Lead Times on New Saw Mills

[DixieReb31]

I ordered my LT35 from the Oakboro NC store back in November.  They told me 22-23 weeks😳.  Nothing to do but wait!

[Danno1]

I ordered mine from Pascal Metal from https://valleeforestryequipment.com/ back in October 2020.  I just got the call this week that my mill is ready for pickup!-)))

Can't wait to go pick it up and start sawing. 

Although here in Quebec, the weather is not quite ready for sawing in the winter, so might have to wait a bit to start cutting!

Got some nice logs ready to go, Pine, Maple and Spruce.  So no shortage of logs!!

[rustybill]

I ordered a LT15 from the NY distributor at the end of December. Looking at a shipment in early May. 

[woodman52]

A friend of mine is looking. A couple of days ago he said lead time for a Cooks was 45 weeks and WM was 30 weeks. He is looking harder at used now.

[YellowHammer]

I have sold 2 WM mills, an LT15 and an LT40 and both sold within days of advertising.  The LT15 sold for almost what I paid new, and the guy who bought my LT40 flipped it within a couple weeks for more than he paid me, and I charged him high orange book value.

My advice would be to to find a used WM mill, snatch it up, get to sawing, then 2 weeks before the new mill came in, put it up for sale and it will be be gone.  Guaranteed.  That way all the learning pains will be sold with the old mill, you won't lose much if any money and won't lose any time.

A buddy of mine told me that he recently sold his LT15 for more than he paid for it.  The WM mills can take much more use than they will see from the average consumer.  Most won't even wear out a set of blade guides or band wheel tires.  So the average used mill may be just barely broken in.

[Maine Miller]

I ordered my LT35 from the Oakboro NC store back in November.  They told me 22-23 weeks😳.  Nothing to do but wait!

I bought an LT35 in SC off Facebook Marketplace in September . Only had 34 hours. Looks like I got it just in time. Worth the 2200 mile round trip

[glrret]

I currently have a Norwood LM29 and have found over the past couple of years logs are getting heavier or the earth's gravitational pull is getting stronger, or maybe I'm just getting old. Either way I decided to purchase a hydraulic mill. When I stoke to WM HQ I was told there is a 38 week lead time, later that afternoon when I ordered an LT35 HD and paid a deposit at the local dealer, I was told the lead time will be approximately 54 weeks. Maybe the dealership is adding shipping and setup time alone with a little buffer. I'm hoping the WM plans to step up production in-light of the demand and I'll be happily surprised when they call this fall and say my mills is ready for pickup.  

  One can hope and dream can't he?

[DixieReb31]

I ordered my LT35 on November 19 of last year. Received a call from WM headquarters that it was built and was being shipped to the store I ordered from.  Have not received a call yet to come and get it but I expect to anytime. Hopefully today. This was 4 weeks sooner than I was originally told. I was told 23 weeks. 

[att_t_2d]

I ordered an HM130MAX from Woodland Mills on 1/5/2021.  At that time they estimated the shipping date as late March.  It arrived on 3/27/2021.

[Walnut Beast]

Look at the TK site. No deliveries till 2022. Prices keep going up with steel

[kevin5055]

Ordered an LT15 back on March 26th, 2021. I was told mid-November (33-34 weeks).  I hesitated and placed an order for an LX-55 a week prior which was mid-July (19 weeks).  At that time, the LT15s were end of August (I think it was 23 weeks), so my hesitation delayed my order by about 10 weeks.

[DixieReb31]

No long after I posted my last reply today I received "the call".  Picking my LT35HD up Monday! Yahoo! They told me 22-23 weeks back in November.  I count it took 20 to get here. 

[Southside]

It has nothing to do with WM "stepping up production". Like any business, mine included, that makes something it's impossible to hire help. Nobody wants to work. I was talking with WM today as I needed a few small things and checked on an extension order I have had for a while. Was told they hired several new employees just to build extensions but they simply can't get help. 

Add in chip shortages, material backorder from their suppliers and it's a mess. 

[DixieReb31]

Slowly but surly turning into a socialistic society.  Why work when the Uncle Sam will just mail you money?

[ohiowoodchuck]

I just put a deposit down this morning at woodmizer. They said it was a 26 week lead time. Now I just sit and wait. 

[Bruno of NH]

My friend ordered a lt50 2 days ago.
Woodmizer of Maine said 54 weeks.

[ohiowoodchuck]

My friend ordered a lt50 2 days ago.
Woodmizer of Maine said 54 weeks.

Ouch. that's a good while to wait. A guy I work with and have know for years. His dad owns a lumber yard and he is saying barring no natural disasters lumber won't be back to normal for about 18 months. 

[dgdrls]

54 weeks out would be a deal breaker for me on a tool,
heck, 26 weeks is a stretch

Does make you stop and think that staying home doing nothing
could pay more than a skilled trade.
I know it happened here in NY last year
and is likely continuing

D

[Magicman]

Yup, I'll just sell mine, take a year off, and then break out with a new LT40SH Wide.  But of course by then I would also have to re-establish my customer base.  :

[Southside]

Had a guy call the other day and kept asking me what it would take to sell my Super 70.  Kept telling him it wasn't for sale, and he would ask again.  Thought about telling him $1.5 MM and he could have the whole business, but like MM said - where do I go from there? 

[ohiowoodchuck]

54 weeks out would be a deal breaker for me on a tool,
heck, 26 weeks is a stretch

Does make you stop and think that staying home doing nothing
could pay more than a skilled trade.
I know it happened here in NY last year
and is likely continuing

D

That's the problem, like mentioned earlier in the thread. People are making more money sitting at home then what they was making at work. I would really like to have my mill sooner. I've been to a couple auctions and there going for new price or a little more then. I'll just wait. I've been using my buddies lt15 when I need wood. He doesn't mind but it's a pain to load logs, drive out there, unload, put on the mill and cut. I'm wanting to cut out a pole barn and a couple out buildings. Hopefully after this the only thing I'll have to purchase is the ground contact lumber. 

[Magicman]

Thought about telling him $1.5 MM and he could have the whole business,

I am being asked virtually every week.  I told a guy last week; $55K.  He said that he could buy a new one for that and I agreed, but it would take a year to get it.  ;D

[boonesyard]

I had a guy ask what it would take to sell my 50. I said it's not for sale. He offered me $4k more than I paid for it 3 years ago. I said that's a generous offer but it takes a year to get a new mill, it would cost me at least $50k. You come up with that difference and we're good-to-go. He said, so it's not for sale? That's what I said.  : 

[GAB]

All equipment is for sale.  Some of it is more reasonably priced.
Econ 101: Supply and Demand.
GAB

[dgdrls]

What are other bandmill builders quoting for time? 

I checked on line with a circle mill builder, they indicate 2 weeks to turn a mill

D