The Forestry Forum

General Forestry => Sawmills and Milling => Topic started by: redprospector on July 22, 2014, 11:22:11 PM

Title: Pig in a poke Woodmizer. Whadayou think?
Post by: redprospector on July 22, 2014, 11:22:11 PM
I'm looking for some opinions here. I'm thinking about "upgrading" from my old faithful sawmill that I built years ago, to a factory job. I have found an LT40HD to be auctioned online. It's not close by, so it would be a "pig in a poke" buy if I won it.
I sent Woodmizer the serial no. and they said it was a 1998 LT40HDG25. However, it now has a Lombardini LDW1204/B2 on it. I can see in the pictures that it sawed recently (sawdust evidence).
I'm just wondering what you guy's think a reasonable bid on a mill like this would be? I know that there is a lot of problems that can be hidden in an auction, especially an online auction. Just looking for your thoughts.
Title: Re: Pig in a poke Woodmizer. Whadayou think?
Post by: barbender on July 22, 2014, 11:44:28 PM
It's hard to say, without knowing the condition. One thing to check with WM is whether a mill that originally had a 25hp gas switched to a much heavier diesel would have had to be modified. I think the 1204 is what my 97 Super  has on it (it is a Lombardini), it's a nice running engine. If it is in good  condition overall I would say $12-$16K. WM will give you an "orange book" estimate based on model, year, options, hours and condition.
Title: Re: Pig in a poke Woodmizer. Whadayou think?
Post by: redprospector on July 23, 2014, 12:01:22 AM
Thanks barbender,
I'll email Woodmizer again and see what they say.
I hate to buy anything I can't lay my hands on unless it's from an individual that I feel I can trust, but if I can get it cheap enough that I can do a lot of work on it before I go in the red then I might take a gamble.
Title: Re: Pig in a poke Woodmizer. Whadayou think?
Post by: barbender on July 23, 2014, 12:14:57 AM
I bought my mill from a fellow about 300 miles away, I agreed to buy it if it was "as advertised". When I got there to pick it up (with my family in the truck), I found a few things that weren't working right. I should have made him knock more money off, in fact, there were reasons I should have probably passed on the mill that I didn't see until I got home (the rubber intake boot was cracked so the engine was sucking raw dust). I got lucky on that one with no apparent damage. After driving all that way, and having the kids with, I just wanted to get out of there and get home. It's all worked out, it's been a good mill but I had to put a lot of time into repairs. Have you checked Woodmizers online classifieds for mills. They usually have a lot of listings on there.
Title: Re: Pig in a poke Woodmizer. Whadayou think?
Post by: redprospector on July 23, 2014, 12:36:16 AM
Yes, I've looked at Woodmizers online classifieds, and everywhere else I can think of to look. I'm not sure I'm ready to bite the bullet yet. But I figured if this one goes cheap enough at auction I might try to pick it up. If not it will probably be spring before I talk myself into buying one. But I have decided that if I'm going to be milling for a good part of my living, I should have something a little more productive than my old mill.
Title: Re: Pig in a poke Woodmizer. Whadayou think?
Post by: dgdrls on July 23, 2014, 05:49:03 AM
Low Low Low$  or pass. 

Lots of mills out there.

Best
DGDrls
Title: Re: Pig in a poke Woodmizer. Whadayou think?
Post by: NMFP on July 23, 2014, 07:07:26 AM
Keep your eyes open and you'll find the one you want.  There are tons of mills out there and more go up for sale everyday.  I think its going to get even better to buy used equipment as people retire, manufacturers keep churning out new stuff and some just don't make enough money to have the mills. 

If you buy a wm, buy one that's 1997 or newer and keep your eyes open for lt40's as they are the most popular, or at least were.

