Avoid These Mistakes When Building a Sawmill Shed

Although my sawmill shed has served me well for several years, I've learned a few things. When watching this video today, avoid these mistakes when building a sawmill shed to make sure you build it right the first time. As I explain in my video, this sawmill shed has stood up to the harsh Canadian climate for a number of years but the overall functionality of the build isn't what I want it to be. As I take you through the overall parameters of this sawmill shed, I"ll mention the things that work and the things that don't work for me in this build. I'll be talking about the access points for log loading and the waste pile locations and how it's important to consider before you build. With some additional talk dealing with roof height, roof slope and snow loading on the structure, this video will surely help some of you steer-clear of some common problems that I've encountered here. In light of the problems I"ll mention, I will also talk about whats good about this sawmill shelter. The easy of erection was one of the reasons this sawmill shack is a good design. Same thing goes for access to materials. I'm glad you're all here and wish you all the best in your sawmill build. Check out my sawmill shack version 2 build which just got underway by clicking on the playlist. Here we go!

[@russellclement2058]

I've been in the building industry since 66 so I would use concrete pads for your base,, once set up you would never have to adjust it again ,, weather you just put your mill bed on concrete pads or your whole platform is entirely up to you ,,, set your concrete pads up with a laser level and they could be perfectly level,,

[@thebradleysoncatbirdhill6849]

I can't wait to see this develop! Thanks for taking us along for the ride!

[@sawingwithsandy]

Glad you’re here John

[@resolutekravmaga651]

I'm really excited to see this!!

[@edgarmilson8686]

Thanks for your kind words, yes I will get through this, one way or another. Regards, Edgar

[@jeremyscott6641]

Wow great video, I have the 126 woodland mills and just bought my first tractor and can’t wait to start milling, thanks for saving me the headache of version 1.0 shed.

[@bradchristy5002]

Excellent work - great videos........

[@shawnfortenberry5941]

I enjoy your channel sounds like you’ve got an awesome idea good luck with the project and I’ll be looking forward to watching your progress.

[@sawingwithsandy]

Thanks Shawn

[@howardkettner]

Just came across this episode. Love it - sawmill shack 2.0

[@sawingwithsandy]

Great to hear you found the video Howard!

[@chriscox6598]

Great discussion. I have my mill on two “beams / skids”. Also I have my log deck on skids so I can move it as needed. Just need to figure out where I want to build my sawmill shed. Looking forward to seeing your build

[@sawingwithsandy]

Those are some good ideas Chris. I’m going to put my sawmill in two long beams as well

[@denisd4050]

Good day Sandy I probably keep your idea for moving your lag from the bonk to the sawmill it’s simple and reliable. Have a good day

[@sawingwithsandy]

Thanks Denis. I’m always one for simplicity if possible

[@goldenacres3269]

I like your outriggers. My loading dock is close to my portable mill, but that keeps me from using the tractor to move the mill under cover. I think I will move it back and add outriggers to solve that problem. Thanks for the good idea,

[@edgarmilson8686]

I like what you are doing!

[@sawingwithsandy]

Thanks Edgar

[@raybin6873]

Poor trees....they wanna a good life too! 😄 I likes the videos! Gives a good idea what it's like up thar in Canada!👍

[@sawingwithsandy]

Haha

[@mindenhillshomesteadyukefa8091]

Sounds like a great plan Sandy. J

[@sawingwithsandy]

Thanks J

[@TgWags69]

my thought was to use or recycle hillbilly 1.0 into a wood drying shed. But then at the end where you were talking about winter sawing I thought you might want to consider using 1.0 for a covered bunk at least for winter. Summer is great for washing them off as you mentioned but winter time with three feet of ice an snow on the logs wouldn't be fun. Anyway I'm looking forward to the new shack build

[@johnos4892]

I'm planning a sawmill shed and starting to saw wood for it this weekend. I have my mill on 6x6 pressure treated post 8' in length. It will be a pain but I plan to put my support post on concrete footing and anchor post to them. Rather than build a deck for holding mill I plan to build a raised gravel pad for the shed . Thanks for the great info.

