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$7500 sawmill for $100, no joke, no catch.

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I have a close friend who bought a $7500 sawmill ten years ago and hasn't used it in a LONG time. I've been wanting/needing to build Kelly a coffee table and part of the plan is a big thick slab of oak. I asked my friend if I could borrow his mill. It needed some work to get going again (just laid up stuff) that I had no problem doing for free just to keep it going.

When I asked to borrow it he said he would be interested in selling it but had to get with his dad who is a partner in it. I spoke with him yesterday and he told me $100. I made sure several times I heard him correctly. Yep, $100 for a $7500 mill and it's n pretty good shape. It may take a couple of hundred bucks to get going again but I really can't complain.

It's weird how woodworking stuff is falling in my lap. I was looking for a band saw on CL for around $100 and told Kelly I as just wasting my time given that's not how I get things and the best deal will just appear.

I had no idea by "band saw for $100" I would in fact be getting a sawmill....and it's not just a mill, but arguably the best in it's class.

Here's the vid for it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mff0H2r-7LM

I'm very grateful things have been lining up well lately. I have no idea what the future holds for me but apparently it involves a sawmill.
 
My cousin has a business with his portable sawmill. He loves it, and is doing quite well too.
I seem to have similar things happening with blacksmithing tools. I've been looking for an anvil for months, and yesterday I picked one up for free from my dad. I didn't think he still had it. I also stopped by a friends house and he said I could borrow a buffalo forge he has. I think a blacksmith vice will round out the major tools I'm needing. next is some refractory to line the forge, and some bituminous coal.
It's exciting to be starting on learning something new that I've held a desire to do for years. It sounds like you're in the same place.
That's a MEGA score on the sawmill! I wouldn't be able to hand them the money fast enough!
 
Was chatting with another pastor, a parishioner died and as they were cleaning out the garage they found a portable saw mill, no one knew it was there. Yeah he was a hoarder.

that said, well bought Billy
 
JPSmit said:
Was chatting with another pastor, a parishioner died and as they were cleaning out the garage they found a portable saw mill, no one knew it was there. Yeah he was a hoarder.

that said, well bought Billy
Click to expand...

Aint no buyin' to it, let's face it; he gave it to me. This guy is the best friend I have (obviously) aside from my wife.
 
WOW! This is the kind of machine that changes the game, your self-employed earning potential just turned a corner...

Related question: You got any big willow trees growing by you? If you do, I'll share with you a little known fact about willow.
 
No willows that I know of but I'm always eager to learn. The problem for me making money with one of these is there are a lot of guys around here with mills and local building code states you can only use inspected lumber for building houses. Outbuilding are fine with ruff cut stuff. Don't get me wrong, I still plan on trying to make money with it, I just have to figure out exactly how.
 
kellysguy said:
No willows that I know of but I'm always eager to learn. The problem for me making money with one of these is there are a lot of guys around here with mills and local building code states you can only use inspected lumber for building houses. Outbuilding are fine with ruff cut stuff. Don't get me wrong, I still plan on trying to make money with it, I just have to figure out exactly how.
Click to expand...

recycled lumber (old cyprus for example) for furniture or architechtural ornamentation.
 
1.Willow has zero commercial value (can't burn it, pulp it, etc) tree-service companies are usually glad to give it away after they cut it down.
2. Willow is the "other" traditional wood for making cello backs. (in the Italian tradition)

The best willow I've ever had grew in Lafayette, LA... I'll send you more details.
 
Congrats on the great deal. No worry on the house building stuff. You couldn't compete in that area anyway. Your market will be woodworkers, furniture builders and other DIYers. Good luck to you.
 
That's not a sawmill. THIS is a sawmill:

041609-2336-sashsawmill6.jpg
 
Minor disaster today. Long story short, the saw carriage fell backwards onto the frame while I was trying to move it to the top of the hill to secure it better. I don't think it's hurt too bad, I feel like crap about it but I think the saw will live.

I told Kelly it was in too good of shape for me to own so I flipped it and she laughed. I was trying to beat the weather and bad road conditions by myself as he doesn't get around very well anymore. I should have waited but he doesn't like folks drive down his road after a rain as it gets really sloppy. Going back with the hoist so I can get it back up.
 
Find the artisan crowd making high end furniture. there's a market. Or even the ol boys looking for low buck lumber for docks and such. Lots of little nitch crowds you can sell to out there.
I'm not sure what kind of refractory I need yet. I will be lining a small Buffalo Forge with it. I think I can use the cement stuff made for chimneys and BBQs but I need to do a little more research first.
 
PC said:
What about flooring?
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Never thought about that, you just saved me $3,000; I'm getting excited now. :encouragement: I got it back on the frame now. It isn't hurt bad but is at a point in it's life it needs a total tear down and repaint. I could dope it up and get it going again quickly but it has rust that needs to be dealt with now before it gets too bad.
 
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