I bought mine sight un seen, yes it needed work the guy didn't tell me about but right up front, I saved a pile of money and I know whats been done to the machine.  Just about everything is fixable so if you need parts, everything is available from woodmizer or on the shelf at an autoparts store.
Title: Re: Pig in a poke Woodmizer. Whadayou think?
Post by: rooster 58 on July 23, 2014, 07:42:47 AM
Just before I pulled the trigger on a new 40 super demo model, I hit the 'net hard one last time. Out jumped a 70 remote with an eg200 edger, lapsider attachment, an outfeed table, and a logrite cant hook in Atlanta, Ga. It was odd, because I found it at a business that sells used industrial wood working equipment.
    After making a tentative offer over the phone, I flew down to Atlanta and took a look at it. The mill had 198 hours and the edger only 70. Upon inspection, I found water in the oil of the edger :o, so I reduced my original offer. After some haggling, we came to an agreement.
     Everything has worked out great for me. I put a few dollars into the mill on minor repairs, upgraded the setworks, and added a laser. And after a couple of flushes, the edger is fine. And I have just a little more than half invested of new equipment. I will say I wish I had the DCS controls ;)
   
Title: Re: Pig in a poke Woodmizer. Whadayou think?
Post by: Seaman on July 23, 2014, 04:56:49 PM
Too many moving parts to gamble on in my opinion.
\Frank
Title: Re: Pig in a poke Woodmizer. Whadayou think?
Post by: scully on July 23, 2014, 08:33:51 PM
The LT 40 is a great platform . they are easy enough to work on and can be upgraded nicely . If you have the bed and the head the rest is trivial ! I've seen many abused and beaten 40's brought back to new specs and saw lumber like the day they were new ! It's a matter of price and how good you can do a little wrenching if you ever need to.
Title: Re: Pig in a poke Woodmizer. Whadayou think?
Post by: redprospector on July 23, 2014, 11:42:49 PM
Thanks for all the advice guy's.
Woodmizer told me what year and what it cost new in 98, I asked them for a guess as to what it would be worth in pretty good shape, haven't heard back yet.
I guess now it's just a matter of waiting until the auction takes place, and making up my mind what I want to do.
I'm not afraid of working on much of anything, I just don't want to wind up with the price of a new one in it because I had to work on it. It's not that I enjoy mechanicing that much, but the more equipment I get, the better mechanic I have to become.  :o
Title: Re: Pig in a poke Woodmizer. Whadayou think?
Post by: redprospector on July 31, 2014, 08:06:19 PM
Well, I just thought I'd give an update. No Woodmizer for me right now.
I had emailed Woodmizer, and they gave me an approximate range of retail value for the mill.
When the auction started I knew I was in trouble because there was a bidding frenzy. When the auction ended, and the dust settled the final price was in the retail range that Woodmizer had given me. Far more than I was willing to give for a machine that I hadn't seen, or heard run, or watched cut.
If I'm going to give retail for a used mill, I want to buy one that I can try out first.
I think for now my upgrades will be adding some hydraulics to the bed of my mill (which should increase it's resale value), while I wait for the right one to come along.
Title: Re: Pig in a poke Woodmizer. Whadayou think?
Post by: Magicman on July 31, 2014, 08:45:15 PM
I am glad that you did your homework and did not get caught up in a bidding frenzy. ;D  Thanks for the update.
Title: Re: Pig in a poke Woodmizer. Whadayou think?
Post by: YellowHammer on July 31, 2014, 10:23:03 PM
Congratulations on a good decision. A smart buyer is a disciplined buyer and a disciplined buyer has no regrets. Sounds like you were a smart buyer. 8)
YH
Title: Re: Pig in a poke Woodmizer. Whadayou think?
Post by: redprospector on July 31, 2014, 11:05:10 PM
Thanks guys,
I try to do my homework, and decide a price before any auction. If they pass me by (which happens often), I walk away. My Dad used to tell me; "If you bid past the limit you set for yourself...Where are you going to stop?"
I have no regrets, but if a person has regrets about not buying something they can simply look for the next deal. If a person has buyers remorse, well, they're pretty much stuck.