Spectacular customer service, all together now say "Peterson Portable Sawmills"!

[JimBuis]

You folks might remember that I recently acquired a Peterson 10" WPF. I'm not posting photos just yet as I am not yet making lumber that I want to brag about. However, I am prepared to brag about Peterson's customer service.

Last Friday afternoon, I was trying to dial in my mill and became frustrated over a couple of things and decided to call Petersons on their toll free number. Okay, you have to get the full picture. I'm madder than a wet hen. Not coincidentally, I am standing in a rainstorm calling Petersons on my cell phone while standing next to the mill. I was NOT thinking about it being Saturday in New Zealand. I just knew it would be about time for them to show up for work.  Well since it was Saturday, the calls were being diverted to the home of one of the employees. 

How many companies do you know of who have live people answering the telephone after hours? Not only live people, but the CEO of the company!!

Just in case you are wondering, the CEO, Kerris Browne, is not some boss lady who sits in her office and has nothing more going for her than a weak pulse. She KNOWS their mills. She was on the telephone with me for over an hour. She walked me through several tests and some minor adjustments while she was standing by a mill in New Zealand.

The mill was really in pretty good shape to begin with. I was just trying to understand as much about the machine as possible. She was extraordinarily patient and kind.

I just got off the phone a few minutes ago after having talked with Kerris again. This time I was not standing in the rain, so my attitude was a bit better. Her attitude was marvelous as always.

I am not saying that any of our other sponsors provide service that is inferior. However, I am saying that I don't think any company on the planet could provide service that is any better.

Good job Petersons and thank you Kerris very much.

Jim
A VERY satisfied Petersons customer

[Dan_Shade]

That's good news.  I was up at Mark's a few weeks ago and I hardly recognized the place without that crate there

[fencerowphil (Phil L.)]

Congrats on the WPF.

I love mine!

Phil L.

[Ga_Boy]

That's good news.  I was up at Mark's a few weeks ago and I hardly recognized the place without that crate there

:D :D :D

I am still trying to get use to not seeing that creat sitting as well.  Now I have to find something else to sit in that spot.

I have called Peterson for technical questions and assistance.  They always come through for the customer.

[hansbaba]

I  can attest to their customer support. I too have talked to Kerris while in a rather difficult mood myself. Their after sales service is wonderful. I just wish they were not so darn far away. Getting things can sometimes take forever.

[Wife]

Oh my gosh, I just spotted this one.

Jim you will be proud to know you have been successful at making me cry. A feat not often accomplished!

Seriously though, thank you very much for the compliment. This reinforces why I love being part of these sawmills and you customer's lives. Just excuse the kids smashing the soccer ball against my bedroom window when you ring.... :D

[getoverit]

I'll second or third the applause for the great customer service from the Peterson Folks!

Even after I had owned my mill for a year they were still calling me just to chat and see how it was doing. They also sent me some modifications a couple of times that I hadn't even asked for and wasnt expecting, but really cool little mods indeed.

GREAT people to deal with from before the sale to waaaaaaaaay afterwards!!

[ex-Engineer Wannabe]

I don't mean to hijack this thread, but I simply can't resist this collection of Peterson owners.

I've been interested in owning a Peterson mill for quite a while now, but I'm a bit conflicted about something.  We intend on milling our own timber for a timber frame home in the [hopefully] not too distant future.  The largest frame elements should be 8" x 10."

The question is: Will this type of beam be a problem for the Peterson?[/i]  I'm inclined to believe that it shouldn't be, but then again, I've never actaully seen it done either.  I'm a bit of a perfectionist -- a real character flaw these days ;) -- so I'd really like the beams to be as close to square as I can get them before I work them.  Square rule joinery is challenging enough without built in error.

Thanks for any thoughts ... especially from the folks out there cutting beams with a swinger.      

[Ianab]

Assuming you have an 8" cut mill, it's pretty easy.

Place log on the mill, open up the top face and saw some boards from the top of the log until you are 4" from the pith.

