How big a mill to get?

[Woodworks]

1 hour ago, Watercourse management said:

Acf 50 is what I use to keep rust at bay on bare metal, worth a look.

That sounds good. Thanks

[Woodworks]

12 minutes ago, arboriculturist said:

I would get the compressor going and spray with engine oil a couple of times in very dry weather before next summer.

Wear a respirator an goggles though.

I thought you lived in Devon! Doubt we will have any 'very dry weather' until next spring unless it gets really cold 😀

Might try that ACF 50 

 

 Mind you even if I order today who knows when a mill would actually turn up!

[trigger_andy]

19 minutes ago, arboriculturist said:

The difference in price is negligible, a lot of timber is not straight and The B1001 will cope with everything that comes our way. Nothing worse than having an underpowered power unit.

If you’re already stretching your budget to a Woodlands 130 then have to find the extra cash for a B751 I can assure you the extra £2-3,000 for a B1001 is not “negligible”. 
 

You can also get the same engine for the B1001 on the B751 if you option for this. My plan was to buy the 14hp engine and upgrade to the larger engine at a later date  but the reality is the B751 really does not need it. I can happily mill up to 30” Oak and not have the mill feel underpowered. When this 14hp packs in I’ll get the larger engine. 

[topchippyles]

2 minutes ago, Woodworks said:

I thought you lived in Devon! Doubt we will have any 'very dry weather' until next spring unless it gets really cold 😀

Might try that ACF 50 

 

 Mind you even if I order today who knows when a mill would actually turn up!

When I bought mine under a week shipped from Sweden but not these days.

[Woodworks]

26 minutes ago, arboriculturist said:

The difference in price is negligible, a lot of timber is not straight and The B1001 will cope with everything that comes our way. Nothing worse than having an underpowered power unit.

The difference in price is more than the total cost of the Woodland mills 122 and close to their 126 which was  my first thought when I started looking at mills.

 

You can always have little bit for a little bit more. Before you know it you get sucked into spending vastly more than intended.

 

I am just looking to cut structural timbers for fixing sheds and barns on the farm plus the odd sale here and there.More hobby work I guess. As a one man band its easy to dabble in too many games and not make machinery earn its keep.

[Johnsond]

9 hours ago, Woodworks said:

The difference in price is more than the total cost of the Woodland mills 122 and close to their 126 which was  my first thought when I started looking at mills.

 

You can always have little bit for a little bit more. Before you know it you get sucked into spending vastly more than intended.

 

I am just looking to cut structural timbers for fixing sheds and barns on the farm plus the odd sale here and there.More hobby work I guess. As a one man band its easy to dabble in too many games and not make machinery earn its keep.

Truthfully a 130 will do you fine for 4k ish  and knock out all the stuff you require no probs. If worried about the weather a good tarp will see you through until you get the shed sorted. I’m sitting with a nearly £30k Trakmet mobile set up but am seriously considering getting another 130 keeping it static     in a lean too etc and just using that for day to day tasks that do not need anything bigger to accomplish. Having owned a 130 previously I’m well aware of its limitations etc but would easy purchase another which I guess says something. 

 

Edited November 4, 2021 by Johnsond

[Woodworks]

1 hour ago, Johnsond said:

Truthfully a 130 will do you fine for 4k ish  and knock out all the stuff you require no probs. If worried about the weather a good tarp will see you through until you get the shed sorted. I’m sitting with a nearly £30k Trakmet mobile set up but am seriously considering getting another 130 keeping it static     in a lean too etc and just using that for day to day l tasks that do not need anything bigger to accomplish. Having owned a 130 previously I’m well aware of its limitations etc but would easy purchase another which I guess says something. 

 

Yes, I cant really see the point of spending more at this stage having never milled before. If I love it and can see it as a major earner can always sell on and buy full on mill with bells and whistles. 

 

Thanks all

[arboriculturist]

On 31/10/2021 at 09:17, Woodworks said:

Re visiting the idea of getting a small Woodlands bandsaw mill.

 

Are there any advantages to a larger mill other than size of the logs it can handle?

 

I am looking to cut boards for construction and not large slabs for furniture type work. Clearly its nice to save a few bob up front but dont want to discover there are other advantages to having the HM126 or even the HM130 Max

 

Thanks

We pay £ 60 / hr + vat for any milling at local sawmill. Once you get known you will find that work comes flooding in and when / if you would like the work you don't need to have to say, I can't do that, because you bought an entry level mill.

Way easier than making furniture or producing firewood.

A Logosol with the large engine against a Woodlands is like chalk and cheese but each to their own and Woodlands is fine for low productivity situations. Others will confirm this.

 

Our mill is stacked out with work and you can always pick and choose.

I was planning a largish bulk dig several years ago and was advised by several  to hire the largest, best machine you can get into the job. Turned out to be solid advice. No substitute for HP as you know.

All said and done, if you like what you do and just wish to mill up some hobby timber a budget mill will do the job at a steady pace.

[Woodworks]

27 minutes ago, arboriculturist said:

We pay £ 60 / hr + vat for any milling at local sawmill. Once you get known you will find that work comes flooding in and when / if you would like the work you don't need to have to say, I can't do that, because you bought an entry level mill.

Way easier than making furniture or producing firewood.

A Logosol with the large engine against a Woodlands is like chalk and cheese but each to their own and Woodlands is fine for low productivity situations. Others will confirm this.

 

Our mill is stacked out with work and you can always pick and choose.

I was planning a largish bulk dig several years ago and was advised by several  to hire the largest, best machine you can get into the job. Turned out to be solid advice. No substitute for HP as you know.

All said and done, if you like what you do and just wish to mill up some hobby timber a budget mill will do the job at a steady pace.

Think we are coming at this with different goals.

 

£60 is good going. Is that with people bringing their logs to you or is yours mobile? 

[topchippyles]

Just now, Woodworks said:

Think we are coming at this with different goals.

 

£60 is good going. Is that with people bringing their logs to you or is yours mobile? 

He is just not getting what you want. A commercial mill like dave (johnsond) will be that money but you are not looking down that road. Go with the 126 or 130 woodlands and it will be the ideal machine