Great advice Sandy. I totally agree with you about the log deck and not having to load each log with the tractor. We have hydraulic log loaders on our mill but even then you are using the tractor with a grapple and load one log then get another one ready waiting in the grapple. With a deck it would be so much easier to get a bunch of logs ready to go and then roll them on to the mill. Thanks for the tips in your videos.
I really enjoyed this video Sandy. My hobby mill (Woodmizer LX 50 super) arrived last week and I’m assembling it as I have time. I figure I can be sawing in a couple weeks. You’ve been influential in my desire to start this new hobby. Thanks!
I've been planning a saw shed for quite a while now. About the time I get it figured out, something happens to change my mind. My saw has been in its temporary position since the day it arrived on my property. If it wasn't for the fact that I want to bring in some fill to expand my work area, I would leave it there for good. But as long as I can run my mill, I'm happy...and in no hurry. Thanks for the great videos!
Yes Sandy your right ! I love my log deck as i do it all by hand, Time is money lol, Being able to do it in as few steps as you can, plan for boards, lumber, & sawdust to be as easy as possible, You will find what works for you as i did :)
Loved the video, you have a lot of history in that forest and woodlot. really enjoyed the honesty about constantly refining your decisions. I am the same, takes me ages to nail down my plans, then shortly after I am certain I have the perfect set up I end up changing them again..Part of the journey and enjoyment I think.
It's always good information when you talk about the different set-ups you have used, and then explain the pro's and con's of each of those!! Considering all of the sawmills that are purchased new everyday by first time sawyers, most of whom will want some kind of saw-shed, you are hopefully making them think and rethink their future shed layout and use your trials and errors to come up with a good layout the first time, making their sawing more enjoyable right from the start!! Great job Sandy!!
Hi Sandy. My thought is towards the difference between a parallel vs series electric circuit. I lean towards a long workflow in series where cut boards are moved off the bow and slab wood gets tossed off the stern; log bunks to the side amid ship and saw dust into a 'bin' running opposite the log bunks. Slab wood and saw dust (on wheels/skids) hauled off by Kioti. *_Don't shoot the messenger!_* 😂
It's for sure if you are doing something you love then you never work a day in your life I do too enjoy sawing lumber and even cutting fire wood. And I do not believe I will ever have it all figured out completely so just going to enjoy the journey. Good to see you, Sandy.
Certainly appreciated the information. I am still planning for my mill shed. I have the concrete slab from a previous grain bin. You gave me information that answered some of the questions I had in my mind about roof pitch. My mill is longer so I am using some reclaimed steel building trusses for opening spans. I presently can saw 20 ft but probably going to add more length. The mill height issue is still up in the air. Seems you like both heights. I see pros to low height and higher heights. To bad we can't have the mill on an up and down lift. Easy log turning and clamping, then take the lumber away about waist height. Thanks for the shed revisit.
Howdy Sandy- I think it’s all a work in progress on getting the sawmill setup just the way you like it. I’m set up on a concrete slab and really like it, just need a bit more room for walking down the track. That probably will be taken care of this summer. Thank for sharing your ideas. Take care and God bless
Good Afternoon Sandy, I have a metal log deck (6" square tubing) with metal tubing hinged to the deck that fold down to load mill bed and fold back up to keep other logs from rolling in unannounced. works pretty well. Slabs and junk wood go onto my dump trailer and lumber loaded onto another trailer or pickup bed if its around 8 to 9 feet. I can do 16.5 foot logs right now, and I fabricate my own track so I may make another 7 foot section later. If I use the 6 inch chipper attachment to do slabs and flitches it ties up my tractor So yeah I can see your problem...If you use your chipper you have the same problem. I like log decks better its just quicker, roller table would help to set lumber on to go to trailer or truck but I don't have that (yet). Lets just get some sludge and figure it out... Later John Toccoa
I'm with ya there John. The log decks are my preference as well. Yours being made of metal would sure be great for staying in one piece and withstanding the heavy logs. I think a roller table would be great as well
I have been following your progress for years and appreciate your comments on efficient sawing. I was surprised when you removed the log deck because I felt it was more efficient for loading logs to the saw. Now based on your latest comments I am satisfied that my instincts about the log deck were correct. Keep up the good work and posting great videos.
Great video Sandy. Good philosophy at the end. Loved your wee squirrel. Its nice to know there are others like me who make the perfect plans then down the track change things again. I've had five vegetable garden layouts in the 45 yrs I've owned this house,and my latest layout is nearly perfect. Haha. Cheers from HB NZ
I am about to build a new mill shed and this video changed my design thank you for all your shared thoughts. My shed is also to small and does not work fluid enough. i think you should just go straight to cement loess stones and sand to deal with. Every time you blow your going to get gravel/sand up on you mill and near bearings and blade and rails. Some thoughts ibc full of water, 1/3 pallets of cement, and a 3 point cement mixer . Get her done
I'm right there with you. I fell like I'm being backed into a corner. So much we discover in a few short years that we should have done differently. So we learn and move on. Your improvements also will help with mine. thanks Sandy.
I made a porch with 6x6 posts, and a 6x10 beam across the top. It was a 2x 10 outside, 2x3 flat ways along the bottom and top, lining up with a tenon on top of the posts, and a 2 x 10 cap on the inside. As long as any joints are staggered you can even have a joint 2-4 feet out from a post. Its much easier to get good boards, and to lift them in place than a big huge beam. I used 16 d spikes about 8 inches oc holding the front and the back into the2 x 3. I did the ridge the same way.
