Not sure how far to go on the investment to saw part time.
Well, consider this; if you are sawing part time then you're likely doing something else full time. With a hydraulic mill you'll likely double your production rate over the same mill without hydraulics. And... you won't be as worn out when you're done.
Also, if you decide later to upgrade or stop sawing altogether, an HD mill will be easier to resale.
Also 2, do you need capital investment to offset taxes?
it takes a lot of BF to pay for a hydraulic mill.
that said, I have an LT40HD, and do the part time gig (been slow for a while now, but I don't advertise either....). I definately recommend going with hydraulics.
that $10k is cheaper than back problems.
I agree 100% with Bibby and Dan, plus it's a lot safer.
I purchased a LT40HD a month or so ago and glad I did. I am trying to set myself up for the future when I retire (quit) from what I'm doing now. I would go for the hydraulic mill.
Dan is correct nothing cost anymore than a bad back.
It is also in my opinion a big time buyers market right now in my part of the country anyway, go for the gusto and look for the mill with the most add ons for the best price. I think the same mill you buy today will be 10%-15% higher in 8 to 14 months from now.
Bibbyman has a good point about tax advantages.
Djoslin
Quote from: djoslin on September 16, 2009, 11:13:18 PM
Bibbyman has a good point about tax advantages.
Djoslin
Talking with equipment dealers, it sounds like there is always a lot of activity near the end of the year when people find out that they're either going to have to "use it or lose it".
To ease any anxieties you may have, look for a used mill!
They usually sell for a little over half of what a new mill goes for!
In answer to your question........ NO! The hydraulic mill just makes milling that much more enjoyable!
a note on the used saw, if your budget can handle it, buy a 1997 or new LT40 model, that's when they improved the clamp system to allow you to flip cants with it.
I was in that position a while back and decided to go with the LT40HD. As the others have said, the hydraulics save a lot of work and you as well. I saw part time and I have yet to regret my purchase.
John
I myself have learned,buy bigger than what you need now,because a year or 2 down the road you will be doing things you could not for see and be glad you did.As long as I have the money to do it. ;) If I had the money I would go ahead and buy it.
I bought knowing that I would always be part time. By chance, the used mill that I found was a '98 WM LT40 SuperHydraulic. I just didn't know then what a great "find" that it was.
I've gotten jobs that resulted in regular customers because other sawyers with lesser mills couldn't handle their log sizes..... 8)
Used mills are a bargain – especially Wood-Mizers as most can be put back into great service with just a few replacement parts and adjustment.
The problem is, if you don't have the experience to detect problems, it may be a rough start in sawmill life. With a new mill, you at least start with all new stuff and factory adjusted so you should be able to start off sawing and learn that part before problems start to come up.
If you spot a used mill, it may be advisable to take it to Wood-Mizer for a going over and any updates or options you'd like put on it.
I'm sawing part time & bought a woodmizer 92 LT40 HD 1 1/2 years ago. The first thing I did was take it to woodmizer and aligned it & replaced worn parts. It cost me 1500 but was well worth it. I learned alot and they let me help with part replacements while there. They are always helpful when I have questions.
You won't be sorry about having the hydraulics.
jim
Within six months after I bought my mill I had WM do a Platinum service job. This was also very valuable to me because those WM service guys are very eager to share knowledge about the mill and sawing. Best money I ever spent..... ;)
I'd considered building a mill before I bit the bullet on my mill. I had the welder, saws, grinding equipment and skill for the most part. Even then, I'd met 75% of the cost with hydraulics of a new mill. I then considered the purchase of a new WM mill. Keeping in mind they'd only been in the business for 18 years at that time. I had also been bird dogging them for 17 years and saw the improvements over those years. They have engineers with the sheep skins to meet their needs. I also had the time to evaluate the other products on the market, several of which are very good products. I settled on the orange. I can not over state how satisfied I am with the hydraulics. I've skidded logs to the loading arms I had to move with a tractor, I couldn't roll them with a 60" peavy on dirt. The loading arms had no problem placing it on the deck. Once on the deck, toe boards, turner and clamp are such a breeze for me standing in one place. At 51 yoa, I'm getting no younger. Different parts of my body hurt more and longer when I over do it. I only wanted to buy one time and did not want to be upsizing later in life. There are a couple of larger models offered now in orange. I'm very satisfied with the one I have. Hope this helps.
What can the OP easily afford ?
How much competition is in the area ?
Do you expect to cut many large logs ? (i.e. what's the timber look like in your area)
Will you be keeping it in one place as many do or running mobile ?
I think these are important questions to ask. Using myself as an example, I bought the LT40HD last winter because I've always wanted a mill and badly needed some expenses for the year to reduce my tax liability. I am seven miles from where Woodmizers are built and every Tom, Dick, and Harry in the nieghborhood has one and will cut for way less than a person should have to. I charge $.25 and some are as low or lower than $.17/bf. I've done one mobile job in eight months and everything else has been at my shop. The average size of logs milled even in this great hardwood area was probably 16-18" (excluding cedar). I've heard some guys say, "well, I paid cash for the mill so I figure anything I make on saw jobs is like found money." This is not how to run a business.
In retrospect, I wish I had bought an LT-15 with all the options and set it up inside for stationary milling. I could have used the extra funds to buy the new Timesavers widebelt sander I've been wanting (and actually needing).