What's the most expensive part you keep in inventory?

[hackberry jake]

I have a back-up engine (13hp Honda) because I found a good deal on a 20hp Honda that I put on the mill. If it weren't for that, I wouldn't have any parts inventory at all.

[bandmiller2]

I keep very little because when I built my bandmill I used common available parts.Everything is close I could ride a bicycle to get what I need.If I lived in the boondocks I would surely have spare belts and bearings. Frank C.

[POSTON WIDEHEAD]

My Dad.

[Chuck White]

Blades and sharpening stones (rocks).

[riverswamp sawyer]

five gallons of gas.............

[Ironwood]

I keep ALOT of stuff here, my feeling is ,"if you can buy it right, go for it" also, there is an "economic ordering quantity" in play for me. If you go out and get just one of something you frequently need it can cost you ALOT, in future downtime, lost opportunity, and etc,.... Know that said, I live near several well stocked towns, and can get just about anything I need within a day or two, or usually NOW. I keep alot of welding gasses, propane (forklift), diesel, electric motors, shieves,  electrical switches, breakers (dove into a dumpster several months ago on a jobsite delivery to retrieve $500 worth of NEW Murray 3 phase breakers), TONS and TONS of hardware (alot of unique things like unplated square headed bolt for forging, etc..). I have both my trucks running 19.5" tires and I buy them for bargin prices ANYTIME I can, tires are only going UP UP UP. I counted today (brought 4 more home, 75% tread Hercules for $25 each, they are 200+ each new),.... I have 32 EXTRA tires here NOT including the 6 on each duallies which are like new. My reasoning is like this, I am buying them right, and while I have kinda reached my limit, I will only be running these into the future, and I can keep them out of the UV in storage for a LONG time. I can always sell some and at least double my money. I bought one truck with 6 brand new tires on it, value of $2400-2600, and I paid less than twice that for the truck.

I have a couple "extra" forklifts, down from "several" :D a few years ago.   

So I keep ALOT of stuff here, but am fairly self sufficent. Many things come and go, and I HATE running out for one or just two of anything. I once wasted an hour while a customer/ aquaintence had to run out ot refill his ONE forklift propane tank, just NOT effecient.

Ironwood

[gandrimp]

five gallons of gas.............

You beat me to it.

[Meadows Miller]

Three complete sawmills  :-\ I think things will be the same with Jesi & I there too    ;) :D :D :D ;D ;D 8) 8)

[Magicman]

I carry a power relay for the up/down and forward/reverse, but as previously said, a couple of cans of fuel is more expensive.  But the actual expense really is not the issue.  There are a few low cost items that will shut you down which could be much more expensive than a big dollar part.

Hydraulic microswitch, blade tensioner kit, and B57 belts to name a few.

[Ironwood]

I should have prefaced my comments by saying I run alot of older equipment, and spares are IMPORTANT. I have an extra one of pert near everything.

Ironwood

[customsawyer]

I have a extra LT70. ;D

[Cedarman]

We keep 150 to 200 bandsaw blades on hand.  Some are 13'2", some 14'2' and some 205"  That is a lot of money tied up in blades.

[woodmills1]

me

[okmulch]

I have an extra rotochopper as of right now, :D :D but hopefully it is sold. 8)

[Frickman]

A couple of headsaws, $2000+ each new.

[tcsmpsi]

Wound dressings.   :D

[Meadows Miller]

+ My own personal ICU Nurse  ;) :D ;D ;D ;D

[Magicman]

   Nothing like having your own Band-Aid.

[mometal77]

Volt meter and butterfly bandages