I am planning a sawmill shed and have considered running my rafters right to left instead of front to back, to tie the building together and to keep it from spreading I will put a collar tie in about 2 foot from the peak. I don't have the snow load you do so I can get by with a 4/12 pitch. this will allow a clear span front and back plus any snow and rain would run off the ends where it wouldn't matter. I think I can do up to a 30 foot wide building if I want but probably will do 24 foot. This would allow a clear span front and back plus more ceiling heigth. I like your channel, keep up the good work.
Great walk through of your ever evolving set-up. If ever you decide do upgrade to another building set-up, there is one design change that I believe could really help your work flow and safety. I would build the roof sloping in the other direction. In other words, I would have the loading side and outflow at the gable ends of the building. As far as workflow, it would help in that you could have a very wide entry and exit, especially if you used trusses that can easily span to 24'. On the safety side, you would not have to worry about snow coming off the roof unto your head or unto your lumber stack and slab rack. Just my 2 cents
When I went to the forest ranger school in 1985, sawmilling was one of the courses....AND... layout was definitely one of the most important aspects, to keep work flow efficient as you say. I too, am on an ever searching path to create flow in my work day.
Interesting about you NOT likely the steep roof pitch due to snow. For me in mountains of CO, I'm planning the same roof pitch but with 18" overhang on the low side to allow that snow to slide off and end up away from the back wall. Due to our snow and cold temps and wind, I'm planning it to be inclosed, By letting the snow slide off it also reduces the snow load and with a planned 18 foot opening on the front, I want to reduce the snow load. Love the high roof for storage!.. Love your channel and videos, and always take in your comments.
Thanks for coming along for the video. Great point about the high roof storage! I do like that as well. I use the storage quite a bit in my shop from the high roof
Thank you sir. Yeah it's one of those works in progress. I don't think I"ll ever have the perfect setup but then again it gives me something to keep my mind thinking about.
Mighty is the preparation when you have a saw milll.Constantly trying to figure out better ways to deal with your lumber.Your waste lumber and everything that a mill presents. Sounds like things might be changing around your place. Laying down a bed of rock has worked well for me. Like building a road, a larger crush with a small crush after time and the first layer packs in. Good luck, Sandy I'm not sure there is just one good answer when you have a mill. 👍
Hi Sandy, I keep the loading side of the saw clear and load with my forks. And leave the forklift there and throw the slabs on the the forks, with the cut lumber. Then take cut lube to drying rack and then the slash to a slash/firewood/burn pile then get anther log. It reduces the number of lifting times. Wish I had the space like you so I could make it a linear operation.
@@sawingwithsandyThere are time I wish I had your grapple though. I do think it's better than trying to work with the forks on your tractor. but OOH to be rich. LOL i did tell you I was born in London, Ont. didn't I? Left in '59.
Sandy, I have to admit that I modeled my sawmill shed off yours to an extent. Taking things I like and those that I don't. The front of my shed, is an open span of 29 feet sitting on a 30x10 concrete pad. I took my idea for the large open span from your design, but extended it to fit my needs. If I had it to do all over again, I would make my pad larger. Maybe 30x15. I plan to close off the back side and having some extra room on operator side would be really nice. Like you I unload finished cuts from the end but need to build another structure maybe with a roof, maybe not. At least have sorting racks where I can stack and sticker and be accessible enough that I can use tractor forks. Everyone works a little different and needs are driven by what you are trying to produce, the tools you have to work with and the raw materials you have. I am in west central Arkansas and have a lot SYP on my property and focus primarily on cutting long boards and beams. Mostly for my own use but eventually it will be my retirement gig. Anyway, thank you for sharing what you do. I really appreciate the knowledge you share and the way you present it.
Hey Don. I"m glad you were able to use some of the setup that I had and made it your own. The 29 foot opening sounds great along with the concrete pad.
I am planning my first sawmill over in Saskatchewan. I think crusher dust works amazing for a solid surface in my experience. You can put down 4-6" of crusher dust and it will compact to an almost concrete like strength. If you want, place 18"x18" concrete pavers on top. I have done that in a shed I built, and it has been perfect for 15 years now! I used crusher dust for a driveway at my cabin and its solid after 3 years. This is something you could do in the remote bush like yours and the one I'm planning on some new land I just bought. Happy sawing!
I agree with ya there. I use 7/8" crusher run for the top layer of my laneway and it packs good and solid with the 7/8" stone all the way down to the fines.
@@sawingwithsandy The crusher dust (as they call it here) is all fines. It is amazing how well it compresses. You can tamp it and a little water it goes hard right away. Without water, let it rain on it a bit and it will go very, very hard. I can push snow with my tractor blade and it doesn't even scrape it!
Hello Sandy. With this video, it looks like you have the makings for a very large project. Having electricity at the location could help with some problems. Solar power, metal beams for wider access to the mill wrapped in wood to keep the look. Chain drive for loading logs from the deck to the mill. Deeper floors for ease of mobility and lumber storage. Now that you have thought about making it easier for yourself, you may have already gotten some paper and pencils out. Have good days!
It's like I have told you a few times Sandy it's too damn cold up there I like warmer weather but that's why I'm down here in lower Alabama it was 37 this morning and now at 12 it's 75 good working weather I'm out in my woods looking at trees to cut down and not many snakes out moving yet they are staying close to their home and they are slow so I can see them before they can get me God Bless Y'all and have fun with your work
Hey there Gene! I can imagine the creepy crawlers sure would be a bit of a headache come warmer weather down there. Sure is nice in the sun though I bet. Here it's snowing heavy again. Oh well.