Then switch to 8" vertical boards or just cut off the left hand slab, depending on the log size. Leave 5" from the pith this time. Make a 5" horizontal cut under the beam from this side.

Then go to double cutting mode (blade guard off and saw from the other side of the log). Take slabs / boards from the other side until you have your 10" beam sitting there with the bottom part of the log attached. Make another 5" cut from the other side to release your beam.

The log never moves during the sawing process, so the beam should be straight and square

Only hard part is moving the beam, but you have to do that no matter what mill you use ;)

That will let you go up to 8" x 16" beams. If you need to go bigger than that you need to roll the log over 1/2 way though and saw off the other other side of the log. More technical and harder work as you have to re-level the log after you roll it. But it can be done.

Cheers

Ian

[fencerowphil (Phil L.)]

Ian explained it well, wannabe.

On the other hand, just buy the 10" Peterson and be done with it.
If you plan on cutting a lot of big beams,  that model gives you
a full 10-1/4" by 10-1/4 beam size with no double cutting. 

That model is the 10" Winch Production Frame.  I have owned two
and still run one.

Phil L.

[hansbaba]

Yes the 10" mill would be easier, but how many of those beams do you need to make? I have had very good success double cutting. If It didnt work good I would not have bought the mill. I just finished a set of 4"x12"x18' beams and every one was within 1/16th" in every dimension. It does take a little practice and is work but a "properly"!!!! adjusted Peterson mill is a thing of beauty. One other comment, If your trying to cut those beams from smaller (16" and under logs) unless you have a good dog system, it will be tricky.

[Captain]

Bill, I just cut a complete timber frame for a gentleman, and have a bunch of 6x10s to cut if you are offering to help (again)  ;D

Captain

[ex-Engineer Wannabe]

Ian: Thanks for the detailed instructions, mate.  I especially like how your point of reference involves an 8" WPF. ;)

Phil: I appreciate your thoughts as well, but there are roughly 4,000 reasons why I'm considering the 8" mills. ;)  In case you're not familiar, my wife and I are on the comeback trail from Katrina.  Consequently, $4,000 saved is truly $4,000 earned [thanks, Ben Franklin].  

Hans: It sounds as if you've been where we're headed.  I'd love to read more about which mill you own and the beam work you've accomplished with it.

Craig: Where and when?  The sooner I know, the easier it is to plan around.  I always liked the Steely Dan tune Do It Again.  ;D  Thanks for thinking of us. ;)  

[hansbaba]

wannabe,
I have an 8" WPF large frame with the electric winch (BUY THE ELECTRIC WINCH!!!!) Its a fantastic machine. By far 80% of the work is getting the logs onto the bunks and lined up. I still havent gotten a loader or electric winch for the truck. (darn..) When I double cut I use a bottle cap on the blade setting to make the blade nearly perfectly flat. Also I prefer to start my double cut on the right hand side and then finish on the left. This way I have the riving knife helping me on the final cut. You also need 2 or 3 little wedges that you slip into the cut as you finish it off. The trick is to not push them in too hard. If it is done properly, the beams can come out perfect. I can usually get my beams perfectly square without any grooves or ridges on them. If you do get a mill I advise you to find someone with one and try these cuts first. I used a lucas quite a bit before I bought my peterson and I only observed a peterson twice before buying. I really wish I would have used one for a couple hours first. Even if you have to pay some one. It would have answered many of my questions and frustrations that I dealt with my first few weeks..
Sorry I seem to have drragged this on a bit. I dont even think I answered your question... Ohh well , its typed now!!!.

[JimBuis]

I don't mean to hijack this thread, but I simply can't resist this collection of Peterson owners.

I'm sure glad you did not mean to hijack my thread. ;) At least we are still talking Peterson mills though.

Jim

[ex-Engineer Wannabe]

My apologies if I did anything disagreeable, Jim.  On the other hand, look up at the bold blue text just above this dialog box ... I kind of thought the phrase, "...all together now say 'Peterson Portable Sawmills'!" was designed to endorse Peterson.  If this is true, than I'm sure you don't mind that I'm asking the Peterson folks on the FF about their mills.  After all, I am in the market for a saw ... and the company's logo is just to my left as I'm typing this???

