Hello all from a new member looking for info about band sawmill DIY kits.

[terry60]

I would love to spend 50k on a top-of-the-line woodmizer or the like but that is, unfortunately, impossible for the foreseeable future. In other words, my wife doesn't want to sell the house and live in the pickup truck towing a mill which the dead or diseased trees it was going to mill were sold with the house to buy the mill!
Anyway, besides Linn Lumber, does anyone know of some options I can look into to purchase a kit or where is the best forum for finding used and/or damaged mils for sale? Linn's kits look great but I can't even afford those yet so I am still looking until I find something I can afford. With instructions, I can handle all aspects of assembling a kit EXCEPT welding which I would have to farm out or learn.
It would be great to find a good old mill that needs a lot of work but has good bones. Thanks for any help anyone can give!

 

[betterbuilt]

Obviously the choice is to hire a portable band mill to mill your logs. Unless your set on owning a bandmill then the answer is obvious, move into the truck.

 

[djones]

I've seen some mills posted in the want ad digest from time to time that won't cost an arm and or leg, maybe a hand only, doesn't have to be yours.

 

[terry60]

djones, are you talking about want ads somewhere on this site? I need all my appendages and the wife wants to keep her parts too so I have to find a mill I can afford.

 

[rarefish383]

I just bumped a thread back to the top for you, check out "small band mill", Joe.

 

[terry60]

betterbuilt, the truck won't hold all my tools so it's not a residency option. Do you know of any place like Linns Lumber that sells kits? I'm not having any luck in my search so far and I'm not ready to just set my sights on saving to buy from Linns yet. I like more than one option and renting isn't an option. As an example, I rented a floor nailer to install T&G Oak in my last home and then realized because I couldn't finish the job in a day or two by myself, it was cheaper to spend the $300-$400 to own the nailer. Between the rent money and what hiring a contractor to do the work, I saved a ton and haven't used the nailer in 5 years but it's here when I or anyone I know needs it. Same deal with my tractor attachments, I'd rather own than rent. The trees and logs aren't going anywhere and I can use the mill I have for now it's just aggravating to know how much better the tool could be.

 

[TraditionalTool]

What about just looking for a used bandmill?

I bought a Norwood Lumbermate 2000 last year, it works well. The one I got has a custom bed for it, 30' long. I only paid $4k for it.

The answers are out there. Bottom line is that you won't need to spend $50k and will still be able to mill a lot of timber up...

 

[terry60]

I just bumped a thread back to the top for you, check out "small band mill", Joe.

rarefish, I'm new and have no idea where to look for "bumped a thread back to the top..." Can you enlighten a poor fool?

 

[terry60]

rarefish, I found the thread, thanks. Let me ask what may be a stupid question: Why are so many DIY mills built with tires? It seems like using mill wheels would be easier and better unless the tires make the machine safer and/or easier for making other components work as a system? I know for me with my beat up hands from years of wear-and-tear working with bigger pieces and bigger tools is sometimes easier even when heavier but I need to understand the whys of material choices before committing to building a certain style bandmill. Thanks for any info and help, I appreciate it.

 

[djones]

djones, are you talking about want ads somewhere on this site? I need all my appendages and the wife wants to keep her parts too so I have to find a mill I can afford.

I'm referring to THE Want ad digest. you can get to it online.

 

[mikeb1079]

Let me ask what may be a stupid question: Why are so many DIY mills built with tires?

because they're cheaper. good large bandsaw wheels are expensive. the most reliable source of used bandsaw mills that i've found is craigslist. i usually use allofcraigs.com or a similar search engine that checks all the usa craigslists at once. you'll probably have to drive a bit, but i've seen many good looking mills in the 3-5k range.
good luck

 

[betterbuilt]

betterbuilt, the truck won't hold all my tools so it's not a residency option. Do you know of any place like Linns Lumber that sells kits? I'm not having any luck in my search so far and I'm not ready to just set my sights on saving to buy from Linns yet. I like more than one option and renting isn't an option. As an example, I rented a floor nailer to install T&G Oak in my last home and then realized because I couldn't finish the job in a day or two by myself, it was cheaper to spend the $300-$400 to own the nailer. Between the rent money and what hiring a contractor to do the work, I saved a ton and haven't used the nailer in 5 years but it's here when I or anyone I know needs it. Same deal with my tractor attachments, I'd rather own than rent. The trees and logs aren't going anywhere and I can use the mill I have for now it's just aggravating to know how much better the tool could be.

