Wood-Mizer's new choice

[Jeff]

 A lot longer ago than you might think. Here is an example in a book I have, published in 1922.

  

 

[longtime lurker]

it's odd Jeff but we having exactly that conversation the other day. There's been no real new sawmill concepts since the 1950's with the first circular swing mill designs. Chainsaws in the 1940's I believe.

But before that... circle saws have been going since the industrial revolution I guess. Bands probably about that old too. Sash saws since who knows when in antiquity, but at least the middle ages. Hand saws and axes since forever.

We might be refining the technology and tweaking it... but theres no truly startling innovation at all. Chipper canters I guess but thats really a chipper head in front of a gang saw isn't it?

What we do today and what we do it with hasn't really changed that much in a couple hundred years.

[terrifictimbersllc]

Is that guy riding just like MM?

[Bandmill Bandit]

My First response to it is; WHY??

Any experiance I have had with a 4 post type mill has been less than stellar! But I have only been milling for 10 years.

The new wide head mills are very appealing to me though.

[Treehack]

Jeff,
Didn't realize you were publishing in 1922.  you're older than you look in your photo.   :D

[Jeff]

Oh, the power of a comma!    (which I since inserted.)   I am a proponent of the Oxford Comma, and yet, so it seems, I can't even grasp the use of the normal comma. :D

[LeeB]

I guess I was taught to use the Oxford comma. I didn't know that there was another accepted form or that there was such a thing as the oxford comma. The things you learn if you hang around here long enough.  :P

[Larry]

Like Will Johnson said, "Imitation is the..." 

Since Will was the only one that made a correct guess before the official announcement, I bet he is on that Woodmizer focus group Brucer alluded to.

Well maybe not. :D :D

[LeeB]

Makes you wonder if he has a spy planted across the street.  :D

[Larry]

I would never suggest anything like that. ;D

[4x4American]

So does this [spoiler]new mill[/spoiler] spell the end of the [spoiler]WM monorail design[/spoiler]?

Figured I'd stir the pot a little by being vague.  ;D

No, this guy was the first guy to tell us what it was, Will prolly read this like I did and knew at that point.  Was suprised how many ppl missed this

[uler3161]

So does this [spoiler]new mill[/spoiler] spell the end of the [spoiler]WM monorail design[/spoiler]?

Figured I'd stir the pot a little by being vague.  ;D

No, this guy was the first guy to tell us what it was, Will prolly read this like I did and knew at that point.  Was suprised how many ppl missed this

I found it by looking around their website + Google cache. Everything except the photo that is. But once I saw the photo it really wasn't what I thought. I didn't want to give away the surprise.

[scully]

Well if you're a four post mill fan this one is all you . I've seen it for the past month or so but have not run it . I like a bunch of the features on it and the head is nothing short of impressive .  It's always cool to see whats new with WM and this is the coolest thing in a while as far as mills go . For me personally I will absolutely be staying with a single beam mill . I feel that bar none the LT40 LT50 series are the ultimate in portable milling and produce as good if not better lumber than anything else . My reasons are simple really ,it just comes down to user friendlyness in portable milling situations . I can say at first sight my jaw dropped a little , they didn't hold much back on this one .

[WoodenHead]

Impressive looking mill.   I'd love to have one!

The cantilever mills aren't going away though.  As far as I am concerned, they are still a great option for the "not so perfect" shapes and sizes that we sometimes (or often) have to deal with.

According to the video, there were a lot of requests for a 4-poster mill.  I guess it warranted another Woodmizer mill option.  We'll see how they develop this one.

I believe someone mentioned a Select sawmill in an earlier post.  They have a 4-post design intended for industrial applications.  The WM3500 would be competing in that market.  I find it interesting that Woodmizer kept their cantilever design with that mill.   

[dean herring]

Seems like sawdust shute should be on the other side so you don't have to walk thru all that dust

[Ga Mtn Man]

If they did that the sawdust would be dumped on the loader arms and the on-deck logs.

[Magicman]

That plus everything else also would be wrong.  To saw against the side supports which is "normal", they would have to be moved to the other side so now the clamp is wrong.  Oops, now you are loading against the log clamp instead of the side supports, so lets move the log deck to the other side so that you can now trip over that as you saw.  Gotta also reverse the engine so that it is turning backwards.   

On second thought, I would much rather deal with the sawdust, which is what I already do.   

[Weekend_Sawyer]

and on the LT-35 I got to run it was nice to have the sawdust to walk on. I even shoveled some back to the operators area to smooth out that area. 

[Ljohnsaw]

That plus everything else also would be wrong.  To saw against the side supports which is "normal", they would have to be moved to the other side so now the clamp is wrong.  Oops, now you are loading against the log clamp instead of the side supports, so lets move the log deck to the other side so that you can now trip over that as you saw.  Gotta also reverse the engine so that it is turning backwards.   

On second thought, I would much rather deal with the sawdust, which is what I already do.   

Well, the "easy" solution would be to just have remote controls so you don't even have to walk.  Second best, add a seat on the loader side of the head and put the controls there.  You would be riding above the loader and not getting in the sawdust.  You've got a 4 post mill there so no issue with the weight of the rider (like maybe it would be on a cantilever head?).

[Magicman]

 :D   8)

[John S]

I sit corrected, just watched YouTube video of LX450 with a new design debarker on it.  Shows how much I know. 

[4x4American]

I sit corrected, just watched YouTube video of LX450 with a new design debarker on it.  Shows how much I know.

Looks like they put on the dragback steering fingers too.  And an electric motor.  Getting warmer WM!

[Peter Drouin]

Had one in Maine,


 
Some pics.


  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

 
36 horse gas.


  

  

 
Maybe a thing to hold the guide fingers.


 

And spent some time with Mr Bouchard  ;D


  

[4x4American]

I love it, think it's great.  Thanks for all the close up pics Pete, the WM site leaves more to be desired.  I think with a RA, D55, and conveyor outfeed it would be a great little mill

[Brucer]

Thanks, Peter. Those pictures are great!

I see lots of familiar parts along with some new ideas.

... Maybe a thing to hold the guide fingers ...

I think that long pin might be to hold up the dragback fingers (notice the holes in them -- right size and right position.