... Perhaps I'm missing something, but your choice of thread title, as well as Peterson's logo, both lead me to believe that the idea is to sell their mills.  ???  Once again, I'm very sorry.  It's kind of a silly concept now that I think about it, but I'll be sure to get "my own" thread from now on.

Please try to have a good day ...

[Tom]

No harm, no foul.  Unlike other forums, we have emoticons that help to add flavor to our posts.  I don't think that Y'all are on the same page.  Jim meant nothing about bashing you and the members haven't complained about your looking for a mill.  Don't you fellows get too "up tight" on us now.  Life is too short.

[ex-Engineer Wannabe]

Life is too short.

This would of been a better closing to my message.  It's exactly the sentiment I meant to convey. 

[Tom]

Ok!  That makes a good last word.  Now, lets get back to letting Jim pat Peterson's on the back.  They'll still sell you a sawmill.   :D 8)


As a matter of fact, I hear that there might even be another used one on the block soon.  PM your friendly Peterson Salesman person. :D :D

[fencerowphil (Phil L.)]

Of course, the cost difference is an important consideration when
comparing the 8" and 10" Peterson.   When I bought mine (used with
about 40 hrs. on it),  a secondary attraction was the fact that it had
52' of track.    That made my purchase more financially practical.  The
extra track is not cheap either.

I have said this before, and many users seem to agree:   If you do not
specifically want or need the extra capacity of the 10", then the 8" is the
way to go.  I think? Captain has said that an 8" mill seems to cut an 8" board more
easily than the 10" will cut an 8" board, due to the torque requirements and
friction factors on the larger blade.  Makes sense.

Phil L.

[Captain]

Not to mention I don't want to push that big 10" frame around all the time  ;D

[JimBuis]

No hurt feelings here. However, I had wanted the focus of the thread to be Peterson's customer service. We have often had threads pertaining to the excellent customer service that some of our other forum sponsors provide.

It now seems that we are talking about Petersons in general and the pros and cons of the 8" versus the 10".

In the spirit of cooperation, I'll throw in my comments toward the new focus of the thread. I have only ever used the 10". I can say that setting up a 10" and taking it back down again is real work for one man. I have done it out in the hot sun on a 100 degree day alone and it was more work than I wanted to do by myself. However, it certainly is possible for a one man operation.

I understand that the 8" is a bit easier to move around and probably to operate.

I don't find the 10" hard to operate, but assembly and disassembly are a challenge.

Jim

[Dan_Shade]

Jim, i'm sure that the 10", like with everything else, becomes easier as you learn the little nuances and tricks to make everything work.   The Petersons are pretty slick in their portability and ease of setup, I've found getting the tracks level to be slightly a pain in the butt, but it's not bad.  Of course, I can count on one hand the times I've helped saw with a Peterson.

[fencerowphil (Phil L.)]

I bought my Peterson 10" WPF complete with an enclosed trailer to haul
the saw head inside.  The eight sections of rail and the cross members
ride on racks on the top of the trailer.  I customized a system of guides
to help direct the wheels of the main assembly  into travelling position in
the trailer. I installed a set of floor brackets to secure the end frames (with
the chain drives) against the walls of the trailer.   They lock into place.
One strap secures the main section with its jockey wheels snug against
the front wall of the trailer.  I put in a thick piece of soft Paulownia across
the front, so that the end frame bolts can just sink into that board without
damaging either the front wall of the trailer or the bolt threads.

Before I ever used the saw,  I took it out, assembled it and reloaded it about six
times.  I wanted to be sure that I could  readily work alone with it.  Jim is
right.   It is demanding.   On the other hand, I had just driven all the way to
the northern edge of Maryland to buy a machine that I planned to use alone
most of the time, so I knew I better be physically ready and skilled at setup.
Either I was going gitRdun, or I was going to feel really foolish!  Setting it up
became second nature within a few uses, thanks partly to that rehearsal.
(The previous owner had set it up once and never again.)

