Lead time on WoodMizer LT35HD

[WillisHomestead]

I placed an order for a LT35HD back in December of 21, was told that I could look to see it around February of 23. I called WM the other day just wanting to see if that lead time had shrunk any.......guys tells me it will be May of 23 before they start on it. Depressing to say the least. Not finding any used models out on the market either. Sucks having to wait this long 

[tacks Y]

There was one on the bay that sold today, 26k 2011 and 1000hrs. Probably worth the wait to have a new machine.

[tacks Y]

Did see a 2011 LT70 in Ky for 40k. On East coast loggers.

[SawyerTed]

On the other hand, it could be next year!  My January order for an LT 50 has been listed as May '23, then it moved to July '23.  Now the website links don't let me look.  

[Old Greenhorn]

On the other hand, it could be next year!  My January order for an LT 50 has been listed as May '23, then it moved to July '23.  Now the website links don't let me look.  

Read that post again Ted. Unless this vertigo has also affected my comprehension skills, I think it IS next year.

[SawyerTed]

Yep, I miss read the original post.  The OP and I are in the same boat.

[Maine Miller]

Saw one for sale on CL in my area last week with 60 hours on it for $26,500.
Needless to say....it didn't last long

[WillisHomestead]

I know every time I see one for sale it's either gone or they want way to much for it. I have a lot of time for planning though!

[SawyerTed]

I've talked to two Wood-mizer representatives, one from the corporate office and my dealer.  Both said pretty much the same things.

1.  Lead times will shorten.
2.  The manufacturing facility is running at full capacity
3.  Engines and fuel tanks are the major shortage items.  Kohler and Yanmar have large demand from manufacturers of other equipment.
4.  Engines and other parts come in in big batches so big batches of various models get completed and shipped based on parts availability.  

The dealer said he had two deliveries of sawmills in one day recently.  It was a first for him.

[DanMc]

I placed an order for an LT35HD back in Feb of '22.  At that time, they said "60 weeks" lead time.  Last I checked the delivery was claimed to be mid June '23 (NEXT YEAR).  That's a bit more than 60 weeks.  I'll be pretty happy if it shows up at that time.  I'd be happier if it came this year, but I'll take what I can get as long as it doesn't slip out further.  

So I find now that I'll take down a tree or come across a nice big free log and say to myself: "Let's wait for the LT35 for this one."  Unless it's white pine, then I'll do it immediately on the HM-126.  

I'm adding a second bedroom onto our place up in NH.  It would be nice to cut my own wood, but I found a guy 10 miles away that will supply all the wood I need.  His full time job is a millwright at Hancock Lumber, and he sells his own lumber milled on weekends using an LT35HD.  Comforting to see somebody doing well with the same mill I'll have soon (hopfully).  I think that some weekend this summer I'll drive over there and volunteer off-bearing time just to enjoy watching him run it.  

[DanMc]

...and while I wait for the LT35HD to arrive, I'll have to settle for the LT40.  Sorry I have it bad.



 

[alecs]

I was looking at Woodmizer (quoted 50 weeks lead time), TimberKing (said taking orders for 2023-4) and Norwood (didn't respond to my inquiry).  I ended up getting the biggest Woodland Mills saw, the HM130 Max, on trailer with track extension, and it shipped within 4 weeks of my order.  Just finishing putting it together, hope to make sawdust this weekend.  

This is my first mill, although I have hired a couple of traveling Woodmizers over the years.  My thought was, get one (even if smaller than I was originally thinking, and no power feed or up/down), see how I like it, and if I find that I really need one of the "big boys", maybe they will be available by the time I outgrow the Woodland.  This is for personal use, so looking at the tradeoff between lead time, price, and features, this was my path.   

We'll see what happens.  So far, I've been pleased with the assembly of the Woodland.  For a "hobby" mill, it seems relatively well thought out and the assembly directions were easy enough to follow for someone who is reasonably handy.  My interactions with customer service thus far have been good, which makes a difference in my mind.  

Excited to start cutting.  

[B.C.C. Lapp]

 This is for personal use, so looking at the tradeoff between lead time, price, and features, this was my path.  

 My interactions with customer service thus far have been good, which makes a difference in my mind.  

Excited to start cutting.  

I think you made a real good decision.   Better a temp compromise and get sawing and learning than to sit on your hands for a loooonnnngggg time waiting for the Wood Mizer.  
Show us some pics of the new mill when you can. I'm interested to see what you think of it.

[anchorhd]

I just called on a LT35 hydrolics.  
Was told anything hydrolic was 66 weeks out.