My layout i have a 6 foot log deck at sawmill height ...i load the logs on the sawdeck then i park the tractor with the forks over the log deck...im able to roll the logs onto the sawmill mill them into boards and off stavk them on the tractor..then i take the lumber on the tractor put the wood on dtivkers load some more logs park the tractor gorks over the logs again and keep on milling
Sandy... consider changing the direction of the slope of the roof. Flattening the pitch of the roof much would just increase the amount of snow that builds up before it comes crashing down (either the snow or the roof). Build three trusses that go longitudinally with the sawmill. Between the first two you have the sawmill on your gravel pad. The truss could be a scissors truss on that end that gives you vertical room to use the log loader at times. The other one is an area to store the lumber and slabwood. Position it so you can access both sides with the forks of the tractor. Basically you'll be building a clear span square pavilion with 8 foot sidewalls... that will make it easier to swing lumber and scrapwood around. You could flatten the roof a little bit but I wouldn't go too far. That frozen mass is called Pykrete. During WWII they experimented with making ships out of it for the North Atlantic because it was bombproof. Started right up there in the Canadien Wilderness of Patricia Lake. If you ever tried breaking it up, you know bombproof is not hyperbole
Sounds like me after I get done building something. There always seems to be something I could have done different, maybe not better, but different. The curse of DIYing in any situation. Good vid. Thanks.
Good morning Sandy when you are inventive some what there is always room for amelioration no Mather how you but thing one seam like there is a better way lol my mill is low did not have any equipment to lift log made a log career with an old boat traillor and pulling the wood out the forest with my lawn mower tractor so got pressure treated post on the ground and put the logs on it but like you said getting the cut lumber of is a different story well have a wonderful day and keep making saw dust
My saw shed started with14'x30' with 4-5"x 12" roof pitch and 20"-ish off ground, then added 20' on west end for putting lumber like you have, and now in process of adding another 20' on east end to put slabs in 2'x2'x8' bunchers, roof will come maybe this fall. Then we strap slab bundles and move with tractor forks to outside location to be sold or use in my shop stove. My sawdust goes out opening on north wall into a 8'x8' sawdust box that is on runners, when full I drag that off and tip over to empty......... I'm not really a fan of cement pad, cement floors make my feet hurt and theres no crawl space for future use..........
THat's a good idea with the slab wood. I haven't been able to sell it before due to an overabundance of it around my area unfortunately. I may have to try again. I like the sawdust box idea . Thanks for sharing that
I mean no disrespect, but are you sure the back side is a 12/12 pitch? The short front section looks it but the back looks more like an 8? Looking at the 9:21 time stamp the gable behind you doesn't look like 12" in x 12" up.
Thinking out loud is a good way to work through the design. Next year you can review this video and see if that is what you ended up doing, or if you found a better solution.
hi there looking good , i put stone dust around my big mill wish i didnt , just dont like it , as for the opening i learned as you are ,new one has a 42 foot opening ,i like it , best to all john
Sandy hi would it be better to just have a shed to put your mill in then pull out to the open air to start sawing. You could make a level deck to pull your mill onto then after the mill is put away the deck is easy to clean. You will have access to mill to your mill from all directions. Take the money you saved and invest in a live log deck. Just a idea from John
Hi John. I think this could work in the warm weather but may become a bit of a challenge when the snow is on the ground since it's difficult for me to get things moved around when the weather turns. A live log deck sure would be a great thing to have!
If you go with stone, put a base of shale down first so the stones won’t sink into the mud. This means cutting off the topsoil, and putting some geotextile material down be for you spread any stone. Lot of work, but worth it in the long run.
I don't have shale where I live on the Canadian Shield so we use granite for everything. I do like using the geotextile like you mentioned as well. Really helps keeping things from sinking in too much like you mentioned. Lots of work for sure
wow i have an idea for a sawdust collection but i have not found anyone interested in that idea could be put under the sawmill so would have to worry about the footprint of your mill to but i have to on a concrete pad only problem
Don't underestimate the value of a high roofline to bring in plenty of light....enough light to reach way back in a shop or workspace. I've come to really appreciate "More Light".... the darkness in the back side of a space is wasted space because I hate having to poke around in the dark. I'd willing sacrifice some maneurverability for better light.
Hi John. Thanks for coming along for the videos. My land here is entirely forested and so I"m working around trees all the time. Main reason I don't clear cut is I want to ensure the trees I cut down I"m able to saw up and utilize before they rot after I cut. them down.
@sawingwithsandy from the looks of it, you have a long road ahead. It appears that what I see is that you are a hood steward for the land. I heard a saying lately that if you had 100 acres and you took care of ten acres a year how long would it take to been done with care. Answer is never.
Thanks for that John. I certainly am looking after the forest and with the abundance of blow downs around me it seems like I'm going to have a never ending supply of logs for firewood or the sawmill without even touching the red pine forest even though I'm hoping to thin it
Me again don't mean to nag but could you not saw lumber in the summer to last the year. I don't know much about red pine but I would spend the winter making storage sheds and green house frame's to sell if pine was good for that.I don't know your situation but moving all that snow must take time and money P.S.did you win the lottery
Good question. Reason I try to saw less in the summer is because the tree has more pitch in it in the summer so it builds up on my blade. Also in the summer the insects will bore into the logs faster as soon as they are cut down so it causes the lumber to have to be processed faster. It does take a lot of effort to get the snow cleared. I sure wish I could win the lottery
What if your deck had a large cut out area that was almost perfect size so you’re so can go in that area….you can still use your trailer on your property because the wheels And you can still have that flush deck height that you actually like….like you had before with your old sawmill.
With more than one cement mixer, you can get enough cement happening instead of having a cement truck. The cost of more than one cement mixer with be worth it from saving what a cement truck would have cost. I'm not far from you and I have mapped out using a few motorized personal cement mixers instead of paying much more for a cement mixer truck.
Hi Howard, thanks for coming along for the video. I've used the portable concrete mixers before for a job one time and did about 120 bags of concrete and after that job I swore off doing it again haha. My trouble at my sawmill is lack of water and electricity as well. It could be done but would be a bit more of an effort than I want to put in at this point.
