Hello fellow woodsman. I've been clearing and reclaiming my new homestead for the last five years, cutting a fair bit of timber, making chips and biochar, and putting up a few years worth of firewood at a time. I've been very lucky to have a generous friend who's been letting me use his old (early 90's I think) fully hydraulic WM LT40 and after milling many thousands of board feet over the last few years, I've been thoroughly bitten by the bug. My friend has decided to sell his mill and upgrade. I thought I was gonna buy it, but I was outbid. After recovering from the disappointment, I commenced research. My budget is 10K max total (blades, shipping, etc). I have a lot of trees to cut and a lot of building projects I'm excited to mill lumber for. I don't really need the trailer as I have a good spot for a mill yard don't plan to take mobile sawyer jobs, but would like to have the option to add that if I change my mind. I like the idea of a manual mill, though I've already been spoiled by hydraulics. I'm also intrigued by the idea of an electric motor. The thing I disliked the most about running the LT40 was sucking exhaust all day long, I've got sensitive lungs and wanted to add an exhaust pipe extension, but ended up just wearing a respirator, which was annoying and uncomfortable. An electric motor would make the whole operation quieter and eliminate noxious fumes, and I have one potential mill site on my land where I could have 240V service...don't know enough about electric motors to know about what I'd need in terms of phase converters, etc., but I think I'd want the option to put a gas motor back on if and when I needed to move the mill to a site where power wasn't available. Most of my logs are in the 12-30" range, but I do get the occasional 36-40" monsters. Don't really need to saw anything over 16', but would like to be able to work with short stuff occasionally. I mostly work alone, but I do have a 35hp tractor with FEL and grapple and a Farm winch to help move and load logs. So, I've been looking at the TK 1220, the Norwood HD36, the WM LT15WIDE, and the EZ Boardwalk 40. Here's a quick rundown of what I like and don't like about each of these:
TK1220: I like the cutting depth/clearance above blade and the solidly built bed. 4 post head design seems to be extra stable. Electric is an option. Don't like the dog/clamp design. Doesn't seem as easy to upgrade.
NW HD36: An old Norwood was the first mill I ever used and I really like all the upgrade options of the HD36. Bunk design looks like it would lend itself well to tractor loading. Seems like it might be the cheapest to ship to being in kit form and I don't mind the assembly. I like the push over hand crank and the combination of activating the throttle, blade, and lube all in one motion. Probably my overall favorite, but I don't like the limited depth of cut (smallest of the 4) and the smaller width of cut. Could probably learn to live with it and would be fine for 90% of what I'd like to cut.
WM LT15WIDE: I like the width and depth of cut. I'm most familiar with Woodmizers. Trailer is not an option. No log turning assistance. Not too drawn to this mill. Shipping probably puts it out of my price range.
EZ BW 40: Just learned about these mills through this site. They seem to get rave reviews. I like the super solid bed design and the simplicity of the mechanisms. Easily convertible to be mobile. Love the width of cut. Not sure if I'd like the dog/clamp design and pushing on the log loading side, but could probably get used to it. Has a winch assist log turner, but not sure how well it would work on a 12' 36" monster. Not sure how much it would cost to get it out to western NC. Seems like most of the folks who have them live within driving distance.
I want to get a debarker to preserve blade life and be able to sharpen and set my own bands as well. I'm thinking to go with a log wizard instead of an onboard debarker for now. Would love to hear opinions on this as well, but perhaps that is a different thread.
So I've been agonizing over this decision for weeks now, keeping my eye out for used mills to no avail. Meanwhile I've got a dump truck sized pile of logs that I thought I'd be able to mill with the LT40 sprouting mushrooms and the window for milling before the new growing season starts is closing. And I want and need to cut more trees.
To further complicate matters, as though I need that, the guy who was gonna buy my buddy's LT40 just backed out and it is now available to me as well. It's old and quirky. I've worked on it a bunch and I know that it will continue to be a project to keep it adjusted and running well. It has a lot of non original improvised parts, but mostly works as it should, I could probably get it for $8000 and be done. I don't really know what will need to be replaced over time on a mill that old.
I've already gotten a lot out of this site and hope to contribute a bit as well. I would welcome any advice from all of you experienced sawyers and sawmill owners. I need to make a decision very soon. Especially re: the antique LT40. Thanks in advance for taking the time to read and respond to my lengthy first post.
If you are good at trouble-shooting and fixing things, get the old wood-mizer!! This will probably end up being the most expensive (total cost over a few years) but the hydraulics will be worth it. The easy boardwalk would be my second choice.
Go to Woodmizer.com and check out the pro sawyer network. You can see if anyone local to you has a sawmill you can go check out. Lots of LT15s out there being used, probably one closer to you than you think. Seems every time I take a drive through the country I see a sawmill that wasn't there last time I drove through. Good luck!
GH I have timber king and like it a lot. the company stands behind their stuff well. you might do well to buy the mill you know, and get the hydraulics.
I'd stick with the use WM Hydraulic. If you decide to upgrade later you can probably get most if not all (or more) of your money back if you keep it well maintained. You look to be half way between the Atlanta and NC WM dealers. WM customer service will be hard to beat if needed. They also have a service loop every other year you could get on and have their tech give it a complete check up and alignment or take it to one of the other dealers mentioned if you need service before the next scheduled visit to your area.
I can't answer about the electric but I think you can swap out any of the power plants with electric. Call WM and confirm that option for the model you are discussing.
I like my EZ Boardwalk very much I have the Jr mill, it came with a trailer setup and a 10 ft extension. Very simply built and easy to set up and maintain. Made in small town USA. Can't answer to how the turner will handle a big log like a 36 incher that is beyond my capacity and I would quarter the log before I sawed it. That being said for 8000.00$ I would buy the hydraulic mill and take it to a woodmizer dealer, have it gone through and be happy for the next 20 years or so. Welcome and good luck to you.
Since you already have a hydraulic FEL tractor, you are already ahead in the saw milling game, IMO. And with your health problems I would go for a brand new, with warranty, smaller electric powered mill. And of course, electric hydraulic mills are available, also.
Thanks all for your input. I've decided to go with the old LT40. Might take it to Woodmizer to be refurbished. It was a hard decision. So many nice looking machines out there, but I already know this one and it seems like a solid and popular model. Thanks again to all who responded
I bought mine brand new 7 years ago and now it is old too. Just like many things in life, the good looks do not last! :)
I have not seen the hydraulic lt-40 you have been running but for $8K it would probably be at the top of my list. Based on your budget, you would have a little wiggle room to fix some of the quirky things. The production would likely be better than the manual mills you are considering. You would probably hurt less after a day of sawing if you have hydraulics to help you position logs/cants.
As far as replacement parts I would look at bearings, rollers, belts and other parts that move and receive wear. Also, since bad grounds can be a source of much consternation, I think I would spend a day cleaning electrical connections.
Good luck and let us know what you end up with.
with a little tlc, heck you could get cans of WM orange, or the equivalent, and get more than you paid for it down the road.
Lots of great mills being built, I like my Lt 15 but was looking to buy a EZ before, check craigslist and facebook marketplace and exchange etc. Lots of used ones for sale, remember a lot of old farts buy these mills and they don't live long and a lot of family members don't have the same interest. Recently a excellent Lt 40 came up for sale locally it sold for $6000 I had to remember I already have a mill and IT IS ONLY A HOBBY!!!!