Ordered an LT35 Today!

[burdman_22]

Just wanted to update folks. I moved from Huntsville, Alabama to Fort Meade, Maryland about a month ago, and just placed an order for an LT35 today. Woodmizer says 1.5 year wait :/ Hopefully that will get bumped up a few times. 

I've yet to do any milling up here, but I've been on the lookout for big logs...If anyone in the forum needs any 3-6 ft diameter logs milled in the MD/DC area, feel free to shoot me a message! Also, anyone in the forum have a mill or big chainsaw mill in this area already?

[WillisHomestead]

I ordered  LT35HD back in December of 21, I checked on it the other day and they won't give me a build date. First they said Feb of 23, then May of 23. Who knows at this point.

[B.C.C. Lapp]

Congrats on getting your mill ordered burdman_22.  But a year and a half?
 That's a heck of a wait.
I buy a Norwood or a Hudson or Woodland and saw with it for the 18 months then sell it when your mill is due to show up. 

[Patrick NC]

Be careful if you buy a Norwood. You might end up liking it and screw up your plans for Woodmizer orange!🤣

[MattM]

I ordered  LT35HD back in December of 21, I checked on it the other day and they won't give me a build date. First they said Feb of 23, then May of 23. Who knows at this point.

I ordered my lt35hd in November of 2021, was told I should have it the end of October 2022. Called end of October was told that I wasn't told the end of October and that I had three people ahead of me so should get it either December or January 2023 unless someone cancelled.
Called mid December was told that one came in for the guy before me but didn't have the FAOs he ordered and did I want it. Of course I did. The only thing it didn't have that I ordered was the extra hydraulic backstops but they could have the in two weeks and I could have it early January. Called the second week in January and was told their shipment from woodmizer doesn't come till the 20th (don't know where the two week thing came from)
Called today and maybe the shipment will be in next week. And I guarantee you that when I call the end of next week I'll be told it will be in the following week.
Its bad enough waiting a year but it's absolutely killing me that the mill is sitting there 2 hours away waiting on a 200$ add-on that I'm not willing to do without.
...and you don't even want to know what I went through getting my bms250....  :D

[TSAW]

That is a nice mill.  I am currently in the market for a hydraulic mill to replace the manual mill that I have.  I also have a chainsaw mill.  I am just north of Frederick MD, just south of the PA line.

[Magicman]

The only thing it didn't have that I ordered was the extra hydraulic backstops

I ordered and added the extra Side Supports this Summer and it took well over a month to get them.  Wood-Mizer as well as other manufacturers are really being hurt by the supply backlogs that are beyond their control.

People calling and ordering 5-6 sawmills that they intend to resell is one of the causes for the backlogs.  The manufacturers can not refuse the orders/deposits but they hurt the legitimate buyers that order one for their own personal use.

These new/unused sawmills are now showing up in auctions and selling for nice profits, while we can only get in line and wait.

[MattM]

I thought about taking it without the extra back stops but it's just not worth it, the whole point of me getting a hydraulic Mill to replace my manual one is to make life easier and realistically now that we've had a ton of snow here I won't be doing a whole lot of milling until spring.

My one regret is getting the Lt35 instead of the 40super. I ordered before the prices skyrocketed, the 35hyd increase by 10k CAD since I put down my deposit. 

I know that the 35 will suit my needs right now when it's just me milling, but my oldest boy will be able to start helping me in a few years and the extra production of the 40super would sure be nice.

[burdman_22]

I ordered the mill knowing it was going to take a long time to get here....that gives me plenty of time to find property to operate my mill on and stockpile logs on, as well as time to find a trailer and hopefully get a log arch mounted on it.

Family is still getting settled in MD, house hasn't sold in Alabama yet, so time isn't going to hurt me.

I spent about $3k in Alabama paying for a mobile sawmill each time I had a days worth of logs stockpiled....I'm excited to know my next stockpile will only cost me time/fuel/and some blades.