[@sawingwithsandy]

That sounds like you’ve got a good plan in place. I’m sure it’ll go wel

[@FMcanada]

Hey Sandy. Frank here. I keep wanting to ask, where abouts in central Ontario? I'm assuming north of North Bay and Sudbury. I've snowmobiled near Cochrane, did a project up near Wawa, and fished north of Dryden. I've lived in Ontario my whole life but that's as far north as I've been - and as too few 'southern Ontarians' know, there is nothing like it ... Anyways, its been a while since I've commented but I've been watching your clips quietly on the sidelines. As always they are informative, honest and straight forward. I think the last time you heard from me was way back in March - before summer, before the Covid madness, and of course, before my Woodland Mills 130Max - half the reason i've been too busy to comment. In fact we were having a discussion at the time on the pros and cons of the sawmill and which size to purchase. I said it then and i will say it again - WoodlandMills should be sponsoring you. The info i gathered from watching your videos greatly inspired me to purchase their brand of sawmill. Which brings me to the point of my comment - are you planning to take the feet off the angles and securing them directly to the base beams? I am seriously considering getting some long [25ft] 2x2 angles rigged and wielded up to use instead of the stock pieces that came with it, and then securing them to 2 pieces of solid 8x8 wood beams running on each side. Adjusting those feet are driving me nuts .... the 2nd reason you havent heard from me is because i too have been building a sawmill shed, and there is tons we can talk on that - another time.

[@Tat2Power]

Awesome man!! Look’n fwd to seeing version 2.0. All about makin sawlife a little easier. Like you say. Ain’t get’n any younger. Haha

[@sawingwithsandy]

Ain’t that the truth! Thanks for watching

[@allenchancery4847]

I wondered if peeling poles was only in south alabama here,thanks for show ,I'm peeling my poles now, thinking I'll cut few of my cedar for the post

[@sawingwithsandy]

Yeah I definitely should have peeled them but I guess I live and learn

[@somecooney5304]

Just got the mill set up today. Gotta get a cover shed slammed up tomorrow, haha!

[@sawingwithsandy]

Foot to the rug haha (means go quick)

[@jeremiahshine]

It would help to char the timbers then spray with linseed with oregano oil mixed in. Powders of iron oxide, copper, zinc, etc... can be mixed in. A lime wash could be lopped on...Bugs hate that. I'm planning on treating my place with linseed oil with oregano oil mixed in. They hate oregano. Molds, fungi, and mildew hate oregano, too. It doesn't take much of the oil. I beat a brown recluse/ mrsa infection in 3 days with oregano oil under the tongue. Nothing stands in oregano oil's way. Hospitals are cleaning with it in some places here. It breaks down the biofilms they use to create their environment (their shield, I guess) and they oxidize or something.

[@traviscover590]

I like your new video today you did a really good jop today man good jop man

[@donmacdonald7758]

I like your CK40, nice tractor. My nephew has one, but you might consider a grapple for the loader, it ll make a lot of that back breaking lifts easy. Thanks from Georgian Bay.

[@sawingwithsandy]

Thanks for watching Don. Grapple is one of my most used implements. Very handy

[@raincoast9010]

A good system is all about efficiency, the less steps/handling you do the quicker you will get the job done. Also saving your back...

[@sawingwithsandy]

I agree 💯

[@SSingh-nr8qz]

I would also recommend bring in the right machinery. Yes you can brute force it, by that is what young idiots do. They pay with it with back problems years down the road. If you can have a machine do some of grunt work, then do it.

[@dianelabbe2446]

check out the Sawmill structure at Smoky Mountain Outback.

[@yoda2682]

The building inspector is comming for ya !

[@sawingwithsandy]

Yeah this log structure sure wouldn’t pass 😁

[@yoda2682]

@@sawingwithsandy lol I have a few of those myself . Looks great tho!

