Anybody have experience with this mill?

Jolly · #1 01/08/14, 04:06 PM

Price is right...

http://www.woodlandmills.ca/products...rtable-sawmill

campfire Curage · #2 01/09/14, 04:57 PM

I have a mill, no experience with this particular mill. But I will say, you get what you pay for so I would say it if you are thinking of purchasing any mill what are you planning on doing with the unit? If your just using it for recreation a few boards this is fine. If your planning on having a mill for building stuff or a business you better look at a Woodmizer. They have the same lightweight mills available and last many years. I have a woodmizer mill, for 20 years and it still cuts like the day I bought it. Reliable and great customer service.

Pokletu · #3 01/09/14, 06:22 PM

Looks cool!

Fire-Man · #4 01/09/14, 07:17 PM

From what I am reading----it will cut down to 1 3/4" of the deck. I do not like that. If I want to cut all 1" boards----This saw will leave a min of a 1 3/4" board every time. My Woodmizer will go slightly less than 1" from the bed.

joebill · #5 01/09/14, 07:56 PM

You can throw a spacer board on the bed to get a thinner final cut, but I would consider building one before buying one. I have built a lot of them and if you are a "good wrench" and have a lot ofjunk laying around, they are pretty cheap and easy to build....Joe

Jolly · #6 01/10/14, 09:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by campfire Curage

I have a mill, no experience with this particular mill. But I will say, you get what you pay for so I would say it if you are thinking of purchasing any mill what are you planning on doing with the unit? If your just using it for recreation a few boards this is fine. If your planning on having a mill for building stuff or a business you better look at a Woodmizer. They have the same lightweight mills available and last many years. I have a woodmizer mill, for 20 years and it still cuts like the day I bought it. Reliable and great customer service.

I've got a few pine logs I just had to push to the side and let rot. No sawyer wants to bring in a mill for one or two logs - it's not worth their time.

To run an Alaskan mill, I'd have to buy a bigger chainsaw, negating some of the savings of that type of mill. I ran across this little mill while looking at other stuff, like Hud-son.

The cheapest Woodmizer is $100 more, cuts a 2" smaller log and is 7hp Kohler vs. 9.5hp Kohler on this unit.

Fire-Man · #7 01/10/14, 02:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jolly

The cheapest Woodmizer is $100 more, cuts a 2" smaller log and is 7hp Kohler vs. 9.5hp Kohler on this unit.

Sounds Like it will be a good saw. Something to "Think" about---Example, I bought a tractor, because it was several Thousand dollars cheaper than a Good Name Brand that has been in business for many, many years. 1 year after I bought my tractor---they filed Bankruptcy, several people I know that have a tractor like mine were very upset because they could not get the replacement parts they needed(I have not needed anything yet). Do your Homework before buying a Not So Familiar mill.

I wished I had of spent the few thousand bucks extra and had gotten a Good, Well Known name Brand! But Most All Companies started small!!

Something else to think about----Buying a good used mill can save you alot. I bought a used LT40hyd, used it for 2 years and was offered all my money back---I kept the mill to play with, had it about 10 years now. Being in my 50's the hydraulics is very much appreciated!!! Good Luck in your choice.

Jolly · #8 01/10/14, 04:02 PM

Sometimes you just don't know...

I have a 1973 UTB Romanian-built Long 350 (35hp diesel) tractor. While it does have its problems (weak hydraulics), it has served me well for over 30 years (I'm the second owner). And I can get every part on it, including the sheet metal.

