Woodmiser - Planner / Joiner / Moulder

[BarnSmokeStudio]

I'm looking for some advise / reviews of the Woodmiser planner / joiner combo machines.  This is just for me to use for my hobby / low volume wood milling.  The specs look really good along with the prices as compared to other brands, and it's a Woodmiser .  

I probably have 800 board feet of ash that is ready to use and going rate I am seeing in Maryland for milling / planning is $200 a hour.  With my sawmill just about build (Woodlandmills 136Max) I will have a lots of lumber coming that I will need to surface.    

Interested in hearing your thoughts for small time / hobby milling.

Thanks,
Tim

[Magicman]

How do you plan to dry it?

[BarnSmokeStudio]

I just dropped off some walnut I had milled with my Granburg chainsaw mill at Makers Woodshop to get finished in their iDry.  Long term I would love to have my own kiln but that would probably be more than is practical.  The ash has been air dried for several years now and I am looking at how to get that kiln dried here in Maryland for a more economical prices, Makers charges $0.20 a bf / day.

[BarnSmokeStudio]

How do you plan to dry it?

I guess its not really ready to use yet, as its at about 12-14%.

[Southside]

A solar kiln might be a good avenue for you. Can't beat the daily operating cost. 

[scsmith42]

If I were you I would buy/build a kiln before acquiring a moulder. 

.20 per bd ft per day works out to $6.00 per bd ft for a 30 day kiln run drying green 4/4 oak!

[barbender]

Yeah their drying charge seems like highway robbery or something👎

[KenMac]

Maybe I need to upgrade my kiln rates. I just get $1 a board foot for whatever is in there! I'm not money motivated enough sometimes......

[BarnSmokeStudio]

There is another shop that runs an iDry on the Easter Shore about 1:45 hours away that charges $0.15 bf per day.  If you know of anyone in the Baltimore area that does "correct" and cheaper I would be interested.  

A kiln is hopefully in my future, and I guess it does make sense to get that going first.  I was looking at the Nyle L53 and I think I can build the chamber in the side part of my barn for it.   My hobby is adding up a bit, I am waiting on my Bad Boy 3036 tractor to get delivered so I can load the logs on the Woodland Mills 136Max.

[greensman]

i have the mp180 jointer/planer/moulder.  i bought it to have a wider jointer and planer, and run some shiplap and tongue and groove occasionally.  i have had it for two years and haven't used the moulder yet.  i do use the jointer and planer most weeks.  it has handled everything i have needed to get done.  its not in the same universe as the "the big gulp" or other machines.  and i wouldn't want to depend on it for large volumes but when the closest 12" jointer is around the same cost as this machine, it was a easy decision for me.  the only negative i have had is the carbide inserts that came with the helical head were very poor quality.  a dozen were broken when i received it and in the first month even more broke.  woodmizer was good enough to send a sleeve of replacements and i have been slowly replacing them with byrd inserts.  i did pair it up with the woodmizer chip extractor and that machine is a beast.  sounds like a jet engine spoiling up and pull the doors on the shop closed.  im not sure which model you're looking at but i will be happy to answer any questions that i can.