Well I am more confused than ever

[Chris Burchfield]

Brian, Thank you for your service to all of us here in the USA and those across the pond. I bird dogged the orange for about eighteen years. Taking in their improvements and seeing what else was out there. I purchased an orange hydraulic this last July W/51HP CAT. I'm 47, so just ahead of ya. I'm down here in Memphis so holler at me if your passing through or want to visit. The orange, WM's are the product and brand I wanted. I want both a 4XW forks tractor and a circular swing. Have about 2 years, 4 months to retire from the present employeer. I'm getting older and hydraulic was the only way to go. I don't want to have to think a lot either, I added the command control, though walking back and forth would probably been more healthy. Thanks again for your service, Chris.

[Sunfield Hardwood]

Hi derhntr, as well as the others here I too say thanks for your service to our country.I live in sunfield on m-50 near lake odessa, I do custom sawing on a woodmizer as well as Quite a bit of logging then grade sawing the logs, my email add. is in my profile I'd be glad to give you a demo and share all I know [that won't take to long] but I'd be glad to meet you.

[ARKANSAWYER]

    Here is my take on this.   Barring which mill you take being TK, TH, WM, Baker or who ever there are a few things I know about sawing on the road.   Just so that you know I been at this a spell and have a million+ board feet sawn on the road.
  As for the 1.25 and 1.5 debate the 25 inch wheels make more of the differance then the blade size.   When sawing solo the extra speed that you may gain from larger wheels and blade size will be lost in how fast you can remove the products.   The blade only cuts longer because it is longer on the bigger wheels thus has more teeth to do the work.   It's life is better due to the fact that it flexs less.   The machine cost more and the blades cost more.   My WM has 19 inch wheels and I run 0.045 1.25" blades and have Re-Sharp do my sharpening and blade cost for me is about $0.013 per bdft.
  Hydralics are the best and sawing solo is the only real way to go day in and day out.    They have made it possible for me to keep going even when hurt with a broken leg.   You still need a A.S.S. to get the logs to the mill when on the road.
  De-barker is just about a must.   It will be worth every coin you spend on it.   Will save time, blades and coin every day.  If the choice comes down to little wheels or de-barker the de-barker will save and make you more money.   Did I say that a de-barker is a good thing to have?
   Engine size and type of fuel are something to consider.  Bigger is good but there is a point that the increased cost is of no use to you.   You can buy a mill with a big Cat on it that will saw 800 bdft an hour but by yourself you can not get the lumber off the mill fast enough to use it all.  So the cost of the fuel and increased payments are of no use to you.   I have a 25 gas on mine and solo we work at about the same speed and can put out 1,600 bdft day in and day out.   When I have help the rate goes up because I saw more then move stuff.   If I had a Super with big Cat I bet my rate would stay about the same.   Hard for me to get diesel in some parts of the county so gas was better for the mill.   Diesel is higher then gas now and the engines cost 2 to 3 times more then a gas one.
  It is a tad warmer down here and if you want a crash course in 101 Sawing come down to Arkansas and I will demo a WM for you and you can see what mobile sawing is all about.
   THANKS for Serving   PS 27

[derhntr]

Thanks for all the wisdom that you all are passing on. I am still waiting on more catalog from the sponsors of this great site. TH infor was at my door in 4 days, with a email of thanks.

Been try to compare apples to apples, some times hard to do.

Sunfield I will be in touch, happy to learn.

I have been spending hours just reading and researching the different mill, IMHO you can't go wrong with any of the major companies, it all boils down to how you are going to use the mill. I think that all the mills have good points and some faults.

Sometime I think that I am having infromation overload Like pros and cons of dragback, cable drive vs chain drive, to use 4,9,10 degree blades, hydrulic feed vs electric feed, and much more.

One thing I can say is that this site is full of useful info and helpful folks. Kind of like it here.

Brian

[Lud]

You served us and the U.S. - we're thanking you the best way we know how by way of sharing all our different perspectives.  Figuring out what you want to do is setting the goal.  Figuring out how you're going to do it is the business plan.  Knowing what you can sell is the marketing plan but that needs to be flexible. Figuring out which equipment is the best fit for ability and finances should take the above into account.  Then get sawin'!

Thanks again.

[getoverit]

I had just about convinced myself that all I needed was a manual bandsaw mill, but because I didnt have any other support equipment to move logs, I made my final decision on the Peterson 10" ATS. At least I dont have to move any logs with this one, and can "mill-em-where-they-fall"

Yesterday, I had a chance to saw with Tom, and after seeing all that his hydraulics does for him, I couldn't imagine having to turn a log so much on a manual bandmill. Just turning the logs manually would have worn me out.

My best advice would be to get a Peterson Mill that doesn't require you to move the logs, or buy a bandmill with all the hydraulics you can get on it. Trust me, if you dont have them, you wont have a very high production rate and you will wear yourself out turning logs.

[derhntr]

Well after waiting for 10 days or so I resummitted my catalog request, this time I got automated responses. So I should have new info to ponder over next week.

[jpgreen]

I don't know what's up with Woodmizer and package info.  I never did get mine.

Couple others were real slow.  Doesn't make sence to me, and I asked for it while talking over the phone to sales...  : ??? ??? ???

Thank you for your service and all the other military personell for protecting us!!

[derhntr]

oopps looks like I spoke to soon, my baker info arrived today. After I emailed them today for another on.

Brian

[derhntr]

Well I viewed the DVD from Baker today, Wow what a machine. Only problem is that the big ones are way to much machine for what I need and the cost reflects that too, and the little ones are not enough for what I need.

Brian

[derhntr]

Hey the catalogs arrived today, TK and WM. Now I have to get busy and go find some of the mills and watch them in action

[ARKANSAWYER]

   I will demo the WM for you. ;D

[derhntr]

Thanks for the offer Arky just to far to drive, I have narrowed down the choices to the WM LT40 or TH 30ht25. The cost is about the same for both mills.

Brian