Need your Opinions "lucas Mill"

js2743 · February 06, 2012, 03:30:47 AM

Found a "LUCAS MILL" for sale and need your thoughts on the price. I'm thinking its the 8 inch cut, talked to the guys wife he wasnt home when I stopped. she said it has 126 hrs on it, theres nothing wrong with it according to her. Says it works fine, I will see it in action in a couple days im hoping. But im not sure about the price, I do know he has had the mill for 5 or 6 years at least.
He is asking $10,000 for the mill, im thinking more like 6 to 8, Am i wrong? Do they hold their value? Of course im thinking he would possible take less than his asking price. So i guess my answer is would any one pay $10,000 for this Mill from what little info i have listed about it ?

Any help much appreciated.

here is a couple pics of the mill the way it sits right now.

fishpharmer · February 06, 2012, 04:25:43 AM

js, based upon my purchase of a used Lucas 618, the mill seems reasonably priced. Provided it meets three criteria IMO;

1) its in excellent condition,

2)You need a swingmill because you have a consistent supply of large logs (24" diameter plus) and

3) you only want a product that is 8" x 8" max. (double cutting an 8x16 is really slow).

You can always offer less to start with. ;)

Nomad · February 06, 2012, 06:10:37 AM

A few more questions. Is he the original owner? Any issues with the motor? Has he done the maintenance regularly? (Oil changes, etc.) Any leaks around the gearbox? My Lucas manual recommends not leaving the saw parked with the blade in the horizontal position. Does he usually leave it like that? Does it have any spare blades? Is the Lucas tool kit complete? Especially the sharpener. Does he have a slabbing attachment for it?
From your pics it doesn't look bad at all. If all the above rings true, even without a slabber I don't see a problem with asking price.

Meadows Miller · February 06, 2012, 06:46:28 AM

Gday

It looks the goods and looks to have a Kohler on it so it would be an 8-25 or even a 27hp depending on which year it is Im thinkin ;) as the smaller mills 6-13,6-18 & 7-23 mills all have Briggs Motors ;) $10k with 127hrs id snap it up as to buy a new one is about $18k but they are worth every cent of that in My IMHO thats why I plan to get another one there one day ;) ;D 8) 8)

Do they hold their value Yes They Do !! ;) ;D ;D 8) 8) and theres also a reason you dont see them come up in the used market too often as they are just a handy mill to have as there aint many that you can mill up 12" logs oneday then tackle a 5' dia one the next then pack the mill in a corner of your shed till you need it next ;) ;D ;D ;D 8) 8) 8)

Keep Us Posted ;)

Regards Chris

js2743 · February 06, 2012, 06:54:05 AM

Fishpharmer, I do have timber that big, but was also thinking I will be doing this alone and not having to turn a log of that size would be the best for me. 8 x 8 will work for me, Also my thinking is the price is way cheaper than I can get a HD mill of any kind for the price. would love to have one those orange colored mills in full HD but its just not in the budget right now. This would be my first mill I have lots plans for it if I'm lucky enough to get it.

NOMAD, I looked at the Mill, I never seen any oil leaks any where. I havent got to talk to the Guy that owns the mill just his wife for a short minute he wasnt home. I'm hoping to get to meet him later this week and maybe see it saw and I will find out more about it then. I Hadnt thought about any accessories with it, I will make notes and take with me to ask Him.

Seems like the price is a good deal according to you guy's will have to see if I can make a deal with the guy

terrifictimbersllc · February 06, 2012, 07:10:03 AM

Depending on what comes with it and considering shipping his asking price is 50% new. It looks good in the photos. Might make sure you can loosen the blade screws. Being limited to 8", well that won't stop you from cutting up a lot of logs I'm sure :D :D :D . Chain slabbing is a whole different dimension which this saw does very well.

Meadows Miller · February 06, 2012, 07:26:45 AM

You can Be as Happy as I am ;) ;D 8) I stared on the 2nd Lucas ever built a 6" and have operated afew over the years I have had an 8" and the 10" most jobs you will get by with the 8" and the odd pieces you will need over that will be minimal and not a drama to saw at all I got the 10" because we wanted to saw alot off 10x10"s and 10x12"s longest I have cut on one was the 40' mark ;)

Nomad · February 06, 2012, 11:21:24 AM

JS, the tool kit really isn't anything special except for the sharpener! You want to make sure you get that.

Ianab · February 06, 2012, 02:22:41 PM

Like the guys have suggested, it's probably a fair price if it's in good condition, which it appears to be.

