“Right now, I’m just milling for myself”, Larry began. But he plans to soon be using his LX26 to mill log cabin kits to sell. “I really like the idea of putting a “D” face on logs,” Larry explained, “Putting a tongue and groove in the logs locks them together for a tight fit without cracks.”
After looking at other log shaping machines, he decided on the Norwood Log Moulder LX26. Larry likes the idea of the log remaining stationary while moving the cutter-head over the log – it allows him to work with bigger and heavier material while minimizing his workload. Another big attraction is that he can use the same track for both the sawmill and his Log Moulder. Although he does not have his sawmill yet, Larry bought an extended Norwood HD36 log deck and trailer package as a base for his Log Moulder. “It will be great to have both a sawmill and my Log Moulder on the same track,” he said, “That way, I can set the Log Moulder at one end of the track while I mill the log into a 6” x 8” cant. Then, I can fire up the LX26 to round the outside edge for the cabin, put a tongue on the top of the cant and a groove on the bottom.”
“You don’t even advertise very much, but people hear you have a sawmill, and they come over. I think you could come up with a million ways of using the LX26 Log Moulder.”
The LX26 worked perfectly right from the first log. “I got a load of pine delivered, and I’m pretty amazed with what I was able to do with what Norwood created to shape those timbers,” he said, “We milled some cants to see how they would stack, and they fit perfectly. The finish is really smooth. It is amazing how clean they came out.”
Larry finds the movement to raise and lower the LX26’s cutter-head to be very precise and, “the engine provides plenty of power.” Larry has tongue and groove knives in addition to “D”-profile knives. Because he equipped his LX26 with the optional second cutter, David can simultaneously mount the different profiled knives side-by-side. This allows him to groove one side, rotate the cant for the “D” face, then rotate the log again for the tongue – all without changing knives or taking the cant off the mill. “It’s amazing how easy it is,” he exclaimed.
Although Larry has not looked into marketing pine shavings yet, he has a growing supply. “A couple of boards and you have two inches of shavings on the ground,” he noted. But that “waste” has value and can be sold for a premium to horse owners who are always on the look-out for a source of clean, high-quality pine and softwood shavings.
Shavings will have to just keep piling up, for now. Larry’s first order of business is to build the 12’ x 16’ demo cabin to show to prospective customers – future log cabin purchasers. Larry’s goal is to mill the logs and build the cabin in a month. “If that 12’ x 16’ cabin works out, it will pay for itself right there. Cabin logs are going for about $15 per lineal foot, so it won’t take long to pay for it,” he concluded.
“If that 12’ x 16’ cabin works out, [my LX26 Moulder] will pay for itself right there. Cabin logs are going for about $15 per lineal foot, so it won’t take long to pay for it.”
Larry has big plans for his Norwood Log Moulder. “For cabin flooring, I got tongue and groove knives made for the edges of boards, and set up a jig so that I can run through four boards at a time,” he said. “Next, I want a set of knives for relief cutting on the back side,” he continued. Different knife patterns are readily available from commercial shops, and Larry is already coming up with a wish list. “I really want to get into Swedish cope with the dovetail locks in the end,” he said.
And, of course straight planer knives are available. The unit can plane a maximum width of 27”.
Larry is excited about the prospect of building a business around log cabin kits. With a single machine to mill the logs, cut the tongue & groove, make beams, trusses, floor joists and flooring, he has a good start. “In woodworking, this is a very specialized product and, in my area, no one is doing it [making log cabin logs], so it has generated a lot of interest,” he said. “Having the “D” face makes a huge difference. If things take off the way I hope they will, I’ll have two guys working with me this spring.”
“It’s funny,” he continued, “You don’t even advertise very much, but people hear you have a sawmill, and they come over. I think you could come up with a million ways of using the LX26 Log Moulder.”