Pricing...
Woodmizers are pricey. But they have a long history of manufacturing.
There are many others on the market. For example you can buy a 13.5 hp Norwood
manual feed with trailer package for about $11000.00 Canadian. The draw back is that it comes as a kit and you have to assemble it - takes about 20-30 hours roughly.
Here is a great web site:
SAWMILL EXCHANGE -For Buyers and Sellers of Used Portable Sawmills
I have been researching mills for a few years and took a 3 day course on milling with a woodmizer. The course was an intro to milling. It takes a lot of time to get up to speed to mill efficiently. Meaning you can achieve 1000 to 2000 board feet a day if you are keen or more depending on the quality of the mill.
Having said all that - they are great for milling specialty woods and material for small projects: sheds, barn, fencing etc.
Depending on your local building codes - at times you do need an inspection stamp for approval to use materials sawn from these mills.
I know of a few people who have bought the mills, sawed the material to build houses and or barns/garages and in the end have saved a bundle including the cost of the mill. They sold the mill afterwards and gained a few $$$.
The clapboard for my house and two outbuildings were sawn on a bandsaw mill 16 years ago. You can buy a jig for making clapboard, shingles and shakes too.
lloyd
