Harbor Freight Sawmill - does it exist?

[newbury]

One of the reasons I bought my tractor is to do what dads do -
Make big things (trees) into small things (lumber).
And then make small things (lumber) into big things (buildings).

I need a sawmill.

I posted in the parts/repairs forum because of the HF thread,

Thanks to tractorbynet I found a couple of other sites/forums that talk about sawmills etc.

Harbor Freight has a sawmill - Harbor Freight Tools - Quality Tools at the Lowest Prices that looks like a mini Hud-Son Oscar 18 portable sawmills, portable sawmill, band mill Portable Sawmills, Bandmills, Sawmilling Equipment , accessories Hud-Son, has phone support from Hud-Son salvage and costs, if you can use a coupon, $1850 +sh versus the $3000 of the Oscar 18,

All the other forums have several threads, LONG threads, about how this is a cheap knockoff. Based on the PICTURE- only 1 or 2 poster even noticed it's supported by Hud-Son.

One forum owner flamed me because I quoted him.

I could not find ANY reports from someone who actually bought one.

Does anyone have any hands on experience with one?
Has anyone actually SEEN one?
Is it like an honest politician? military intelligence?
Is it a suck or doen't suck?

 

[20 20]

Newbury, I can't help you with the HF model, except that it does look cheap??? I'm sure you could mount it on a 6x6 or steal rail and that would make a difference.

I can tell you some about the Hud-Son oscar's though, I own the 28 model. Their main plant is about 30miles from me. I looked at the 18 but for the few extra $$${at the time} the 28 seemed better. I did get the tow package{special deal} not so much for towing but for the strength of the rail. I also built and added an extra 10' of rail. If I had to do it again I'd just buy the materials for the rail and build that myself, then purchase their power head. I will say however, I have had a great time using my 28, It has not let me down. I have built a 2 story house, a garage, pool and house decks, plus many other things for neighbors{house addition, garage addition etc..}.

The key to any mill is learn the in and outs of the machine. Sharp blades, alinement, clean belt wheels etc.... make a world of difference. I have done logs for folks with my small machine and have made MUCH better lumber then some of the big guns. The reason being is I take the time before I cut, sharp blade and making sure the miil is ready. Some guys with big machines feel they can cut no matter what just because they have 20-30-50hp engine. Sure they can cut, but they still end up with what I like to call the perfect female board, beautiful curves

 

[newbury]

Well I called the number on the manual, got thru to Hud-Son Forestry, I was told it's made in New York and to stop by and they could demo one.
Looks like it's not cheap chinese junk.

 

[dcyrilc]

Well I called the number on the manual, got thru to Hud-Son Forestry, I was told it's made in New York and to stop by and they could demo one.
Looks like it's not cheap chinese junk.

Keep us posted on what you find out. I would be interested to hear what you think after you've seen it.

 

[newbury]

Keep us posted on what you find out. I would be interested to hear what you think after you've seen it.

Well unfortunately it's a fur piece from here.
On another forum one sawyer actually posted that he had seen part of one partially assembled in a HF in SC. And he complained about the HP of the saw (6.5) which is the same as the Hud-Son Oscar 18 and 0.5 less than the widely used Woodmizer LT10.

But still no one has posted about using one (which I really want to find out), owning one, touching one, or even seeing one fully assembled.

But there are LOTS of posts about it's poor quality and questionable origin.

I've seen to many times people get into "group" think and something becomes the thing to praise or dump on without any actual experience.

 

[newbury]

Newbury, I can't help you with the HF model, except that it does look cheap??? I'm sure you could mount it on a 6x6 or steal rail and that would make a difference.

I can tell you some about the Hud-Son oscar's though, I own the 28 model. Their main plant is about 30miles from me. I looked at the 18 but for the few extra $$${at the time} the 28 seemed better. I did get the tow package{special deal} not so much for towing but for the strength of the rail. I also built and added an extra 10' of rail. If I had to do it again I'd just buy the materials for the rail and build that myself, then purchase their power head. I will say however, I have had a great time using my 28, It has not let me down. I have built a 2 story house, a garage, pool and house decks, plus many other things for neighbors{house addition, garage addition etc..}.

The key to any mill is learn the in and outs of the machine. Sharp blades, alinement, clean belt wheels etc.... make a world of difference. I have done logs for folks with my small machine and have made MUCH better lumber then some of the big guns. The reason being is I take the time before I cut, sharp blade and making sure the miil is ready. Some guys with big machines feel they can cut no matter what just because they have 20-30-50hp engine. Sure they can cut, but they still end up with what I like to call the perfect female board, beautiful curves

I would normally have responded to this with a PM, but I was admonished on another forum for using PM.

Any chance if you are in the neighborhood of the store again you could ask about the HF Mills and get some actual experience? See one actually put together? Touch one? Maybe snap a pic?

I've also been told that the Oscar 28 is far to small to use and a waste of time.

And bumblebees can't fly.

 

[newbury]

Well OBVIOUSLY there are not enough interested users on this site that have one of these units.

BUTT -

I've found one fellow on another web site that writes like he has one. Also they seem to be sold on ebay under the name of hudonsledsalvage. It's beginning to look like the ideal size for my "intermediate" need.
I know I will probably need a much larger one later on, like I will need a larger tractor. But it's a lot easier to convince SWMBO that I need a bigger one after I prove the utility of the entry level model than that I need a big one to start with.

After I CSM'ed up my first tree she saw some utility in it, but not $10K utility. After I dug out my first stump she saw the use for the backhoe and tractor. Just today there is/was a mini-ex, looked like about a 24" bucket, 100hp? working on a house near us. When I mentioned "I could do that, might take a bit longer" she was REAL interested (now what do I have to build?).
So I view purchase of a quality "minimill" as getting my foot in the door.
But PLEASE if there are any other users out there post to this thread about use etc.

