The Forestry Forum

General Forestry => Sawmills and Milling => Topic started by: Outtahere on May 15, 2025, 11:32:37 AM

Title: New blades are rusted
Post by: Outtahere on May 15, 2025, 11:32:37 AM
Looking for input from those with more experience here, I just received a new Woodland Mills HM130max with a 10-pack of blades. The box containing the blades was wet and must have been for some time during shipping because it rusted the blades and teeth. Am I overreacting asking for a replacement set of these or is it not a big deal? I've reached out to Woodland Mills but haven't gotten a response yet.
Title: Re: New blades are rusted
Post by: TreefarmerNN on May 15, 2025, 12:37:31 PM
I wouldn't worry about light surface rust.  Wood will clean that right up.  If they are pitted, that's a different deal.  Then I'd want new blades.

Blades that I've bought usually have some oil on them so your box must have been wet for a while to rust the blades.
Title: Re: New blades are rusted
Post by: Daburner87 on May 15, 2025, 03:03:19 PM
Not really an issue at all, just use them.  Box looks soaked so must have been outside in the rain at some point.    If you don't plan on going through a lot of logs right away you can put a blade on quick, make a single pass through the log and that will be enough to clean the rust off.  Do that one pass with each blade and then store the ones you don't plan to use right away, its easier than cleaning them.  Again that depends on how much sawing you plan to do.
Title: Re: New blades are rusted
Post by: YellowHammer on May 15, 2025, 03:35:32 PM
Did you pay for, and expect clean, razor sharp bands or rusted ones? 

Everybody can do their own thing, but I would not accept them.  Woodland Mills is a good and reputable company, I would expect they would agree and make things right. 



Title: Re: New blades are rusted
Post by: Outtahere on May 15, 2025, 04:17:31 PM
Thank you guys for the input. Seems as though they are at least still usable. You make a good point, Yellowhammer. I think it's more on Fedex what happened to them but we'll see what woodlandmills responds with, if they ever do.
Title: Re: New blades are rusted
Post by: barbender on May 15, 2025, 06:25:39 PM
I would definitely make a complaint on the shipper for letting the package get soaked. That's a big no-no.
Title: Re: New blades are rusted
Post by: blackhawk on May 16, 2025, 11:07:47 AM
Quote from: Outtahere on May 15, 2025, 04:17:31 PMThank you guys for the input. Seems as though they are at least still usable. You make a good point, Yellowhammer. I think it's more on Fedex what happened to them but we'll see what woodlandmills responds with, if they ever do.
I was going to ask if they were shipped Fedex.  Fedex has went way down hill in just the past year.  I had to ship some boat carpet back to the manufacturer for a warranty claim a few months ago.  I tracked it and it was late, but finally arrived at their factory.  A week after it was delivered, I still hadn't heard about the warranty evaluation.  I finally called and they said the carpet was still drying out.  Evidently, there had been some flash flooding in the area and the final Fedex delivery truck drove through a flooded road.  They said everything that was dropped off that day was completely soaked.  
Title: Re: New blades are rusted
Post by: Outtahere on May 19, 2025, 09:27:38 AM
Quote from: blackhawk on May 16, 2025, 11:07:47 AMFedex has went way down hill in just the past year. 
Yeah the whole package arrived in laughable condition but nothing was damaged outside of the rusted blades. WM did respond and said I can ship the blades back to get replaced but I looked closer and the rust is surface level, no pitting so I'm going to keep them rather than wait and give Fedex another chance to mishandle them.
Title: Re: New blades are rusted
Post by: SawyerTed on May 20, 2025, 09:02:12 PM
FedEx is horrible. 

The driver dumped boxes in the middle of the driveway.  Just pulled up, opened the door and threw them out.  In the middle like can't drive around them laziest thing I've seen in a while. Amazon wasn't impressed when I gave a really scathing review.  

They get less and less of our business.  I'll change my orders if FedEx is the shipper.  
Title: Re: New blades are rusted
Post by: Daburner87 on May 21, 2025, 08:21:40 AM
Side note, I love watching Amazon and delivery drivers mess up.  There are tons of these videos where they crash into the house, take out mailboxes, etc...   And then they drive off like nothing happened.  ffwave


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kop-95Th_ZQ&ab_channel=Newsflare


My favorite is when they pay sub contractors to deliver out of their personal vehicles, like the guy in the video above in a Lexus at the 2 minute mark.  Not only does he ruin his new Lexus he almost took the roof down over the Tesla.
Title: Re: New blades are rusted
Post by: Magicman on May 21, 2025, 09:27:31 AM
We have an ongoing (legal) situation here where a FedEx contractor, in an unmarked vehicle, delivered to the wrong address.  He later realized his mistake and went back to retrieve the package.  As usual he was running and this time the neighbor saw him.  Figuring that he was a "porch bandit", he hopped in his truck and followed the unmarked vehicle.  Shots were fired.  It's a legal mess which is about all that I can say.  :uhoh: :veryangry: 
Title: Re: New blades are rusted
Post by: YellowHammer on May 21, 2025, 09:38:39 AM
I am also a FedEx Groaner.  Whenever I see them, I groan in anticipation of a screwup.  

I do not understand the stupidity behind unmarked contractor delivery vehicles.  It seems like a very poor company decision, as MM describes.  I mean, even pizza and Steak Out cars have big signs on them, but not Fed Ex?
Title: Re: New blades are rusted
Post by: SawyerTed on May 21, 2025, 10:00:15 AM
The unmarked delivery vehicle drivers have taken to texting prior to their arrival with stuff like secure your pets, turn a light on etc. 

They do wear vests/uniforms. 

What surprises me is Amazon has overnight deliveries which arrive in the early morning.  
Title: Re: New blades are rusted
Post by: Magicman on May 21, 2025, 10:29:36 AM
Quote from: SawyerTed on May 21, 2025, 10:00:15 AMThey do wear vests/uniforms. 
They certainly should.

The guy that I described above was not.  He was wearing shorts & T shirt as shown by body cameras when the police arrived.
Title: Re: New blades are rusted
Post by: bobnic on May 21, 2025, 11:22:13 AM
I would be concerned that the degree of rust shown on the teeth would have reduced the sharpness of the tooth points.  Close inspection should be able to determine if this is the case.  If so I would want replacement blades or as a minimum resharpening the blades.
Title: Re: New blades are rusted
Post by: barbender on May 21, 2025, 11:37:20 AM
Gosh, those contractors should at least be required to have a door magnet with the company name on them.
Title: Re: New blades are rusted
Post by: WV Sawmiller on May 21, 2025, 11:37:46 AM
  You guys sure do make me appreciate my FedEx lady! She is extremely personable, outgoing and always has a treat for Sampson when she comes by. She is very professional and I could not ask for better support. Obviously some you guys don't have the same caliber support we do here in WV.