$3K for the tractor, with a bushog, a set of 6' discs and a post-hole digger. I figure if I hold onto it another ten years or so, I'll get my money's worth out of it.

travisn · #9 01/10/14, 04:39 PM

I'd never buy something like that brand new, would much rather have a good old unit that needs some maintenance but is built like a brick sh~t house.

just_sawing · #10 01/10/14, 04:51 PM

To answer your question as long as your not on the clock and don't cut over 15 inch across logs it will do the job.
My first mill had a 28 horse and the the second was a 40 diesel the the third is a 62 horse Cat. Would I go smaller , not by choice. Do you need my setup, NO unless that is your business.
The good thing about it is that is is cheap enough the=at you can have it pay for itself quickly and if it sets you don't hurt. Also it will tell you quickly how you like sawing.

farminghandyman · #11 01/11/14, 02:52 PM

build something close to that a number of years ago, it is slow but works well,

many of the same features,

Jolly · #12 01/11/14, 05:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by just_sawing

To answer your question as long as your not on the clock and don't cut over 15 inch across logs it will do the job.
My first mill had a 28 horse and the the second was a 40 diesel the the third is a 62 horse Cat. Would I go smaller , not by choice. Do you need my setup, NO unless that is your business.
The good thing about it is that is is cheap enough the=at you can have it pay for itself quickly and if it sets you don't hurt. Also it will tell you quickly how you like sawing.

The first paying job I ever had was in a 4-man circular saw mill. I 1) don't want to work that hard again and 2) am too durn old to work that hard again.

I'm thinking a small mill like this, coupled with a solar kiln, will give me all the wood I need to feed my wood butcher habit.

Johnny Dolittle · #13 01/11/14, 06:06 PM

I started with a Bellsaw 40 inch circle mill years ago and then built a band mill

The one in the op looks reasonable for the money

Dave S. · #14 01/11/14, 07:35 PM

Do a search at the Forestry Forum. There are several happy Woodland mill owners there.

Big Dave · #15 01/12/14, 06:53 AM

Had a Logasol chainsaw mill. VERY labor intensive. Traded it for a 4 wheel drive artic cat with a winch.

roughsawn · #16 01/13/14, 09:07 AM

I have a logmaster lm1, which is very affordable and built heavy duty. The only thing I don't like is their blades. I buy custom length blades from woodmizer. I built my 2 story home and all my outbuildings and fences with it and it still cuts great. Any problems I've had with it were the result of it not being in a shed. ie rusted cables. Oh, and when I first but it the set screws loosened on the bandwheels and they slipped out of alignment, so I would recommend taking out the set screws and dimpling the shaft and putting them back in with loc tite. It's a real pain aligning everything back up once it moves. Other than that its an awesome mill for the price. It cuts from the clean side unlike the woodmizer and it also cuts down to 1''. I bought an extra track section and cut 16'. I've been able to make enough money with it to pay for itself plus the savings in lumber for my own use.

TnAndy · #17 01/13/14, 11:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by campfire Curage

I have a mill, no experience with this particular mill. But I will say, you get what you pay for so I would say it if you are thinking of purchasing any mill what are you planning on doing with the unit? If your just using it for recreation a few boards this is fine. If your planning on having a mill for building stuff or a business you better look at a Woodmizer. They have the same lightweight mills available and last many years. I have a woodmizer mill, for 20 years and it still cuts like the day I bought it. Reliable and great customer service.

I'll second that. Woodmizer LT40 owner since 1991. Probably cut 1/2 million board feet on it, and except for faded paint, it's as good as the day I brought it home from the factory.

I've seen folks buy these smaller, lighter mills, and pay new for them what you could buy a good, used LT30 or 40. About $8,000 seems to be the price for a mill of my size and age.....and when you consider the amount of lumber you can turn off one for a homestead, it's a bargain !

65284 · #18 01/13/14, 01:13 PM

A friend is playing with the idea of building a small mill for personal use. He has a 220v 5hp motor he would like to use. Is this enough, and the correct type of power, to yield a usable mill?

Jolly · #19 01/14/14, 03:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 65284

A friend is playing with the idea of building a small mill for personal use. He has a 220v 5hp motor he would like to use. Is this enough, and the correct type of power, to yield a usable mill?

Hud-son makes a small mill with a 5hp electric motor.

Fire-Man · #20 01/14/14, 07:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 65284

A friend is playing with the idea of building a small mill for personal use. He has a 220v 5hp motor he would like to use. Is this enough, and the correct type of power, to yield a usable mill?

Sure 5hp will cut you some Boards and will work fine----as long as you are not in a hurry.