Sawmill Site Preparation and Setup

One of the more common questions asked when I am receiving an inquiry is about the setup. One of the best attributes of a WoodMizer is the ease and speed of set-up. It's also great for working in less-than-ideal situations with the ability to level the bed on unstable, sloped, or hilly ground. But setting up a well-thought-out area will ensure it is safer and more efficient. This will give you the best results and the highest return on your money. In this article, I will go over a general area setup. Remember not every site will be the same. It will vary depending on the equipment, logs, how they are laid out, and the ground itself.

Have a look at how the area is set up here. The site has been well prepared and it is nice and flat. It is clear of all obstacles and has good access to either side of the sawmill. The timber has been stacked to the rear of the sawmill on large dunnage, allowing it to be picked up with forks. The cradle on the side of the sawmill (which has a log sitting in it) can be easily accessed for logs to be placed in and loaded onto the deck. On the opposite side, the area is clear and allows the operator to freely move around the sawmill. 

Choose a Level Location

The more level a location the easier it is to operate the sawmill smoothly. If the site is not level, you may experience issues with blade tracking, alignment, and accuracy. It will also result in the head of the mill leaning over to one site which can cause problems when entering and exiting a cut. When rolling a log onto the bed of the mill, if it is not level the log can roll into the side violently, causing potential damage or knocking the mill out of alignment. More often than not, a clear paddock (or area under trees) will be ideal. This will allow clear access around the entire mill.

Clear the Site

Before setting up the sawmill, it is important to clear the site of any debris, rocks, tree stumps, or other obstacles. These may interfere with the sawmill's operation or pose a hazard to the operator. When operating the sawmill both the operator and any person helping will often be moving around the mill carrying heavy and large pieces of timber. To reduce the chance of injury a clean worksite is important. As milling is conducted, debris and waste will begin to accumulate, so it is important to clear this through milling.

This site was in a large paddock with trees to the rear. This provided some shelter from the wind and sun throughout the day. Once the logs were milled, they were able to be unloaded from the tail of the sawmill straight onto a trailer. This enabled the site to be kept clear and tidy.

Layout of the Site

Laying the site out is important to ensure a good workflow. The better the site is laid out, the less time is spent moving timber, logs and waste. This means the more time the blade is in the log, the more lumber can be produced. The set-up will depend on the site. This can be planned during the consultation phase, or on the day. A few key considerations, it is important to have an area where waste can be piled up. This should be close but off to the side. An area needs to be set up where the milled lumber can be stacked and wrapped. Finally, the logs should be close at hand. If they are being loaded manually, they should be laid horizontally next to one another.

Provide Ample Space

While milling can be conducted in restricted areas, the more space the better. This allows an area to be set up efficiently, while still allowing ease of access to the mill. It is important to have enough space to accommodate your sawmill, logs, waste, and sawn lumber. This will vary depending on the amount of logs you have, and the size of the logs. The space should be wide enough to allow easy maneuvering of logs and lumber and long enough to handle logs of various lengths.

This is another good example of a suitable area to set up. It is flat and level, in a clear paddock with no obstructions around it. It is large enough to stack the sawn timber at the tail of the sawmill, with the waste piled on the operator’s side. Logs could still be loaded at the side, with clear access to the cradle.

Consider Environmental Factors

Consider the environmental factors that may affect the sawmill's operation. This includes wind, sun exposure, and precipitation. While operating the sawmill can occur in all environments, from snow to blistering heat, the more shelter the better. This could be as simple as setting it up under the canopy of some trees. The only time weather will result in milling being unable to occur is when the ground or logs become too slippery and muddy to handle safely.

Conclusion

By carefully considering these factors, a safe and efficient site for the Wood-Mizer sawmill can be set up. Ultimately, this will result in a greater yield from the logs, and an effective and efficient set-up improving work efficiency. This will lead to you receiving the best value for your money, reducing wasted time and wood.

Call us today to see how we can help make your idea become a reality!