Bandsaw saw mill

Rancid Crabtree · #1 02-28-2021, 09:19 PM

I’m looking at sawmills like Norwood

Do any of you guys have them? Advice on must have features?

I’d be buying loads of logs and sawing mostly for our own use rough lumber.
Mostly viewing it as a enjoyable project for the off season. Good project for the kids to learn.

Thanks for your help. Seems almost no used mills around for sale.

MugEye · #2 02-28-2021, 10:01 PM

Pm me I have Norwood LM29

SHEDHEAD · #3 02-28-2021, 11:03 PM

I have the woodland milks hm126. Still fairly new at it so I don’t have a lot of experience yet. It’s a good entry level saw and priced well.

outofbounds · #4 02-28-2021, 11:18 PM

Woodmizer LT 35 Hydraulic.

Nice mill, puts out alot of bd/ft with the simple set.

Less manhandle of logs, nice when sawing solo.

Mobile and large capacity.

BC7stw · #5 03-01-2021, 05:41 AM

Built a bandsaw mill 20 years ago or so, ran it quite a bit but sold it a few years later.

Cut mostly Douglas fir for rough lumber use. At that time birch was where I made my money. I’d cut a couple thousand board feet each summer. Stack it tie it down and sell it off the next year. Got between 1 and 2 bucks a board foot. I expect it would be much more now. With the live edge craze happening at the moment I expect it could be quite lucrative.

moose maniac · #6 03-01-2021, 05:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rancid Crabtree

I’m looking at sawmills like Norwood

Do any of you guys have them? Advice on must have features?

I’d be buying loads of logs and sawing mostly for our own use rough lumber.
Mostly viewing it as a enjoyable project for the off season. Good project for the kids to learn.

Thanks for your help. Seems almost no used mills around for sale.

Try the website sawmill exchange , I have a mobile dimension sawmill I prefer it over a bandsaw mill

Rancid Crabtree · #7 03-01-2021, 08:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by moose maniac

Try the website sawmill exchange , I have a mobile dimension sawmill I prefer it over a bandsaw mill

That’s a interesting machine. I’ve never seen one before thanks for mentioning it.

What reasons do you prefer it?

shortgrub · #8 03-01-2021, 08:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rancid Crabtree

I’m looking at sawmills like Norwood

Do any of you guys have them? Advice on must have features?

I’d be buying loads of logs and sawing mostly for our own use rough lumber.
Mostly viewing it as a enjoyable project for the off season. Good project for the kids to learn.

Thanks for your help. Seems almost no used mills around for sale.

I have been looking at the Norwood HD 36, hard company to get in contact with for information on the HD36 has been 3 weeks with no reply

Big Grey Wolf · #9 03-01-2021, 09:26 AM

If you only cut wood for your own use most band mills will work out okay. If you want to cut higher volumes, would recommend a good sized Woodmizer with larger motor.

coachman · #10 03-01-2021, 09:46 AM

I have both a head rig and a MSG band saw mill, the BL has a Wood-Mizer. The MSG was 1/3 the price of the Wood-Mizer and cuts just as fast. From what I have seen in a 8 hour day you may get a 1000bf depending on your wood, what you are cutting etc. I was cutting 3 by 10 poplar for the oil patch so it was good money. If you want to cut a lot of wood go with a scragg mill, There was a lot of them around 30 years ago but they seemed to have disappeared.

moose maniac · #11 03-01-2021, 10:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rancid Crabtree

That’s a interesting machine. I’ve never seen one before thanks for mentioning it.

What reasons do you prefer it?

Just a personal preference I like the bits on the blades I can sharpen them in 10 mins I also like that once I dog a log in I don’t have to move it again I can cut boards and it brings them back to me, one disadvantage is kerf size depending on which blade I use it’s 1/4” or 5/16. With sharp bits you can cut a pile of wood in a day

pa_of_6 · #12 03-01-2021, 04:53 PM

I have a Woodmizer LT70

And I cut oversized logs.

I have an edger and a crew of 4 guys
Loader man and 3 pilers

We do about 1750-2200 bf an hr depending on log size and length

If you are buying logs. Make sure they are big and straight

Pine and tamarack are denser than spruce so less bf per ton

Tamarack usually has a greater taper

Pine usually isn’t as straight

Message me for more info

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

ghfalls · #13 03-01-2021, 06:54 PM

If any of you guys are doing it to turn a profit, post up in the classifieds. I’d be more than happy to support you guys.

Rancid Crabtree · #14 03-01-2021, 07:58 PM

Thanks for all the advice and input.

Please post pictures of your operation if you want.

The woodland mills seem to have good reviews for the very entry level price point.

TBark · #15 03-01-2021, 08:10 PM

We have a Norwood MN26.
Just getting to know it, will know more later this summer.

TBark

Rancid Crabtree · #16 03-03-2021, 09:33 AM

Thank you all for your advice on thread and by pm.

I’m interested in purchasing a load of saw logs. Preferably large spruce.

If anyone knows where one could purchase some good logs please advise.

Thanks again.

Bigballedbore · #17 03-03-2021, 09:50 AM

try Range Road Products, they have a variety of bandsaw mills and they are local.

Big Grey Wolf · #18 03-03-2021, 11:01 AM

Rancid, quite high demand for quality spruce logs these days with 2x4's selling near $1000/ 1000 board feet. I would suggest also consider quality lodge pole pine logs as more available in Alberta. You might talk to someone with 1/4 section of spruce or pine interested in selling some.
If you selective log only large timber the land owner will love you more than companies clear cutting and leaving a mess.