Ok, well once again, I mean no disrespect but I thought hillbilly #2 was so good I used your setup as a pattern for my sawmill and have never regretted it. But when you setup the trailer mill you were initially loading it from the wrong side, got rid of the slab rack and the drying station then slowly started moving back to streamlining your operation . I didn't post the original comment to start a debate,but always wondered why you abandoned what I thought was the perfect setup and essentially start over. I think I was expecting to see you place the max in the same position as the poor disrespected 130 was in and carry on as usual.😂
Good question. I needed to change things up as the walkway to the lumber shed wasn't working with snow constantly falling on the wooden walkway. I was also out of space for lumber storage so needed to change things up.
You'll figure it out. My mill is up against a fence. I can walk there, just no equipment so logs get loaded with skid steer from the side, and everything comes off the same side one log at a time. Not very productive, but that's normal for me.
Camera angles sure are deceiving You mentioned it's a 12/12 pitch. From the video I would have guessed a 7 or 8/12 pitch. Sure doesn't look like a 45 degree angle. .
Hi Sandy, I to have been watching since hillbilly #1 and thought the flow chart of hillbilly #3 was perfect ,but then you sold the 130 and bought the 130 max.. I mean no disrespect,but I thought you then lost your mind and started doing everything ass backwords . To me the flow has never been as smooth as it once was.
Thanks for coming along over all that time. I didn't think I changed much from the 130 to the 130max but maybe I didn't notice. What did I change up that you thought was better before?
What’s with the Arms, Legs, Feet, Fingers and pinky measurements ? It’s 2024 get up with the metric system. There is only 3 uneducated countries in the world using body measurements. Nice Vlog but had zero idea of what your measurements were.
@@sawingwithsandy so it’s the preferred world measurement including your home country and preferred precision measurement yet your using arms, legs, feet, fingers and pinky measurements to keep 3 locations happy. Mmmmm doesn’t make sense. Metric just makes so much sense eg 0=freezing 100=boiling 1 litre=1 kg time to become a 2024 channel.
As another Canadian, I know exactly the struggle. US is all in inches and feet. Canada is hybrid, with official in metric (except for lumber), but since we are symbiotic with the US, we have to be multi-lingual with our measurements for our US friends. in Canada, everyone know what a 2x4 is, but we couldn't tell you what the metric equivalent is called.
This video was a nice walk down memory lane, I didn't realize that I had been following you for that long.
I recalled a long time ago your comments and it's great to hear that you're still watching and I appreciate it!
Hillbilly Hideout 1.. Ah yes...
Some days with the snow piled up on the roof I was actually thinking it may collapse haha
I agree with Wallace . didn't realize also how long I have been watching you having fun while I sit here drinking sludge
I really appreciate seeing you around the channel for so long Ken! Great to have ya along the way
Thanks Sandy. I'm in the middle of building a shed over my HM130 max and all your comments are helpful.
Great advice Sandy. I totally agree with you about the log deck and not having to load each log with the tractor. We have hydraulic log loaders on our mill but even then you are using the tractor with a grapple and load one log then get another one ready waiting in the grapple. With a deck it would be so much easier to get a bunch of logs ready to go and then roll them on to the mill.
Thanks for the tips in your videos.
Those hydraulic log loaders sure would be great! Thanks for checking out the video Douglas
I really enjoyed this video Sandy. My hobby mill (Woodmizer LX 50 super) arrived last week and I’m assembling it as I have time. I figure I can be sawing in a couple weeks. You’ve been influential in my desire to start this new hobby. Thanks!
Hi Dick. Great to hear from you. Great to hear things will be up and running for ya before too long. We'll have to catch up at the Bunyan show.
I've been planning a saw shed for quite a while now. About the time I get it figured out, something happens to change my mind. My saw has been in its temporary position since the day it arrived on my property. If it wasn't for the fact that I want to bring in some fill to expand my work area, I would leave it there for good. But as long as I can run my mill, I'm happy...and in no hurry. Thanks for the great videos!
I'm the same way Marvin. I think I've got it all figured out then I see an idea that changes my mind.
Yes Sandy your right ! I love my log deck as i do it all by hand, Time is money lol, Being able to do it in as few steps as you can, plan for boards, lumber, & sawdust to be as easy as possible, You will find what works for you as i did :)
Loved the video, you have a lot of history in that forest and woodlot. really enjoyed the honesty about constantly refining your decisions. I am the same, takes me ages to nail down my plans, then shortly after I am certain I have the perfect set up I end up changing them again..Part of the journey and enjoyment I think.
Hey Todd! For sure, all part of the journey
It's always good information when you talk about the different set-ups you have used, and then explain the pro's and con's of each of those!! Considering all of the sawmills that are purchased new everyday by first time sawyers, most of whom will want some kind of saw-shed, you are hopefully making them think and rethink their future shed layout and use your trials and errors to come up with a good layout the first time, making their sawing more enjoyable right from the start!! Great job Sandy!!
Thanks for that Tim!
Hi Sandy. My thought is towards the difference between a parallel vs series electric circuit. I lean towards a long workflow in series where cut boards are moved off the bow and slab wood gets tossed off the stern; log bunks to the side amid ship and saw dust into a 'bin' running opposite the log bunks. Slab wood and saw dust (on wheels/skids) hauled off by Kioti. *_Don't shoot the messenger!_* 😂
Sounds like a slick setup there Tom !
Thanks Sandy for telling us how ur sawmill setup started and things that u might do later on. lv from florida. spring is here..
Hi Billy! hope things are well with you and thanks again for coming along for the video!
