I gotta tell you, whenever I opened the box I near had a heart attack seeing a gazillion parts!!!!!! I could see right off the bat, this was not going to be an easy assembly. The instructions have to be read very carefully, and nothing can be assumed.
The main problem I have is the weather, and trying to assemble this puppy outdoors on uneven ground. Its near or below zero, and if not below the 30mph wind puts it 20-30 below in wind chill. I got the base up and went together quicker than I thought it would.
The predicted snow for tonight, so I covered the guide rail and will pick up where I left off in the morning. Wrong! We had 8" dumped and had to get plowed out before I could do anything
Once the snow was cleaned out, I went back to assembling. Man..... what a bugger in this weather! Can't work with gloves on. Drop nuts, threads get clogged with snow. Wrenches and ratchets have to be dug out. Read the instructions and by the time you walk over to the unit, you forget cause your brain gelled from the cold. Man, doing this inside would have been so much easier!
So far, I've got to say that despite the cold, snow, and uneven ground......what I've put together is really well thought out, and engineered. The moving parts are so slick and move with absolute precision!
One of the nicest features is the 1/4" increment cutting ability due to this ratchet log bed raising. Its smooth as silk and gives this mill the ability of not only accurate cats, but speed. Its spring loaded for ease of operation, then just crank it up. Now that's slick!
I've got the M7 which has a cutting capacity of 16'3, but they also have the woodworker mill for shorter lengths and its a bit cheaper as well.
This is what she looks like without the saw, skids or set up at its working location. There are two ramp brackets on the knee waiting for me to build a log ramp and attach
I'd like to think this is where it might end up being, but its not to level and trying to get it level might take some effort,
plus......... its right in my rifle sight line for my visitors
These logs weight about 500lbs, and I've got a bad back and can say truthfully that I feel great. Its all a matter of planing things right. The blocks I'll use to make a stacking rack for drying later, and came in handy for lifts getting the log on the bed. Once on the bed, I'll just crank it up to the height I want to take the first cut
Much to my haste, I just had to take a first cut. I should have waited till I warmed up some but nooooooooo, just had to do it. Well.......everything started fine but with the wind blowing dust through the protective shield and trying to concentrate being cold I forgot to lock the log in and it rolled a tad enough to mess up the chain. Yep.........dulled it on the first cut. I also noticed that my oil reservoir was empty. Man, talk about bar oil consumption on just one pass. I guess there's a learning curve with this, a any other tool. Enough for today, and will give this a fresh start tomorrow
Finally got to do some sawing today and after messing up one chain, the rest went like a piece of cake. Took about 25 min to square up this 8x8. Now to slice it into 2x8's
another view
These cuts are smooth as any circular saw cut if not smoother. When dry, I'll be an orbital can smooth these out without going throw a planer no problem. What a pleasure this was to use.
Sharpening is easy with this jig. I didn't care for the jig that came with the package deal, and found this to be more accurate. A few strokes, and it taking only about 10-12 minutes and off and running like a new chain again.
I did have some vibrations and nuts that came off. Probably my fault setting this up in the cold and hurry to get inside where its warm, I forgot to tighten maybe. Well, a few more cuts, and I can build my ramp next, then I'll re level and adjust everything once again for a more permanent set up
this is a close up of a cut in pine. Folks........ it just don't get any better than this!
now for the next puppy. A ramp and cant hook make this pretty easy. This log is 2' in diameter and 16' long. Move one end, then insert a steel pin then over and repeat on the other end until its on the bed.
This has to be one of the nicest features. Unlike other chainsaw mills, this one is moved through the log with a hand crank. What a relief it is on a bad back like mine. The best description I can give is, its like fishing with spinner bait. Retrieve at a steady retrieve and its about the same speed sawing each slice, which its pretty darn good!
Now a bit on saw kerfs. Everyone seems to boast on how chainsaw mills waste allot because of the saw kerf.
Now....... if you can justify spending thousands more for that itsy bitsy difference in the saw kerf, then have at it. For the average person cutting I doubt very serious this amounts to a hill of beans in waste. Maybe1/8 to 1/4 more with the chain. What everyone seems to forget is the bandsaw makes a kerf also and its not the same as a shop band saw when resawing. There are set in the teeth, which causes a wider kerf. Not that its bad, but its needed for smooth cutting but all this bunk about so much waste with the chain vs. the band mill is not an issue with me at all.
The other thing to consider is that a band mill blade when heated from cutting leaves a wavey cut at some point. This mill leaves none.Sooner or later the waves will have to be removed through planing and loose more on the thickness in some cases as opposed to the Logosol. I guess on an entire log one would loose the thickness of a board and a half. A non issue with me.
So, after sawing 700 bd ft and getting some real use and the honeymoon period over for a good assessment? I think this is a great unit for any serious woodworker who wants to turn his own trees into lumber. Have control over the quality and resources to do so. Its not a money maker as far as cutting for profit and resale, but certainly produces good quality lumber on any scale. The speed is not that of a bandmill, but neither is the investment either. Time to saw up a log isn't all that bad on average at about an hour per 20" log into boards. Its easy on the back as far as easy of cutting and not something I'll cry about sitting there idle till the next time I'll use it.
The only thing I found fault with is a vibration at the start in some cases, for about 2' on long logs and putting my shoulder against the rail seems to stop it. Had a few nuts loosen and drop off here and there and had to order another 1/2 dozen to have on hand. This is my error for not tightening well. The only way cuts vary that I've seen so far was due to a dull chain. In most cases I can get by on one sharpening on softwood depending on how clean the log is. I can't think of a more severe place and time to try out something like this than up here with all the adverse conditions.
Update: Oct 27,2004
Been using the mill now for about 10 months of pretty steady daily use for one thing or another. So far I've had to replace several nuts on the mill, the line spool and a few other things, and several screws on the chain saw. The saw has been in the shop twice for minor stuff maily due to vibrations and tune up but hardly any engine wear. Now.... the vibrations in most cases can't really be felt all that much, but after months of use its bound to affect something.
As for service from Logosol, I find the shipping slower than most manufacturers and most orders take a week at minimum to come in. They've been pretty good on warrantee parts except for down time waiting. Would I buy it again? Probably.......because its a good hobbyists set up that produce good results, but not a unit to make any money with doing someone elses logs. If I were to do alot of sawing, and especially for proffit, I'd entertain the thought of a band mill. I think the quality of cuts from this set up are better than a band mill, but its slower going. I can generally slice up into 1" stock from a 20" Hemlock log 12' long in about an hour.
