Yet another mill comparison question

Strangewoods · January 18, 2021, 08:23:12 PM

I know these questions have to get old for you experienced guys... My apologies. Im just really racking my brain over a few mills.

I'm new here. from upper MI. Machinist by trade. Somehow I got to a point in life where I've got a lil family and homestead on a couple hundred acres. (mostly cedar/spruce) I want to add onto the home place, build a covered porch, lean to off the garage, carport etc. Hopefully get back into wood working. Most the timber on my land is not a real large diameter. Its wet enough most areas that the growth is slowed immensely. Some higher ground w large red pine, few maple, few white pine. That's a small percentage and most these are still probably under 24" dia
I've came close to buying a mill several times over the past 5 yrs. I'm not pulling out this time. I have done some sawing with a friend on his LT15. Its an old one w the 15hp. I liked it pretty good aside from using dull blades most the time and not running any lube. I might try to buy it from him but highly doubt he will part with it tho he only uses it a few times per yr.

I will buy what I can pay cash for. The wife is not going to go for the price tag on a new LT15 sadly. I know that machine would fit my needs and then some.

1. I have only ever ran 1 mill.
2. I wont buy Chinese
3. Seems there's nothing on the used market for small mills
4. I'm not looking to make a career out of this. MAYBE some side $

WM Lx55 14hp would I'm not sure on that machine, I know its newer. Probably the cheapest of the 3 I listed. Looks a bit chinsey in pics but pics can be hard to tell off. probably around 5k including shipment.

Easyboardwalk jr 13 hp with add on's looking at 5500 with all the goodies before shipping cost

Norwood LM29v2 13.5hp I have some confusion about what actually comes on this mill. Its a relatively new version of the Lm 29 from what I gather.. 5300+ship+ needed add ons. ( the pics show them decked out)

Ill have to figure out shipping costs on the 2nd 2, could be pretty steep.

If anyone in Upper MI or northern WI would be able to show me one of these 3 machines, Id greatly appreciate it. Give ya a stick of summer sausage or some walleye to make it worth your time.

Also if anyone could share what they know about any of these machines, companies, or how they compare to the only mill I have any experience with (lt15) are these a huge step down from the lt15? Hp is right around the same as the one I ran.. As far as rigidity of the frame and such I have no idea..

sorry to be so long winded, thanks for reading.

tomauch · January 21, 2022, 01:52:04 PM

WOODMIZER LX55 verfied purchase:

Hey strangewoods we are in the traverse City Mi area and a year and a half ago we went down to WoodMizer's headquarters in IND
and bought the LX55 for around 5 grand and bought some extra blades took it home and it took us 2 days to put it together it was quite a chore. But since then it's been working like a charm ...we have it situated in a little pole barn and we pull it out on a sled with the tractor in and out to try to saw outdoors as much as possible. There has been no issues with it outside of the water dispenser that was leaking and we needed to replace that. WM sent us a new one no charge...those guys are great. We have cut about 20 or 30 logs and been through about 5 or 6 blades. TWO complaints: .... sometimes hard to measure consistent cuts you have to eyeball the ruler and hand crank the blade up or down... and try to get it as close as possible (very possible we're doing something wrong). AND the log dogs that holds the log onto the rails SUCK...they fall off all the time...easy to get lost!.....We have actually cut some logs as wide as 27 in.... for the price you can't beat it. I would give it two big thumbs up.

dogone · January 21, 2022, 07:59:11 PM

I have had a Norwood 29 for three years now. I got a 16 hp engine with it. I now have over 30 feet of track and have cut that length a lot. The quick dog is useless. I have run water for lube but never found it made any difference. Cut cedar, polar, ash and fir.
I also have the moulder which I run from the other end of the track.
It all works well but after a long day I can see having hydraulics and power feed would be nice.

Daburner87 · January 22, 2022, 01:54:40 PM

Woodland Mills HM130 Max is $4799. Hard to beat for the price, and if you ask around here it has gotten a lot of praise. Its what I ended up buying as well and you should look at their youtube channel to help you decide. Norwood makes a great machine but by the time you get all the add-ons it can be pricey. Woodmizer has a very long wait time. Woodland Mills shipped earlier than they said it would. Your call.

OH Boy · January 23, 2022, 03:37:06 AM

I recently got the Norwood model you are looking at and have been happy with it. The extras are pricey as noted, but to me were worth it because I'm moving logs and milling alone mostly, so any labor savings is important. If I had to pick one option it's the electric starter. Not having to pull start every time is great. The manual log loader is also a great addition. I don't know how those other saws work with the add ons, but Norwood says you can add pieces as you go. I would suggest ordering whatever you are going to sooner rather than later if you can, the supply chain ain't getting better. Mine did come in several shipments so took a while to get all together.

justallan1 · January 23, 2022, 08:36:09 AM

I have the EZ Boardwalk Jr. and really like it. The thing is just bullet proof tough, all iron and steel and made in the USA.
That Honda engine starts every time and is enough to saw a 28" ash, so it's good enough for anything that I have access to.
I've had it for 5 years now and recommend it highly.
Stanton from EZ Boardwalk is a great guy to do business with and for sure an honest man. I'd asked about buying some extra parts to have on hand and his response was basically to save myself some money and get them at my local parts house. You can't beat that.

This is the second mill that I've owned, with the first being a Hudson HFE-21, and there was just no comparison between the two.
Hope that helps a little.

Nebraska · January 23, 2022, 11:30:30 AM

I have had the same experience as Allan has with my mill EZ jr as well. It's waiting with a cant on it right now, but it's 15 degrees outside and the urge to saw is going to be weak today until it warms up 10 or 15 degrees.