I would love to have the toys made by Fabrik for the swingers, but I'm holding
off just a while longer.   You know how it goes:  There's the son in college; the
general expenses of life; the aggravation of taxes, since I'm self employed.
There's my old railroad building with it's "Money Pit" personality, etc., etc.!
:-\
Phil L.

[JimBuis]

Phil,
Tell me more about your trailer. I'd like to go the same route, but figured it would be hard to find an enclosed trailer with a large enough door opening to accomodate the center unit without having to remove the production frames each time.

Jim

[jack]

WEll, 

I dunno about the prices?  but if your looking to spend some coin,  might i suggest you do the investment calculations .......lucas .....oh i sed it ........in a peterson thread........well   Trump is broken......so ....Lucas at Baileys give them a call, i bet you could get a new 8" mill and a few goodies to assist in your lumbering activities too......and beat the cost of a Peterson?  just my thots.....

I routienly put the Lucas 825 in the back of my 98 toyota 4x pickumup  truck,  and alone to boot.   of course with help everything goes faster...but it is done with one person easily,  From parking to saw start......it takes about 15 minutes.

With two ppl averaging btween 400-700 bf/hr...  and the saw pays for itself quickly.. plus ya can get some good muskles....

Look at your options....
Jack   
i bought my lucas in 2000

[DanG]

Getting back to your original topic, Jim, I've spent a bit of time around several of the Peterson folks at shows.  They are the nicest sort of people to be around, so I'm not in the least surprised that you had a pleasant encounter.  They're always smiling, when they're not laughing, and are obviously having fun at what they're doing.  They're like that when they are dog tired in the evening or if they haven't had their morning coffee yet, and I bet you could feel that over the phone, even 12,000 miles away. ;)

[fencerowphil (Phil L.)]

Jim,
Actually, when I prepared to make the trip to pick up the sawmill,
I ALSO had pictured a trailer like that - one to carry the preassembled
center unit.   Nope.   The production end frames had to be removed.
Oh, well.

On the other hand,   that center unit is a breeze to move with the
end frames off.   I realize that I  am physically better off not trying to move
the entire assembled unit at one time anyway.

There are many cargo trailer companies which will make a custom
height unit, however.  I had a larger one for a sound contracting business
about ten years ago.   It was a customer job made for someone else.  They
backed out for some reason, and I bought it.

As Jack points out,...
There are different price points and features to match your needs out there.
With the specific model Jim and I have, these primary benefits come to mind.
                      Capacity - 10-1/4 inch;  log dia. of 54" (or optionally bigger)
                      Double cut very easily;
                      Single point depth adjustment -with option of electric depth control;  and
                      Option of high-low rail operation - which I have, but seldom need to use.
                      Stainless and aluminum(or aluminium) construction
                                   (Chains are not stainless, because that alloy won't take the
                                     strain)
If you don't need these features, you don't want to spend the extra money and don't
need this heavier saw.   Both Peterson and Lucas offer many affordable choices. ;)

DanG,
I have had no trouble with my saw in the years I have had it, so maybe that's why
them Peterson folks smile a lot, also. ;D

Phil L.   

[Sawmill Dave]

Hello to all,

I just wanted to say that I think Peterson is a great company as well. I have seen there mills in action at shows and really think they will handle anything that gets tossed its way. I have come across a dealer for them in QB Canada that has a couple in stock, 8" and 10" and have considered buying from him. They seem to be really focused on customer service as well. Have a great day.

Sawmill Dave

[Part_Timer]

Well I'm gona chime in here for a minute.

When I bought my mill there were several RC's here in the states.  I was so impressed with their customer service and the way that they took care of customers that I joined the company as well.  Here we are a couple of years later and while their web site only shows 1 RC left there is a lot that happens in the background that the public never sees.  I thought if it was ok I'd share a couples of examples with you.

