My Norwood Bandsaw Mill
Written by on January 19, 2017
THINGS TO THINK ABOUT BEFORE BUYING A BANDSAW MILL
If you are serious about woodworking as a lifetime hobby as I am, buying a mill should be done with a little foresight. I don’t mean to discourage you too much, but it is necessary to think about a place to put it, as well as moving logs around the area. These in my case, were not a big issue since I had acreage. But for someone in a small space, it is not a good idea to have a mill right next your neighbor’s house! It is as noisy as a lawn mower, and can get old fast for someone to have to listen to.
Moving logs can be done in a number of ways. In a low budget or hobbyist application, logs can be dragged off a trailer by using a chain hooked to the rear of a truck. Remember though, you only get one try pulling it off…you can’t push it using a truck! So if you are in a tight situation, plan ahead before you yank it off the trailer.
Of course, the best situation is to have a tractor. I have an old Ford 9n I bought for $750.00. I spent another $1000.00 on refurbishing, and it runs like a top. This is the point I made earlier about getting into this without going into debt. I keep a box blade on the back, and just run the chain under the blade and hook it on. This keeps the tractor stable while pulling logs. I can push or pull logs using the box blade just about wherever I need them. I also have an attachment with forks that I can use to pick them up, but I rarely use it,,.it’s just too much time to put it on and off. I just loop the chain around one end of the log and hook it to box blade. The chain digs into the log and secures itself. It works well. Here’s a picture of my 1943 Ford 9n:
Another essential tool to use with your bandsaw mill is a cant hook. This is an odd looking thing you may have run across at a flea market with old tools. Keep an eye out for one. I just got another one for $20.00 at a flea market. They simply hook on the log at a low angle on your side. You can then push on the handle and roll the log fairly easily (unless the thing is a large diameter!) I actually use it constantly since my mill is a manual mill. Here is a picture of a couple of my cant hooks:
There are manual mills (like mine) in which you have to manually turn the log with the cant hook. (BTW, the term cant is the large squared up section of the log after the rounded outside area is removed. Hence the term, cant HOOK.) There are also hydraulic mills, which automatically flip the log for the operator simply by pushing a button. These are much more costly, and are usually purchased by folks making a living at milling logs, and cost tens of thousands of dollars. A manual mill can be had for as little as $3,000.00 to $15,000.00. Finding one used can even be a better buy, and like I said, when you’re just starting out, get your feet wet first with a used one. The best scenario is to find someone in your area that has one and visit them. They will be glad to show you what the thing can do, and can probably answer any questions you might have to educate yourself.