[@edgarmilson8686]

Sandy, they make a crane attachment for skid loaders, do they also make them for tractors like your kioti?

[@charlesslaughter5969]

Food for thought, if you flipped your mill 180 degrees so you loaded logs onto the bunks from the side opposite the operator, it might make life easier and keep your work space cleaner and in turn make it safer too. Maybe put pen to paper and try different ideas. I enjoy your videos and good luck with your projects

[@Sagern234]

I think id make a skid i could pick up with tractor forks for offcuts to be thrown on. And exact opposite side of ahed have a similar skid, for finiahed product storage.

[@edgarmilson8686]

You are really going to feel sore tomorrow.. I can see your new hideaway is coming right along. Regards, Edgar

[@coldspring624]

You may have looked into them already but if you have not Timbergreen Farm in Wisconsin is a good source for lumber drying. They have some valuable info and combine storage and kiln drying in there builds...just sayin lol

[@sawingwithsandy]

Thanks I’ll check them out

[@focusfireinvestor5396]

How much is a tractor like that? used/new. Looks like a pretty sweet tractor.

[@sawingwithsandy]

It is a great tractor. New you’re probably mid 40’s here in Ontario. Used around 30

[@SuperHurdman]

Think their called skids the pull out log. Why not get two 2x2 tubing and have one end near the pile and connected with bolts when not in use have it fold up and lean against the pile of logs.

[@sawingwithsandy]

Not quite sure what you mean here. Are you talking about the location where I pile logs before being rolled onto my mill?

[@neilheartwick2911]

I have a HM 126 Woodlander the power head is all the way down and it will not go back up is there anything I can do to make it happen. I'm new to this. Thanks Neil

[@sawingwithsandy]

If I was to guess I’d say one of your steel cables has come loose and when you crank the height adjustment handle nothing happens

[@jtaylor3985]

Rotate ur mill 180° when u move it so u can still feed from the same side and have the room to walk along the mill as u cut the logs.

[@huxleyjaxtyn4892]

i know Im asking randomly but does anyone know of a trick to log back into an Instagram account? I was stupid forgot the login password. I love any tips you can offer me.

[@estebanriver7630]

@Huxley Jaxtyn Instablaster :)

[@huxleyjaxtyn4892]

@Esteban River Thanks for your reply. I got to the site thru google and I'm in the hacking process atm. Looks like it's gonna take quite some time so I will get back to you later when my account password hopefully is recovered.

[@huxleyjaxtyn4892]

@Esteban River it worked and I now got access to my account again. I am so happy! Thanks so much, you saved my account!

[@estebanriver7630]

@Huxley Jaxtyn Happy to help :D

[@edgarmilson8686]

Nice shed you are building. It looks strong enough to park dump trucks on top of it. Well, that is an exaggeration. I have been having trouble. I am 77 and about 325 pounds. I think I might be diabetic. I have to get a blood glucose machine and test my blood sugar. I was trying to read a serial number off of my set top box but everything was so blurry that I could not read it. Everyone in my family has had diabetes but me so I guess I am due. Regards, Edgar

[@sawingwithsandy]

I’m sorry to hear about your health challenges Edgar. I hope everything works out for the better. Good things come to good people so I’m sure you’ll be alright.

[@SuperHurdman]

why not put your beams on sauna tube down three feet under the frost line If ever you want them out just pull them out with your tractor you would only need eight if your running beams down the length. Sandy why not make a bunk for your off cuts with a back on it and wood spaced fifteen inches apart or how ever long you want your wood when it gets full enough cut it up into fire wood have it three feet off the ground so your not bent over cutting it with the chain saw and just have one of your tots beside it to throw the fire wood into!

