Does anyone mill their own lumber?

[formariz 11,994]

Curious if any of you out there mill or are interested in milling your own lumber and if so what equipment you use. I used to do it extensively using a Sperber chainsaw mill which operates with two large chainsaw motors which I still have. It was a noisy dusty hot job but yielded many exquisite planks from trees otherwise gone for firewood or to the dump.

[ebinmaine 70,880]

Great topic.

Our neighbors have a mill and some friends of ours as well.

Trina and I will very likely own one in the future but that's a few years off.

I've seen the chain saw bar mills on YouTube and find them quite intriguing.

Not something we have a need for right now but we could put one to good use building a barn or house.

 

[bc.gold 3,403]

One of my neighbors purchased decommissioned telephone poles then had them cut into strips for his cedar strip canoes that he makes as a hobby. I've had a large Douglas fir cut into planks to redo the deck on my crane truck, since moving to central Canada have had  two different neighbors mill up a bunch of ash into lumber.

 

Nothing better than networking and making new friends hire a neighbor.

[formariz 11,994]

The one I have was made by Rob Sperber of Sperber Tool Works. He lived right up the street from me. I have to dig it out for photos. Here are some photos from instruction book and a link to better photos of it being used. Pretty easy to use. The secret was two very powerful chainsaw motors.You basically mill log where it falls. Used to do it right in people's backyards when they cut down a tree. Had also a connection with one of the tree service contractors that used to call me when something nice was taken down.

http://forestryforum.com/board/index.php?topic=13610.0

 

 

 

[ebinmaine 70,880]

Cool pics!

Thanks for posting them.

 

[WHX?? 50,793]

We've been known to saw a plank or two. 

[WHX?? 50,793]

Seriously my whole cabin was built out of milled lumber on a wood mizer sawmill. All the interior work and cabinets were made of rough sawn. Only two things you really need to know when making your own lumber is NO NAILS  and be sure and sticker it on the pile.

[elcamino/wheelhorse 9,360]

Jim Anderson @JAinVAHas a home made band saw rig for milling logs. Maybe he will chime in with pictures.

Edited March 23, 2019 by elcamino/wheelhorse

[squonk 42,678]

My neighbors used to own Timber Harvester . Portable saw mills. I know they used to ship them all over the world. 

[WHX?? 50,793]

I have made quite a few projects out of lumber I milled my self. Here are just two made out of stuff that was supposed to go into the campfire. Cindy and I are into the rustic cabiney stuff... does it show?!?

[JAinVA 4,629]

I built a bandsaw mill based on a design by William Rake.This is my next door neighbor in the video  cutting a red oak of his.I built this mill to cut hardwood lumber but have milled a lot of pine.The missus and I built a picnic shelter with lumber off this mill.The only store bought lumber you see are the treated posts.

Edited March 24, 2019 by JAinVA

[squonk 42,678]

1 hour ago, WHX22 said:

Seriously my whole cabin was built out of milled lumber on a wood mizer sawmill. All the interior work and cabinets were made of rough sawn. Only two things you really need to know when making your own lumber is NO NAILS  and be sure and sticker it on the pile.

A window shaker in a cabin? I would have thought you'd go multi-zone VRF!  

Edited March 24, 2019 by squonk

[WHX?? 50,793]

Relax Mike that was built 30 years ago...ther was no such thing!

I tell her all the time ..it puts the shoes in the box! 

Notty pine is my go to Cas.

Edited March 24, 2019 by WHX22

[formariz 11,994]

1 hour ago, WHX22 said:

Only two things you really need to know when making your own lumber is NO NAILS  and be sure and sticker it on the pile.

Definitely, however you always find one. One time I found a whole clothes line wheel complete with heavy duty hook totally embedded in a large cherry tree. That is always the danger in backyard trees.

[JAinVA 4,629]

I worked with a fellow who needed some cherry milled and I agreed to do it.The stuff had been in his attic for 20 plus years.It was hard as a rock.I hit a screw driver broke off in one piece.Destroyed the band.If you stack the lumber use only dry stickers. 

Edited March 24, 2019 by JAinVA

[formariz 11,994]

I dont do any milling with the chainsaw mill anymore since I am not so young anymore. Also it was alwyas hard to find a partner for the other side

1 minute ago, JAinVA said:

If you stack the lumber use only dry stickers. 

Or you will have to live with sticker stain for ever on your board.

[formariz 11,994]

I don't mil anymore with the chainsaw mill. It was enjoyable but hard work. Also always had to find a partner for the other side. I do once in a while set up a "little" operation with my re-saw band saw.

[WHX?? 50,793]

True Cas... last time  we sawed everything was frisked down with a metal detector but somehow one lousy old deer stand nail in old stand timber slipped through. Supposed to be done at shows with the big circulars but one always gets thru.

My bath done in all home sawed eastern white with a little red pine and popple and lord knows what thrown in for good measure. 

We always used ripped pieces of plywood for stickers as that was thought to discourage coloring? Early days didn't care as it was just a deer shack!

[JAinVA 4,629]

Nice to see someone who is willing to work for lumber.What your doing takes some serious effort!

Edited March 24, 2019 by JAinVA

[formariz 11,994]

42 minutes ago, WHX22 said:

Notty pine is my go to Cas.

Probably worked with thousands of wood species throughout my life, but knotty pine and white pine are my favorites. Big portion of my place done with knotty pine.

[WHX?? 50,793]

Dad had bought one of the chain saw mills and I remember with a great deal of cussing and uneven cuts promptly threw it in  the dump pit. He had some very decent powered saws but no patience I suspect.

 His brother, my cousin and him and I all went in on the cheapest Wood Mizer that could be had in the day and never looked back. 

https://woodmizer.com/us/

I think we paid 1500 or so but that was back in the 80's

[formariz 11,994]

Takes some effort and time to get used to it. Sharp chain is a must.Have to do it probably six or more times in a single log. Then you got to always make sure rollers are flat on the previous cut. Takes two very coordinated guys to do it. Got to also make sure guide board is clean with no pieces of bark for roller to climb over.I got it because of the opportunity of getting a lot of free lumber but you had to work for it. In this area it was the only way to save that lumber.I would cut thick slabs, then re-saw them after drying with the re-saw band saw. Did quite a few thousands board feet with it. God I was young then.

[WHX?? 50,793]

28 minutes ago, JAinVA said:

Nice to see someone who is willing to work for lumber.What your doing takes some serious effort!

Thank you JA...it was actually quite enjoyable, being out it the woods, sand flies, ticks galore, a cooler of cold ones...

[formariz 11,994]

@JAinVA That mill is awesome and looks easy to use. How wide is the blade? Are those regular tires? How do you adjust the tracking on blade? Wheel tilt?

[wildman 205]

11 hours ago, WHX22 said:

I have made quite a few projects out of lumber I milled my self. Here are just two made out of stuff that was supposed to go into the campfire. Cindy and I are into the rustic cabiney stuff... does it show?!?

Love the floor