the opportunity i fell into

[teakwood]

The big neighbor teak sawmill closed, 150 jobs lost, what a shame, it's sad. the foreman there called me up and told me everything is for sale, come have a look. so i went with the idea of getting a kiln, they have 6 of them, at 18k that was too steep for me, but i saw alot of useful equipment so i started buying, good prices too. Ended up with a 10.5m log conveyer which will replace my manual roller tables, forklift (the old one is giving me a hard time), jointer, shaper, table saw, big sliding table saw, dust extractor, ...

Will sell everything i don't need or have space for and have my stuff for almost free
 
the old manual rollers



the old allis chalmers forklift






after cleaning up this machine is awesome, they used it once, 3.8m capacity sliding table saw, 7.5hp, 1000$, i think i can get 4k out of it

[moodnacreek]

That's the way it goes. One man's loss is another man's gain.  All my machinery came that way and low priced. The real cost for me has been the work of setting up sawmill machinery and making a living at the same time. Centering your interests and recognizing a bargain and going forward, after all you only live once. I am happy to hear you could pull it off.

[OntarioAl]

Teakwood
Do you know why the company failed
Cheers
Al

[Bradm]

Very nice.  I did have a laugh on how the forklift was moved - first time I've seen an excavator with a forklift hanging off the end of the boom.

[customsawyer]

Glad you were able to score some nice things. Those little forklifts don't look like much when you walk up to them but man can they lift some weight.

[nativewolf]

Congrats!

Taking bets on teakwood keeping the tablesaw.  

Is the pile of cutoffs on the ground for charcoal or kitchen fuelwood?  

You'll spend even more $ on more concrete for a larger pad :D.

[teakwood]

Teakwood
Do you know why the company failed
Cheers
Al

Costa Rica is way to expensive to produce a product for the world market, we pay more for fuel, electricity, parts, tires, food,... than you guys in the US. 
One low level worker earns 30$ a day plus another 30$ additional for holidays, insurance, 13. month salary,.... (that doesn't sounds like much but multiply by the month and by 100-150 workers it adds up)
compared to asia where a worker earns 3$ a day, no insurance, 12 hours a day, no complaining, no rights.
the other problem is the people here are not the most efficient, probably 1 or 2 good worker out of 10. the rest just shows up for the salary, working speed equals snail pace.
the foreman told me company policy was: same salary for same worklevel, and that's just plain wrong. a good worker needs to earn more than a bad worker. with same salary the good one gets frustrated and bad one thinks, why should i get better.
they paid like something around 30-40k $ for electricity a month, miscommunication between the two areas, the sawmill and the production area (panels, beams, finger jointed boards,...)
they needed  40cm long pieces of 2x6" , the workers just cuts a 6m long beam in pieces  :

bossman changed 4 times over the last 3 years 
   

[teakwood]

Very nice.  I did have a laugh on how the forklift was moved - first time I've seen an excavator with a forklift hanging off the end of the boom.

I don't have a ramp and the truck was a normal flat bed  :D

[teakwood]

Glad you were able to score some nice things. Those little forklifts don't look like much when you walk up to them but man can they lift some weight.

it's a 2.5 ton, way stronger than my old 1.5 to allis.
it's a 2016 but with 36k hours! that thing worked 15h/7days for the last 6 years. now it will have a easy and good life with me.
yesterday i unloaded a truck, men what a difference, and now i have a side movement lever  :D  

[teakwood]

Congrats!

Taking bets on teakwood keeping the tablesaw.  

Is the pile of cutoffs on the ground for charcoal or kitchen fuelwood?  

You'll spend even more $ on more concrete for a larger pad :D.

Dang, i would love to install the table saw here, but i really don't us it much. I no longer make furnitures and don't have the space for it. it needs something like 8m x 5m
the cutoffs i give away to people for cooking

[newoodguy78]

You'll like that side shift lever. Adds another level of versatility to a already extremely handy machine. Good score. 

[barbender]

I'm drooling over that sliding table saw!

You confirm what I've heard about Costa Rica about the laborers- most migrants that make it up here are hungry and will outlook just about anyone so I just kind of assumed it was like that down there. But people told me, no it's about the complete opposite.

 Interesting what you say about labor costs. Even though those rates are dirt cheap compared to the US and Europe, it's pretty expensive compared to Asia. All relative in that sense.

Sweet forklift, too!