Well I just put the hiring a portable mill out there. Some of those guys have spent the 50,000 on a mill and are charging 200-340 per day to mill a 1000bft. I think it's a great deal if you have the logs ready to go. You don't have to worry about sharpening blades or maintenance of the mill. Really it is a deal.

Obviously if you want to mill them yourself thats what your gonna do. I'm looking at the lucas mill because it has a lot more options. A 60inch slabber would be nice.

 

[gemniii]

I've seen some mills posted in the want ad digest from time to time that won't cost an arm and or leg, maybe a hand only, doesn't have to be yours.

OUCH!
Sounds like a sawmill accident!

The OP just needs to balance,, like most of us do, needs vs wants vs wallet.

Up into recently I was looking to get a small lightweight BSM I could transport with my little tractor's FEL and 3 pt. I want to make trails, deer plots and sheds. And I don't want to haul logs over a few dozen yard to the mill. Drop them and make them into sheds. All milling was to be for my own use, I'm not looking at selling lumber. My biggest tree was about 2'DBH and I wasn't going to have "trailerable trails". I was looking at something like a new Hud-Son Oscar 118 ($2,600, 6.5HP) or a new Woodmizer LT10 ($3,200, 7HP).

Now I know I'm getting about ten 3' to 4' trees. So I was thinking of moving up a size and HP. I was looking at an Oscar 236 ($6,200, 16HP) or Woodmizer LT15 ($6,200, 18HP).

My needs dictate a $3K mill, my wants a $6K mill. My dreams a $25K mill, a $70K truck and a priceless wife (well I have the wife already). I figure the added price would be worth 10 to 30 cents a board foot. So going from $3K (need) to $6K (wants) ($3K diff) I need to mill about 10,000 to 30,000 board feet more to make up the price difference. It ain't worth it to me. I'll probably use my Alaskan and 660's to make cant's for a smaller mill.

The OP seems to be looking for a kit mill for a giveaway price. Good luck, but so are many of us.

 

[terry60]

gemniii;2959969]
"The OP just needs to balance,, like most of us do, needs vs wants vs wallet.
The OP seems to be looking for a kit mill for a giveaway price. Good luck, but so are many of us."

I'm not looking for a giveaway (although that WOULD be nice) but every mill manufacturer I call, the last thing I ask them is if they have a bad forklift operator who occasionally drops a mill off a loading dock that I could buy really cheap and repair it myself.
While I've got your ear, do you know of other kit sellers besides Linn?

 

[gemniii]

While I've got your ear, do you know of other kit sellers besides Linn?

Norwood.

 

[rarefish383]

There's a fellow out west that builds a 4 post mill with power for about $1600. He supplies no track. I've seen his video and it looks nice. Give me awhile to think of his name, Joe.

 

[TraditionalTool]

Norwood.

Norwood is not a kit manufacturer, even given your persistence to classify them as such. The Norwood requires MINOR assembly.

In contrast, a low end Linn kit requires you weld the carriage frame yourself.

Given how so many people in this forum weld up elaborate CSMs, it's surprising that more of them don't build BSMs.

Of course the big online phenomena is that you will most likely find that the BSM experts have never used a BSM in their life, and have most likely never owned one. This is not only true of BSMs but of most any topic online. There are armchair experts everywhere!

 

[gemniii]

Norwood is not a kit manufacturer, even given your persistence to classify them as such. The Norwood requires MINOR assembly.

In contrast, a low end Linn kit requires you weld the carriage frame yourself.

Given how so many people in this forum weld up elaborate CSMs, it's surprising that more of them don't build BSMs.

Of course the big online phenomena is that you will most likely find that the BSM experts have never used a BSM in their life, and have most likely never owned one. This is not only true of BSMs but of most any topic online. There are armchair experts everywhere!

