The Forestry Forum

General Forestry => Sawmills and Milling => Topic started by: flyboy16101 on December 01, 2015, 08:01:37 PM

Title: Woodmizer lap siding attachment
Post by: flyboy16101 on December 01, 2015, 08:01:37 PM
Dose anyone have information on the shingle/lap siding attachment from Woodmizer? I am looking at one used and I am wondering if it's worth the investment? Thanks
Title: Re: Woodmizer lap siding attachment
Post by: beenthere on December 01, 2015, 08:11:39 PM
"worth it" will be up to you, and what you do with it.
Only you can determine the answer...

How does it fit within your business plan? 

If it works perfect, do you plan to put a lot of wood through it and sell shingles and siding? 

What is the investment ??
Title: Re: Woodmizer lap siding attachment
Post by: GAB on December 01, 2015, 08:26:08 PM
flyboy16101:
I bought a used SLR a while back and used it once.  I keep it as you never know when you might be able to quote a job very few people are going to be able to fill.
I requested and received, via email, the instruction manual for it from W-M.
Note: I totally agree with Beenthere.
Gerald
Title: Re: Woodmizer lap siding attachment
Post by: Magicman on December 01, 2015, 08:35:54 PM
No matter the cost, I would have to have a good idea how quickly I would recover my investment because storing idle iron is not my idea of profitability.  The available market and reaching that market is the key to making any investment profitable.
Title: Re: Woodmizer lap siding attachment
Post by: flyboy16101 on December 01, 2015, 10:20:51 PM
I was thinking along the lines on what gab said about being only person around that can do it. At the moment I am trying to add products I can offer to my mill service, tomato/ survey stakes, fire wood, etc... To make it a more sustainable income. What I was wondering is do you guys get a lot of orders for lap siding or is it something that there is not much of a demand for?
Title: Re: Woodmizer lap siding attachment
Post by: prittgers on December 01, 2015, 11:52:40 PM
Until the BevelSider (www.bevelsider.com) came along, I have been a big fan of the SLR.  While using mine across from the college in Kenai, Alaska I got to visiting with the Welding Instructor.  Because long pieces of siding were sagging and making the ends thin, he added 5 ft to the frame.  That took care of the drooping. 

The Pony clamps ate a few of my blades, though  :-\,  One thing that I wanted to overcome was the way you always seemed to end up with a board that was not flat when you were done. 

It is still one of the best attachments you can get. I cut 6100 lineal feet of bevel siding for a single customer.  At the hourly rate it made me a lot of money!  If you can't get a BevelSider, get the Wood-Mizer SLR.  Keep it oiled up and it will make you money.

 (https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/29548/IMG_0080_28800x57129.jpg) 

 (https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/29548/Salmon-Catcher-Lodge-front-view-1.png)



Title: Re: Woodmizer lap siding attachment
Post by: starmac on December 02, 2015, 12:17:56 AM
Ok, what is the difference between a lap sider and a slr??

Never mind, I went back and saw you provided a link. Is this the one you had to show at fairbanks this year??
Title: Re: Woodmizer lap siding attachment
Post by: petefrom bearswamp on December 02, 2015, 06:09:22 PM
Had mine for 7 yrs never used it sold it to Chuck White
Title: Re: Woodmizer lap siding attachment
Post by: Chuck White on December 03, 2015, 10:39:43 AM
I still have it and it's stored on the wall in my garage!

I'm still in hopes to use it sometime!

The instruction manual for it isn't very informative.

It would help to know how wide of a cant to make and how much to drop the sawhead to get certain size shingles or lap siding!
Title: Re: Woodmizer lap siding attachment
Post by: GAB on December 03, 2015, 01:15:12 PM
Quote from: Chuck White on December 03, 2015, 10:39:43 AM
I still have it and it's stored on the wall in my garage!

I'm still in hopes to use it sometime!

The instruction manual for it isn't very informative.

It would help to know how wide of a cant to make and how much to drop the sawhead to get certain size shingles or lap siding!

Mr. White SIR:
Concerning the instruction manual - Call Barry in Hanibal and ask him to email you the latest version of an SLR manual.  It is much better than what was originally supplied.
Concerning the max. width - measure the pony clamp and subtract a little for ease of mounting the blocks.
Depending on the thickness desired and the length ( in my case I was sawing 22-1/4" long shingles that were 17/32" thick at one end and 5/32" at the other end.  I ended up having to adjust the cams on the bar that rotates.  That was a pain.
When using the SLR you need to set two point on the computer in my case I was using 5/32" and 17/32".  before you raise the head, after taking a pass, you need to change the auto down to the other set point, raise the head and return, flip the handle, drop the head and repeat.  NOTE: Pony clamps and saw blades are a bad mix.  As you can probably tell I know from experience.

