Some input on comparison, opinions

[samandothers]

Everybody has opinions. 

I recently posted about visiting Wood Mizer in Indy and the LT 35 being $13,000 right now. It is 25 hp with power feed and simple set power setting for head adjustment. it is manual load and rotate.  I have a tractor with grapple.

I have found a used TK 1600 which is a 1997 with about 400 hours with 22 hp power up down and feed. In addition it has hyd loader and chain turner. Appears to be in good shape based on pictures but have not seen it yet.   It is $12,500.

What are y'alls thoughts on this comparison. Thanks for input.


Still not ruled out an LT 15, Norwood 34 yada yada yada.

[WDH]

If it is manual load and rotate, what is the advantage over the LT15 at half the cost?

[cypresskayaksllc]

One thing to consider is a new mill will have a warranty. Something breaks, no big problem. Buying a used mill is more of a risk. If your buying a used mill make sure you have a little parts nest egg to fall back on. Also, parts wear out on all sawmills. Youre going to have to buy parts eventually. The more costly the sawmill the more money the parts cost.

[Brucer]

So you're looking at a 15 year old machine with 400 hours on it. Big question -- was the mill run every year, or has it been sitting gathering dust for the last several years. There may be issues with the motor if it hasn't been running for a long time.

I would want to look at the used mill. Check the oil, fire the engine up and see if it runs smoothly right off the bat. Ask to see the maintenance records. If the owner hasn't got any, or can't find them, walk away.

Other than that, you're trading off a new machine with manual loading and turning versus an old machine with hydraulic loading and turning. If you're going to saw for others, or do a lot of production, the hydraulics is good. If you're just hobby sawing for yourself and friends, it might be more than you need.

[red oaks lumber]

for the $500 differance i would go with the new machine.no matter the brand 15 yrs newer and only $500 more.

[MotorSeven]

No, I would go for the Hydraulic turner/clamps....pricless.

WDh is right, I see zero advantage to a LT28/25 over a LT15. Manual is manual....

[moandrich]

I believe you can add hydraulics to an lt35 at a later date, pretty sure I saw an option for one on the builder.

[samandothers]

Good feedback.  I appreciate your time.  I do like the idea of new versus the older machine.  Not having a a loader I believe I can over come with my tractor and grapple.  It would be nice to have the turner but not sure it is work the more expensive old mill.

WDH and Motorseven
I understand the comments about LT15.  When I first looked at Wood-Mizer I was thinking LT-15.  Because I may be cutting in different locations I would like to get a trailer package and had looked at moving up the the larger Hp engine, 25 hp, on the LT15.  These two options run the LT15 about 10,600.  Base handles 11' logs and 28" dia.   
The smallest mill with trailer package is the LT28 which if you add the larger HP engine it goes to 12,695.  handle 21' log and 32" log.  While the larger capacity and the cantilever head is nice I am not sure it is worth moving to the LT28.
LT-35 Has trailer package 25 Hp engine in addition power feed and accuset head adjustment for 12,995 as it is discounted in April by $1500.  So for about 2500 more over the LT15 the additional log size, power and options makes me consider the LT35.

I do appreciate the help and input!

[dgdrls]

I also looked at the LT15 w/ trailer package.  Then saw the LT 28.
To me no comparison,  The 28 has the key WM features, same bed as the 40 series
with the canti head.  Yes it's manual except I believe it has a powered feed,
the balance of the mill is pure WM engineering.

Best DGDrls

[MotorSeven]

Sam, I don't know how handy you are, but the LT15 track is pretty easy to replicate yourself(I added a 16' extension for a little over $500 in materials). Same thing with a trailer package, so you could save a ton of money buying a used LT15 and building your own options.

To be honest I have run an LT40 and while auto feed is nice, the LT15 just gives you a bit more exercise. Cranking or pushing the mill head down and pulling it back causes me zero strain, and if I had auto feed, I'd just be standing there watching. I have a 40 horse tractor, so loading is not a problem. The problem is turning and clamping logs....it gets old real fast and chews up a lot of time. Really big or long logs require help and I saw alone 90% of the time. That being said, my next mill will be a LT35 HYD, but I am going to wait until my house is done & see how much sawing I do when I'm not building something(if I am ever done building something...finishing a 60x80 barn is next ;D).

