Looking at the woodland mills lately, and wanted to know if anyone here could comment if they owned one….. looking at the 130 max. Thank you
I wish I had the space for one.... I'd love to have a Lucas swing blade mill...they're expensive but man are they versatile and once they're set up pretty amazing what you can do with one
Can't say anything bad about them. I have the HM122 that is the smallest saw they have and zero issues. When I bought it I figured that it was all I needed since it was/is just a hobby. My only regret is I didn't go bigger. I did make some investments other than the mill including a bunch of extra blades , blade grinder , tractor and recently a grapple bucket to load logs instead of the pallet forks. Don't know how well you are setup but you could make it work without some of the extras. My biggest piece of advice is don't be afraid to go bigger than what you think you might need, otherwise nothing bad to say about it. I have seen some videos with negative comments about them but I honestly think it is the operator and not going the extra mile to make sure the setup is spot on. I am fortunate to be very mechanically inclined and understand how things work so able to avoid disaster before it happens. Any questions feel free to reach out , I would be glad to help if I can. And in typical FHC fashion , sure I would love to help you spend some money.
I used buzz-saw's mill and a great machine. Excellent set up. Plan location and logistics very carefully. Check out some threads in the milling section
I have the 130 Max. I'll admit I haven't used it much (a dozen logs), but am planning a big run this year. Everything about this unit is user friendly. I would encourage you to watch the many videos and join the Facebook pages offered by Woodland Mill users. In addition, you may want to consult with Dan Reed at Woodland Forestry Products. Dan is the only WM dealer in the the US and is super helpful. Dan is located in Wisconsin, so you will most likely be ordering direct from WM. At least watch Dan's video on how to assemble the mill.
I was thinking if the 130 max, with one extension. I can’t justify $50k plus for the wood mizer. Decisions decisions.
Hydraulics would be nice, but if you have equipment and/or a helper to turn the logs you should be fine. I personally hate milling by myself. I'm curious just how long a log do you anticipate milling to justify the extension. I believe the 130 max handles 17 foot logs. I assume you have loading equipment that will lift logs of that length?! Don't forget about the extras. (Toeboard, band sharpener, tool box and tooth setter.) Don't waste your money on the vinyl cover. Just go to Wally and buy an inexpensive grill cover if needed. The band sharpener may be worth some investigating. There are other brands vs. the Woodland Mills brand. See buzz-saws post about his new sharpener. Additionally, I bought a custom trailer from Dan Reed. Many folks make their own if needed. It's my understanding the WM trailer (Woodlander) is shipped in parts to be assembled and needs to be tightened often. It just made more sense to me to use a solid channel trailer, but I initially thought I would have to pull mine down the highway every time I use it. That's no longer the situation, but it's a good feeling having a solid trailer as I mill some pretty large logs. Perhaps some of the WM trailer guys can jump in and give advice.
