Wide slabbing band mill

[Busysawyer]

Well I talked to Baker and they sent me a quote.  They said price went up a little due to tarrifs. 48,165 base price. That is powered by 50 horse 3phase. Includes enough track to slab a 12' log, joystick controls and a basic set works. The blade will go all the way up to 72" off the bed. It seems like a lot of mill for the money. Add on options are pretty pricey, 800 bucks for each additional 1ft of track and 830 bucks for each clamp.  No clamps are included in the base price, 6 months lead time if ordered now.  At this point it looks like the Baker is the mill for us. I'm considering a used Lucas or Peterson slabber to buy now and resell when we can get a wide bandmill.  Anyone know where I can find a used one in decent shape? 

[shenandoahsawmill]

This is just me, but before I put almost $50,000 into a mill I would verify a couple of things. Can a narrow band cut wide 24" plus, accurate material on a production basis? You might contact Baker and ask if they can get you in contact with an owner of that mill for an un-biased opinion after they have run the mill for a few months. Another thing to consider is the cost to bring three phase power in to power a 50 HP mill. You would be wise to get a quote from your local power company before putting money into the mill. 

[redbeard]

One thing too consider is clamping,
On the typical band mills that were all used too the log goes tight to the log stops.
Live edge slab sawing you want too be able to clear the  fixed guide roller or shoes. So you want to be able too secure the log on both sides of clamps too clear irregular knots and inculsions on both sides.  Looks like the Baker has nice log clamps for that. 
The 72" blade height is really nice.
What was the max width and height above blade?

[Busysawyer]

Shenendoah,  I talked to the power company before I built my barn because I already have some 3 phase equipment.  My property is zoned industrial and is adjacent to a large industrial park. I have 3 phase at the road.  Cost here is based on anticipated consumption , running a 50 horse electric mill would lower the cost to get the power from the road to my barn. Cut quality is a concern of mine. My 70 wide head cuts near 36" wide extremely consistent, the only issue I have is lack of hp. From what i hear Baker is a good company and if it doesn't cut right I'll send it back and get my money back.  The way I see it is there is already a 6 month wait.  If I wait a few months to see how they are performing before I order who knows how long the wait is. I have a market lined up that will pay that 50g back to me very quickly and everyday I'm not able to provide what they are wanting to buy is lost money. I need a slabber here yesterday not in a few weeks or months.  Sawing high dollar walnut slabs on a chainsaw mill like a Lucas or Peterson just doesn't make sense long term. Turning an extra 1000 dollar plus  slab into sawdust on every large log doesnt seem like a long term solution.  If I can't get a bandmill that cuts true then I guess that's the only option but its worth trying to find one. I'm on the hunt for whatever chain slabber I can get here the quickest and use that until I can get a bandmill that will get the job done.
Redbeard,
The Baker clamps look pricey but nice. Thanks for the tips. I honestly didnt even think to ask about clearance above the blade because for what I plan on doing with the mill it doesn't come into play like it does for you quartering logs. For me this is going to be a pure slabbing machine. 

[Brad_S.]

 Just throwing this in here for the heck of it. I have always wanted to see one of these saws in action!
https://www.lmsaws.com/copy-of-log-cut-off-saws

[teakwood]

Shenendoah,  I talked to the power company before I built my barn because I already have some 3 phase equipment.  My property is zoned industrial and is adjacent to a large industrial park. I have 3 phase at the road.  Cost here is based on anticipated consumption , running a 50 horse electric mill would lower the cost to get the power from the road to my barn. Cut quality is a concern of mine. My 70 wide head cuts near 36" wide extremely consistent, the only issue I have is lack of hp. From what i hear Baker is a good company and if it doesn't cut right I'll send it back and get my money back.  The way I see it is there is already a 6 month wait.  If I wait a few months to see how they are performing before I order who knows how long the wait is. I have a market lined up that will pay that 50g back to me very quickly and everyday I'm not able to provide what they are wanting to buy is lost money. I need a slabber here yesterday not in a few weeks or months.  Sawing high dollar walnut slabs on a chainsaw mill like a Lucas or Peterson just doesn't make sense long term. Turning an extra 1000 dollar plus  slab into sawdust on every large log doesnt seem like a long term solution.  If I can't get a bandmill that cuts true then I guess that's the only option but its worth trying to find one. I'm on the hunt for whatever chain slabber I can get here the quickest and use that until I can get a bandmill that will get the job done.
Redbeard,
The Baker clamps look pricey but nice. Thanks for the tips. I honestly didnt even think to ask about clearance above the blade because for what I plan on doing with the mill it doesn't come into play like it does for you quartering logs. For me this is going to be a pure slabbing machine.

If you get your the 50k back pretty quick just order the mill asap, maybe the fabric can delivery it in a shorter time.
Are there any used mills around that you can buy? so you at least start cutting in the next 2 weeks? If money isn't a problem because you have the costumers than i would just pull the trigger and go for both mills, the used and the new. they will pay for themself. after some month you decide if you sell the used one or what suits you best. maybe you will keep both!

[JB Griffin]

To me there is only one band slabber on the market at this time and its BLUE.

[charles mann]

You could always do what Matthew Cremona did:

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL0dX5redvVZQT-bJ-HNfrJEXlQJleCwun

that is what I'm doing. i bought his plans, even though after watching his vids 3x, i think i could have done it w/o buying, but the plans had manufactures and part number of some things i saw of interest. i will modify his plans on my build. i wasn't thinking about the live edge and clearing the irregularities of the logs, so to get a true 68" cut width, i think the entire mill will have to be widened, which i wasn't budgeting for that. but its only 1 extra rectangular and 1 square tubing. but it adds 1 extra jack bolt on the bed cross members just for safety measures to handle the weight. i figure the 100hp 4bt cummins will have plenty of power to pull through that much wood, and run a small hydraulic pump for the feed in/out, raise/lower, and log leveling for the time being, and adding a log turner at a later date.

[nativewolf]

Yep I could get Matt Cremona's plans done for $15k, via a Mennonite shop build.  For another $5k they'd lengthen and widen a bit and install it for another thousand.  $21k in a really nice wide slabbing sawmill.  Matt estimated his cost him about 10k or so, if I recall correctly.

In addition, Matt's standup guy.  Very approachable and eager to help others.  

[quilbilly]

It's an expensive unit but Serra sawmills Africa model is big and burly and wide band.

[PA_Walnut]

Yep I could get Matt Cremona's plans done for $15k, via a Mennonite shop build.  For another $5k they'd lengthen and widen a bit and install it for another thousand.  $21k in a really nice wide slabbing sawmill.  Matt estimated his cost him about 10k or so, if I recall correctly. In addition, Matt's standup guy.  Very approachable and eager to help others.  

$21K sounds appealing until you start getting your head wrapped around moving that log around. Need some BIG...no, HUGE equipment to start moving around 5,6,7' diameter logs. Then saw a 3" slab and another back-breaking proposition. Add $50K+ for back surgery! :D

[mike_belben]

You could have a big chainsaw slabber on a rail bed built in 3 days and start satisfying your customer before he finds someone who will.  

Get that fish on the line now.  Worry about which mill makes less waste later.  Be a real big waste if HE orders a mill before you get set up.

[Edit] what if the big buyer finds someone else WHILE your new mill is being built?  Will they let you cancel the order?