Band Sawmill - any interest?

[scrout]

bandmillpics - a set on Flickr

This is a Linn design I built a couple years back with their headrig kit.
I have an 18 HP Briggs, have electric up/down and a HF winch to pull the carriage thru. Cuts very straight.
But a manual mill is kinda manual, and logs are darn heavy, but making lumber as a hobby is pretty fun. Built a couple decks, 20x30 sawshed, etc. Now thinking about a small timberframe structure. On thing to consider is designing for a common blade length, like 158 inches, so you can find blades on the shelf at various saw sellers, manufacturers.

 

[choffman41]

O.K. We're committed now as I've spent the money. No turning back! I started a page to document the build but not much there yet. Here's the link.

My Web Page, Chuck Hoffman, Genealogy, Steam Trains, Stuff

 

[David Devuono]

Great project. Trying to follow your build costs, I see that you went from $1300 kit + 70 dollars in hardware = 1750. Did that include the engine as well?

thanks

 

[buckeyefarmer]

love the music.

 

[choffman41]

Great project. Trying to follow your build costs, I see that you went from $1300 kit + 70 dollars in hardware = 1750. Did that include the engine as well?

thanks

That includes the engine and centrifugal clutch. I have included a spreadsheet on the webpage to track the total cost and man hours invested in the project.

 

[20 20]

O.K. We're committed now as I've spent the money. No turning back! I started a page to document the build but not much there yet. Here's the link.

My Web Page, Chuck Hoffman, Genealogy, Steam Trains, Stuff

For a kit that seems a little pricey??? I bought a complete mill brand new 12' of track and wheel kit for just over 3k. I also think you'd have been better off having a solid 20' instead of two tens. I added another ten to mine and regret it{total of 22'} 3 pieces. Not saying it won't work, mine does fine, it's just a pain to get setup "just right". Thanks for sharing your site, once you get sawdust in your blood there'll allways be a need for more boards .

 

[choffman41]

Well, it's pretty much done and it seems to work great.....

 

[johnk]

For a kit that seems a little pricey??? I bought a complete mill brand new 12' of track and wheel kit for just over 3k. I also think you'd have been better off having a solid 20' instead of two tens. I added another ten to mine and regret it{total of 22'} 3 pieces. Not saying it won't work, mine does fine, it's just a pain to get setup "just right". Thanks for sharing your site, once you get sawdust in your blood there'll allways be a need for more boards .

What kind of mill did you buy for that price? I've been looking for a mill but it's really hard to justify the price when I could go to Lowes or Home depot and buy my lumber. Give me the pluses ++++ to spend that money. Yoy could buy a lot of lumber for the cost of the mill. Thanks...

 

[choffman41]

What kind of mill did you buy for that price? I've been looking for a mill but it's really hard to justify the price when I could go to Lowes or Home depot and buy my lumber. Give me the pluses ++++ to spend that money. Yoy could buy a lot of lumber for the cost of the mill. Thanks...

Probably no plusses if you don't own your own timber. However, if you do a lot of building and need, for instance, a bunch of 4X12's or 12X12's, you could pay for them pretty quickly. I don't know if I'll cut $2500 worth of lumber, but the mill is still saleable.

 

[20 20]

What kind of mill did you buy for that price?

I bought the hud-son model oscar 28, NO regrets AT ALL.

I've been looking for a mill but it's really hard to justify the price when I could go to Lowes or Home depot and buy my lumber. Give me the pluses ++++ to spend that money. Yoy could buy a lot of lumber for the cost of the mill. Thanks...

For the lumber I have milled I could have justified buying hud-sons biggest mill way up in the $$$$$'s. My milled has payed for itself time and time again and then some. Heck just the picnic tables I have made and sold have easily paid for the mill. I milled allmost every piece of lumber{minus plywood and such} for our 2 story house a garage decks........, not to mention lumber for others houses garages etc.... I hate going to lowes or home depot for wood, infact I think they hate to see me going towards their wood racks. I usually empty a whole rack of lumber looking for 3-5 pieces of decent wood, and I refuse to pick up the garbage I have piled on the floor, I'll take my lumber ANY DAY over the big box stores{IMO thiers is____}.

I did use a lot of my own lumber, which was a good thing I believe, needed to be cleared either way. I also watch for free trees logs etc... you'd be surprised what is out there. Mills can easily pay for themselves as long as someone doesn't mind a little sweat blood and having patience. It is not easy but very rewarding and in my situation saved a boat load of $$$$$$$$.