 

[Scotty370]

Newbury- I don't think there any animosity from this board's moderator to mention other sites. (Guess I'll find out!) For my Band Saw interests I visit :
Home Built Bandsaw Bandmill - Build your own Bandsaw Sawmill - Home and I got my plans here: Sawmill plans online

PM me if your building from scratch! ~Scotty

 

[eazyduzzit]

Newberry, I visit a woodworking forum from time to time. A bunch of the guys on the forum say to never buy a Harbor Freight machine that has a motor. They say the motors are worthless. I have a woodworking shop with several Harbor Freight machines that have been running for years flawlessly.

I had a HF jointer that I used for 5 years and sold it for 75 percent of what I originally paid. I was expecting to have to come down on price, but didn't. I wouldn't put much stock in what someone says unless they had hands on experience with it.

 

[Scotty370]

I gotta get out of here, before guys get pi$$ed at my comments, but one last post! I think it's the "Lemon" thing! I'm lookin' at a Honda 13hp for my proposed mill. Doggone, there're pricey! Seems like I could buy a HF Clone, twice! Some guys have luck, some don't! ~Scotty

 

[Carykong]

I have owned a woodmizer LT25 for 10 years. Great mill,rugged,easy,low maintennce. Woodmizer parts help is first class.Blade sharping program is easy and cheap. The LT 10 or Lt25 or LT 28 although more expensive than most entry level mills from other companies will pay you back over and over with ease of use and rugged quality.

 

[newbury]

<snip> The LT 10 or Lt25 or LT 28 although more expensive than most entry level mills from other companies will pay you back over and over with ease of use and rugged quality.

You may not have looked at prices lately, the LT10 price was lowered to match other entry level mills, $3K.
I think it is well worth it.
However the head is too big for my needs.

 

[newbury]

Newberry, I visit a woodworking forum from time to time. A bunch of the guys on the forum say to never buy a Harbor Freight machine that has a motor. They say the motors are worthless. I have a woodworking shop with several Harbor Freight machines that have been running for years flawlessly.

I had a HF jointer that I used for 5 years and sold it for 75 percent of what I originally paid. I was expecting to have to come down on price, but didn't. I wouldn't put much stock in what someone says unless they had hands on experience with it.

And just because it's sold by Harbor Freight or Northern Tools doesn't mean it's a cheap chinese copy, as is the case with this sawmill, which is made in NY.

 

[radioman]

And just because it's sold by Harbor Freight or Northern Tools doesn't mean it's a cheap chinese copy, as is the case with this sawmill, which is made in NY.

HUH?! made in NY ? Where did you see this info ? Heck if I see the builder near me, Ill mosey on down to his shop and inquire about it!

 

[20 20]

I would normally have responded to this with a PM, but I was admonished on another forum for using PM.

I don't mind PM good or bad

Any chance if you are in the neighborhood of the store again you could ask about the HF Mills and get some actual experience? See one actually put together? Touch one? Maybe snap a pic?

I'm a little confused Do you want me to check our local HF or go to Hud-son and ask about theirs? Like I said I can tell you just about anything as to the Hud-son {smaller} mills. This is one of my favorite places to go. They even have a annual show in june, were you can run their machines and even watch them build them {form the ground up}!

I've also been told that the Oscar 28 is far to small to use and a waste of time.

And bumblebees can't fly.

The 28 is bigger then the 18, mine came with a 8.5hp engine. It is a little slower then a big machine but with the right blade etc... it'll cut anything that can fit on the rail. I cut 30" diameter hemlock logs {they are tough, full of knots}this past year had to trim them{with chainsaw} 1st so they'd fit. I also cut locust a couple years back and it did fine{atleast until I hit the old fencing nails }

 

[eazyduzzit]

HUH?! made in NY ? Where did you see this info ?)

Look at the 3rd post on this thread. He called Hudson and they said they had them at their place.

 

[20 20]

Thanks Eazyduzzit, missed that, I'll have to go out there and take a look. If they did have them last summer I didn't see them or just plain missed them.

 

[dcyrilc]

Thanks Eazyduzzit, missed that, I'll have to go out there and take a look. If they did have them last summer I didn't see them or just plain missed them.

You might have to ask about them. If my understanding is correct, they're made by Hudson for HF.

 

[newbury]

I'm a little confused Do you want me to check our local HF or go to Hud-son and ask about theirs? Like I said I can tell you just about anything as to the Hud-son {smaller} mills. This is one of my favorite places to go. They even have a annual show in june, were you can run their machines and even watch them build them {form the ground up}

I was talking about whatever they (Hud-Son's Forestry Equipment, HUDON'S SLED SALVAGE) stock which is the same model as the HF one.
it's also on fleabay, but if I search on just sawmill it doesn't show up. If one uses the search terms "PORTABLE SAWMILL BANDSAW BANDMILL CHAIN SAW " it shows up, and they are selling it from Hudonsledgesalvage (NOT HUD-SON, but HUDON) for $2,195 or high bid. I'd post a link but I've gotten my hands slapped before for fleabay links.
PM if y'all want one.

(That's been driving me nuts, because I found it once then just searching for sawmill nothing showed up near that price range.)

As I understand it, it's "all in the family", but they may have 3 slightly separate retail establishments, but they seem to get along.

Now I've got to find out when in June! Unless I can find a 20% discount on fleabay I'd just a soon go to the store and let them talk me into something bigger.

 

[20 20]

Newbury, Hud-son salavge is still part of the company. I believe they have 3 different types of stores right next to each other chainsaw, snowmobile, band mills/tractors. Plus they sell some other stuff.

I just checked there site and could not find the June show. I'll have to give them a call, usually it's around the 1st or 2nd week????