Want to buy a sawmill - Talk me out of it!

[Jstpssng]

Thanks! Appreciate that. Always helpful to better disguise how little I know.

There are only two ways to learn. Either from other people who have already tried it...or peeing on that electric fence yourself.

(Some of us take 3 or 3 tries to learn. )

 

[bigtiller]

Are you milling logs or people? "Side skins" sounds like you are milling people. lol

The first cuts on a log make "slabs", second cut with bark on the edges are called "flitches", once all 4 sides are milled you have a "cant".

May as well get everyone on the same page here so we at least sound semi-intelligent...

SR

I'm learning stuff but I have a question.

You cut the slabs off and set them aside because you cant use them.

You set the second cut with the live edge aside because you cant use or don't want it.

What is left is the good stuff everyone wants cut into dimensional lumber. Why is it called a cant?

 

[civilian]

I just mill 2 more 6x6's to drop the slabs and flitches on. Then call someone to pick them up. I have enough dead ash for my own firewood to have to deal with the slabs. I let them cut to their size they want and not spend time I could be miling to deal with the slabs. Some flitches I will cut the bark off for another board. But I don't worry about selling the slabs, either. Jon

 

[1Mech]

Cutting is the easy part. Finding a place to sticker the wood out of the rain can be a hassle. Green boards weigh much more if handling by hand. The romance of owning a portable band mill quickly wore off for me. I recently had a guy offer me good money for my Baker mill and I seriously thought about selling. My biggest headache is if the Honda sits for any length of time I can spend half a day removing the carb and cleaning plus trying to remember where all the springs and linkages go.

Why not just run the engine once a month or so, keep it all in good running order.

 

[1Mech]

Funny, when you are finally able to afford all the toys you have wanted all your life, now, you are too old to play with them..... I am in the same boat.

Kinda like the old timers sayin, ": what I used to do all night, now takes me all night to do!"
Too bad, but I can relate.

 

[1Mech]

Things like 2x4x8 going for $12@, or a 4x4x8 for $20?
It was really handy to be able to saw lumber when lumber skyrocketed during the Covid induced lumber price escalation.

Down here 2x4-8s are about $3.25 and 4 x 4-8 treated run about $9 at the Home Depot. Almost affordable again.

 

[rmully]

Buy used, you will save money. I bought one and sold it a year later for what I payed for it

 

[HawkinsHollow]

Buy used, you will save money. I bought one and sold it a year later for what I payed for it

I am impatient. I looked for used mills in my area but there were none avalible. Since I purchased my mill a few have popped up and they are asking full retail price for them without a warranty. Granted they usually do have a few extras and are already assembled (which is a couple day job) but I do not regret buying new. If you sold the one you bought for what you paid for it how is somone going to save money on it?

 

[Jstpssng]

As usual I've done the exact opposite. 4 years ago my LT25 was Woodmizer's new, budget model mill. Between the time I ordered, locking in the price, and when it was delivered 10 months later the price had gone up 25%.

This year I was looking at their website and they now have a new budget mill for the same price I paid for mine.

Buy high, sell low, that's the way I always seem to go.

 

[HawkinsHollow]

Getting closer!!! I will be milling this week for sure!!

 

[ponytug]

Getting closer!!! I will be milling this week for sure!!

That's great! I can't wait to see it in use.

For longevity, you might want to paint a little coppertox (copper naphthenate) on all of the cuts in the pressure treated to seal it against rot. Pressure treatment really only does the outer 1/8-1/4" of lumber, and cutting exposes untreated wood. I would probably put a little something over the but joint as well, like butyl caulk.

All the best,

Peter

 

[HawkinsHollow]

That's great! I can't wait to see it in use.

For longevity, you might want to paint a little coppertox (copper naphthenate) on all of the cuts in the pressure treated to seal it against rot. Pressure treatment really only does the outer 1/8-1/4" of lumber, and cutting exposes untreated wood. I would probably put a little something over the but joint as well, like butyl caulk.

All the best,

Peter

Are you talking about Coppertox, the stuff they use for Thrush and horse hoof issues? That is the only Coppertox I can find online.

 

[LouNY]

If you look up copper naphthenate you will find several wood preservatives.

 

[Rustyiron]

I have a couple of big projects coming up, 2 shed builds and a sizable addition on our house plus a few other projects I would like to do down the line. My wife wants a lot of wood accent in our house addition and I want to add a "timber frame" covered deck off the back once we are done with the addition. I am VERY tempted to pull the trigger on a sawmill to mill a lot of this lumber myself. I am leaning towards a Woodland Mill HM126 at about $4200 shipped with a bed extension. Seems like it could pay for itself in short order.

Yes I understand a manual mill is not fast and it is LOTS of work. But I have the space, I have the trees, I have a tractor, I have the money, I am only 49 and in good shape. Honestly, the only thing I DON'T have is tons of free time. But the way I look at it is if I set this mill up well I can go over there and saw a log or 3 per week, blow off some steam and have some nice lumber for my projects.