It's for sure if you are doing something you love then you never work a day in your life I do too enjoy sawing lumber and even cutting fire wood. And I do not believe I will ever have it all figured out completely so just going to enjoy the journey. Good to see you, Sandy.
Absolutely right there Jeff! The journey is as much a part of the fun as the destination.
thanks for sharing your experience. It is apreciated and valuable.
Certainly appreciated the information. I am still planning for my mill shed. I have the concrete slab from a previous grain bin. You gave me information that answered some of the questions I had in my mind about roof pitch. My mill is longer so I am using some reclaimed steel building trusses for opening spans. I presently can saw 20 ft but probably going to add more length. The mill height issue is still up in the air. Seems you like both heights. I see pros to low height and higher heights. To bad we can't have the mill on an up and down lift. Easy log turning and clamping, then take the lumber away about waist height. Thanks for the shed revisit.
Thank you Sandy. 🙏🏻
I will hopefully start my sawmill project in a couple of years.
Looking forward to that.
I have learned a lot from you. 😊
I'm glad you've enjoyed the videos and if there's anything I can help with along the way please let me know
Every setup is living...and it might change for the better! Keep up the good work.
Good way of putting it right there!
Howdy Sandy- I think it’s all a work in progress on getting the sawmill setup just the way you like it. I’m set up on a concrete slab and really like it, just need a bit more room for walking down the track. That probably will be taken care of this summer. Thank for sharing your ideas. Take care and God bless
The concrete slab sure would be nice I bet. I may have to scratch my brain hard on that one to get it setup just right when the time comes.
Yeah it's been awhile since I've joined also. I'm always glad to watch you content.
Thank you! Great to have you along
Good Afternoon Sandy, I have a metal log deck (6" square tubing) with metal tubing hinged to the deck that fold down to load mill bed and fold back up to keep other logs from rolling in unannounced. works pretty well. Slabs and junk wood go onto my dump trailer and lumber loaded onto another trailer or pickup bed if its around 8 to 9 feet. I can do 16.5 foot logs right now, and I fabricate my own track so I may make another 7 foot section later. If I use the 6 inch chipper attachment to do slabs and flitches it ties up my tractor So yeah I can see your problem...If you use your chipper you have the same problem. I like log decks better its just quicker, roller table would help to set lumber on to go to trailer or truck but I don't have that (yet). Lets just get some sludge and figure it out... Later John Toccoa
I'm with ya there John. The log decks are my preference as well. Yours being made of metal would sure be great for staying in one piece and withstanding the heavy logs. I think a roller table would be great as well
I have been following your progress for years and appreciate your comments on efficient sawing.
I was surprised when you removed the log deck because I felt it was more efficient for loading logs to the saw.
Now based on your latest comments I am satisfied that my instincts about the log deck were correct.
Keep up the good work and posting great videos.
Glad to see you've finally had a melt!
I may have spoke too soon as it's snowy pretty heavy as we speak again haha
@@sawingwithsandy Well if it's any consolation.....same here!
hahah
Great video Sandy. Good philosophy at the end. Loved your wee squirrel. Its nice to know there are others like me who make the perfect plans then down the track change things again. I've had five vegetable garden layouts in the 45 yrs I've owned this house,and my latest layout is nearly perfect. Haha. Cheers from HB NZ
I am about to build a new mill shed and this video changed my design thank you for all your shared thoughts. My shed is also to small and does not work fluid enough. i think you should just go straight to cement loess stones and sand to deal with. Every time you blow your going to get gravel/sand up on you mill and near bearings and blade and rails. Some thoughts ibc full of water, 1/3 pallets of cement, and a 3 point cement mixer . Get her done
I'm right there with you. I fell like I'm being backed into a corner. So much we discover in a few short years that we should have done differently. So we learn and move on. Your improvements also will help with mine. thanks Sandy.
Thanks for coming along for the journey Noel!
Appreaciate the ideas on your mill building. Looking at my design a little differently now. Building this summer if all goes well. 😊
Glad I could help and thanks for coming along for the tour of my setup!
Good video , some good insight on deciding where and how to build your sawmill shed
Thanks for that John!
I made a porch with 6x6 posts, and a 6x10 beam across the top. It was a 2x 10 outside, 2x3 flat ways along the bottom and top, lining up with a tenon on top of the posts, and a 2 x 10 cap on the inside. As long as any joints are staggered you can even have a joint 2-4 feet out from a post. Its much easier to get good boards, and to lift them in place than a big huge beam. I used 16 d spikes about 8 inches oc holding the front and the back into the2 x 3. I did the ridge the same way.
Sounds like you'v got a good system in place
I am planning a sawmill shed and have considered running my rafters right to left instead of front to back, to tie the building together and to keep it from spreading I will put a collar tie in about 2 foot from the peak. I don't have the snow load you do so I can get by with a 4/12 pitch. this will allow a clear span front and back plus any snow and rain would run off the ends where it wouldn't matter. I think I can do up to a 30 foot wide building if I want but probably will do 24 foot. This would allow a clear span front and back plus more ceiling heigth. I like your channel, keep up the good work.
a clear span would be the way to go for sure. Sounds like a good build you’ve got coming up
That’s a great idea about the saw deck. I do find going up and down in the tractor does wear on you by the end of the day. Have a great week!
Thank you! Appreciate you coming along for the video today
Great walk through of your ever evolving set-up. If ever you decide do upgrade to another building set-up, there is one design change that I believe could really help your work flow and safety. I would build the roof sloping in the other direction. In other words, I would have the loading side and outflow at the gable ends of the building. As far as workflow, it would help in that you could have a very wide entry and exit, especially if you used trusses that can easily span to 24'. On the safety side, you would not have to worry about snow coming off the roof unto your head or unto your lumber stack and slab rack. Just my 2 cents
Well thought out!
