Portable Sawmills

I think you left some things out of your post. How long does it take to "hammer" a circle blade??? Ever see the cost of getting it done?? How about changeing and sharpening teeth?? And what about all that saw dust?? Can't you picture a lot of boards in that saw dust pile??? These are the things you "didn't" see (or mention in your post) with a circle mill.

It's true in some conditions you can dull a lot of bands, but those conditions will dull a circle blade too!!! The speed a band mill, "mills" is dependent on what band mill and operator, so don't lump all band mills as "slow". Remember, all the really "big boys" that saw construction lumber are useing big "band mills".

Keep in mind, no matter how you saw the lumber "some one" has to sticker it!!! You can do it your self, or pay some one else to do it.

For you it may be a better deal to haul your logs (that takes time too, and someone has to go get the lumber!) to a circle mill, but if you are sawing for "grade", the waste of a circle mill alone makes a band mill shine!!

Like i said in my last post, if you want more speed, spend more money!!

Robert

I appreciate your candid reply. Right now I'm reviewing ideas and you've provided some information to consider seriously. No doubt it is hard work; even the newest models with hydraulic assists can't take all the lifting out of the task. Again, thank you.

respectfully,

Jim

I also have a Norwood Lumbermate. They are very good sawmills. I've had mine on the farm for about 6 years now, and have built several buildings out of lumber i've sawn off my woodlot.

Nothing wrong with WoodMizer, but they do NOT saw any better or more accurate than a Lumbermate, they are just faster!! They also cost a LOT more, so you have to decide if you want to saw enough that you "need" a faster mill. Norwoods are a manual mill. You do all the log loading and turning manually, the faster mills have hydraulics that do all the log handleing for you. If you want to saw several days a week and try to make a liveing off your wood lot, i think you should be looking at a hydraulic mill. If you want to saw mostly for your own use like i do, then a Norwood Lumbermate is an excelent mill!!

Just open your check book, and dial in the speed you want!! :>)

• Norwood Lumbermate

Opening the checkbook is what I'm hoping to minimize unless the outgoing $$ lead to more incoming. I'm considering options; the loblolly is mature, it should have been thinned years ago and although it provides a nice screen I'm hoping it can help finance some projects that will be costly. Anyway, thank you for your recommendation and photo. Nice tractor.

Respectfully,

Jim

Bill

Wow, sure you don't work for Wood-Mizer? Yours is a great recommendation. My wife brought home some Wood-Mizer literature from a local, small-farm fair and the products do seem impressive. We have plenty of loblolly around our house, lots of poplar too. The walnut is more plentiful than oak but not enough of either that I would feel comfortable harvesting in more than small amounts (single projects). We do have another site with oak but it is forty miles away. Any sawmill we might purchase would have to be mobile. Anyway, thank you for taking the time to reply; I appreciate your recommendation.

Respectfully,

Jim

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