have you ever milled any oak on it before. that is mostly what we have here in northern missouri. I love how this mill works and all but still considering going back with another bandsaw mill. ive got a stihl 660 to use if i get this mill but still trying to make up my mind. thanks mark
Hi! I just milled oak yesterday. It cuts really well! Lots of downsides with this setup, for sure. I still wonder if I made the right choice. I don’t have a bandsaw to compare it to, to know for sure.
@Our40Ehcres can you briefly tell me the downsides. I know it's a bigger saw cut bit that doesn't bother me. The cost to sharpen my own chains is cheaper than a band. Dandsaw sharpener is $800 plus. Chains last longer and are easer to get I think. Might be a bit slower but not sure. Yep I agree I'm sitting g here and wondering which is best. I think it's easier to square up a cant and I talked with a guy the other day that said that also
@@bluecarpenter22 Sure! The first issue is, two log lifters will not be enough, not if you plan on doing a variety of different lengths logs. Two lifters means you can’t do anything less than 8’ easily…you can with jigs, ladders and such…but, it’s not worth the hassle, and you will lose some flexibility in diameter, too. You only really have 16” from the log lifter surface to the bar. Any time you use a jig, you will lose valuable inches. I have had to buy a third lifter to be able to properly handle lengths between 4 to 8’. Oh, and don’t expect to do much beyond 8’ with two lifters. Now, with the third, I can do 4’ to 14’ ish. I can push to 16’, but you start to lose accuracy. So, I already have plans to buy a 4th log lifter to get better 16’ logs milled. Oh, and that 8’ gap can be a pain when you get down to a last two boards…you will have dips, therefore bad cuts. Again, a jig can solve it, but it’s more time messing around. Also, when you are counting on your measurements of the log lifters so much, often relative to their last position, just sticking in a jig for the last two boards for support is not something I’m overly interested in. So, a 5th log lifter to support the boards is on my list. You can see where I’m going here…it’s adding up. But, at least you can do it in phases. So, that's one complaint. Easily solved, and solved well...just unexpected and costly.
@@bluecarpenter22 I didn’t think the kerf would bother me…and if I had a great supply of cheap or free logs, it wouldn’t. BUT, when you are counting boards and trying to squeeze every dollar out of a log, you can really see the advantage of a small kerf. You lose a 1” board every 4 or 5 cuts. Of course this is not an issue for everyone.
have you ever milled any oak on it before. that is mostly what we have here in northern missouri. I love how this mill works and all but still considering going back with another bandsaw mill. ive got a stihl 660 to use if i get this mill but still trying to make up my mind. thanks mark
Hi! I just milled oak yesterday. It cuts really well! Lots of downsides with this setup, for sure. I still wonder if I made the right choice. I don’t have a bandsaw to compare it to, to know for sure.
I hope to make a video addressing the downsides soon. I do love this mill, all things considered.
@Our40Ehcres can you briefly tell me the downsides. I know it's a bigger saw cut bit that doesn't bother me. The cost to sharpen my own chains is cheaper than a band. Dandsaw sharpener is $800 plus. Chains last longer and are easer to get I think. Might be a bit slower but not sure. Yep I agree I'm sitting g here and wondering which is best. I think it's easier to square up a cant and I talked with a guy the other day that said that also
@@bluecarpenter22 Sure! The first issue is, two log lifters will not be enough, not if you plan on doing a variety of different lengths logs. Two lifters means you can’t do anything less than 8’ easily…you can with jigs, ladders and such…but, it’s not worth the hassle, and you will lose some flexibility in diameter, too. You only really have 16” from the log lifter surface to the bar. Any time you use a jig, you will lose valuable inches. I have had to buy a third lifter to be able to properly handle lengths between 4 to 8’. Oh, and don’t expect to do much beyond 8’ with two lifters. Now, with the third, I can do 4’ to 14’ ish. I can push to 16’, but you start to lose accuracy. So, I already have plans to buy a 4th log lifter to get better 16’ logs milled. Oh, and that 8’ gap can be a pain when you get down to a last two boards…you will have dips, therefore bad cuts. Again, a jig can solve it, but it’s more time messing around. Also, when you are counting on your measurements of the log lifters so much, often relative to their last position, just sticking in a jig for the last two boards for support is not something I’m overly interested in. So, a 5th log lifter to support the boards is on my list. You can see where I’m going here…it’s adding up. But, at least you can do it in phases. So, that's one complaint. Easily solved, and solved well...just unexpected and costly.
@@bluecarpenter22 I didn’t think the kerf would bother me…and if I had a great supply of cheap or free logs, it wouldn’t. BUT, when you are counting boards and trying to squeeze every dollar out of a log, you can really see the advantage of a small kerf. You lose a 1” board every 4 or 5 cuts. Of course this is not an issue for everyone.