[@sawingwithsandy]

Those are all good ideas. To make it easy and save on cost I’m going to do a floating foundation on concrete blocks. The soil is quite dry and so if there is any frost movement I don’t mind shimming a bit to bring it back to level. The off cut idea surely will be built though

[@uncletom1986]

Also leave old shed standing when u build ur new one and use it for wood storage

[@raincoast9010]

Just wanted to add, burn the posts on the part that goes into the ground, this will help protect the wood from rotting.

[@sawingwithsandy]

That’s a good point

[@edgarmilson8686]

Sandy, do you think a sand blaster would remove the bark? Just a thought. Edgar

[@sawingwithsandy]

I think it certainly would work. I’ve heard a pressure washer works good and I’ll be using a draw knife in one of my upcoming videos which works real well

[@dewaynemartin6437]

Wouldn't a sandblaster impregnate thevwood with sand and end up dulling the blades?

[@erwinbrubacker7488]

@@dewaynemartin6437 yes, but they was referring to logs used as bldg timbers, not logs to cut.

[@heyyoubuddy6749]

Hey buddy how are ya? So I’m thinking due to soil shift, wouldn’t a trailer set up be the best way to handle this issue. I know a trailer package is expensive but I’m thinking woodland mills may help out by sponsoring or giving a discount?? I’m looking forward to this adventure. Take care buddy and as always God bless you and yours?

[@sawingwithsandy]

I do agree that a trailer would be helpful in this situation to give me some flexibility if the soil moves around a bit. It’s just out of the budget right now so I’m down to building stationary. I’m hoping this new shack will atleast get me out of the dirt and milling year round

[@heyyoubuddy6749]

Oh hear ya about the budget. I’m still saving my pennies to get a mill😂. I know you will make an awesome hillbilly hide out 2.0. I can’t wait to see it. Be safe buddy

[@sawingwithsandy]

Thanks appreciate it

[@thomasme9676]

Why not keep the old mill shed for wood storage? Why have your mill in middle of the wood? I would have it closer to the end use for the lumber.

[@sawingwithsandy]

I like having the trees nearby my mill since I find it harder to move trees then I do the finished lumber.

[@edgarmilson8686]

They make a crane attachment for a tractor but they only go 25 feet high but they do lift 1000 pounds 25 feet

[@sawingwithsandy]

Neat idea

[@edgarmilson8686]

I could not help but notice the trees were planted in rows. My guess is this was planted by prison inmates? If that is the case then you could build a shed with supporting trees just about anywhere that you find straight rows of planted trees. Regards, Edgar

[@pseudopetrus]

I have built pole barns with dimensional lumber as well as rough log stock, your beams are too light among other considerations. Make a study of old timber frame barns.

[@sawingwithsandy]

I agree with ya. Be sure to check out my new sawmill shelter build which replaced this structure. Thanks for watching

[@uncletom1986]

Just get u some quick Crete and make u some footings for those legs to sit on

[@robertgreene8275]

how do i send you pic of mine

[@sawingwithsandy]

[e-mail]

[@Lawiah0]

Sawmill Log Bunk + Bunk buddie(s)

[@dennishayes65]

Maybe you heard Sasquach !!!

[@sawingwithsandy]

Dun dun dun ....haha

[@leeskithree]

instead of building something to put your sawmill on that you will still have to level every year why don't you drill some holes past your frost line (probably 42 or 48 inches where your at) get some cement tubes cut them about 6 to 12 inches long level them pour cement in each hole and you will never have to level it ever again

[@sawingwithsandy]

I didn’t want to dig the holes and haul all the concrete back in the bush. I figure the rebel belong will be very minor as I’ll have beams under my on top of that platform

[@That1ufo]

@@sawingwithsandy A bit late now, but make make precast blocks with hooks so you can just move them around with the tractor.

[@lnk3503]

get yourself 3 quotes for a concrete floor.

[@buddhalovechild]

I don't see any hills.

[@sawingwithsandy]

They’re out there

[@exotictones1054]

You better get busy buddy.

[@sawingwithsandy]

Haha isn’t that the truth