coveredinsap said:Nice logs. I would just have to mill those logs right where they lay, being only a 1-man operation myself. That's the beauty of a chainsaw mill, IMHO.
As an aside.....chainsaw vs. portable mill....are portable mills nice? Sure they are, if you can transport the mill to the site or transport the logs to the portable mill. And then you need equipment to load/unload/position the logs.... expensive equipment to go along with the expensive portable sawmill. That's a lot of $$$ to mill some lumber, IMHO. How much lumber would one have to mill to pay for all that equipment? A boatload is my guess.
With a chainsaw mill a person can get a nice setup for under $1K....particularly if they find a nice used saw. Mine was <$400 for a saw, $50 for a 24" bar, $150 for a small Alaskan log mill, $45 ripping chain, $80 kevlar chaps, $10 a few pairs of gloves, $50 assorted supplies (2-cycle oil, chain oil, gas, gas can, files for chain sharpening, ear muffs, old hardhat, dustmask, etc.) What's that ...$785 or so to be all ready to go? It doesn't even take a pickup truckload full of lumber to pay for that.
CIS,
Are you a chainsaw mill salesman? Sure you mill those logs with an Alaskan, but you'd spend about 4 times as long doing it! If you've got the coin for a better mill go for it.
coveredinsap said:Uh, no I'm not a chainsaw mill (or any other type) of 'salesman'. Of course if you've "got the coin" then go for it.....$10k for the mill and $10k minimum for a tractor to move logs around, $20k for a trailer for the tractor and flatbed truck (both in 'used' condition), to transport the logs.
You're talking around $40k-$50k minimum for a portable mill setup. You can buy a lot of lumber for that kind of money.
Jwoods said:And now I'm set up for bidness
Then you'd be all set up for a small time lumber bidness.
coveredinsap said:I guess it largely depends on the final design of the barn. ....post and beam=chainsaw mill, common framed=portable mill. QUOTE]
Do them post and beam barns need siding? Underlayment for roof?
How big a barn are you thinking of? Stalls? Tack room? You gotta have somewhere to store your blinders.
Jwoods said:Thanks Newfie.
My tooling, majority of equipment, and wood -my Dad's labor.
The flooring is Wilsonart -floating floor (Kota Slate).
I think it's a new floor this weekend.
Here's a direct down shot.
Norwood industries sells band mills starting out for less than $3,000.00 and they are a very good mill. Band mills don't waste near as much lumber as a chainsaw so every 5th board is FREE... With a chainsaw mill that 5th board would have been sawdust!!
Then there's all that gas and oil a chainsaw uses compared to the 4 stroke motor on a bandmill. In fact i'll bet you the Honda 4 stroke on a sawmill will more than outlast 2 big chainsaw power heads!!!
With a bandmill you CAN mill for others and pay for your mill, try that with a chainsaw...
Chainsaw mills are slow, noisy and expensive to run, been there done that and moved on!!
Do them post and beam barns need siding? Underlayment for roof?
How big a barn are you thinking of? Stalls? Tack room? You gotta have somewhere to store your blinders.
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