Thank you!
When I went to the forest ranger school in 1985, sawmilling was one of the courses....AND... layout was definitely one of the most important aspects, to keep work flow efficient as you say. I too, am on an ever searching path to create flow in my work day.
For sure, I agree with ya about layout.
Interesting about you NOT likely the steep roof pitch due to snow. For me in mountains of CO, I'm planning the same roof pitch but with 18" overhang on the low side to allow that snow to slide off and end up away from the back wall. Due to our snow and cold temps and wind, I'm planning it to be inclosed, By letting the snow slide off it also reduces the snow load and with a planned 18 foot opening on the front, I want to reduce the snow load. Love the high roof for storage!.. Love your channel and videos, and always take in your comments.
Thanks for coming along for the video. Great point about the high roof storage! I do like that as well. I use the storage quite a bit in my shop from the high roof
Another great Video Sandy, keep up the great work. I love how you are constantly trying to improve your setup.
Thank you sir. Yeah it's one of those works in progress. I don't think I"ll ever have the perfect setup but then again it gives me something to keep my mind thinking about.
@@sawingwithsandy You are doing very well 👏
Mighty is the preparation when you have a saw milll.Constantly trying to figure out better ways to deal with your lumber.Your waste lumber and everything that a mill presents. Sounds like things might be changing around your place. Laying down a bed of rock has worked well for me. Like building a road, a larger crush with a small crush after time and the first layer packs in. Good luck, Sandy I'm not sure there is just one good answer when you have a mill. 👍
Hey Del! For sure. Lots to consider and things constantly changing
Hi Sandy, I keep the loading side of the saw clear and load with my forks. And leave the forklift there and throw the slabs on the the forks, with the cut lumber. Then take cut lube to drying rack and then the slash to a slash/firewood/burn pile then get anther log. It reduces the number of lifting times. Wish I had the space like you so I could make it a linear operation.
Hey Geoffrey. Sounds like a good system you've got going. A forklift sure would be great for loading I bet
@@sawingwithsandyThere are time I wish I had your grapple though. I do think it's better than trying to work with the forks on your tractor. but OOH to be rich. LOL i did tell you I was born in London, Ont. didn't I? Left in '59.
Sandy you’re nice places organize.soon you have big company do good jobs.i like yours house.
Sandy, I have to admit that I modeled my sawmill shed off yours to an extent. Taking things I like and those that I don't. The front of my shed, is an open span of 29 feet sitting on a 30x10 concrete pad. I took my idea for the large open span from your design, but extended it to fit my needs. If I had it to do all over again, I would make my pad larger. Maybe 30x15. I plan to close off the back side and having some extra room on operator side would be really nice. Like you I unload finished cuts from the end but need to build another structure maybe with a roof, maybe not. At least have sorting racks where I can stack and sticker and be accessible enough that I can use tractor forks.
Everyone works a little different and needs are driven by what you are trying to produce, the tools you have to work with and the raw materials you have. I am in west central Arkansas and have a lot SYP on my property and focus primarily on cutting long boards and beams. Mostly for my own use but eventually it will be my retirement gig.
Anyway, thank you for sharing what you do. I really appreciate the knowledge you share and the way you present it.
Hey Don. I"m glad you were able to use some of the setup that I had and made it your own. The 29 foot opening sounds great along with the concrete pad.
I am planning my first sawmill over in Saskatchewan. I think crusher dust works amazing for a solid surface in my experience. You can put down 4-6" of crusher dust and it will compact to an almost concrete like strength. If you want, place 18"x18" concrete pavers on top. I have done that in a shed I built, and it has been perfect for 15 years now! I used crusher dust for a driveway at my cabin and its solid after 3 years. This is something you could do in the remote bush like yours and the one I'm planning on some new land I just bought. Happy sawing!
I agree with ya there. I use 7/8" crusher run for the top layer of my laneway and it packs good and solid with the 7/8" stone all the way down to the fines.
@@sawingwithsandy The crusher dust (as they call it here) is all fines. It is amazing how well it compresses. You can tamp it and a little water it goes hard right away. Without water, let it rain on it a bit and it will go very, very hard. I can push snow with my tractor blade and it doesn't even scrape it!
Hello Sandy. With this video, it looks like you have the makings for a very large project. Having electricity at the location could help with some problems. Solar power, metal beams for wider access to the mill wrapped in wood to keep the look. Chain drive for loading logs from the deck to the mill. Deeper floors for ease of mobility and lumber storage. Now that you have thought about making it easier for yourself, you may have already gotten some paper and pencils out. Have good days!
Thanks Buddy Reed! I think version 3.0 when that takes shape will certainly be a BIG upgrade
It's like I have told you a few times Sandy it's too damn cold up there I like warmer weather but that's why I'm down here in lower Alabama it was 37 this morning and now at 12 it's 75 good working weather I'm out in my woods looking at trees to cut down and not many snakes out moving yet they are staying close to their home and they are slow so I can see them before they can get me God Bless Y'all and have fun with your work
Hey there Gene! I can imagine the creepy crawlers sure would be a bit of a headache come warmer weather down there. Sure is nice in the sun though I bet. Here it's snowing heavy again. Oh well.
Thanks Sandy...
