Sawmill laser - is the factory option worth it? Other options?

[stanmillnc]

I'm considering adding the factory mounted Woodmizer laser to my new LT50 - anyone have experience with it? Is it worth the cost? I will have a shed covering over my mill, so I'm thinking it will be visible? 

Anybody have this "Borghuis Instruments" saw laser? Looks like he markets it specifically for Woodmizer mills. It's fairly inexpensive, but just mounts via a magnetic bracket to the mill wheel cover, so I assume it may need frequent adjustment?

[booman]

Well worth it.   I bought one to add to my LT15WIDE and would hate to have to mill without it.   I am under a shed and can see it ok during the day.

[OlJarhead]

I have the Apinex 20mw laser (green) but quickly discovered in bright light (as many suggested) it isn't useful.  I'm sure on cloudy days, under a roof etc, it will be awesome but in the sun it's a no go.

Apinex setup is probably 1/3rd the cost of the WM setup -- no idea if the quality difference is that much (I suspect WM's is higher quality).

[jimbarry]

I test three different Apinex lasers on my mill back in 2018. The 50mW was the brightest one. I only used the laser for about half a year, then took it off. Eventually the mount couldn't withstand the vibration on the mill I have (alum housing, SMG Champion 4 post carriage). I mostly hooked into it with my coat or pant pocket. I still have the lasers and use them occasionally for sighting grade levels.

[OlJarhead]

I used the WM Mount for mine ;) Other than the laser body mount itself, so the mount is solid and appears to hold up.  I may have to try the 50wm version to see if it helps -- also maybe Red might work better than green?

[jimbarry]

I used the WM Mount for mine ;) Other than the laser body mount itself, so the mount is solid and appears to hold up.  I may have to try the 50wm version to see if it helps -- also maybe Red might work better than green?

Of all the reading I've done, green was the preference. Even when I spoke to Apinex, and told them what I wanted to do, they said green would show up better.

[MattM]

Even the apinex 50mW isn't any good if your milling in sunshine. If it's overcast I can see mine on the face of the log but not so much down the length. If it's really cloudy it shows up half decent but if I had my time back I think I would've saved the $200 CAD it cost me for the laser and mount. 

FWIW when I bought mine I didn't buy the very overpriced  'sawmill' version they sell. I bought a 60degree model which is broad enough of an angle to get the face and the 21ft length of the mill and I don't have to worry as much about blinding a customer when I flick it on. I also didn't get their chincey little $20 battery power pack that you can get straight from China for about $2 shipped. I bought an adjustable voltage converter from China for about $3 and wired everything it into the mill. That way the switch that runs it only has power when the mills key is on.

It would be an amazing thing to have if we were just allowed to buy more powerfully lasers...  >:(

[OlJarhead]

I bought the 12v to 3.3v converters on Amazon too -- cheaper and easy.  Just used the Apinex laser and mount and the WM mount and wired it into the switch.  I'm hoping it will work better on non super bright days ;)