[DanMc]

I was looking at Woodmizer ....

....

Excited to start cutting.  

Sorry, it's probably too late for you.  You are infected.  The vaccine is orange.  Get in the queue now for hydraulics.  It's a no-risk investment.  
I think that Woodland Mills should be getting sales commissions from Woodmizer.  

[DanMc]

I placed the order for my LT35HD on Feb 14 of this year.  At that time, they said 60 weeks.  First time I checked on delivery, they said mid-June '23.  Today I called to add a spare tire and the hydraulic side support update.  They promised me that this change would not affect my delivery date, which is now estimated to be OCTOBER '23.  Utter madness.  

They better not delay much more or they'll be losing money on it due to inflation.  The delay is said to be all about Kohler engines.  

[Crossroads]

I was on a mobile job Tuesday and my customer was on the phone. He shut me down and asked what a new lt35 is worth. I laughed and said  "about 5k over what it's listed for on the Woodmizer site and it will be sold before dark". Apparently someone received their new mill and was told by upper management that they couldn't keep it. I have a feeling the market for new/used mills is preparing to open up. 

[summit154]

I ordered a LT40 in March 2021. I was initially told February 2022. Just picked it up last week. 15 month wait.

[trimguy]

 Congratulations, now the fun begins!

[tacks Y]

I ordered a LT40 in March 2021. I was initially told February 2022. Just picked it up last week. 15 month wait.

Welcome aboard, summit.

[John Brabant]

I guess misery does like company as the saying goes.  So as an FYI, I ordered a Cook 3238HD mill back in March 2021.  I was told the wait time that used to be 5 weeks is now 60 weeks and the mill should be ready for pick up mid-June 2022.  I am still waiting for the mill.  The hold up?  I have been told that Kohler is not keeping with demand for a number of reasons, including that they have moved their operations to Mississippi.  Last I checked (last week) I was told that they have no idea when (if?) they will start receiving engines. The other issue is that there are many, many already built mills that were ordered ahead of my order that are waiting for engines, so they could receive a number of engines tomorrow, but unless they receive enough to install on the mills that are ahead of me and one more for me, I will continue to wait for an indefinite time period.  To say this is a bummer would be an understatement, but it is in no way the fault of the Cook Saw Company.  I feel particulary bad for the owners as they don't receive payment for all the mills they have manufacture until they are finished and the deposits they have taken are far short of the cost of manufacture of the mills.  I also worry how long a small family business can sustain this situation.  I am now on the hunt for another source of an engine to power the mill in the hopes that I can get one sent to them for my mill.  Anyone have an in with Kohler and can get me a 38 hp EFI engine for the mill I believe that has already been build for me, please let me know. I am thinking even a lightly used engine to fit would be fine at this juncture.

[Maine Miller]

Another 35 just popped up for sale locally for only $32k. They say there is a sucker born every minute I guess

[foxman350]

I'm a new guy looking into possibly buying a woodmizer LT15(with trailer) or an LT28.  Based on what I see here in this post would I be wise to purchase a slightly used model vs having to wait a year upon ordering? Or is the extended wait times just for the larger units?

[Magicman]

Welcome and please fill out your profile information so that we will know and remember. 

To answer your question I would give Wood-Mizer a call, but I suspect that there is not too much difference between sawmill models and wait time.  I read somewhere that most of the holdup is engine availability.

Yes, used sawmills do occasionally become available but you must act fast to snag one and sometimes you can expect to pay new sawmill prices.

[beenthere]

Another 35 just popped up for sale locally for only $32k. They say there is a sucker born every minute I guess

Sucker??  Who is that?  The seller or the buyer, or would-be-buyer?

[Maine Miller]

Well, I was thinking buyer since I bought that same exact mill with 34 hours on it 2 years ago for under $20K. Looked again last night and it was gone......maybe the seller didn't ask enough?

[bigblockyeti]

Well, I was thinking buyer since I bought that same exact mill with 34 hours on it 2 years ago for under $20K. Looked again last night and it was gone......maybe the seller didn't ask enough?

It's worth what someone will pay, and that can be a bit tricky to navigate today.  
I almost bought a new 2020 Polaris Ranger 1000 crew at the end of 2019 but decided the $12,900 price was too much given how much I'd be able to use it.  I suspect I could have sold it for a wee bit more than I bought it for over the past year.