Hey Mike. Have a great afternoon
My layout i have a 6 foot log deck at sawmill height ...i load the logs on the sawdeck then i park the tractor with the forks over the log deck...im able to roll the logs onto the sawmill mill them into boards and off stavk them on the tractor..then i take the lumber on the tractor put the wood on dtivkers load some more logs park the tractor gorks over the logs again and keep on milling
Sandy... consider changing the direction of the slope of the roof. Flattening the pitch of the roof much would just increase the amount of snow that builds up before it comes crashing down (either the snow or the roof). Build three trusses that go longitudinally with the sawmill. Between the first two you have the sawmill on your gravel pad. The truss could be a scissors truss on that end that gives you vertical room to use the log loader at times. The other one is an area to store the lumber and slabwood. Position it so you can access both sides with the forks of the tractor. Basically you'll be building a clear span square pavilion with 8 foot sidewalls... that will make it easier to swing lumber and scrapwood around. You could flatten the roof a little bit but I wouldn't go too far. That frozen mass is called Pykrete. During WWII they experimented with making ships out of it for the North Atlantic because it was bombproof. Started right up there in the Canadien Wilderness of Patricia Lake. If you ever tried breaking it up, you know bombproof is not hyperbole
Lots of great ideas there. Thanks Robert
Sounds like me after I get done building something. There always seems to be something I could have done different, maybe not better, but different. The curse of DIYing in any situation. Good vid. Thanks.
There's always something for sure.
Good morning Sandy when you are inventive some what there is always room for amelioration no Mather how you but thing one seam like there is a better way lol my mill is low did not have any equipment to lift log made a log career with an old boat traillor and pulling the wood out the forest with my lawn mower tractor so got pressure treated post on the ground and put the logs on it but like you said getting the cut lumber of is a different story well have a wonderful day and keep making saw dust
As long as we're out making dust, things are good!
frost heaving will be a concern I think with gravel pad.
I get a little bit of movement on my stone laneway but not too much using stone as long as it's well drained
Great video, I haven't been able to keep up with UA-cam videos. I've been very busy with my personal life, that's a great video.
Hi Doyle. No problem at all. Always great to hear from ya
My saw shed started with14'x30' with 4-5"x 12" roof pitch and 20"-ish off ground, then added 20' on west end for putting lumber like you have, and now in process of adding another 20' on east end to put slabs in 2'x2'x8' bunchers, roof will come maybe this fall.
Then we strap slab bundles and move with tractor forks to outside location to be sold or use in my shop stove. My sawdust goes out opening on north wall into a 8'x8' sawdust box that is on runners, when full I drag that off and tip over to empty.........
I'm not really a fan of cement pad, cement floors make my feet hurt and theres no crawl space for future use..........
THat's a good idea with the slab wood. I haven't been able to sell it before due to an overabundance of it around my area unfortunately. I may have to try again. I like the sawdust box idea . Thanks for sharing that
Sandy check out bearded lumber set up really good workflow
I don''t know a lot but your reasoning for stone sounds good.
I'm starting to think it's my best option at this point too
Hey Sandy, since you have had 2.0 up. Have you noticed much movement from the freeze thaw cycles?
Hi Stuart. So far so good without any movement noted
I mean no disrespect, but are you sure the back side is a 12/12 pitch? The short front section looks it but the back looks more like an 8? Looking at the 9:21 time stamp the gable behind you doesn't look like 12" in x 12" up.
I don't recall the exact angle but it is real close to 12/12. Could be a 10/12, 11/12, 12/12 but it's real close.
Thinking out loud is a good way to work through the design. Next year you can review this video and see if that is what you ended up doing, or if you found a better solution.
For sure. Always evolving my ideas at the sawmill
Good info.
Thank you!
hi there looking good , i put stone dust around my big mill wish i didnt , just dont like it , as for the opening i learned as you are ,new one has a 42 foot opening ,i like it , best to all john
Sandy hi would it be better to just have a shed to put your mill in then pull out to the open air to start sawing. You could make a level deck to pull your mill onto then after the mill is put away the deck is easy to clean. You will have access to mill to your mill from all directions. Take the money you saved and invest in a live log deck. Just a idea from John
Hi John. I think this could work in the warm weather but may become a bit of a challenge when the snow is on the ground since it's difficult for me to get things moved around when the weather turns. A live log deck sure would be a great thing to have!
If you go with stone, put a base of shale down first so the stones won’t sink into the mud. This means cutting off the topsoil, and putting some geotextile material down be for you spread any stone. Lot of work, but worth it in the long run.
I don't have shale where I live on the Canadian Shield so we use granite for everything. I do like using the geotextile like you mentioned as well. Really helps keeping things from sinking in too much like you mentioned. Lots of work for sure
I hope there is not a shed quiz at the end of the video, I might flunk!
There certainly has been a few sheds built around here
I have the same problem with Chicken Coops, always moding them!@@sawingwithsandy
How do I get one of them snazzy hats?
Hey thanks for coming along for the video. I've got a link on YT channel page. Thanks for your support!
MM77 Approved 👍🏼👍🏼
Thank you sir!
wow i have an idea for a sawdust collection but i have not found anyone interested in that idea could be put under the sawmill so would have to worry about the footprint of your mill to but i have to on a concrete pad only problem
Removing the sawdust sure is a big job. Having the concrete floor would be nice for that I can imagine
Don't underestimate the value of a high roofline to bring in plenty of light....enough light to reach way back in a shop or workspace.
I've come to really appreciate "More Light".... the darkness in the back side of a space is wasted space because I hate having to poke around in the dark. I'd willing sacrifice some maneurverability for better light.
That's very true Will. The light is great! Sure makes it nice to be out there
It appears to me that after watching videos of you plowing snow uo there, is that area is cramped. I only assume that is prompted this video.
Hi John. Thanks for coming along for the videos. My land here is entirely forested and so I"m working around trees all the time. Main reason I don't clear cut is I want to ensure the trees I cut down I"m able to saw up and utilize before they rot after I cut. them down.
@sawingwithsandy from the looks of it, you have a long road ahead. It appears that what I see is that you are a hood steward for the land. I heard a saying lately that if you had 100 acres and you took care of ten acres a year how long would it take to been done with care. Answer is never.