I have wanted a mill for a long time. I have a friend with a nice Woodmizer hydraulic mill about a mile down the road from me but we can never seem to make time to mill my wood, so I have pretty much given up on that. Which is why I want my own mill so I can just do it for myself.

The way I look at it is if I do not use it enough or I run out of projects to use it on I sell it for a small loss, but still come out ahead in the long run. This is something I have always wanted to try seems like now might be the time.

I have a couple of big projects coming up, 2 shed builds and a sizable addition on our house plus a few other projects I would like to do down the line. My wife wants a lot of wood accent in our house addition and I want to add a "timber frame" covered deck off the back once we are done with the addition. I am VERY tempted to pull the trigger on a sawmill to mill a lot of this lumber myself. I am leaning towards a Woodland Mill HM126 at about $4200 shipped with a bed extension. Seems like it could pay for itself in short order.

Yes I understand a manual mill is not fast and it is LOTS of work. But I have the space, I have the trees, I have a tractor, I have the money, I am only 49 and in good shape. Honestly, the only thing I DON'T have is tons of free time. But the way I look at it is if I set this mill up well I can go over there and saw a log or 3 per week, blow off some steam and have some nice lumber for my projects.

I have wanted a mill for a long time. I have a friend with a nice Woodmizer hydraulic mill about a mile down the road from me but we can never seem to make time to mill my wood, so I have pretty much given up on that. Which is why I want my own mill so I can just do it for myself.

The way I look at it is if I do not use it enough or I run out of projects to use it on I sell it for a small loss, but still come out ahead in the long run. This is something I have always wanted to try seems like now might be the time.

I have a couple of big projects coming up, My wife wants

I am leaning towards a Woodland Mill HM126 at about $4200 shipped with a bed extension. Seems like it could pay for itself in short order.

But the way I look at it is if I set this mill up well I can go over there and saw a log or 3 per week, blow off some steam and have some nice lumber for my projects.

I have wanted a mill for a long time.
The way I look at it is if I do not use it enough or I run out of projects to use it on I sell it for a small loss, but still come out ahead in the long run. This is something I have always wanted to try seems like now might be the time.

I "adjusted" your post to illustrate what you really meant/think.
Now go and place your order.
You could have written that post for me including every single point! After years of arguing with myself (but never stopped looking for a used mill, I came across a fully hyd Timberking with the automatic (blade) grinder, tooth setter and a bevel siding jig for $20k. There were also 50(+/-) blades and half were new. Apparently he never sharpened himself as the sharpener was un used.
I have a few years on you and decided that I wanted the hydraulic log handling or else it might be a waste as I am very familiar with the weight of green logs, slabwood and boards.

 

[HawkinsHollow]

I "adjusted" your post to illustrate what you really meant/think.
Now go and place your order.
You could have written that post for me including every single point! After years of arguing with myself (but never stopped looking for a used mill, I came across a fully hyd Timberking with the automatic (blade) grinder, tooth setter and a bevel siding jig for $20k. There were also 50(+/-) blades and half were new. Apparently he never sharpened himself as the sharpener was un used.
I have a few years on you and decided that I wanted the hydraulic log handling or else it might be a waste as I am very familiar with the weight of green logs, slabwood and boards.

Does that mean you bought it!?! If so congrats! Yeah, I could see myself growing into a hydraulic mill at some point later in life!

 

[ponytug]

Are you talking about Coppertox, the stuff they use for Thrush and horse hoof issues? That is the only Coppertox I can find online.

Sorry, yes, the Coppertox brand is used on horses, but it is the same stuff. Copper naphthenate comes in a pure, or a concentrated or a diluted oil (diesel) version, as well as a dilute water based version. I prefer the oil based formulas.

I buy the Tenino brand 17% (2% copper), which is the stronger of the diluted versions. Amazon carries it. Here, the local stores only carry the 1% version. I put a tray under the cut wood ends and paint it repeatedly until the cut quits absorbing the solution, and then come back a day later for one more touch up.

All the best,

Peter

 

[Rustyiron]

I cut this building for the mill.

Does that mean you bought it!?! If so congrats!

Yes, and cut it's new home also.

I've been building all of my life, sawing out your own materials is incredibly rewarding and kinda completes the circle of the process.
You'll love it!

 

[HawkinsHollow]

I cut this building for the mill.

Yes, and cut it's new home also. View attachment 849382
I've been building all of my life, sawing out your own materials is incredibly rewarding and kinda completes the circle of the process.
You'll love it!

YES!! That is amazing!

That is a great way to look at it! I have been around sawmills a bit and have ALWAYS loved watching a stack of beautiful lumber taking shape. Maybe that is a big part if it, the instinctual builder in me seeing that the circle is now closing.

 

[HawkinsHollow]

The eagle has landed!! I will be making sawdust this weekend!!

 

[deezler]

Wahoo! Bet you've got some early-spring weather feels down there also, eh? Get after it!