Post by: Night goat on May 30, 2017, 10:10:28 PM
Always known about portable sawmills and Alaskan sawmills...
But a 2000$ harbor freight sawmill?
Either sounds like the worst idea in the world, or an awesome budget tool for making my own lumber....
I'm going to be building a small cabin in the woods, and have plenty of trees, primarily a stand of alders...... Seems the perfect candidate for making up 2x4s and 4x4s, not to mention resawing whatever I scrounge.....
Downside is that the track seems to only hold 8 foot logs, I'd need to make 16 and 20 foot long beams, but that seems easy enough....
Any thoughts on this?
Can't afford a different option, unless I find something used, but for under 2000$ what else is there?
Never been to a harbor freight, but, I've heard mixed things about Chinese stuff...
Seems to be that anything that could break on the harbor freight one could probably be replaced with American stuff...
Post by: highside74 on May 30, 2017, 10:26:17 PM
The $ symbol will always and forever go before the number. 2000$ is 2000 dollar signs, not $2000
I hope if you buy your $2000 mill you cut some great stuff with it..
Post by: carpsniperg2 on May 30, 2017, 10:27:43 PM
Post by: Mudman on May 30, 2017, 10:40:09 PM
Post by: Seahawk12 on May 30, 2017, 10:52:44 PM
Here is a link to what I'm thinking:
http://www.norwoodsawmills.com/products-sawmills/portamill-pm14-chainsaw-sawmill
Or the slightly more expensive chainsaw sawmill:
http://www.logosol.us/sawmills/m8/
Post by: SteelheadTed on May 30, 2017, 11:10:23 PM
Post by: jmscon on May 31, 2017, 11:55:44 AM
Can't say much about mills but I do know alder makes poor building lumber. Cut up some fir instead, alder will be nothing but trouble.:yeah:
Alder does make nice mill work (cabinets and trim) and good smoking chips.
Post by: HUNTINCOUPLE on May 31, 2017, 12:33:50 PM
Post by: Special T on May 31, 2017, 01:16:49 PM
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Post by: trapp01 on May 31, 2017, 01:18:52 PM
Post by: Shrimper on May 31, 2017, 01:33:34 PM
I have owned a chainsaw mill and now I own the harbor freight band saw mill. The band saw outcuts the chainsaw mill 10-1.
So far the harbor freight mill has exceeded my expectations. There is a big learning curve but once all the kinks are worked out this mill will cut superb lumber. Looking at comparable mills I think the HF mill is the best bang for the buck. The biggest weakness IMO is the two piece track and getting that perfect for straight lumber. I also built an extension so I can mill up to 15' but I'm now in the process for building a new one piece track out of 21' 4"x3" steel angle. Wish I would have just done this from the start instead of building and third piece extension.
I think the woodland mills have a very similar model to the HF and are probably built by the same manufacturer but cost more. Below is a link to a thread dedicated to the HF mill and there is a ton of good advice. The people posting on this site have done some really neat things with their HF mills and this thread was what finalized my decision to buy the mill. There was a coupon offered that brought the mill down to $1,799 and it came to just over $2,000 with shipping and tax for me.
http://www.woodworkingtalk.com/f26/harbor-freight-tools-band-mill-7801/
One other item is to get good blades for the mill. Cooks makes blades just for the HF mill and they are really reasonable at around $15 a blade.
http://store.cookssaw.com/
A piece of equipment is a must when moving logs around for milling.
Post by: Boss .300 winmag on May 31, 2017, 02:05:31 PM
Post by: Special T on May 31, 2017, 02:05:52 PM
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Post by: TheHunt on May 31, 2017, 02:06:02 PM
I built my band saw mill last year. 20' track w/ a 18hp and trailer tires. I can stuff a 3' diameter x 18' log in it. It gets to be a lot of work to push through the log so I'm planning on automating it with a gate opener. I shopped the prices on everything and ended up getting most stuff offline and it ran me $1400 to build it. x2 on the equipment, moving those logs is no joke.
Do you have any pictures of your mill? I will be building my own in a few years.
Post by: Night goat on May 31, 2017, 11:18:30 PM
Ah a sawmill thread...
I have owned a chainsaw mill and now I own the harbor freight band saw mill. The band saw outcuts the chainsaw mill 10-1.
So far the harbor freight mill has exceeded my expectations. There is a big learning curve but once all the kinks are worked out this mill will cut superb lumber. Looking at comparable mills I think the HF mill is the best bang for the buck. The biggest weakness IMO is the two piece track and getting that perfect for straight lumber. I also built an extension so I can mill up to 15' but I'm now in the process for building a new one piece track out of 21' 4"x3" steel angle. Wish I would have just done this from the start instead of building and third piece extension.