Thanks for that John. I certainly am looking after the forest and with the abundance of blow downs around me it seems like I'm going to have a never ending supply of logs for firewood or the sawmill without even touching the red pine forest even though I'm hoping to thin it
Me again don't mean to nag but could you not saw lumber in the summer to last the year. I don't know much about red pine but I would spend the winter making storage sheds and green house frame's to sell if pine was good for that.I don't know your situation but moving all that snow must take time and money P.S.did you win the lottery
Good question. Reason I try to saw less in the summer is because the tree has more pitch in it in the summer so it builds up on my blade. Also in the summer the insects will bore into the logs faster as soon as they are cut down so it causes the lumber to have to be processed faster. It does take a lot of effort to get the snow cleared. I sure wish I could win the lottery
@@sawingwithsandy Thank you I learned something on red pine
I think the gov of Canada tried to make a boat out of frozen sawdust long ago in war times. Think I saw a MythBusters episode on it haha
I"ll have to check that one out
I don't think that roof is a 12/12 which would be 45 degrees. Looks more like an 8/12 which is a preferable pitch
Is your name Sandoval?
I'd imagine my name could be just about anything if you ask enough people
Good you’re getting back to cutting wood not so much to log splitting
Hi Mike. Thanks for coming along for the video. I do a bunch of things but always bounce around from one to the other
I am beginning to wonder if you are looking for more ways to spend time out at the Hillbilly Hide-away with a bit of sludge... 🤣😂
hahah that could very well be it
What if your deck had a large cut out area that was almost perfect size so you’re so can go in that area….you can still use your trailer on your property because the wheels And you can still have that flush deck height that you actually like….like you had before with your old sawmill.
now you've got me thinking. Thanks for sharing the idea!
Some good ideas, Sandy. I'll send an email with my ideas... too many to put in the comments.
Thanks Carl. I always appreciate your input
With more than one cement mixer, you can get enough cement happening instead of having a cement truck.
The cost of more than one cement mixer with be worth it from saving what a cement truck would have cost.
I'm not far from you and I have mapped out using a few motorized personal cement mixers instead of paying much more for a cement mixer truck.
Hi Howard, thanks for coming along for the video. I've used the portable concrete mixers before for a job one time and did about 120 bags of concrete and after that job I swore off doing it again haha. My trouble at my sawmill is lack of water and electricity as well. It could be done but would be a bit more of an effort than I want to put in at this point.
@@sawingwithsandy It's so great hearing from you Sandy.
That's excellent hands on info' Thankssssss!
Ok, well once again, I mean no disrespect but I thought hillbilly #2 was so good I used your setup as a pattern for my sawmill and have never regretted it.
But when you setup the trailer mill you were initially loading it from the wrong side, got rid of the slab rack and the drying station then slowly started moving back to streamlining your operation . I didn't post the original comment to start a debate,but always wondered why you abandoned what I thought was the perfect setup and essentially start over.
I think I was expecting to see you place the max in the same position as the poor disrespected 130 was in and carry on as usual.😂
Good question. I needed to change things up as the walkway to the lumber shed wasn't working with snow constantly falling on the wooden walkway. I was also out of space for lumber storage so needed to change things up.
You'll figure it out. My mill is up against a fence. I can walk there, just no equipment so logs get loaded with skid steer from the side, and everything comes off the same side one log at a time. Not very productive, but that's normal for me.
Hey there Hayes! I think the best setup is the one that you're happy with. As long as we're cutting wood, we're all doing right!
Squirrel is going to clog your air filter
I thought the same thing but they don't seem to bother it out here for some reason
Give it to me then :)
Haha
Camera angles sure are deceiving You mentioned it's a 12/12 pitch. From the video I would have guessed a 7 or 8/12 pitch. Sure doesn't look like a 45 degree angle. .
Yeah it's a steep one for sure. Probably the wide angle on the camera
@@sawingwithsandy It's two pitches right? The short roof (front) is steeper than the back?
I believe both pitches are the same if memory serves me right but I can't quite remember what I built the front overhang roof pitch at.
Friend,
Abandon the French engineers at woodland mills and get a woodmizer.
Plant araund house mint plants.these plants don’t left mice’s Rats don’t like mint.
Hi Sandy,
I to have been watching since hillbilly #1 and thought the flow chart of hillbilly #3 was perfect ,but then you sold the 130 and bought the 130 max.. I mean no disrespect,but I thought you then lost your mind and started doing everything ass backwords . To me the flow has never been as smooth as it once was.
Should have read, hillbilly #2, sorry
Sorry,should have read, hillbilly #2
Thanks for coming along over all that time. I didn't think I changed much from the 130 to the 130max but maybe I didn't notice. What did I change up that you thought was better before?
What’s with the Arms, Legs, Feet, Fingers and pinky measurements ? It’s 2024 get up with the metric system. There is only 3 uneducated countries in the world using body measurements. Nice Vlog but had zero idea of what your measurements were.
The imperial measurement system is commonly used in Canada and the US in the construction industries.
@@sawingwithsandy so it’s the preferred world measurement including your home country and preferred precision measurement yet your using arms, legs, feet, fingers and pinky measurements to keep 3 locations happy. Mmmmm doesn’t make sense. Metric just makes so much sense eg 0=freezing 100=boiling 1 litre=1 kg time to become a 2024 channel.
As another Canadian, I know exactly the struggle. US is all in inches and feet. Canada is hybrid, with official in metric (except for lumber), but since we are symbiotic with the US, we have to be multi-lingual with our measurements for our US friends. in Canada, everyone know what a 2x4 is, but we couldn't tell you what the metric equivalent is called.
Hello Sandy, your 90% there, your under a roof👏🪵🇺🇸
That's a win in my book!