I used mine to make shingles that I used on my veggie stand.  I used 7" reveal on the roof and 10" reveal on the sides. 
Gerald
Title: Re: Woodmizer lap siding attachment
Post by: Chuck White on December 03, 2015, 04:54:43 PM
Thanks for the post Gerald, I'll give him a call first chance I get!

I need to order some stuff anyway!

My 1995 model LT40 has no computer stuff, so all the up/dn is set by eye!
Title: Re: Woodmizer lap siding attachment
Post by: Kbeitz on December 03, 2015, 05:23:14 PM
Cooks sells a magnet rule....
It's far from a computer but better than nothing...

 (https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/39553/Cooks_rule.JPG)



 (https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/39553/Magnetic_scales~1.JPG)
Title: Re: Woodmizer lap siding attachment
Post by: GAB on December 04, 2015, 10:25:23 AM
Quote from: Chuck White on December 03, 2015, 04:54:43 PM
Thanks for the post Gerald, I'll give him a call first chance I get!

I need to order some stuff anyway!

My 1995 model LT40 has no computer stuff, so all the up/dn is set by eye!

You're welcome and I hope your eye is a whole lot better than mine.
The only time I use the scale on the mill is to make sure the head is high enough to clear the log loader arms when packing the mill for travel.
Gerald
Title: Re: Woodmizer lap siding attachment
Post by: snowshoveler on December 04, 2015, 11:36:02 AM
Kbeitz
I love that scale and the adjustable pointers.
What a great idea.
That will work nice on my circle saw.
Thanks.
Chris
Title: Re: Woodmizer lap siding attachment
Post by: rooster 58 on December 04, 2015, 01:38:23 PM
I got my slr when I purchased my mill. I have never used it, although I threaten to do so once in awhile
Title: Re: Woodmizer lap siding attachment
Post by: Darrel on December 04, 2015, 03:58:12 PM
I have shingle lap sider that I would be willing to sell if it didn't also make shingles. It came with my used LT40.  I've only used mine once.  Prop the cant up on a wedge for one cut then take it out for the next will accomplish the same thing. If you were to use it on a regular basis, I suppose it would be a good investment, but for no more often than I use mine, I'd be happy to use the wedge method if I didn't already have the lap sider.
Title: Re: Woodmizer lap siding attachment
Post by: Darrel on December 04, 2015, 04:14:07 PM
prittgers, that looks like a fine setup and a way better device than the lap sider.  If I ever get substantial orders for siding I will definitely sell what I have and by the bevel/sider.
Title: Re: Woodmizer lap siding attachment
Post by: terrifictimbersllc on December 04, 2015, 05:03:28 PM
Anyone have the weight and length of the Woodmizer SLR?  Any comment on one person being able to handle it, up on the truck rack and off into the shed for example?  Without a fork lift?
Title: Re: Woodmizer lap siding attachment
Post by: Arkyrick on December 04, 2015, 05:43:49 PM
HI Ya'll I cut some lap siding on my mill the other day to cover a wood shed with out a lap siding attachment. All I did was cut one side of the log flat and put that side down and put a piston jack under the log, jack it up on one side a bit then inserted two 1" spacers between the log and saw frame, then let the jack down until the log rested on the spacers. I cut a piece of lap siding then pumped the jack up pulled the 2 spacers let the log down and cut a second piece of siding and repeated the process again. Its a little primitive but worked. Attached are the results like I said primitive but it worked.
Well I cant seem to load the pics on here is there a specific way to upload them on this site?
Title: Re: Woodmizer lap siding attachment
Post by: Darrel on December 04, 2015, 06:25:43 PM
Quote from: terrifictimbersllc on December 04, 2015, 05:03:28 PM
Anyone have the weight and length of the Woodmizer SLR?  Any comment on one person being able to handle it, up on the truck rack and off into the shed for example?  Without a fork lift?

Can't give you an exact weight but I can load it into my pickup put it on my mill by myself, lifting one end at a time.  I'd guess that it weighs about 200 lbs. 
Title: Re: Woodmizer lap siding attachment
Post by: Chuck White on December 04, 2015, 06:30:28 PM
Quote from: terrifictimbersllc on December 04, 2015, 05:03:28 PM
Anyone have the weight and length of the Woodmizer SLR?  Any comment on one person being able to handle it, up on the truck rack and off into the shed for example?  Without a fork lift?


Just went out and measured, it's 11'9" long.

Not exactly sure what it weighs, I have picked it up and moved it around a little, I would guess somewhere around 180 pounds.  I just wouldn't want to have to move it very far!