I know that Ga-Boy, Captian and I still answer questions from mill owners that we have trained or folks looking to buy mills that we have delt with in the past.   Some of us still do shows from time to time along with a great many owners who just want to show how nice a mill they have. Some of us owners will drive 2 or 3 states just to visit each other or visit the Factory folks when they are here doing shows.  I even keep in touch with one of factory people who quit and moved to Canada. 

I think all of us have parts or mills of one kind or another that we are keeping here in the states for the company.  Katie and the kids stuff the envalopes that go out with the "cutting comments" in the mail to folks here in the States.  Forum members get on here and help each other out with problems or advice on the mills. 

If you purchase a mill and it doesn't work out for the type of cutting you do there aren't any hard feelings they will even try to help you sell it.

Seems to me that when you buy a mill you become part of the family wether you expected to or not.

[Wife]

Hey guys - really REALLY glad Jeff got all the stuff back up and running - thank you Jeff.

Just revisited this thread and saw the last note about RC's. Well actually we've also been doing a big re-vamp and its taken a bit of time. The name has changed to SR (State Representative), and we've got better commissions and less work requirements so it will be possible for a lot more owners to become involved (after hours around their fulltime jobs). If anyone is interested, give Lee a ring or email - he's another really great guy I found - a real person not a 'salesman'. 1877 3271471 or lmorris@petersonsawmills.com. I think Lee already has around 12 or 14 interested parties - we're just beginning to present the new agreements now. Probably see a few new SR's established by the New Year.

We're also centralising our spares parts to one destination (who is not a SR, but solely a Parts Distributor). That means less work for the SR's and cheaper delivery costs on spares (and faster delivery too because thats his main focus). We'll post a new thread once this has all become official...me gonna get my hand smacked for letting the cat out of the box a bit early me thinks... ;D

Kerris

[Part_Timer]

Just a bit excited are ya wife?

[getoverit]

I am a former Peterson Mill owner, and I will chime in and share my praises for the company and their support people too. They bent over backwards to help me when I had issues and would even call me occasionally to check on me. You just dont find that kind of thing these days.

well done!!

[revnell]

As long as Kerris can make announcements to her friends on this forum, may I be allowed to do so? I will soon become the newest State Rep for Peterson Portable Sawmills for Michigan. They are an outstanding company to do business with. I am a relative newcomer to swing mill operation but very enthusiastic about it. Yahoo! 8)
Can anyone help me with this problem: what is the best way to keep the water or blade coolant from freezing and starving the blade of lubrication?

[Captain]

Welcome Revnell.

Just keep the tank empty and don't use water for the next 6 months  ;D

Seriously, when the logs are fresh and the temperature is cold, you can't hurt the blade in most circumstances.  I won't even have the water tank on until April or so.

Captain

[revnell]

Thank you, Captain
I am not afraid to show my stupidity in order to find things out. I don't have to carry water to the mill now. Excellent. Now if the snow would stop I would have time to saw.
Next question: how do you get the dancing emoticon to do it stuff?

[Danny Dimm]

A fellow posted on another site looking for the pros and cons of Peterson vs Lucas. I told him my experience of how Lucas went all out and the BC Peterson rep's efforts were almost insulting. Well the folks at Peterson's got a hold of me and we had a long talk. I was very impressed. Even sent me a hat and shirt all the way from NZ! Can hardly wait to wear it to a Lucas convention. I've run a Lucas for the last several years and I like it, but I wouldn't hesitate to get a Peterson either. Both quality mills.

[Haytrader]

revnell,

Do you mean like this?   8)

When you reply and want to add an emotion, just space or hit enter to go down and click on the one (or two) that you want to display. It will show as a code till posted.

[Furby]

Revnell,
Can you update your profile to include a rough location?
Depending on where you are, I may end up with some job leads for you.
Also consider listing yourself in the find a sawyer, logger, forester section in the upper right hand corner of the page.
It's free! ;)


Oh, and welcome to the forum! 8)

[revnell]

I don't have time to say much, I am waiting for Lee Morris to call. Have been out sawing oak 2x8x12's all day for joists and rafters. The Peterson mill is a joy to operate, its like harvesting gold from these heavy, beautiful beasts.
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