NDR opinions on portable sawmills

Brian Story

Brian Story

Active member
Just starting to look at portable mills. Anyone use the Oscar 228 and have any comments/suggestions? Not trying to cut the forest down, just selecting a few trees here and there.
Thanks.
Brian



Hud-Son saw mills stand apart from the rest - Standard Features:​
•28" Diameter log capability • 2-6' Ground tracks (12' total) • Manual start 8.0 HP overhead valve engine
• Hand crank height adjustment • 16" Diameter band wheels with pyrathane belt • 2 Log dog assemblies
• Powder coat finish • Hud-Son shoe guides • Centrifugal clutch
• Standard DoubleHard tm Woodmizer band blade • Hud-Son double support bandwheel system with 1 1/2" pillow block bearings - Hud-Son Guides • Bottom board 1" capability • Hud-Son Shoe Guides
• Outside Guards • Center Guards​
228WEBTOM2.gif
 
Brian,

I have a friend with the Oscar 228, we have cut alot of ash with the mill the only problem so far is that the blade needs to be aligned perfect within the roller guides or you will spend 90% of your time putting the blade on ,kind of a tough design for the blade guides . And keep that blade cool and sharp otherwise it will do nothing but slip . Good luck



Dave M
 
Hey Brian,

I was shopping around for a portable mill a few years ago and found these guys. I am not connected with the website, just sharing a little info. If you aren't making this a business or a serious income producing venture, I consider shopping them.

http://www.sawmill-exchange.com/index.htm


Good luck,

Bob Beal
 
Brian,
have not used that mill but have used two others at work.
Key features you want-easy blade changes, and set up.
A sharp blade is the only way the smaller power home mills will give good results. Inside that window they work well.
They give you the flexibility to saw the log the way you want.
 
Brian,

I have no experience with the Oscar you mentioned. I have heard they are good.

I have cut down/milled up about 180 or so trees with my brother in law on his mill. I have used Woodmizer, Timber King and one other that I forget the name of (orange deal) , overall they all work well, do what you want with decent accuracy.

HOWEVER, I have really been looking at the Lucas Swing Blade mills

http://www.baileys-online.com/Mill-2.htm

I like the fact you can cut and edge in basically 2 motions without handling the wood 2 or 3 times. You can also specifcally get quartersawn wood MUCH easier and with minimal effort. Check them out prior to buying anything. The other thing I like about them, is there is NO lifting of the logs up onto the tracks, which for us limits our size since our equipment can only handle so much weight. Also, most saws only handle logs up to 24" with bandsaws. Yes you can get larger, but then the cost goes up.

If you have any questions, let me know
 
I just filled out the info. to get a brochure/video from Bailey's. Good looking design, but looks like it starts out around 7500. I'm going to have to spay alot of dawgs for that kind of cash!
 
Brian,

Have you used a band mill before?

If you have not, let me point out the fact that you do NOT just start at the top and work down, you have to turn it several times as you are cutting to optimize the wood. Cupping is a major issue if you just go top down. All that turning requires touching the log again and again, rolling it etc. Read, lots of extra work. Once you are done, you still need to edge the boards to get rid of the bark, again touching the wood....over time this becomes a major pain the butt. Once you have watched that video, tell me what you think please. I like the idea of NOT lifting the log onto the rack and all the extra handling of the log. Plus, love the options on saw cuts.

don't forget to spay those damn cats too since there are too many of them to begin with, should add some coin to the pocket!!!
 
Brian,

I have a very good friend which owns a Lucas swing blade. I can give you his phone number if your like. I would venture to guess that you would be well pleased with the Lucas saw. I've watched it used several times and it's the cats meow when it comes to getting the most from your log. Like has been mentioned when you take a board from the log, you handle it once because it is sawn on all four sides ready to stack.

I've helped him set it up and two guys can handle every component with ease. You can haul this in the back of your truck and set it up any where needed. If you have a log that you can't move, no problem. Set the saw up right over the log as she lays and start sawing. you can level the saw to the log rather than the log to the saw.

I know this sounds like a sales pitch but I am just impressed with the whole concept. I only get to see it when I visit him for a fishing get together a couple times a year. He lives in Northern Minnesota and owns a small tract of timber.
 
Thanks for the info on the Lucas. Do you all think it will also do a good job on smaller 20 inch logs (like Bodac). I really like that it can handle the big stuff. My in-laws have some land and it has some old growth cypress on it that I'd love to "borrow".

Brian
 
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