Seems a matter of definition of a "kit".
When I grew up I put together (and eventually crashed) a large number of model airplane KITs . All the parts were there, maybe a hundred pieces or more.

A kit car, also known as a "component car", is an automobile that is available as a set of parts that a manufacturer sells and the buyer then either assembles into a car themselves, or retains a third party to do part or all of the work on their behalf.

My concept of a kit is that you receive all the parts and assemble the device. The kit airplanes I built came with an engine already assembled.

The Norwood models seem like a step up from the Linn top of the line kits, but they still require lot's of assembly.

Once more I quote:

We bought a brand new Norwood 2000 to saw up limb wood that is too small for our big saws and it works remarkably well considering that you can buy a brand new one for about one-tenth the cost of a big portable saw.

You can cut larger logs on it too but if you were going to do much sawing I'd get a much larger machine - but, in all fairness, it does work well on larger logs - it's just slow.

The one we bought came with a 23 or 25 hp gas engine, I believe. I sure wouldn't't get any engine smaller than that for sure.

Here's the bad news: These machines come unassembled and in a million pieces. (bags and bags and bags of small parts). After several days of having my employees try their hands at assembling it we finally just hired a professional machinest after hours to get it going. That worked out well.

If you are mechanically inclined and can keep from getting discouraged, this machine is a real bargain. Nothing out there under $15,000 comes close to it. I think we paid about $6,000 plus $1,800 for assembly + S&H so it came in under $9k in all.

The few other people I've spoken with who also own one of these all complain about the irregular and problematic cutting with theirs. Once they run our machine, and see how well and fast it cuts, they realize that their machine must be way out of kilter. One 2000 owner we know hired this same machinest to tear his apart and put it back together properly and now his work fantastic too.

As much as I like this machine it's like putting together a 50,000 piece jigsaw puzzle. However, it does come with a great photo rich instruction manual of about 150 pages.

To other Norwood owners who may disagree with my take on the complex assembly: if you put yours together yourself and it works properly, my hat is off to you. There aren't a lot of people who can do this on their own - but no one would EVER want to do it again, I'll bet.

If you are ever in my area feel free to stop by and use mine for a day before buying one.

Thanks. Dennis

So call the Norwood something else than a kit, but it doesn't come from the factory put together in a few separate pieces.

Reading on the Norwood forum it took 8 hours and up to assemble a Norwood. If 8 hours and up of assembly is MINOR, or paying $1800 to have it assembled is MINOR, more power to you.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

Norwood had and probably still has guys lined up all over that would assembly LM's for those that can't read and follow instructions. We would do them for 300 ea.. and i'd still assembly one for that, and for a little more i'd even teach you to use and maintain it.

Anyone who paid anything within a mile of $1,800.00 is an absolute bumbleing idiot.

The more you post on Lm's the more you show just how much you DON'T know about them.

Rob

 

[hamish]

Norwood had and probably still has guys lined up all over that would assembly LM's for those that can't read and follow instructions. We would do them for 300 ea.. and i'd still assembly one for that, and for a little more i'd even teach you to use and maintain it.

Anyone who paid anything within a mile of $1,800.00 is an absolute bumbleing idiot.

The more you post on Lm's the more you show just how much you DON'T know about them.

Rob

I agree. I am a newer Norwood owner and have my pics up here on AS to prove it. All in assembly took less than 7 hours (would luv to find me a job that pays $1800 for 7hrs work!).

I can read and follow directions and have have all kinds of technical know how......but it all boils down to RTFM ...read the @#$%ing manual. If you cant assemble a box of parts its surprising the ole chainsaw hasn't killed you yet!

Thus far I have milled approx 2000bf, and made some errors but alas am able to determine when to stop milling and resolve the problem, by sitting back and analyzing what is going on and why, and gosh darnit can still drop a mortar down a tube and hit a target 600m away!

Since buying my mill and using it the primary things I have come quickly aware of is mechanical advantage is your friend, I need a bigger tractor, and most inportantly site preparation and mill set up will save many headaches.



A mill for $2000 or $15000 add on at least another $1-2000 for ancillary and stuff you should have had in the first place.