a little kid I helped my Grandpa to brings cows to pasture. My grandparents keep the cows until I was 5, they couldn't keep them anymore nor could my parents at that time. My love for country life grew since then, I also studied in an agricultural school to follow my passion and i applied for a job in this field since I finished the studies but without success. I worked as mason, in a agricultural office and my current job as maintenance man, it is difficult to find a job that will last more than 6 months, my current job will end by mid September, so it is nearly impossible to find a financing an equipment like a sawmill. As I used to do during summer holiday from school, when I have not a job I pass my day working in day parents ex farm, where we do our garden and raise some chicken and rabbits, we cut our firewood as well. I have ever enjoied working with wood,especially the smell of fresh sawn wood, so I early started to pestering on my dad to let me use the chainsaw when I was 13 (only under his control and only to bucking small log), so there I got sawdust in my blood.I always thought ththat there will be better things to do with wood other than firewood. I didn't konw that could exist small portable mill until I came across the Forestry Forum. I thought that sawmill could be only big circle or big band mill. Since then I hoped to own a small mill to be self employed and an income all year long and possible all life long. In my mind I have a lot of project where a sawmill will be a useful tool: a new chicken barn, new fences for my gardenan outdoor gazebo a cover for my small tractor and I lerned something custom cutting and value added products.

I think that I couldn't improve the Skillmill anymore, I am sure that is a good product reading the pages on the FF dedicated to Peterson sawmills.

The electric 220 V engine is a big plus to me, because I don't have 380 V nor a generatorn and it doesn't deserve the maintenance os a gas or diesel engine.

Thanks
Davide

[joelmar10]

The suspense is killing me!   

[timcosby]

GO TO THERE GALLERY AND CLICK ON THE HEAD UNIT AND LOOK AT THE SCENERY AROUND WHERE HE IS SETTING UP!!!!!!!MAN WHAT A PLACE TO SET UP FOR MILLING

[HSV]

Hi everyone! 

Well, I'm sorry.  The competition has closed.  The entries are in and have been judged.  By tomorrow morning (NZ time) we will have 10 top scoring finalists... should I post their names before we draw the final winner out of the cap?

Watch this space...

Just because this competition is over doesn't mean the stories need to end.  I know everyone who has seen this thread has really enjoyed it, so keep it up. 

For those at Sawlex, remember to get to the Forestry Forum booth at 12 noon, 18 May for the drawing of the winner.  Whether you are at Sawlex or not, if your story is drawn, you are the winner!  The Skillmill up for grabs is brand new, so it will be shipped to the winner, we will sort it all out from our end.  Don't worry, we have plenty of stock on the ground in the USA, so the wait will be minimal. 

;D

timcosby: Yes, the scenery is fantastic.  The location is about 15 mins drive from our factory in Rotorua, New Zealand.  The lake in the background is Lake Rotorua, it has an island in the middle, Mokoia Island.  Far in the distance, you may be able to see Mount Tarawera, a dormant volcano which spat it's last lava in 1886 and buried townships in the area.  Rotorua is surrounded by trees, including Kaingaroa Forest a privately owned 188000ha forest.   If you're nice to me, I might be able to work out a deal on accommodation if you come here on vacation  ;D

[joelmar10]

I'd sure like to see the finalists names!

[Roxie]

Hang on!  It's only 3 o'clock in the morning in New Zealand.   8)

[HSV]

I'm awake!  ;D

I have finalists!!! Over 30 entries were judged by 15 individual staff members from fitters, to welders, to managers to sales guys. Thanks to all the staff here who participated in judging the entries

Here we go:

Finalists: (in no particular order)

Mr Mom
KGNC
joelmar10
SPIKER
limbrat
egreet
junkyard
jessefrank
Dale Hatfield
Hog Farmer[/b]

Congratulations everyone for making it to the top 10!  It could be your name being drawn out of the hat at Sawlex!!!  8)

To all those who didn't get into the 10, thanks again for playing a part in this competition, it was heaps of fun, and top 10 or not, everyone's stories were awesome to read.

Next post:  the winner!

[SPIKER]

WHOOO HOOO  8)  I got picked,  8) (only other time I got picked for anything was at dodge ball, and I was usually LAST one picked for that !  hahaha.  funny thing was I ended up winning dodgeball all the time & now I get to have that same warm fuzzy feeling all over )

BAMB!  ok who through the dodgeball when I wasn't looking  :D


anyhow enough playing around.   Win or not I just want to say that I liked/enjoyed reading ALL of the posts above.   No matter who was/is picked and or who will win it sure is a great idea for this contest and perhaps it could be a yearly thing???   Thanks to those nice people down under for making it happen and all the FF members who helped bring the idea/ideas of the giveaway to us here, as well as the help here from the FF members staff and friends! smiley_clapping

Mark M
(AKA SPIKER)

[beenthere]

Big Congrats to all you who made that final 10.  8) 8) 8)

[Roxie]

Please be sure to thank everyone for letting us play along.  Sure was a nice dream while it lasted.   

I'm very excited to see who our winner will be!  Gonna be 10 guys out there that are gonna have trouble falling asleep tonight....just like Christmas Eve!   :D

[Mr Mom]

     I would like to thank all that entered and all the ones that got picked to be finalist.
     I would to thank Peterson for the Donation of the mill.
     I would like to say that i am very shocked that i got picked and wish everyone good luck on the 18th.

     Thanks Alot Mr Mom

[metalspinner]

Congratulations to all the finalists!  8)  So you can all sleep well tonight, just know that I will be at the drawing to accept the prize on your behalf. :D