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View Full Version : BEST PORTABLE SAWMILL ? Made in USA ....



nelson lasaosa
10-07-2015, 7:44 PM
I wanna buy a sturdy, good quality portable sawmill to process tres of aproximately 2 ft diameter. As much as I can, I´d like to stay away from Asian machines. Do any of you have ample experience to recomend a particular Brand and model? Your input is greatly appreciated.

Charles Randal Smith
10-07-2015, 9:07 PM
Do you have a budget? Were you thinking of a chainsaw mill, bandsaw, or circular saw? Is there a log length you need to handle? Besides your suggested log diameter (which the vast majority of mills can handle) and portability, are there other make-or-break features you would need? There are certainly a number of quality machines that are available, and if you are willing to purchase used, there are reliable machines which are attractive on a cost/benefit basis. I continue to be impressed with my mill (Wood-Mizer LT40) but there are other forum members who will also heartily recommend their rigs.
Charles

Danny Hamsley
10-07-2015, 9:08 PM
Trees that large will be hard to handle without hydraulics. I operate a Woodmizer LT40, and it can easily handle logs of that size. There are other manufacturers that make good hydraulic sawmills as well.

Tom Hogard
10-07-2015, 9:08 PM
nelson,

That is such an open-ended question. There are about a dozen, American made, bandsaw mill brands out there and all them do a decent job within their design limitations. A realistic evaluation of your budget and actual requirements will start you on the proper path to finding several models that would work for you.

Will you be milling for others? Will you be mobile (many portable mills only make the trip home)? What length logs? What type of product will you mill (a mill for timbers and ties may require more of an investment than milling project lumber)? The availability of parts and service should be a consideration. No brand has the answer for all situations. Of course, "portable sawmill" doesn't always mean a bandsaw mill. There are other types of sawmills out there - which one is right for you? Before you buy, consider spending a day with a sawyer close to you and learn all you can while helping out. Most of us are eager to talk about our mills, and milling in general. Be aware, we also have biases so shop around.

Ian Moone
10-07-2015, 9:48 PM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VTyiFTp17os

http://www.lucasmill.com/ (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VTyiFTp17os)

These are an Aussie designed and built Mill - sturdy as.

And they truly are portable. Here we tend to carry them on a tandem axle trailer or a flat tray back pick up 4 x 4.

The advantage is that they will cut logs up to 6 or more feet in diameter should you ever be fortunate enough to score access to such logs.

The main engine will drive a 72 inch (6ft) slabbing bar off a chainsaw... if you want bark to bark slabs.

http://www.lucasmill.com/Portable-Timber-Sawmills/Slabbing-Mills

or

You can produce one or two slabs from each log if you want with the round saw blade by just talking the log out with forks on a tractor FEL once your down to a face you wish to produce a slab with, position the next log and cap it off to a flat face - the put the first log back in face down and cut DOWN to leave the desired thickness of slab with the original face that you liked.

Do the same with each log & you produce one slab per log - with a "selected face" using no more than the circular blade.

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a70/troutylow/Timber%20work/RawSlabs.jpg

I would produce at least one slab from each log milled... selecting the nicest face.

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a70/troutylow/Timber%20work/p3273583.jpg

Larger ones I'd produce slab tables bark to bark edge

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a70/troutylow/Timber%20work/GoannaDreaming1.jpg

Smaller ones went into coffee tables.

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a70/troutylow/Timber%20work/BobtailBoomerang5.jpg

There's nothing wrong with the horizontal bandsaw mills if the only timber you can access is smaller softwood logs... but this gives you the flexibility to tackle the odd large log when they crop up.

I suspect these cut way faster than a horizontal bandsaw - but you lose more wood in each kerf.

Just another suggestion to consider.

The idea of these is that you take the portable mill to the log, not the log to the mill.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kv9WcPNRsyg


this gives an idea of size logs & conditions they will handle. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kv9WcPNRsyg)

nelson lasaosa
10-08-2015, 5:17 PM
Hi Charles, the first consideration was to get a good chainsaw mill that could handle logs in the 2-3 ft range x about 20 ft long. In fact, I´m doing this research for a client who got a ranch in South America with lots of exotic Woods. Budget ? He´s got no problema with that, just whatever he thinks is good enough to do the job: creative use of Wood in his building of decorative and functional structures in his farm. I will be doing the actual work once he buys or processes his own Wood. He doesn´t want to set up a comercial mill at all. I watched that Wood-Mizer Lt40, and it´s a lovely piece of equipment. Basically, after doing some search I´m a bit less ignorant, and will share with him some sound portable manual chainsaw mills and also something like the Mizer or other powered portable units. He´s the one to buy whatever fits his needs, or desires....lol. By the way, what´s the cost of that particular Mizer Charles ?
Sure appreciate your input pal.

nelson lasaosa
10-08-2015, 5:19 PM
Danny, you´re right. Thanks for your time, wish I had a Mizer like yours, LOL

nelson lasaosa
10-08-2015, 5:28 PM
Hi Tom.
In deed, now I realice how wide an array of such equipment is available, and answering a few basic questions will automatically lead to choosing the one that best fits one´s needs, and budeget ! The first question to answer is whether these guys want to bring the Wood to the mill, or the mill to the Woods, knowing each has its advantages and drawbacks. Personally, I´d rather pull the log to a nearbye shed equiped with something like a Mizer, but the BOSS will decide on that type or a big manual chainsaw mil...
Thanks so much for your input .

nelson lasaosa
10-08-2015, 5:32 PM
Ian, great piece of equipment. Will have to see if there´s a Lucas dealer in the US. Thank you so much for your extensive info. Some one else will select his choice out of all these great pieces of machinery.

Charles Randal Smith
10-08-2015, 11:39 PM
... I´m doing this research for a client who got a ranch in South America... By the way, what´s the cost of that particular Mizer Charles ?
Nelson, I am not the best person to answer your question on the cost of an LT-40 as the Canadian prices are different than the US prices. Perhaps another member of this forum can give you the basic LT-40 price, then several of the options such as hydraulics, the setting software, or a diesel motor.
If your client lives in a country with a Wood-Mizer distributor, you might be able to get more exact pricing in his own country and currency if you give the Wood-Mizer head office a call.
I realize that I didn't answer your question. Sorry!
Charles

Danny Hamsley
10-09-2015, 7:46 AM
You can go to the woodmizer USA website and price their mills.

Victor Stearns
10-09-2015, 10:32 PM
Woodmizer gets my vote. Our nephew has one and brought this to the house to mill 3 cherry logs. I think it is the LT28. It has the power feed but the manual log loader that is basically a 2-speed hand crank winch. It worked well for the 18-inch diameter logs.

Jim Andrew
10-16-2015, 8:20 PM
I bought my Cooks mp32 used. Used machines are out there and many have seen little use. Price is often right. My neighbors bought a timberking with hydraulics for less than 10,000.