Thread: new mobile sawmill, advice and thoughts please

As long as it could cut 330mm depth thats the deepest cut you would normally need & 34" blades are easy & cheap to pick up as they are discarded cheaply when bigger mills have sharpened & gulleted 36" blades down in diameter. The only downside to anything hydrualic in a timber mill is, sawdust + poor maintenance of oil leaks = a fire at some stage.
regards inter

I agree. All you need is enough saw height to cut 330mm but there is also the problem of how wide the hob opens up. My bench has no hob so I can fit a wide cant and face of the edge.
If the hob doesn't open up wide enough you have to do your first cut toward the centre of the cant and you end up with less wide boards.
You need a number one bench with a big saw and plenty of width. The bench that is for sale is designed as a No. 2 bench which normally saws the wings and smaller cants. They also usually have smaller motors.
Would still be a good bench for someone with small logs or plantation sizes.

cheers
Steve

I checked this bench out and it is actually a number 1 bench. It will take a bigger saw. It has full air set works. It is not hydralic drive but has a big electric motor belt drive to the spindle and a seperate overhead hydraulic power pack that powers the rollers .It has an infeed transfer deck (4chain), and two transfer decks on the outfeed side with 4 chains. The infeed and outfeed roll cases have air kickers and there is a return roll case so you can do the full roundabout. The roller with chrome in the picture is 900mm long so it will take a big cant. Comes with all electrics and a soft starter.
The docker is pretty old.
Tempting.

Cheers
Steve

so its a one man bench, do you know whether you can straighten cants on it or do you have to do that before the cants get to the bench, I thought I could see a rubber tyred drive wheel which maybe for a top drive for that purpose. And if it does is it still for sale? very tempting!!
regards inter

I did ask what the reinstall would be worth. And I think it might take a bit more learning then a lucas

After coming back from two weeks stationary at Maryborough, I don't see what is wrong with a Lucas for a stationary setup. This has been the largest amount I've put through the mill in one spot, been cutting 5x2, 5x3, 6x2, 6x3, 6x6, 8x2 and 4x1, still got more to go, but Bo Derek is doing great!! only thing I need to do is get the offsider to get up with log rolling experience so we get the logs in quicker. getting 3-4 engine hours in a typical 10 hour day

Craig I understand where you're coming from regarding getting 'good' help. In seven years I've found it hard enough to get a decent tailer who 'saves' time and can see what needs doing to get stuff done. Then thinking of a fella to push the mill too I dunno???

Originally Posted by InterTD6

so its a one man bench, do you know whether you can straighten cants on it or do you have to do that before the cants get to the bench, I thought I could see a rubber tyred drive wheel which maybe for a top drive for that purpose. And if it does is it still for sale? very tempting!!
regards inter

Yes you can straighten. The back overhead roller is a pressure roller that holds the flitch/round back down onto the bottom roller so that it will stay straight. You use the fence (air controlled) to line it up then move the fence away as soon as the timber hits the saw. There is 2 semi loads of gear and re install would depend on how handy you are.