One person should be able to put one end up on the rack and slide it forward, just be systematic and careful.
Title: Re: Woodmizer lap siding attachment
Post by: starmac on December 04, 2015, 11:54:09 PM
If you are talking overhead rack, maybe when I was in my 20's. lol
No way I could do it, it would have been a chore back then.
I have not yet used mine, but just looking at it, it doesn't look like it would be much of a chore add hydraulics to it., In fact I was thinking about ways to do it on my way home with it. lol
Title: Re: Woodmizer lap siding attachment
Post by: Arkyrick on December 07, 2015, 08:56:59 AM
 (https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/40330/IMG_20151204_162056~0.jpg)(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/40330/IMG_20151204_162110.jpg)
Hope I got posting these photos right please excuse me if I catch the forum on fire :D
Title: Re: Woodmizer lap siding attachment
Post by: Magicman on December 07, 2015, 01:50:46 PM
No fire because I see them in your gallery and in the post.   smiley_thumbsup
Title: Re: Woodmizer lap siding attachment
Post by: prittgers on December 07, 2015, 08:56:31 PM
I noticed that removing the blade on a Wood-Mizer allows you to transport the BevelSider (www.bevelsider.com) on the mill with the head resting on the parking pin.  This as a design requirement when it was designed.  Both the Wood-Mizer SLR and the Bevelsider weigh about the same.   

 (https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/29548/End_Cut_Photo.jpg)
Title: Re: Woodmizer lap siding attachment
Post by: Chuck White on December 08, 2015, 09:31:44 AM
I like seeing info on the SLR and the newer BevelSider!
Title: Re: Woodmizer lap siding attachment
Post by: wfcjr on December 08, 2015, 12:56:41 PM
Not to be a wise guy, just asking a question...

It appears that the BevelSider does the same job as the Woodmize SLR, Lap sider, at a pretty strong price premium.

Similary it looks like the WoodMizer Resaw attachment will resaw, cut beveled siding (clapboards to us Yankees) and shingles.  The WoodMizer Resaw appears to be priced more comparably to the BevelSider.

So what is the advantage from a price/performance/functionality perspective of the BevelSider, when the WoodMizer Resaw attachment will resaw and make shingles, in addition to lapsiding (clapboards)?

Just askin'.....
Title: Re: Woodmizer lap siding attachment
Post by: prittgers on December 08, 2015, 10:56:07 PM
Great question from WFCjr.  There are some real advantages to both machines.  The advantages of the Bevelsider include:

1). No clamps above the frame for those expensive blades to saw into.
2). The last board is a usable, saleable piece of lumber.  It is square on all sides, not a parallelogram.
3). There is no twisting of the operator's spine to reach across the sawmill, grasp the handle, and pull it up as you straighten up into a standing position.
4). The hydraulics on most mills give you a 1-second cycle time with no real effort needed other than to move the hydraulic control handle.
5). The SLR requires clamping to the bed.  The BevelSider simply sits right on top of the bed rails where it does what it's supposed to do!
6). The BevelSider will make 18 foot (or longer) siding without sagging which causes thin ends and 'fat middles'.
7). The clamping system on the Bevelsider puts enormous force on the sides of the cant.  Most operators use a battery operated impact gun to quickly run the acme threaded clamp bolts down which presses the cant into position for sawing.
8). The Bevelsider does not have to be removed from the sawmill for transport.  One person can move it on and off of the mill without assistance.

The Bevelsider does not make shingles.  Nothing seems to beat Wood-Mizer's HR120 resaw for this.  The HR120 is a wonderful machine.  I would love to have one here at my shop. 

I love the WM SLR and made a LOT of money with mine.  But, most everyone agrees that they would rather have the Bevelsider for its  ease of use and higher production.

Remember - they are different machines with different purposes in the portable sawmilling world!

Title: Re: Woodmizer lap siding attachment
Post by: Chuck White on December 09, 2015, 09:36:24 AM


The instruction manual for the SLR says: "Do not tighten the clamp bolts on the bed rails.  The clamp bolts should only be tightened before towing the sawmill with the SLR attached".
Title: Re: Woodmizer lap siding attachment
Post by: GAB on December 09, 2015, 10:04:56 AM
I have never clamped the SLR to the bed of my mill.
Gerald
Title: Re: Woodmizer lap siding attachment
Post by: wfcjr on December 09, 2015, 01:16:25 PM
Quote from: prittgers on December 08, 2015, 10:56:07 PM
Great question from WFCjr.  There are some real advantages to both machines. 
I love the WM SLR and made a LOT of money with mine.  But, most everyone agrees that they would rather have the Bevelsider for its  ease of use and higher production.

Remember - they are different machines with different purposes in the portable sawmilling world!

Thanks for the explanation & the detail.

One point of clarification however, I was not asking about the freestanding HR 10 Resaw. I was asking about the WM Resaw attachment that goes on a WoodMizer mill.

Thanks,