Main things check are the big expensive parts. The engine, gearbox, rails and the actual carriage. No oil leaks, nothing bent or binding up etc.

There may be minor wear parts that need replacing, blades that need re-tipping etc, but those are just maintenance things and relatively minor.

It appears to be well looked after, and low engine hours, so I wouldn't expect there to be any serious issues.

The mills are MUCH more capable than a manual band mill, and although you have some limitations with wide boards there isn't really much that you can't build using boards less than 8" wide.

They are practical to work alone, but having someone to offload roughly doubles your cutting speed. But if you aren't in a hurry you can just work alone at your own pace. The hardest part of the job is offloading, so being limited to 8" boards can be an advantage there. :D

Ian

logboy · February 13, 2012, 07:44:32 PM

Based on the price and condition of the mill I'd say thats a great deal. You'll save enough to turn around and buy the slabber attachment.

js2743 · February 22, 2012, 04:05:04 PM

Its mine Its mine, been waiting for this day for a long time. 8)

It's been a dream for me to get a mill, been reading here for a couple years and have learned a lot. will be going in the morning to pick it up. Mill comes with 1 new blade thats never been on the mill and two more that has been used. I cant wait till I can get it home and get to saw with it. Have lots of projects planned, now just need it to quit raining so I can get some logs out. smiley_blue_bounce 8)

terrifictimbersllc · February 22, 2012, 05:13:06 PM

Congratulations! Make sure you have chaps on and look at Ianab's picture for the rest of the safety garb. Any helpers the same, and make sure the gawkers are far away. Stay safe and watch what you hit with that blade (ZING ZING is the sound :

:

)!!! 8) 8) 8)

fishpharmer · February 22, 2012, 08:45:12 PM

Congrats, have fun and be careful. 8) 8)

WildDog · February 22, 2012, 09:07:00 PM

Great news on your new mill.... I have the 8-27 Kohler, its a good bit of gear, keep an eye on the choke they have a way of working back out a quarter of an inch as your winding the throttle on. By far the best improvment I have made is adding the sidewinder, it came out as standard not long after I bought my mill :(, if your's doesn't have one, do your self a favour.

js2743 · February 22, 2012, 10:13:06 PM

Thanks for the congrats guys, im sure the learning is just beginning for me, wish it would stop raining so i can make some saw dust.

Okrafarmer · February 22, 2012, 10:48:13 PM

Sounds great, js! Do you have a log all picked out to christen the mill with? Be sure to get us some pictures!

Holmes · February 22, 2012, 11:31:27 PM

js2743 good luck with the new mill. One of my first logs was close to max. lenght for my Lucas 613 , when I got to the end of the log I swung the blade but I had not gone quite far enough so I caught the edge of the log with the blade. That little incident removed 4 of the 5 teeth from the blade. Good luck with your learning curve.

Holmes ps They are great little mills!!!

Nomad · February 23, 2012, 05:46:58 AM

Congrats on the mill! They really are nice. As said about the safety gear, they do throw quite a bit of chips around. And Wild Dog is absolutely right about the sidewinder. If it doesn't have one, you're gonna want to get one.

Meadows Miller · February 23, 2012, 07:30:20 AM

Gday

Awesome News Im sure you will never want to part with it once you get use to it wich is not hard Mate ;) ;D ;D ;D ;D 8) 8) 8) Im aiming to get us another Lucas one day over in the States ;) with the side winder they are not a hard thing to fit as I fitted one to the 97 8-20 when I first got it about 20to30 min will have it on Mate ;) ;D ;D 8) 8)

Remamber we wanna see pics Mate ;) ;D

Regards Chris

Buck · February 23, 2012, 07:42:43 AM

Congrats! Can't wait for the picture updates! 8)

js2743 · February 23, 2012, 08:47:42 PM

Today I went and brought the mill home, the guy let me take it apart he just supervised. So I have taken it down and put it back together today. My daughter and I did go find two small ERC to use to let the logs lay on, we got them cut and i cut a notch for the logs to rest in. Then she started asking how does this thing work, I wanna see it work she said. Told her I knew about as much as she did about it that we would have to wait till got some logs to saw. Well that wasnt good enough she wanted to see it cut right now she said "she is 11" so I told her ok lets try to cut one of the small cedars that we had. It was about 10" at big end :D to satisfy her so she could see it work we cut it about half way through into 2x2's.

my lil helper