I think the woodland mills have a very similar model to the HF and are probably built by the same manufacturer but cost more. Below is a link to a thread dedicated to the HF mill and there is a ton of good advice. The people posting on this site have done some really neat things with their HF mills and this thread was what finalized my decision to buy the mill. There was a coupon offered that brought the mill down to $1,799 and it came to just over $2,000 with shipping and tax for me.
http://www.woodworkingtalk.com/f26/harbor-freight-tools-band-mill-7801/
One other item is to get good blades for the mill. Cooks makes blades just for the HF mill and they are really reasonable at around $15 a blade.
http://store.cookssaw.com/
A piece of equipment is a must when moving logs around for milling.
I might have to bring over a can of gas and some beer when I get back from fishing in Alaska in the fall...
Post by: trapp01 on June 01, 2017, 07:45:17 AM
Its down at my dads shop right now. Im building my house right now so I have no where to put it up here right now. next time im down there ill snap a few pics and post them upI built my band saw mill last year. 20' track w/ a 18hp and trailer tires. I can stuff a 3' diameter x 18' log in it. It gets to be a lot of work to push through the log so I'm planning on automating it with a gate opener. I shopped the prices on everything and ended up getting most stuff offline and it ran me $1400 to build it. x2 on the equipment, moving those logs is no joke.
Do you have any pictures of your mill? I will be building my own in a few years.
Post by: Happy Gilmore on June 01, 2017, 03:03:10 PM
Post by: Night goat on June 01, 2017, 05:41:32 PM
rig it up next to a spar pole and go old fashioned. Get a donkey and a few extra block and tackles.
.....was gonna use my jeep as the donkey
Post by: AWS on June 01, 2017, 06:43:37 PM
Post by: Happy Gilmore on June 01, 2017, 09:55:20 PM
Post by: jackmaster on June 07, 2017, 11:28:32 AM
I helped build a 8x8 square Oak timber/log cabin. We each had draft horse to skid the 20' oak logs big enough to cut 8x8x20' timbers. Pulled them on a bank along side the trailer and with a couple of peaveys rolled them on a couple timbers out on to the trailer. When we got to the mill we rolled them one at a time too the waiting deck and loaded them on to the saw carriage. When they came off the saw we slid them onto the empty trailer. Fun times the cabin owner provided horse-cock sandwiches cold beans and peaches for lunch. Pass the big can of beans and peaches around and one big spoon for all of us to eat with. When the cabin was up he killed a goat and we had a neighborhood goat roast with tortillas and beans. Fun times.i don't know about eating horse cock sandwiches dude :yike: !!! Building the cabin sounds like fun though
Post by: Katmai Guy on June 07, 2017, 11:59:45 AM
Post by: TheHunt on June 07, 2017, 08:02:20 PM
Do a search on YouTube for Sawmill plans. They say one can build a sawmill for 1,400 dollars.
Post by: Birdguy on June 07, 2017, 09:35:24 PM
Post by: Mudman on June 08, 2017, 10:22:32 AM
Post by: headshot5 on June 08, 2017, 10:24:34 AM
Quote
Mobile Dimension are great mills. More chip/wood waste and slower than bandsaw maybe but I feel a much more reliable machine. A rock or nail doenst cost you huge $ and ruin your day. Simply pop another tooth in or a quick sharpen and back to work. Still have one for sale if anyone needs it? Extended track and on trailer.
Electric start upgrade on it? Pics? @Mudman
Post by: Mudman on June 08, 2017, 11:16:36 AM
Post by: jackmaster on June 08, 2017, 04:31:11 PM
:yeah: Mobile Dimension are great mills. More chip/wood waste and slower than bandsaw maybe but I feel a much more reliable machine. A rock or nail doenst cost you huge $ and ruin your day. Simply pop another tooth in or a quick sharpen and back to work. Still have one for sale if anyone needs it? Extended track and on trailer.how much are you selling it for mudman ?
Post by: Mudman on June 08, 2017, 04:35:22 PM
Post by: jackmaster on June 09, 2017, 08:21:54 AM
He told me he hoped close to 3k but 2500 would probably do it, he has funeral costs and taxes due. Its like this one but has extended track and not as nice.i just texted my buddy , I will let you know asap !! I would love to have that, I could saw love for days, right now I do it with a chainsaw and that my friend is a ton of work for so little return on time but it's still fun..