Wood-Mizer saw mill

[rimshot]

I ordered a nice model LT 10 log mill today from Log Mizer. This is just a hobby saw powered by a 10 h.p Briggs & Strattion engine. For $320 in savings i could have obtained a mill with a Kohler 7 1/2 h.p. which is now made in China. I'm thinking the B&S engine is still made in Wisconsin. I hope so. I see the Chinese also are making a band saw (entire unit) .i was not about to buy one so I opted for the good old American made (Indianapolis, In) Wood-Mizer.

I currently have about 70 Cedar logs I plan on sawing into 1 X stock and I will resheet my deck. The mill will be shipped tomorrow. I'll be anxious to get into those logs. I had several cedars trees go down this last storm so it is good seeing to it the logs will not be wasted. Anybody else into sawmills.

Rimshot

 

[cmore]

Congratulations. Keep us informed on our experiences with your new toy

 

[DT86]

Yes congratulations! I'll be looking for lots of pictures!

 

[Furu]

Anybody else into sawmills.

Rimshot

I am in the process of evaluating which one to get. I have a purchase target date of this late spring/early summer time-frame. There is a forum that has a lot of good knowledgeable folks on it that you can learn from. I don't think we are allowed to post that data so PM me if you want more info.

 

[Piston]

You are going to LOVE your new sawmill! Milling is what really got me into tractors as a way to get my logs to the mill. I have a Woodmizer LT-15 with the 10hp Yanmar diesel option.

Once that sawdust starts flying you'll be addicted in no time! It really is a satisfying feeling to turn a log into useable lumber.

If my Internet wasn't so slow here at work I'd post a bunch of "teaser" pics for you.

 

[Piston]

Hope these pics post.

Furu,
If your thinking about getting a mill, and haven't yet purchased a grapple, you will absolutely benefit more from the flat bottom, "L" shape style, no question about it.

 

[newbury]

Excellent choice.



Note the engine hoist for moving the mast. Even without the engine mounted it was more than I could lift by myself.



Ah, lumber

 

[20 20]

Your in for a world of fun and interesting projects

 

[DJ54]

Dad bought a LT-40 back in '88 for a retirement present for himself. It was the deluxe version at the time, sans the diesel engine. It had a 21 hp gas Onan. Had the log lifter, turner, and toe boards. At the time, you could order them to custom length. His was 21', so as to cut 20' logs. He got the auto blade sharpener too.

In the 8 years he operated it before getting ill, he kept track of all his sawing jobs. He produced over 160,000 BF of lumber off that mill. He would check the bed, and adjust if necessary after every job. It was pretty impressive to watch him cut one of those wafer thin "boards" like they do at the shows, over the length of a 20' log.

 

[MotorSeven]

I have the the LT10's bigger brother, the LT15. I bought my mill used locally and WM has treated me like a new customer since day one. Great CS, parts are always available and when you call you talk to someone who know their business. Someday I want to up-grade to the LT35Hydraulic......someday.

I built an extension for mine so I could cut out to 27':

My LT15 made my log house build a reality and it has paid for itself 10 times over.

 

[Pete Eberhart]

Hey Rimshot,
My neighbor and good friend has a bandsaw mill which he let's me use in exchange for logs. He had it build 4 years ago by a local Amish fellow. It has 30 inch capacity, a 13hp Kawasaki engine and sit's on a trailerable frame. Log lengths are 16ft max. Cost of the Mill at the time was $3000 but after asking, it would cost $4800 today. I really enjoy working with it and have build several projects using wood off my hill. First project was a concrete pad and barn-overhang to protect it. I'm sure you will velue your's too.
There are several fellows in my area that started small with sawmills and now have more work than they can handle. One fellow pay's 2 helpers $18.50/hr just to meet demand. He charges .38/bdft
Pete

 

[mattridessleds]

Love my Lt35hd. Can't go wrong with woodmizer. The customer service is top notch.

 

[SPIKER]

Hi guys here is the forestry site someone mentioned and I'm there reading a lot someday might get me some $ saved up to buy a mill but so far just dreaming.

http://www.forestryforum.com

Lots of great guys there saving ya some time learning by asking questions from them.

Mark

 

[mattridessleds]

Hi guys here is the forestry site someone mentioned and I'm there reading a lot someday might get me some $ saved up to buy a mill but so far just dreaming.

http://www.forestryforum.com

Lots of great guys there saving ya some time learning by asking questions from them.

Mark

This is a great site. I spend a-lot of time there reading too.

 

[mattridessleds]

Hi guys here is the forestry site someone mentioned and I'm there reading a lot someday might get me some $ saved up to buy a mill but so far just dreaming.

http://www.forestryforum.com

Lots of great guys there saving ya some time learning by asking questions from them.

Mark

This is a great site. I spend a-lot of time there reading too.

 

[ptexer]

I keep an old LT40 in repair and am able to use it. The wood mizer company is outstanding in my opinion very good tech support. The machine is great still makes great lumber after years of service. It does make a lot of sawdust so you might consider planting blueberries.

 

[SuperCobra]

I don't want to hijack the thread but I'm curious what kind of code obstacles people have run into milling their own lumber for construction. I've read threads where people have built their entire house out of home milled lumber. However, in my county I don't think I can even use it to build a deck. I read where someone in the county purchased an old timber framed building and wanted to erect it on their property as a residence and the county wouldn't let them because it wasn't the standard kiln dried conventional lumber with a grading stamp on it. While I'd love to get one, I'm afraid the only thing I could use the lumber for would be fence board and outbuilding siding. I don't think it could even be used for framing for outbuildings here but I haven't looked into it in depth.

 

[MotorSeven]

Cobra yes that is an issue in a lot of places. That why I picked where I am before I retired and built my entire house out of 90% rough milled lumber.

 

[rimshot]

Thanks for all the excellent comments. So far as using local cut lumber, I have built three garages and one entire hiuse with the local cut lumber. Many of the sized studs came from clear white pine. Isn't it a stupid law to tell us we have to have a stamp on a 2 X 4 as opposed to clear white pine.....sheesh! But it's so. Reasonable building inspectors usually allow rough stuff so long as it is properly sized.

I built a house out of local logs and that was after over 6 mos of being stuck and stacked. The drywall was finished to perfection that fall and the person living there heated with a wood stove. Over the
winter that dry wood heat kiln dried the final 5 or 10% of moisture out of that house frame and it popped every nail in that finished drywall. That was before we were screwing the drywall. I learned sometimes it's not a bad thing to dry your lumber first.

rim

 

[ptexer]

You have to have the lumber kiln dried to be sure all the insect in the wood will die. Lumber can have some powder post beatles in it. That seems to be the insect to watch for in my area. I would think different areas would have different problems.