If you we're buying new tomorrow.

[yarnammurt]

What mill would you go with? I've had a LM2 Log Master and like the direct hydraulics. I have the LT35 now and ordered a LT40 but thinking about the Timberking 1620. Looks like a very solid mill with Direct hydraulics . 
Lt40 or Timberking 1620

[Walnut Beast]

Timberking is fantastic!! I’m very partial of the full hydraulics and the controls right at your fingertips at the command center and great setworks. Never had a WM but plenty of happy people with them. 

[WV Sawmiller]

  I have and like my LT35 and have been pleased with the customer service and support. I have nothing negative to say about the TK in this area. I do like the cantilever design and feel it gives me more options for unloading slabs and lumber on my portable jobs where I encounter a wide range of set up constraints. 

   I would not move from an LT35 to an LT40 just because I do not feel there would be enough increase in functions. If I were upgrading I'd want to go up at least to an LT50 but that is just me.

   Why are you trading? What extra features do you want? 

   I'd also consider moving to a wide model but I have asked and have still not gotten a clear answer how they compare when cutting those max sized logs on them

[Magicman]

I have answered this question many times in the past and the answer is.....
My exact sawmill except it would have a  w i d e  head.

[KWood255]

I went from a LT35 Hydraulic to a LT40 with the 38hp Kohler. For me, the biggest difference was the hydraulic blade tension and auto clutch. The LT40 is a great machine. Tons of power for anything in this part of the world, and with ample blade selection. If money wasn’t an issue I would have a LT70 in the yard. Maybe one day it will show up, but not this year. 

I have been completely impressed with the service from WM. Only once did I struggle with an issue, where a WM factory tech guided me through the repair. I will continue to run Woodmizer products without hesitation. Further, our local dealer Howie’s Saw in Thunder Bay Ontario  is top notch. 

Although the 40 is only one step away from the 35, it’s a big jump in my opinion. I would not go back to anything less for my operation. Best of luck with your search. 

[Southside]

Are you sawing part time?  Full time? Portable? What downstream equipment do you have or plan to have?  My progress was LT35, edger, kiln, moulder, Super 70 (still have the 35 and run it as a re-saw).  For me I didn't see the step between the 35 and the 40 as being enough of an increase in capacity.  

My moulder and planer are both Wood Master, sister company to Timber King, and both Wood Mizer and Wood Master have always provided top notch customer service.  

[bigblockyeti]

A lot will depend on what you're cutting and what kind of production you're looking to get out of the mill.  Stationary or mobile matters (and costs) a lot too.  I don't typically mess around with commodity lumber and I have no desire to be mobile, my little mill does everything I need it to right now but if I move operations to my property up the road, a little bigger might be better.  I'm typically cutting maple, cherry or walnut with few exceptions and I'm cutting for figure most of the time.  I'd like to cut something wider, much wider so the logistics of being able to load and haul a log that might weigh 6000-8000lbs are not trivial.  A trailer like Matt Cremona has would do well and a gantry spanning over the mill bed and trailer deck would handle unloading so I wouldn't need a monster articulating loader ($$$$$$).  The WM LX250 will cut just over 54" wide and I think that would be about right.  I've seen one at show but not sawing, that would need to happen first as would lining up with a supplier of big logs to justify a big log mill.  YMMV.

Between the two you're debating between, I'd have to have more experience with the Timber King first but the direct hydraulics certainly sound appealing.  The LT40 should be quite similar just a bit bigger than your LT35 so I would imagine you could get into a rhythm with it more quickly.

[Larry]

I bought my TK-2000 new 12 years ago.  It was a fairly new design at the time and their were a few growing pains.  Sometimes I got frustrated but TK stuck with me. 

Reliability of the mill has been great.  I read on here all the electric problems with switches, brushes, contacts, and motors.  None of that......well except my guide arm has a electric motor.  You guessed it, new brushes, a switch or two, and a new motor.

Customer service.....my Kohler motor blew up and was out of warranty.  Will, the President of TK went to bat for me and got Kohler to replace it free.  I didn't even have to pay shipping!  Had a few other minor problems that either Mike or Jason, service guys at TK were able to help remedy.

So, I would buy a new TK-2020.  It has 6" extra cutting width which would be great for me.

[woodduckhunter]

Portable jobs, stationary, custom work, production sawing, footage goals?

[Ianab]

Portable jobs, stationary, custom work, production sawing, footage goals?

Yup, there is no one "perfect" sawmill, just like there is no one "perfect" vehicle. There's just the sawmills that best fit YOUR operation (and budget).  
Because I'm mobile and deal with large logs, mine would be a toss up between a Peterson and a TurboSaw. Completely different style of mill, but also a completely different use scenario.   (Also made locally)

[SawyerTed]

I had an LT 35 and have an LT 50 on the way.  Going from the 35 to the 40 isn’t enough bang for the buck.  The 40 Super Hydraulic would be the minimum upgrade in my mind.