[Mooseherder]

Some of those cutoffs would make wood turners drool I bet.  The beauty is closest or in the pith. :D ;)

[teakwood]

You confirm what I've heard about Costa Rica about the laborers- most migrants that make it up here are hungry and will outlook just about anyone so I just kind of assumed it was like that down there. But people told me, no it's about the complete opposite.

It's not all their fault, the education was outstanding 40 years ago i've been told. now it's bad, to say the least. then there is no tecnical education after school, you ether go to a university and study become a theorist or you go to work, which is normal bonebreaking work, as construction or agricultur jobs, for the dumber ones and the poorer ones who can't afford private university's. there are no technical workers created, like mecanics, plumber, bricklayers, carpenters, .... so where could they learn something like this!??


then there is the heat, that's probably why they move so much slower as we do. to guard energy. that's my theory :D


then, who want's to work for 600-800$ a month, you can not survive in CR with this kind  of money, it's just way too expensive down here. and never the less there are millions who have to do it, and with wife and kids, and they all have kids :D.


you can't generalize, the people are very friendly and we also have very very good workers. you just find them and hold on to them, that's what the big companies don't understand.


I pay more than minimum for my only employee i have, he is sick for 2 days i pay him full salary, he needs something i help him out. but the guy is 57 and will outwork a 20year old all day, never fails a day, always 15min early to work,....
I help him, he helps me  

[teakwood]

I'm drooling over that sliding table saw!

men. i'm really looking for a place where i could fit the thing. if it would be a 2.4m sliding table saw it would be a no brainer, but it's the top model with 3.8m capacity

[teakwood]

Here are some pics of the sawmill



the ovens



the big 100m3 ovens, they have 3 of them






thats the secondary plant




a 1.2m capacity planer, 4 sider


8 head moulder, 85k $

5x four sider moulder, 

panel press

live edge table tops

[nativewolf]

I'm telling you pour the concrete and put up the roof.  You'll never get a table saw like that at that price.  Awesome machine.

So the mill had plantations as well?  I see the 3 wheeled dangle head harvester.  


You could have bid on the moulder (weinig?) if you had more space.  

$85 for  top weinig 8 headed molder is not bad at all.  How much did the 4 sided go for?

Kilns seem to be a pain to move.  

CR has been corrupted by having too many Americans resettle there, skews the economy.  I am surprised there is no for profit technical school, there will be a huge need.

[bigblockyeti]

Looks like a bit of a jackpot but not so great for the 150 employees.  I've wanted a slider for a long time but just don't have room for it.  There's four for sale around me right now between $700 & $1000, I think CNC is making them obsolete in many markets.

[Southside]

Equipment looks a lot better than mills that close up shop around here.  Run them into the ground for the last few years then off to auction it is.  

[moodnacreek]

From primary break down to kd and dressed . You have to wonder if that can actually be done anymore.

[barbender]

NW I think that 3 wheel is set up as a loader.

[Resonator]

X2. If you look close it's a Bell with a by-pass grapple and an "extendahoe" style telescoping boom.

[customsawyer]

Some might nice looking equipment in them pictures. Would you be able to get any of the wood inventory at a discount, and sell it?

[teakwood]

the lumber will get sold last, so maybe i buy some, depends on price. although i have my own trees standing in the plantations so why spend money on logs. 

[teakwood]

I'm telling you pour the concrete and put up the roof.  You'll never get a table saw like that at that price.  Awesome machine.

So the mill had plantations as well?  I see the 3 wheeled dangle head harvester.  


You could have bid on the moulder (weinig?) if you had more space.  

$85 for  top weinig 8 headed molder is not bad at all.  How much did the 4 sided go for?

Kilns seem to be a PITA to move.  

CR has been corrupted by having too many Americans resettle there, skews the economy.  I am surprised there is no for profit technical school, there will be a huge need.

you really got me thinking, i kinda found a space where it semi fits, in my old wood storage beside the woodworking shop, i will place here there but without concrete first. if it gets used i later do the floor right.
I have way too much to do right now.



this company are two daughter firms, one was the indusry (sawmill) and the other is the forestry, they own about 12k hectares of teak plantations and will still be operating. just sell round wood, logs. they have 4 or 5 tricycle machines, the one in the foto was for loading logs into the green chains.




there are 5x four siders for sale, 13k -85k. i already have one moulder so i don't need another one.



the 4 sider planer went for 25k, was pretty new. was a kupfermuehle, i think german brand. 1.2m helical spiral cutter with about 500 inserts :D. 30kw motors