What do you all think about the Woodmizer LT15 and the Hud-Son 330 Pro. I have looked at a bunch of mills and it has come down between these two. I want a good solid mill that is easy to use and maintain. I like to get the most "bang for your buck".
Being a realtive newby to band mills and this forum not to logs and equipment; you can't go wrong with the LT15,
I built my own CSM and then bought a Baker. However I read more than I can remember on the smaller saws, and the LT15 in the size of mills your looking at would be where I go. Nothing negative personnally against the Hudson, but for customer service and peace of mind LT 15 would be my suggestion.
Ed
i dont own either one,but i did look them over a little bit. the 330 is a 30" machine thats a huge plus right there. you can up grade it, probably off the shelf parts its cheaper than the lt15 even when the wm is on sale i think if it were me id lean torwards the hudson
Brent
I don't know about Hudson but I have really had good experiences working with Woodmizer.
I looked at both Hud-son and WM at our local farmshow. I felt that there was enough of a difference for me to spend a little more and buy the LT15. I also opted for the 25 hp engine. I feel it's a more rugged machine.
WM all the way. and by all the engine you can. good luck 8) 8) 8)
Cory, There are lots of LT15 owners here and like me I think they will all pretty much tell you the LT15 is indeed a well built and reliable mill. If you have decided a manual mill is all you need, then I would say go with the Woodmizer.
KTF
Just cause it can cut 30" doesn't mean it will do it well ;)
I'd go with the LT15, not just because it's a WM, but because it's a very good quality mill.
I own a LT10G10, and while it's small I love it. WM has been great with every question I've had, they even replaced my log clamp for free.
Knock on wood..........I bought my LT15 in the fall of 2002 and I have cut 10's of thousands of BF with it. It has stayed in perfect adjustment since day one. I have never had to so much as touch an adjustment mechanism. Knock on wood, again..........
The Hud-son may be the same, but I have had no experience with one.
WM
I know a hudson owner
hudson has it's place in this business
but ifin ya wants a run day to day
like I do go WM
the support alone is worth it
Hudson may be a fine mill, but I am very satisfied with my WM and the people there I have worked with.
does that model hudson have roller blade guides? some hudsons i have looked at didnt and i think this would be harder on the blade than roller guides.
i like the roller guides on my mill. they work real well. pc
I think that the Hud-son has guide shoes with a bearing behind the blade and the woodmizer has a bearing.
So far here is what I like about each
Hud-Son 330 Pro
30 inch Capacity, Centrifugal Clutch, double block bearings on band wheels, 19 inch band wheels, the log dogs/clamps, operator isn't on the sawdust side, four post head $5295
Woodmizer LT30
Box beam bed, gas assist height adjustment, easy bolt on power feed option, has six log dogs standard.
The bad
330 Pro
Could be a hassle to change blades with the head between two posts
LT15
Operator is on sawdust side price is $5900 ($600 more than 330 Pro), only 28 inch capacity, to engage the blade you have to pull a lever then idle up the motor.
Thanks for everyone's input so far ;)
If capacity is a concern, be sure you understand what they mean by the term (for both saws). Does it mean a 28"/30" log? or does it mean a 28"/30" width of cut? And if it's width of cut, is that the distance between guide rollers, or is it the width of a cant clamped on the mill.
buy woodmizer
What woodmills said.
A 30" log is pretty big for that size of mill, hud-son or wm ;)