My New Hud-Son H360 Hydraulic Portable Sawmill

August 22, 2023

My New Hud-Son H360 Hydraulic Portable Sawmill

Recycling felled trees into valuable, usable lumber is always a big priority here at my Bedford, New York farm.

Over the years, I've planted thousands and thousands of trees. Unfortunately, I've also lost many trees - they've fallen during storms, or had to be cut down because of damage or disease. I always save the logs and have them milled into usable boards. Some time ago, I decided to gift myself with a portable sawmill, so I could cut the lumber right here at the farm when needed. Last week, my property manager, Doug White, and Pete Sherpa from my crew, got a lesson on how to use it - our new Hud-Son H360 Hydraulic Portable Sawmill.

Enjoy these photos.

: This is our new Hud-Son H360 Hydraulic Portable Sawmill. It can turn any log into usable lumber within minutes, and any wooden board to the exact size needed for a project.

: This piece of equipment comes with a 23-horsepower engine, an adjustable power feed, a power throttle, power height adjustment, a hydraulic log loader, hydraulic log turner, and a heavy-duty 24-foot trailer.

: The sawmill is controlled from a stationary position at the front of the mill where all the mechanicals and functions of the mill can be closely and safely monitored.

: Here, one can see the carbon steel blade on the sawmill. If used properly, one blade can cut hundreds of board feet before it needs replacing.

: And here is the hydraulic motor which makes the sawing fast, accurate, and nearly effortless.

: The sawing mechanicals and blade are well guarded. The machine moves up and down the sawmill as it cuts the logs into dimensional lumber.

: Here is where the wood is placed for cutting. The bed is equipped with clamps to hold the wood in place.

: Right now, Pete is working with ash tree wood, Fraxinus – deciduous, dense hardwoods. The logs were already cut into boards, but they need to be cut to more exact sizes. Ash trees are very strong trees, but also quite elastic, and popular for making instrument parts, tool handles, and baseball bats. We lost a lot of ash trees at the farm due to the emerald ash borer larvae which kill ash trees by tunneling under the bark and feeding on the part of the tree that moves water and sugars up and down its trunk. I am happy we can still recycle and repurpose the lumber.

: We also have some hemlock boards, Tsuga. Hemlock is a softwood native to North America. It produces a lustrous pale timber that is an attractive choice for carving.

: The board is placed on the bed where the machine’s hydraulic arms can hold it tightly. Most mills are designed to hold pieces at least eight feet long.

: The board is then secured by the hydraulic loading arms and clamps with a scrap piece of wood to protect it as it moves.

: Here, the blade is adjusted to the desired position and measurement and checked several times before it cuts. Remember the old adage, “measure twice (or multiple times) and cut once.”

: Pete positions himself at the head of the machine with the proper safety equipment ready to go. The machine can be loud, so it is best to use some ear protection as well as eye protection to shield his eyes from any sawdust.

: The guides for the blade are checked to make sure they are level and true. The blade must be parallel to the sawmill’s guides.

: The saw is turned on and it works its way down the entire length of the board.

: Pete watches the movement of the saw very carefully to be sure everything works properly.

: The boards are perfectly cut to the proper thickness.

: It took exactly one minute to cut this lumber to the desired thickness.

: Here, Pete uses the sawmill to cut three boards width-wise. He secures the wood on the sawmill and tightens the clamps once again. It is amazing to see how technology has allowed us to create these pieces so easily.

: One can see the line where the blade has cut through very straight and smooth. I am so glad to be able to cut usable lumber whenever we need it right here at the farm. I already have so many projects in mind.