So, if you have the change rattling around in your pocket and you want to buy new, consider the LT35Hyd for under $20K. Hunt down a sawyer or two near you and try out a manual vs hyd mill, it might make your decision easier. You welcome to come pedal my LT15 anytime.

[barbender]

I think for the price difference, that lt35 would be the ticket. Especially if you are going to saw mobile a lot.

[samandothers]

Hope to go to an open house at a near by Wood Mizer dealer this month to see the different mills.  I have had the opportunity to now saw with a Cooks MP 32 (Thanks to Fat Olde Elf) and a Norwood 34.  Both are good mills.  I have not sawed with a TK nor a Wood Mizer yet.  Received a TK packet and the prices look pretty good right now.  Bot they do throw some darts at Wood Mizer design.

[Magicman]

Bot they do throw some darts at Wood Mizer design. 

I question that sales tactic.   :-\

[ladylake]

 And I just watched a vid of WM throwing darts at the 4 post design, both work just fine.     Steve

[jdonovan]

Everybody has opinions. 

Between the two machines listed I'd be at the new one. Not many hours on the used one, so its likely sat... a lot. Hopefully its been running recently, and is in good repair. But the usual scenario is they get run a bunch, and then sit for 4-5 years, and then sold. The sitting isn't good for them and lots of things rust.

I've looked at a bunch of mills, and it became obvious to me that log handling on the manual mills was going to kick my butt. I'm not 20 any more, and don't have a helper. I can't imagine needing to turn big logs with a hand winch every time I had to flip a cant to saw the other side.... sure its do-able, but it really slows the production down quite a bit.

I landed in a used WM fully hydraulic mill, and I'm VERY glad I got the hydraulics. I think if I had not, I would have declared saw-milling too much darn work and left the hobby.

[POSTON WIDEHEAD]

If I manufactured a mill and sold it world wide, I would call it MAGICMILL. And if I knew my mill was the best on the market, I would not have to throw darts at anyone. Just saying. 

However, with that being said, I would defend my design without throwing a dart.

[Bandmill Bandit]

Design difference between the 2 mills mostly affects the energy required for off bearing and convenience of access for maintenance. Those 2 issues translate to saved time and energy when you own a woodmizer and that means more lumber in the cut wood pile at the end of the week.

LT40HD has a wider throat so will cut bigger logs and the few dollars more will not take long to recover when you get to the bigger logs that you will inevitably be cutting.

IMHO. ;D

Forgot to say that hydraulics are a very necessary option if you plan to do custom milling work.

[sgschwend]

It is great to have a new mill, no matter what the color of it!

I owned a manual mill for one day, by that afternoon I traded it for a full hydraulic mill. I can't tell you how many times folks asked me if I had a manual mill.  It has been said before, if you plan on selling your services you really need the hydraulics.

Plenty of us load logs with a different machine, but we use our log turner to accurately set that 90 degree corner.  A few degrees of error really show up!  Using toe boards to level the center of the log is equally important.

Don't worry about not getting enough exercise, even with hydraulics there is plenty of lifting to do!

[Magicman]

And I just watched a vid of WM throwing darts at the 4 post design, both work just fine.     Steve

I agree.  I hate to see any manufacturer try to raise their image by lowering another's.  I say, let your product stand on it's own merits.  Your customers will sort things out.  And yes, both designs are tried and proven.

[Kcwoodbutcher]

I don't think the '97 TK had a powered chain turner, it was manual and actually slower than a good cant hook. The design is very simple and robust but I think the price is high even with the low hours. That's probably close to the original price in '97. The new ones are a few thousand more but have many great improvements.

[802Vermont Outdoorsman]

Well... They simple set works and the power feed also the up and down... But depending on the age of the owner and if he has/she any log handling equipment . But you do have a good point