My next question in my quest to buy a mill - need input from Wood Mizer owners

[Southside]

Thanks for the info Chuck and Pineywoods, those are some pretty impressive mods you have done there.  I don't think this 40 is the one for me, its a nice machine and has not been abused, lightly used it will probably be fine for a while, but I think it will need a little TLC if a guy put it into regular service.  Pushing a pencil I am not sure I am getting the most out of my investment there, so the search, and education, continue.

What can anybody tell me about the performance and service life differences between say an older 40 and a newer 35?   Is it like today's 1/2 ton pickups that are more like the 3/4 tons of the past? 

[terrifictimbersllc]

What can anybody tell me about the performance and service life differences between say an older 40 and a newer 35?   Is it like today's 1/2 ton pickups that are more like the 3/4 tons of the past?

No.  I'd say the comparison of any LT40 vs newer 35 (there aren't old 35's), is more like the comparison of an F250/350 vs 150, from the same year.  The LT40 mast and head are more heavily built than the 35.