Logosol vs. Panther Pro

[Sawyer Rob]

just reading through this thread,I;ve noticed a few things you guys on the far side of the pond seem to get up to, you all deem to favour BSM over CSM because of less waste..??, how much do you loose when you plane the timber to get rid of the ripples caused by blade deflection, and just how portable are your BSM in rough going, I also noticed some one saying that they cant get reliable cuts under 1" with theyre CSM , I dont have any of these problems using my M7, with the logosol pico chain setup, kerf is 1/4" no deflection, and dead true, I am able to repeatably produce 1/8" thick slices (do this just to show the versitility of the mill), and because of its light weight, can carry it into the middle of the stand of timber I'm working on. As for the BSM being quicker, on the first cut, maybe so, but over several logs my M7 isnt far behind, and unless your using a machine with full hydraulics for levelling and turning the logs, can usually produce more quality timber. The other thing is how many of your BSM can comfortably handle logs of over20ft in length, or 30" dia easilly, and still be portable

WOW, i guess you haven't been around a BSM run by someone who knows what they are doing. Ripples caused by blade deflection??? I thought that Myth was put to bed long ago...

My LM2000 BSM will mill a 32" x 20.6" long without any problem at all, and i'll get a LOT more quality lumber out of that log than anyone will with a CSM, and i'd be willing to bet i'll get it out a LOT faster too...

SR

 

[MHouse1028]

i have both a turner band mill and alaskan csm...I love both and they both have there place..but i must say the most simple is the alaskan and for initial cost,portability,and qaulity..the alaskan. and for a guy just starting out you really cannot beat it and if you grow out of it you can always purchase the bsm...if i'm making dimensional lumber the bsm works great but i generally cut wide hardwood slabs i would rather use the alaskan..i run a stihl 084 power head with a 42" bar through hardwood and with a sharp chain i have no issues..plus the slabs sell like hot cakes and is where most of my profit is.some slabs sell for well over 100 bucks each and for ten minutes worth of cut time that ain't bad.some day i would really like to have a fully hydro bandmill tho i must say..if your just starting out then take the minimal approach and see if you even like milling wood then grow form there,

 

[Dave Boyt]

A chain saw mill is a great way to get started. I sawed a lot of boards with mine, and still use it to break down 36"+ diameter logs that won't fit on the band mill, and if I need slabs wider than 28". In other words, it won't be a waste of money to get the CSM. I recently swapped my Husq 372 for a very used 2100 to put on my chain saw mill. Bottom line is, you use what works. Cutting 20' beams out in the bush isn't a priority for me. In my experience, the Norwood MX34 band saw mill cuts perfectly straight, as long as everything is dialed in right, and is at least half again as fast as the chain saw mill. More than twice as fast, if you include the time spent sharpening the chain. For me, if I've gone to all the trouble of wrestling a 30" cherry log out of the woods, and can spend another 3 minutes to get an extra $100 slab by making less sawdust, I'll go with the band mill.

Cherry 1
Cherry 2
Cherry 3

On the other hand, spending more time and getting fewer boards out of a log with the chain saw mill is far better than letting it rot in the woods! My advice is start out with the chain saw mill, and keep your eye open for a band mill on down the line, if you cut enough lumber to justify it.

 

[lazyguy]

Bandsaw Mill.

I know the original poster is done with this thread. But, I'd like to add my input for who ever else is following this thread for what it's worth.

I'd put my vote in for the logosol Basic big mill system. I've never seen the panther in person.
What I like about the logosol, is that you can come in for both sides if the logs large enough.
Translation, you don't need to put on a 36" bar to break down a 30" log.

And it's very portable and storable.

That said, I'd still give a NOD, towards a lower end bandsaw mill.

I shopped for quit a while looking for used mills. And I'm sure I'm not as savy a shopper as a lot of guys here. But in my experience you can't buy a low end band saw used for much less than new.

Which translates into almost NO depreciation on a SMALL, decent built, name brand, bandsaw mill.
It seems to me to be a no brainer.

I have purchased a big mill basic and made the 2X table to work on it off the ground.
I still need to buy my stihl 660 for it.

I've already had 1 guy thats planning on taking down 2 very large oak trees this summer asking me to come and take the wood off his hands. My small 26" capacity bandsaw sawmill is NEVER going to handle these trees.

By the time you figure in the logosol at $800 and a new chainsaw + bar and chains at $1,200 you're almost at the cost of the lower end bandsaw mill. Hudson is selling an entry one for $2,600 that I bet blows the doors off most chainsaw mills. And for not much more $ you can buy a norwood or a woodmizer, next step up.

You should be able to use these mills and make ALL the lumber you'll ever need/want and sell it for $500 less than what you payed. Might even get lucky and sell for what you payed for it.

The chainsaw mill, will be 1/2 or less resale.
I do think a chainsaw mill would be great if you don't have room to store or a way to move a bandsaw mill and lumber. And a logosol big mill basic would fill this want very nicely.

Dave S.