[Walnut Beast]

Look at new prices on the Polaris units now. Many models with North Star cab in the 30k range. Razor turbos 40k + and they are selling 

[Walnut Beast]

You were crazy if you didn't buy that crew for that price

[Southside]

Crazy is paying $30-$40K for a side by side. What goes up, must come down.

[bigblockyeti]

You were crazy if you didn't buy that crew for that price

Yeah, I know and knowing what I know now, I would have.  It would have represented a storage problem, there's no good public riding within reasonable driving distance from me and the only thing I'm certain I would use it for is driving to the neighborhood pool during the summer.

[Walnut Beast]

Crazy is paying $30-$40K for a side by side. What goes up, must come down.

That's the same thing people say that have a old sawmill 😂. If it wasn't for the current customers buying new products the companies wouldn't go very far. 

[Southside]

In November 2008 my farm sold for $10K an acre, that was before I bought it for $2K an acre in 2012. 

The only companies that the 2008 market kept going were the bankruptcy attorneys. 

[bigblockyeti]

In November 2008 my farm sold for $10K an acre, that was before I bought it for $2K an acre in 2012.

The only companies that the 2008 market kept going were the bankruptcy attorneys.

I wish $2K/acre was still a thing.  I found 13 acres of buried timber/hunting land 65 minutes from me for $25,900.  While deciding on whether or not the drive down there would be feasible, especially knowing I'd have to cut in a 3/8 mile road (that had already established on the plot map), someone else decided quicker.  I've got multiple realtors looking for something for me, the bad news is there's nothing around for the price per acre I want to spend.  The good news is the appropriate measures are being taken to cause way more than just a housing collapse in the not too distant future offering great deals for those who have prepared.

[Maine Miller]

Definitely looking like History will repeat itself

[bigblockyeti]

Yeah, the Fed just upped rates another 3/4 point.  I wish they'd just go ahead with 5-6 at a time so I can again consider CDs as a viable investment.  Everything else should fall into place nicely 3-4 months later.

[Walnut Beast]

Bigblockyeti yes you should have bought that property!! Then you would have had a place to ride and keep it 😂

[Walnut Beast]

In November 2008 my farm sold for $10K an acre, that was before I bought it for $2K an acre in 2012.

The only companies that the 2008 market kept going were the bankruptcy attorneys.

Seems like it worked out pretty good for you 😂. 

[WV Sawmiller]

  I did a site visit with a customer yesterday who is returning home to WV after a career in Texas. (He is going to become a multi-millionaire here raising gourmet garlic here.) He had ordered an LT35HD a year ago and was expecting delivery in October but said they called him in March and said it was ready but he was not so he let them keep it. I told him he could have taken and resold it for a nice profit without ever cranking it. He said WM told him there would be not problem returning/cancelling the order. Yeah! I bet they did.

[DanMc]

I ordered an LT35HD earlier this year, Feb '22.  When I placed the order they said lead time of 60 weeks.  Today I called them and they said lead time of 70 weeks from Feb = around Aug '23.  Well, at least I'm now down to less than a year.  The sales guy said that unfortunately most of his calls are from buyers asking for a delivery update.  He said that the backlog is due to increased orders.  I was expecting to hear that it was engines, maybe the engines can't keep up with the increased orders.  I have enough other things to keep me busy while waiting.

[bigblockyeti]

When I called in April this year to order my 5' extension I asked about lead times for the 35 and up, the guy told me he thinks some folks were ordering on spec as it wasn't unusual for an order of 4-6 of the bigger mills to come through for one person.  I think to curb some of that, they need to up the deposit to $300-400 per $10K order invoice.

[charles mann]

Just contacted WM today, placing an order for a LT15 wide. Lead time was said to be 47wks, most of which is any power plant above a 9hp engine or electric motor. Evidently they also wont sell a mill w/o a power plant, even if a person had a NiB kohler sitting in a crate waiting for something to instal it in/on. 
Guess im waiting 10 months. Up side, i can pay on it to bring the final cost down, or not pay on it and pay when ready to take delivery. 

[bigblockyeti]

Sounds like they need to start offering a glider kit :D

I paused with the $300 charge for the upgraded 14hp engine on my mill vs. the standard 9hp.  My thought was I could easily find a 13-20hp horizontal shaft engine, in good shape,that I absolutely could make fit for under $300 and have a BNIB 9hp Kohler to put up for sale.  I decided against it as I buy something new for myself about 0.05% of the time vs. buying used and I wanted to start with everything just dropping together instead of as a yet another "project" where things have to be fabricated.  I'm glad I did as it allowed me to start sawing right away and the shortage of everything has ensured it's worth more than I paid for it.