Wood-Mizer/Cooks

LPitt · March 27, 2011, 06:03:02 PM

I know there are a lot of Wood-Mizer owners on the forum, but how does everyone think the Cooks HD3655 compares?

Magicman · March 27, 2011, 06:18:33 PM

There are also a lot of Cooks owners. It's really a buyer's choice. Look at the options, service, simplicity, set up, etc. To make a real comparison, you would need to actually operate each, or at least see both in operation. It may be hard to get an unbiased opinion.

Jeff · March 27, 2011, 06:33:04 PM

Are you asking because you are trying to decide what to buy?

ladylake · March 27, 2011, 06:47:36 PM

i watched a Cooks vid on youtube, looks like a well built mill. Steve

tyb525 · March 27, 2011, 06:55:33 PM

It's almost gotten to a Ford/Chevy debate, so it's really personal choice. Research them both, run them if you can, and decide what you like best.

smwwoody · March 27, 2011, 07:09:27 PM

They are both great mills with great support and great customer service. What size WM are you comparing it to?

Woody

LPitt · March 27, 2011, 07:21:46 PM

I thought it was probably a ford/chevy type of thing. To me they both look like very good mills. I've got a stationary mill now and have been thinking of selling and getting a mobile mill. It will have to be hyd (to many miles behind me to go manual). Right now i'm still working but in the not to far future i'll be retired and need something to do. The only thing about the Wood-Mizer that bothers me is the single post. I've never heard of it being an issue. It just seems to me like it would have to move while sawing. If i'm wrong it sure wouldn't be the first time.

LPitt · March 27, 2011, 07:30:14 PM

smwwoody... I have been looking at the LT50HD with a diesel if I can swing it or the Cooks HD3655.

LPitt · March 27, 2011, 07:31:25 PM

AC3651, my mistake lol

Chris Burchfield · March 27, 2011, 08:17:24 PM

Yea, it's like Ford, GM or Dodge. Whatever one sells as the better mouse trap, the seller will tell you flaws of that other product and the plus associated with their own. I saw purpose of the cantilever design on given logs that would cause problems for a four post head. I've had no problem with the cantilever design and it is very ridged. My mill has the 51hp cat/perkins I purchased as choice. The price of diesel is up and I have no regrets over the engine I chose. As stated above, run one of each. It will be well worth your piece of mind. Good luck.

Slingshot · March 27, 2011, 11:00:32 PM

Woodmizer isn't the only cantilevered mill. Saw this one on You-tube:
Has a vertical shaft engine. Seems to be all hydraulic controlled.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JsLDpzRP2Ek&feature=related

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Brucer · March 27, 2011, 11:59:43 PM

Quote from: LPitt on March 27, 2011, 07:21:46 PM
... The only thing about the Wood-Mizer that bothers me is the single post. I've never heard of it being an issue. It just seems to me like it would have to move while sawing. ...

It won't.

backwoods sawyer · March 28, 2011, 12:51:37 AM

I bought a well used Woodmizer LT-70 and later bought a Cooks AC-3662 as a second mill, it was also used and in sad shape. Both have chain log turners rather then the claw style. The big difference that I found is the Woodmizer handles the large logs with a lot more ease then the Cooks mill, and on the Woodmizer I can push the over sized logs up to about 42" with minimal chainsaw work. With the Cooks mill a 38" log can be a fight. Both mills will feed an edger with ease, but if you are not running the edger, it is much easier to edge on the Woodmizer then the Cook's mill since they clamp to opposite sides of the mill frame.
The Cooks mill is not as gentle on the wood and has a tendency tear the wood, however the double clamp dose hold the wood in place better then the single clamp on the Woodmizer, which is a big plus.
I tackle over sized logs on a regular basis, so I am selling the Cooks mill this week to a local tree service.
I also have both a Woodmizer and a Cooks sharpening system. The Cooks is a much heavier duty system then the Woodmizer system that I have and is the one I prefer to use.
Find one of each that you can see run and spend some time watching both, as they are two different rigs, and they do handle differently and are not quite as closely related as Ford and Chevy are

ladylake · March 28, 2011, 06:22:26 AM

I wonder why Cooks has the clamp and stops set up like that, my B20 is the other way. Logs load on one side lumber comes off the other side with no reaching. Steve

petefrom bearswamp · March 28, 2011, 11:50:19 AM

I'm sure both mills are good machines.
I am partial to Woodmizer, on my 3rd one.
Present mill LT40SHDD51 cat/Perkins.
The only problem I can see and it is a possibility not a probability is with the 51 HP diesel.
My friend and neighbor who saws a lot, has an LT 50 cat/Perkins and has had some minor problems, I have had none so far but only 350 hrs on mine
When I look on a certain used sawmill site I see quite a few mills with lots of hrs on the mill, but very few (comparatively) on a newer engine.

kelLOGg · March 28, 2011, 05:03:10 PM

Quote from: ladylake on March 28, 2011, 06:22:26 AM
I wonder why Cooks has the clamp and stops set up like that, my B20 is the other way. Logs load on one side lumber comes off the other side with no reaching. Steve

I think it is so that after one 90 degree turn you are cutting into a fresh face?

rbarshaw · March 28, 2011, 06:50:09 PM

Quote from: kelLOGg on March 28, 2011, 05:03:10 PM
Quote from: ladylake on March 28, 2011, 06:22:26 AM
I wonder why Cooks has the clamp and stops set up like that, my B20 is the other way. Logs load on one side lumber comes off the other side with no reaching. Steve

I think it is so that after one 90 degree turn you are cutting into a fresh face?

I designed my first mill that way, it should extend blade life to not cut into bark as much as possible.

ladylake · March 28, 2011, 06:57:26 PM

That makes sence but I'd take easyier off loading and edging. I rotate 180* 90% of the time so I would only be gaining on 1 side of a cant. Steve

Banjo picker · March 28, 2011, 10:27:04 PM

The only thing that gets taken off the side is product to be edged...everything else gets the drag back arms and onto the roller tables...

You may not be able to tell from this photo, but there is a large roller at the end of the mill , the drag back arms get it to the roller and its free saling on the rest of the way...slabs go on that first rack there are two more for product...Tim

Handy Andy · March 28, 2011, 11:54:41 PM

I have the Cook MP 32, manual, and large logs are tough. Especially if they have bumps, which on logs that are at the limit of size, have to be cut off if the carriage hits on them. I like to turn them up on the first cut and let the mill cut them off, but lots of my big logs have bumps on more than one side. A 4 post has to straddle the log. And the cantilever can sometimes slide by and cut the bumps off on the top side of the log as you turn it. That's the only advantage of the cantilever mill I can see. My cook mill is built heavy, simple, and very trouble free.