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drb777
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# Posted: 20 Jul 2019 13:40 - Edited by: drb777
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With 80 acres of never logged Oak and Hickory, and several upcoming projects, I now have a sawmill.
I chose the Woodmizer LT15 manual sawmill,
USA made with a solid reputation.
I wanted a firm foundation but couldn't quite justify a steel reinforced concrete pad. So I constructed mine with a soil-cement system, 7.5' X 24' X 6". (w/ bedrock only 6" down, & very silty soil, I have an ideal situation) All supporting sills/sleepers are PT 6" X 6", anchored down & together.
As shown, I'll be using one end of an existing shed roof as housing for the saw head when in storage.
The photo shows a nasty piece of Cottonwood loaded on the mill, not good for much but perfect for practice. Now time to play lumberjack, reminds me of a Monty Python song.
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Steve_S
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# Posted: 20 Jul 2019 13:57
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And the video to go with it (Too funny, I miss Monty)
Monty Python - Lumberjack Song Video
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drb777
Member
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# Posted: 20 Jul 2019 14:16
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I too miss Monty, Red Green show also.
Thanks for the posting.
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Steve_S
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# Posted: 20 Jul 2019 14:49
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Hey... Red Green is about to start a new tour !
http://www.redgreen.com/on-tour.html
Busy Guy teaching everyone the best use of Duct Tape !... if only he could duct tape the Politicians …
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drb777
Member
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# Posted: 20 Jul 2019 15:14
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'Best part for me was his contraption builds, w/ of course duct tape liberally applied.
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creeky
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# Posted: 21 Jul 2019 09:24
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Has a bit of a chin wag about using cottonwood for furniture, tongue and groove etc
They seem to like it.
I wonder how many times I've sung out "I'm a lumberjack and I'm okay" just that one line. apropos of nothing. just bored. liven things up a bit.
or said "we're all in this together."
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drb777
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# Posted: 21 Jul 2019 11:07 - Edited by: drb777
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Around here I've seen where some pole-type well service units like to use Cottonwood 8 X 8 sills to rack tubing when pulling a well. They say they like the much lighter weight (than an Oak/creosote RR tie).
They're in the poplar family, and some cities outlaw their planting due to the female production of the cotton-like seeds. It certainly can be a nuisance and clog-up AC compressor units.
I plan to harvest several more, somewhat larger one's, just because I prefer to discourage their proliferation. I'm sure they'll be fine for barn siding and such.
(We don't have "The Larch" around here. Too far South.)
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old243
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# Posted: 21 Jul 2019 22:23
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Good looking mill. I have a portable mill as well. How are you handling your logs? If you build a bunk to put several on , at mill height it might work. I have a fork lift, to move my lumber. Sticker it as you cut it, so you don,t handle it more than once. Don't let your slabwood accumulate, keep it out of the way. Cottonwood makes excellent trim and mouldings. Cut on the 4/4 , 8/4 scale. sticker well, keep under cover so it doesn't stain. If you have good hardwoods, concentrate on them. I found that there is a market , for lumber, but people want it kiln dried. My customers are usually hobby folks.I bought a Nyle 50 kiln shortly after I got my mill. Does about 1000BF, paid for it , many times over. You will get lots of customers , wanting wood kilned. It will be full all the time. For good information, go to the woodweb site, then to the sawing and drying forum. Good luck and have fun. with your mill. old243
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drb777
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# Posted: 22 Jul 2019 00:19
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Thanks Old243, I'm using a 50HP Ford tractor w/ FE loader & grapple. It works well for me, but does limit me to about 1200 lb. logs. I plan on adding a staging platform & possible ramp or crane maybe. 'Also have a 3-point hyd. grapple for skidding.
I'll be investigating kilns. With my own natural gas supply, that would match well.
I expect 90% of my cutting will be white & red oaks, with a few hickory thrown in. (No pine or spruce on my acreage.) And I expect to primarily supply my own needs. But we'll see how it works out.
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old243
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# Posted: 22 Jul 2019 08:58
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drb777, I also took a , lumber grading course. It helps you when sawing, to recognize, the grade and value of the board, before you make the cut. I like to cut my best boards into 8/4, they are worth a lot more. There is also a good market for, live edge wide slabs ,8/4 ,12/4, 16/4 , for mantles tables, etc. You can cut your weird ,crooked , crotches , etc. .Also book match, slabs People are looking for the beautiful grain in them. Advertise on kigigi, with pictures I just do it as a hobby, but you can also pay your expenses. You probably know this already, just my experience.. Have fun . old243
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old243
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# Posted: 23 Jul 2019 09:03
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dbr777, Hope i'm not hoggin this thread. Just giving you ideas that work for me. If you have a large bush, you will see fallen trees and old logs. If they have fungus on the ends or sides and are not too rotten, but partly. You can saw them, for the spalted wood they contain. Some of the patterns of spalt are amazing. Cut 4/4, 8/4, wide, some live edge. carvers, turners , hobby folks go nuts over them. You can also partially cover a fresh log, in a shady spot or in the bush and let it spalt, about 2 years. I have one guy , will take all I can find. Also don't give it away cheap, if it is nice. Might look like a pile of crap, to you. Your cottonwood might spalt nicely. Usually discussion on the woodweb forum on spalting. Have fun with your mill , I have with mine. old243
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Island
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# Posted: 23 Jul 2019 12:24
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Quoting: Steve_S And the video to go with it (Too funny, I miss Monty) Monty Python - Lumberjack Song Video
Some of the guys in my class did this number in the high school talent show when I was a senior. Hysterical. I guess that dates me a bit.
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paulz
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# Posted: 23 Jul 2019 14:56
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That's a nice looking mill with a large throat. I milled the lumber for the beams, siding and deck of my cabin with a small portable bandsaw mill. It was really too much for it but I got it done.
My neighbor had a Lucas mill, circular blade and chain for slabs. The nice feature that has was a rotating head, you could mill horizontal cuts, then flip the head 90 degrees and rip the sides.
Lot of hard work, I had people wanting milled redwood but I turned them down, rather save my strength and machinery for my own projects.
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drb777
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# Posted: 1 Nov 2019 12:44
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'Used roofing panels to finish-out the sawmill shed & then concrete on the floor. I was surprised at how well the 10 foot long steel sheets worked for the enclosure, with no maintenance or fire risk being priorities.
So now, after a hard freeze, it's time to harvest some timber to feed the sawmill and prep materials for the new workshop.
Sawmill shed
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Sawmill shed 2
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