WM EG200 edger…gas or diesel?

[KWood255]

Great point LL. Makes perfect sense to me. My business has grown year after year, although still small compared to some folks on this forum. I work full time and run my business on the side. I have a little less than 8 years before I can permanently step away from my "real" job. Some days that seems like leap years in the distance.

I have a vision of where I want to be with the company, and hopefully that can continue in the right direction. My boys are old enough now that they are becoming instrumental in helping out. I could not keep up with demand without them. Not even close.

As we progress, I want to add a kiln suitable for +/- 3000bf of dimensional lumber, and a more industrial planer and moulder. With that comes additional work space, storage and drying areas. Not to mention material handling and occasional help.

Currently we only cut-to-order and sell "green" lumber and timbers. The ability to produce in-house KD T&G would be a near future goal. We are 95% softwood focused.

[YellowHammer]

There is a reasonable limit to phase converters, and at some point, and generators become a better option. However, for us, the "smaller" 3 phase motors are much more convenient being operated on the phase converter.  So both phase converters and generators each has a sweet spot.

When we got the 30 hp phase converter, it worked great for yers, and then we got a big planer, about 60hp.  We decided to upgrade the whole electrical system to a genset, bought an 80Kw generator, wired for 150 Kw and figured we would convert everything 3 phase to run on it, and so wired in the full system, lots of money invested that we don't use.... 

Because, over time, we came to realize that some things just were lots more convenient and easy using a phase converter, because I just walk into the building in the morning, throw a switch, the flux capacitor starts humming and magically flows 3 phase to every "smaller" machine we have, or any combination of machines.  It's a non event kind of thing. Click, we have three phase.  At the end of the day, Click, it's turned off, shut the door, and go home.  The phase converter, like most electric motors, only draws rated power when under load, so when it's idling with no machines running, it's hardly using any amps, just enough to power itself, and basically coasting.

On the other hand, our generator burns enough fuel that the gas company had to install a radio transmitter on it so that when the fuel got low, it would automatically "phone home" for a refill.  Under full load it burns a lot of fuel.  OUCH! Even when idling it still has to maintain a constant 1800 RPM so really never idles, and is still burning significant fuel.

So we have and both, but try to use each in their sweet spot.     

[customsawyer]

When talking with your electric company, don't be afraid to ask how much for 3ph. I was pleasantly surprised by my little local coop. I was 9 power poles away from 3ph and they charged me $4600.00 to run true 3ph to my place. Now when I had to buy the drop down transformers it hurt. I don't regret it though. I have great 3ph power. I have both 480V and 230V 3ph. I can add as many machines as I could ever need. And I don't have to pass on good used equipment, just because I don't have whatever power they require.

[caveman]

You have budgeted an extra $8000 for diesel and lots of folks have suggested you go with electric-none of which is bad advice, but we run a gas-powered Kohler. It does a good job, and we run 2" kiln dried live oak occasionally, but usually green lumber.  When our engine was made, it was rated at 28hp, now it would likely be 26.  Regardless, it runs the edger well and for only a few hours a week we run it; it is a blessing for us.  

If we were using it a lot more, we'd likely look to electric or diesel.  I look at diesel options daily, but for us, this machine does just as the doctor ordered with a gas-powered Kohler.