If you want to see something really bad...

[GDinMaine]

A Youtube walk through of a terribly abused mill that might be up for sale soon.  I can't believe the list of stuff that is wrong with this poor thing.  Kudos to the guy for posting these four movies as he digs deeper for problems.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HFlAeUGjiYk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WTR6spECVJw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gI8dRcvP3Ck
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dZsLRzkecQs

[Ga Mtn Man]

Seems like a good opportunity for someone willing to put in the time (at the right price, that is).

I am always astounded at how complex a Woodmizer mill is.   There's a whole lot of good ol' American engineering going on there.

[Peter Drouin]

where would one look to find it for sale ;D

[Chuck White]

As it is, it's a parts mill!  :-\

[T Welsh]

WOW, is all I can say! Talk about abuse! Tim

[buzzegray]

All that neglect lies with owner 1 and 2; however didn't owner 3 have the responsibility to inspect it. Your videos are a "must see" for anyone who wants to purchase a used sawmill(like myself). Thank you for posting it. Great job.  How much did owner 3 pay for it?

[Nomad]

As it is, it's a parts mill!  :-\

     Yeah...  Not many parts, either! :'(  What a waste.

[moandrich]

Good timing on the videos, going to inspect the mill we are looking at extra hard now, thanx.

[Magicman]

Yes, there is serious abuse and neglect, but as bad as it looks, it would be amazing just how relatively little it would cost to put her back into sawing order.

[POSTON WIDEHEAD]

I can't even imagine how some of this stuff got bent. Looks like this mill could have been around salty air.

I recall another thread about a piece of equipment being a boat anchor. Maybe this thread should be combined with it.  :D

[Dave Shepard]

This is the kind of thing that happens when someone who came by their money too easily buys something. Anybody who had to earn their money would not do that.

It would be worth more than a grand to me. I'd toss the jacks, hitch, axle and saw head and have a hydraulic bed extension.

[Chuck White]

I would bet that the loading forks got bent by someone skidding a (heavy) log laterally while it was on the loader!

I've had customers wanting to do that on my mill and my reply was "ABSOLUTELY NOT".

If that mill was a living being, whoever did the abuse would be behind bars now!

[inspectorwoody]

They were made by FF member ElectricAl.

[Ga Mtn Man]

They were made by FF member ElectricAl.

What were made by ElectricAL? ???

[Dave Shepard]

Those four movies.

I'll start the bidding at $ 0.10/pound, delivered to 01266. :D

[MartyParsons]

Yes, there is serious abuse and neglect, but as bad as it looks, it would be amazing just how relatively little it would cost to put her back into sawing order.

I agree! It depends on what the purchase price was. It is difficult to find a parts mill out there.  The road salt is the bad thing. It is amazing how the more you look the more issues are present. This mill is still fixable. The engine is not original but that is a big ticket item, if they find it to be bad. Like Magic said it is neglect.



M

[Peter Drouin]

/quote]


just what I was thinking :D :D :D

[Dave Shepard]

Well, I wouldn't "toss" the sawhead, but I'd gently set it aside for parts, trading or posterity. :D

I think as long as the main tube is good on a WM, they are always worth rebuilding, unless, as it appears in this case, the initial purchase price is too high.

[Bandmill Bandit]

I'd like to get my hands on the saw head rig with out the engine.

[bandmiller2]

Repairing that bad boy would be much easier than building a bandmill from scratch. Frank C.

[Bibbyman]

This mill has been evaluated twice and both times the cost in professional labor and new parts would exceed the value of the mill when restored.  If some  wanted to take it on as a project and try to scrounge and repair damaged parts then it may be feasible to repair.  But still you'd be better off shopping for a mill in good shape.

[inspectorwoody]

I saw the mill and it is in bad shape.

Bibby is right about the cost to fix etc.

Hopefully Al will chime in.

[ElectricAl]

Unfortunately this was the second mill I looked at this winter to see if it was repairable.
The other mill was a 1987 LT40HD.. Due to extreme neglect the price for parts and labor exceed the value of the mill when fixed.
Even worse, the 1987 can not even be used as a frame extension.
WM mills built before 1991 are not all exactly the same.

The Rolling Wreck could be used as a Hydraulic Extension. The Cylinders appear to be functionable. However the hoses and pumps are compromised.

This Mill could be reconditioned and put back into service. But it would be a major job.

The most expensive Mill we have fixed cost a pinch over $4500, and nothing was bent.


ElectricAl

[GDinMaine]

Thanks for the post ElectricAl.  I thought you said $10k worth of problems plus the engine could be in questionable condition.  That is around 15-16k possible expenditure.  Ouch.   I can not fathom that someone to purchase a machine of this price range and not look at it first. I'm truly puzzled.

[ElectricAl]

GDinMaine,

The owner of the sawmill was not real talkative. It took a lot of prodding to get what information I have.
The purchase was made with just a quick glance at the mill.
He know it had a few problems.
He just did not realize the problems had problems.

I told the guy if he wanted to proceed on the project the first step was an Oil Sample from the engine.
If the sample came back bad. We'd switch to a Kohler gas engine.  The Kohler gas will have better resale than the Lombardini  diesel.


What a huge waste of a good machine.



Would have been a nifty YouTube series.

You thought AxMen was high drama.

Wait till you see me beating on a guys machine with a sledge hammer ! smiley_carpenter_hit_thumb