Welcome! Please use the navigational links to explore our website.
PartsASAP LogoCompany Logo Auction Link (800) 853-2651

Shop Now

   Allis Chalmers Case Farmall IH Ford 8N,9N,2N Ford
   Ferguson John Deere Massey Ferguson Minn. Moline Oliver

Discussion Forum

Advice on sawmills

Welcome Guest, Log in or Register
Author 
Kim Hartshorn

10-06-1999 06:33:12




Report to Moderator

I would like to do some milling, for personal use mainly but perhaps to make some money. I have been investigating lots of possibilities and I have a price range...less than 3000. Within this price range the primary choices seem to be...really basic bandmills (new or used), really used stationary circle mills, or chainsaw mills (including saw) As a tractor owner it seems to me that some kind of pto solution would be nice also.

Right now my inclination is to go really low end with either an Alaskan Mill $140, or a Haddon $80
or perhaps both (I have understood having both makes things much nicer but also that to really get work done you really ought to have a free chainsaw, and one to dedicate to each mill, which adds to the cost) Anyway my inclination is to go with the chainsaw attachment mills to start milling the wood and to keep looking for a restorable, cheap, project, pto driven circular mill.

I would appreciate all comments. I am really not looking forward to the noise and the fumes of the chainsaw mills but they seem to be the most cost effective right now.

Thanks
Kim

[Log in to Reply]   [No Email]
Paul R

10-07-1999 17:43:32




Report to Moderator
 Re: advice on sawmills in reply to Kim Hartshorn, 10-06-1999 06:33:12  
Regarding a chainsaw mill, I agree with others a chainsaw mill is noisy, toxic to breath, slow, it's a lot of hard work and you need a big, well cooled saw if it's going to last a good while. Also if you can't get to tree with tractor, or don't want to bring tractor, a chainsaw mill can also be carried to a remote tree, and you can carry in and out by hand only special pieces you couldn't buy anywhere Or you might want to mill a couple trees a year with it. I cannot see how to make a living just cutting lumber with one though. It depends on what you intend to do. There is some recent interesting discussion concerning the Woodmiser, and knowledgeable and experienced sawyers at the Woodweb forum also Link

>Link

[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Nellie

10-10-1999 03:35:50




Report to Moderator
 Re: Re: advice on sawmills in reply to Paul R, 10-07-1999 17:43:32  
Don't know much about saw mills, but they look like a lot of work. I live near Amish country and saw a mill go for $900 and the stationary engine to power it go for around $2000 at an auction. This mill would put out a board every 20 seconds or so.



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
TomH

10-06-1999 15:54:49




Report to Moderator
 Re: advice on sawmills in reply to Kim Hartshorn, 10-06-1999 06:33:12  
I'd stay away from both the chainsaw mills and the bandsaws that you push through the log like a chainsaw mill. They are slow and really a lot of very hard work to operate. After a day of backbreaking labor you'll have a small stack roughcut slabs (been there, done that) that you could've bought at any sawmill for not much more than you spent in gas.

I was at an antique tractor show last year where they had a restored circular sawmill powered off a tractor belt, really slick and fast. Don't know how much they spent.

The WoodMizer style of bandsaw mills where the saw is on a track and moved by hydraulics is probably the minimum.

[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Greg Steward

06-19-2000 21:06:16




Report to Moderator
 Re: Re: advice on sawmills in reply to TomH, 10-06-1999 15:54:49  
Everybody 'claims' to build the best mill-how 'bout some opinions from owners that are in the business-also, can it be profitable? I have a reclaimed barn to resaw (after much denailing) and may want to purchase with an eye toward starting a custom milling business in my area-any advice?



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Ernie

10-07-1999 16:20:22




Report to Moderator
 Re: Re: advice on sawmills in reply to TomH, 10-06-1999 15:54:49  
Don't work alone.
$3000 will pay someone else to mill alotta wood.
Saw the woodmizer demo, it is a slick machine, they have a web site.
If you must, buy a really good machine and get into the business. Build a shed for the machine.
Work with a partner, cell phone, and cooler with ice. The last is for the body part to get reattached.



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
[Options]  [Printer Friendly]  [Posting Help]  [Return to Forum]   [Log in to Reply]

Hop to:


TRACTOR PARTS TRACTOR MANUALS
We sell tractor parts!  We have the parts you need to repair your tractor - the right parts. Our low prices and years of research make us your best choice when you need parts. Shop Online Today. [ About Us ]

Home  |  Forums


Copyright © 1997-2023 Yesterday's Tractor Co.

All Rights Reserved. Reproduction of any part of this website, including design and content, without written permission is strictly prohibited. Trade Marks and Trade Names contained and used in this Website are those of others, and are used in this Website in a descriptive sense to refer to the products of others. Use of this Web site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy

TRADEMARK DISCLAIMER: Tradenames and Trademarks referred to within Yesterday's Tractor Co. products and within the Yesterday's Tractor Co. websites are the property of their respective trademark holders. None of these trademark holders are affiliated with Yesterday's Tractor Co., our products, or our website nor are we sponsored by them. John Deere and its logos are the registered trademarks of the John Deere Corporation. Agco, Agco Allis, White, Massey Ferguson and their logos are the registered trademarks of AGCO Corporation. Case, Case-IH, Farmall, International Harvester, New Holland and their logos are registered trademarks of CNH Global N.V.

Yesterday's Tractors - Antique Tractor Headquarters

Website Accessibility Policy