[GAB]

I ordered the mill knowing it was going to take a long time to get here....that gives me plenty of time to find property to operate my mill on and stockpile logs on, as well as time to find a trailer and hopefully get a log arch mounted on it.

Family is still getting settled in MD, house hasn't sold in Alabama yet, so time isn't going to hurt me.

I spent about $3k in Alabama paying for a mobile sawmill each time I had a days worth of logs stockpiled....I'm excited to know my next stockpile will only cost me time/fuel/and some blades.

Stage the real knotty logs closest to where you plan on setting the mill.  That way the Designer Firewood you manufacture won't be from the best quality logs.
Just a suggestion, and don't ask me how I know.
GAB

[DanMc]

I ordered the LT35HD 25G just about a year ago, in Feb '2022.  At that time they said 62 weeks.  Last time I checked, delivery was sometime between June and October, so the lead time will be well over 62 weeks.  As Magic said, I was tempted to put in more than one order - one for me and some additional ones to sell for a profit.  Although it's not illegal, I felt it would be just a bit unethical for me, but I wouldn't criticize anybody for being a shewd investor and doing this.

[SawyerTed]

My one regret is getting the Lt35 instead of the 40super. I ordered before the prices skyrocketed, the 35hyd increase by 10k CAD since I put down my deposit.

Congratulations on the order! 
The LT 35 can keep one or two off bearers busy enough when the log handling, slab handling and lumber handling is streamlined.  The LT 35 sawing steady is good pace for part-time helpers.  

[burdman_22]

I think the only real upgrades to the hydraulic lt35 is the engine and the debarker....right? Def skipping out of $6.3k extra for diesel, but from reading around on the forum, it seems like it'd be a bad idea to skip the debarker? Any other lt35 advice?

[Southside]

Skipping the debarker would be a very bad idea. 

[SawyerTed]

My experience was the debarker nearly doubled the production from a blade, all things being equal. 

[GAB]

I think the only real upgrades to the hydraulic lt35 is the engine and the debarker....right? Def skipping out of $6.3k extra for diesel, but from reading around on the forum, it seems like it'd be a bad idea to skip the debarker? Any other lt35 advice?

I would recommend Accuset if it is an LT35 option.
GAB

[MattM]

Sadly it's not an option.... Although I did see an ad a few days ago on FB for a setworks that will work on an LT35 for 2000$ CAD.....very tempting, I would love to have an auto up feature 

[Mesquite cutter]

Wow that is a long time to wait.  I am so glad I made my own.   I am really proud of my build.  

[DanMc]

Well, pigs do fly after all!  WM sent an email announcing that my LT35HD goes into production this week.  

This, for an order placed in Feb '22.  Better late than never!

[DanMc]

Picked up the LT35HD this morning.  Now I have to sit here at the computer and work until I can fire it up and do some cutting later in the afternoon.

It's torture.  I'm low on vacation time.

[Percy]

Picked up the LT35HD this morning.  Now I have to sit here at the computer and work until I can fire it up and do some cutting later in the afternoon.

It's torture.  I'm low on vacation time.

New mill days are right up there 👍👍 have a great day 

[burdman_22]

So....my mill was supposed to come in around May. Got a call on Thursday, letting me know they had a mill sitting on the lot for me. Unfortunately, my wife is tdy until April 26, and I'm not able to pick the mill up (Ive got our three kids at home).

Apparently the policy is that if I cannot pick it up within 30 days of being notified, then it gets passed to the next person in line, and I then will be in line for the next one that comes in that matches my specifications.

I'm pretty disappointed. Not anyone's fault, just  unfortunate timing :(

[Dieseltim]

Burdman_22,

I know what I would do, pack up those kids in the truck and head over to get that New Sawmill.

[SawyerTed]

Or send the down payment until you can pick it up.  

