I've been trying to look into portable mills....any recommendations from folks that have been using them?

Audio rack step one...

Legs of ambrosia maple:


Shelves are going to be zebrawood. I found a 17.5 inch wide by 5/4 by 88 inch long slab. It's spendy but it is absolutely gorgeous. I will be picking it up on the way home from work tomorrow.

5/4 inch?

I do a lot of rough framing with 8/4" x 16/4" lumber (well, 6/4" x 14/4", but who's counting?)

As far as portable mills go - we had a large windstorm that knocked down 3 of my black walnut trees and several monster spruce trees in my yard.  A buddy came in with his Wood Miser Portable Mill and knocked them up into lumber pretty darn fast.  With some other logs I had brought in, I think we did about 3500 board feet.   The mill seemed really easy to operate and accommodated
the variations in logs easily.  That was about 10 years ago and he's still running that mill. 

The Lucas Mill has a good reputation also but I don't have any first hand knowledge of it.

I would do a portable mill in a heartbeat. Unfortunately, we already have a car and 2 bikes wedged into our 1 car townhouse garage. 

If I could get my buddy interested in turning this into a weekend gig, I would do it in a heartbeat and he has 2 garages and a shed that are nearly empty.

Warren, you have any of that lumber left? I love Wisconsin and haven't been up that way since the last time we met up in Elkhart Lake. So I would be happy to come help you make use of some of it.

Last week while I was at work.


Before:



After:
Lumber


Lumber and sticking


Slab



Now I just need to restack the whole lumber pile with the sticking between each layer so it can dry.  Maybe this weekend Ill start on that.  Maybe.

Quote from: freeclimbmtb on January 29, 2013, 10:54:29 AMWoodworker crack stuff...

You are giving me the shakes man...

You should tell me where that stack is. I swear, I only need one hit...comeon man...just gimme a fix... 

My dad has dibs on the Cedar, Im building a shed with the nominal sizes of the pine. Some of the Cherry, Ash, and most of the wide pine, however, might be for sale. 

Shipping is gonna be a pregnant dog...

*Buyer pays shipping. 

Warren, you have any of that lumber left? I love Wisconsin and haven't been up that way since the last time we met up in Elkhart Lake. So I would be happy to come help you make use of some of it.

Come on up.  I have a fair amount of black walnut, some white oak, butternut and some cherry. 

Audio rack step 2...

zebrawood shelves



But I have other units I need to still build so I am still trying to scrounge the wood for those.
Warren, I will definitely be in touch.

Quote from: freeclimbmtb on January 29, 2013, 11:16:10 AM
My dad has dibs on the Cedar, Im building a shed with the nominal sizes of the pine. Some of the Cherry, Ash, and most of the wide pine, however, might be for sale. 

Let us know..  prob cheaper for some of us to drive then pay shipping

Trainer RC plane I am working on this winter.  Just starting to cover with monokot.


mitt