I studied hard on the LT 40 Super Hydraulic.  The 50 wasn’t a lot more money to have several features the 40 Super doesn’t have, hydraulic back stops and chain turner are two.

I’m with Magicman, go w-i-d-e!

[terrifictimbersllc]

………….
   I'd also consider moving to a wide model but I have asked and have still not gotten a clear answer how they compare when cutting those max sized logs on them

I had a 40 super (non-wide) 19 yrs and now a 70 super wide 3-1/2 yrs. Just commenting on wide, The extra width eliminates most of the drama and the first half hour of getting a big log or irregular non-log under control. It isnt just about making 33” boards instead of 27” ones although customer can have that too. 
Wide also eliminates most of the intensive chainsawing that puts a 660 or 880 with a 41” bar at neck level with chips down your shirt before the day is half started.

[longtime lurker]

I'd love a custom built mill to my design and specifications. I've probably cut a few boards over the years, and looked at a lot of different designs and I've got a design in my head that is quite different to anything on the market.

One thing I know is building a saw will never happen while I have to drive a saw to eat, but maybe one day...

[Old Greenhorn]

Dennis raises a good and important point. I run an LT50 Wide and own a small 4 poster manual (28" wide). Moving up to the LT50 removed so much of the backbreaking and unpleasant work getting the oddballs cut up. On my manual, I would sometimes spend and entire day opening a large 'interesting log' and on the LT50 it might be done in 40 minutes. Most of that extra time is consumed in fitting, blocking, trimming, cussing, flipping, trimming, cussing some more, and  sweating a lot. In addition, the cantilever design allows you to hang 'stuff' off the right side as long as the head misses it, such as a special jig, a pusher block held up by the lift arms, or whatever.
 It's not all about the wide boards although there is that too. Personally I don't look for max size logs, they take longer, have more issues in a lot of cases and wind up being split into smaller stuff anyway. But when you need to do a load of slabs to get drying (which is on my list for 'soon') that wide head is handy too. It's very rare that I have to Bibby a log once it hits the bed and usually means I made a mistake.

[wkf94025]

Exact same mill I bought 2 years ago:  Lucas 7-23 with slabber, planer and sander.  Thrilled with its functionality for my needs and avid hobby milling situation.

[Bruno of NH]

Lt 50 or a custom mill with a 60 hp kubota Gas engine 
That's right gas

[Southside]

WM was experimenting with a big gas engine on their 70 a year or so ago. It was from a small car from what I recall. 

[Sixacresand]

Fifty plus HP tractor, forks, grapple or clam shell, bush hog.  The regular hydraulic LT40 I have is fine.   

[yarnammurt]

I will not be doing much mobile work.  I have support equipment.  I just like the hydraulics on the Timberking. I'm not sure if it has belts on the wheels or just metal like the Logmaster had. I did order the wide head, 38hp engine and the command station on the new lt40. 

[E-Tex]

WM and L50 hard to beat.  Especially for a mobile operation.  If I buy again, LT50 or 70 for sure.  WoodMizer service has been 100% top shelf for my business. 

[woodduckhunter]

I had a  tk 1600 new, and it had belts on the wheels, something like a b56 or 7.  I personally like full hydraulics more so than many electrical connections on a portable sawmill.

[KenMac]

This seems like a good place to mention a TK mill for sale on Craigslist in B'ham, Al. It appears to be in East Texas and is listed for $32k. Just if anyone is interested.

[opticsguy]

Purchased a TK 1220 way back in 2010.  I use this mill for my personal use.
An all manual mill with very little maintenance requirements and nothing has failed since new.
If I were purchasing new today I would have to go explore the market for new models but in the end, for me, the perfect machine would be a TK 1220 with a 6 inch wider throat for those sometimes not-so-straight logs.  I am quite certain an additional 6" throat width would not require any other upgrades and the Kohler engine would be fine.

Purchasing a mill is certainly one of my best decisions in life and has opened up the doors to many new hobbies, interests and explorations in life.

[Patrick NC]

I've ordered a lt40 which is still a ways of from being built.  If I could buy what I want tomorrow and money was no object,  it would be the biggest I could get with the most hp.  Woodmizer,  Cooks,  Timberking,  or Baker. It would be a tough decision.  Of course that would require bigger log handling equipment,  new building to house the mill, live deck, edger, employees, etc. Probably won't happen unless I want to get a divorce! 🤣

[Bruno of NH]

The Timber Buddy is worth a look if you want some power.
They have some nice features 

[tacks Y]

I also had a Log Master, mine was an LM3. I really liked the 30" steel wheels. I stumbled on to a used Baker locally for sale. I am very happy with it, 28" steel wheels.

I saw a used electric Baker at auction last week, and it has me wondering if mill prices are softening.