[burdman_22]

Picking up my mill tomorrow. What do the mills come with? What extras should I buy? Picking up at the Shade Gap location. I've got a 2.5 hour haul to get back after pickup....so I wanna pickup most everything I need this trip, as I do not want to return for a while

[Magicman]

I would absolutely trust and follow Marty Parson's advice and suggestions.  Unless you resharpen yourself, get some resharp labels.

[burdman_22]

I would absolutely trust and follow Marty Parson's advice and suggestions.  Unless you resharpen yourself, get some resharp labels.

Thanks for the suggestion, I'll be sure to grab some. Definitely won't be sharpening myself for quite some time.

[rusticretreater]

Congrats @burdman_22.  Amazing what we have to go through now to get things in this land of plenty.

If you see this, check on spare parts kits.  Guide bearings, extra drive belts.

[burdman_22]

Just some updates.

I've milled a few times with my mill now (about 800 bd ft). Thus far just red oak and ambrosia maple.

Things have gone mostly good...but recently tore my ACL and will likely be out of milling for a while (this is my second time tearing my ACL).

My wife has been handling a lot of my handyman duties and I've been teaching her how to use various tools.

She mentioned that she'd mill for me some, so I was wondering if anyone has any good recommendations for ear protection with Bluetooth microphones?

[fluidpowerpro]

I have a Yamaha side by side that we ride a lot in the Nemadji State Forest so this year for Father's Day my gf and sons bought me a set of Cardo Packtalk Edgephones. They work great. 

[Southside]

Your wife may not want blue tooth in those headphones if you are standing there "coaching" her. 

[doc henderson]

I think that @jimbarry and his wife have a set up.  you can search for video and or PM him.

20230328 Kindling day (youtube.com)

[burdman_22]

Your wife may not want blue tooth in those headphones if you are standing there "coaching" her. 

My wife is very much afraid of all of these things she is learning to use, haha. She's said that she would VERY MUCH appreciate being able to hear me talking to her over the mill

[doc henderson]

yes, but the question is do you want to hear all of her responses?  
my brother did road construction and he said the women were easier on equipment as they were not slamming stuff around with hydraulics.

[Nealm66]

I use the dewalt earbud things that have the collar. It works the best of all the ones I've tried as far as being able to communicate over background noise without the noise canceling kicking in. Not the best for hearing protection but enough to take the bite out. Hope this helps

[jpassardi]

I have the Axil/Sig Suaer ones intended for shooting, they work pretty well.

[barbender]

 I have a set of 3M Bluetooth headphones. They work well for protecting my ears, and it's nice to be able to listen to music, podcasts, etc while I'm working. My only regret is that I didn't spend a bit more money for the set that had a boom mic. I can take calls on the one I have, I hear people well but they can't make out what I'm saying because the microphone is placed in the earmuff housing.

 Jpassardi, I have those Axil/Sig earbuds too. They work well enough, but I really dislike the connecting cord which I find very distracting. I also can't get a good seal in my ear with any of the provided foam tips. 

 I don't care for the audio enhancement on either of them. It sounds very artificial and tinny. They over amplify things like valve noise from an engine to really uncomfortable levels to me. The frequency that is amplified is all midrange, I'm sure because they are trying to help pick up human voices. But the affect they have is similar to an electric guitar wah-wah pedal, if any of you are familiar with those.

[jpassardi]

Barbender, I agree, the cord gets in the way especially with a respirator or a hood on.
They're good for sound protection and listening to music. They seem to pick up things like engine noise for the person you're talking to so not great for that. Mine have molded type, not foam which seal well enough for milling.
After I got them they came out with ones without a cord. I'm curious how they are.

[Magicman]

Not interested in music.  What is a good/reliable unit (s) for communicating with workers on a job that uses buds, not headphones? 

[burdman_22]

I'd prefer to stay away from active noise canceling and with something that just muffles the sound. I like being able to hear the mill a bit, just in case something starts to go wrong that I can hear