Skillmill

[reeves]

has anyone seen or used the new skillmill ?

http://www.skillmill.com

seems its aimed at the home hobbyist, 3 HP electric mill for under 5 k..

http://www.skillmill.com/images/specs.jpg

The Mill • 3.5mm (1/8”) thin kerf circular saw • 2.2kw, 3hp, 12 amp single phase • 2-pt patented raise and lower system • Versatile, with 18 incremental 5º options • 20 metres of extension cable • Two blades included

Cut Capacity • Mill logs up to 0.8m dia (2.5’) • Mill logs to 4m (13’) long • Cut 4” x 4” with a standard cut • Cut 4” x 8” with a double cut

Safety Features • Twin riving knives • In-built Residual Current Device • Emergency E-stop • Protective guards installed throughout

[DJ’s Timber]

Ianab has seen it and done a quick assessment here (http://www.woodworkforums.com/showthread.php?t=36366)

[Wild Dingo]

Well I'll be buggared... from their warrantee section in the price pdf


Petersons Global Sales Ltd
PO Box 10077 - 15 Hyland Cres.
Rotorua, New Zealand
Ph/Fax: +64 7 3480863
New Zealand Freephone: 0800 747 583

Part of the Peterson mill setup :2tsup:

I was wondering as I looked at it as theres a few similarities... not as robust and solid looking as the Peterson but then the price reflects that too

$5000 is a bloody good price

$4300 for the mill
$210 for a set of dogs
$202 for a couple of cant hooks
$136 for a spare blade
$145 for the grinder attachment

$4993 all up your off and running... a hundred or so for a 5hp genny if you dont have one and bobs your uncle!!... then another 1000 say for the slabbing gear and its all done... oh and of course whatever the cost of transporting it to your state will be... oh and gst of course... but still Id reckon you would have it landed for around $8000 or less which is still a damned good price... and it gives you a starting point so you can onsell it then get the larger more robust Peterson mill once your up and running. :2tsup:

Just watching the videos for it now... :2tsup:

One would OF COURSE have to be doubly careful around this one simply due to its being electrically powered and you have another thing to be aware of (the power lead!!!) but other wise good value Id think

I think Im gonna have to thank you for this Reeves... I feel that her highness would be more inclined to free up that sort of finances for one to start with rather than the more expensive full on mills Ive been pricing from them for the last year or so... so cheers! :2tsup:

[Ianab]

Yup.. it's a cool little machine :2tsup:

Does have some limitations with speed and size of cut, but it is really easy to use and accurate.

Kerris and Chris actually entered it into the Portable Sawmill Shootout in the States a few months back. While they didn't win on sawing speed I think they actually got the best recovery from their logs, better than the Woodmizer and other band saws. Because the acuracy and slower cutting speed let them cut every last board just a hair above the minimum size allowed.

Combine it with an alaskan chainsaw mill and you have a pretty versatile setup. It makes the chainsaw mill so much easier to use as just sits in the cradle instead of the swingblade and runs on the same rails. You swap them over in a couple of minutes, so you can saw boards and slabs from the same log, depending on what you want / find inside.

It's not as solid as the bigger Peterson mills for sure, but it's only supporting an overgrown skillsaw, not a 27hp engine and 2ft circle blade. :roll:

And yes, they have tried it out on Aussie hardwooods, the little carbide cutters gnaw through that the same as any other wood.

Cheers

Ian

[Wild Dingo]

Does have some limitations with speed and size of cut,

It's not as solid as the bigger Peterson mills for sure, but it's only supporting an overgrown skillsaw, not a 27hp engine and 2ft circle blade. :roll:


Cheers

Ian

Ian I think I agreed totally with what youve just said... so why the rolled eyes? Im just curious here as they seem out of place when were both in total agreeance?

I personally think it would be a great entry level mill :2tsup:

Cheers

[Ianab]

I personally think it would be a great entry level mill :2tsup:


Yup :)

Maybe I used the wrong emote ;)

But it does have it's limits, it wont cut 1/2 the logs I get and it does restrict the size of the boards you cut. But as long as you are aware of those and can live with it, it's a great little machine.

[Wild Dingo]

So youve got one eh? mmmm wonderin here... okay yarn on matie what are they REALLY like dont hold back dont be a Peterson man give me yer honest barebones to the ground opinion :2tsup:

Okay so on the basic level I guess one could get away with just the rig itself right? Or would you having got one recommend getting as Ive quoted?

Alls good mate
Cheers
Shane

[Ianab]

OK... as long as you can live with the smaller log and cut size, and aren't so worried about cutting speed, then there isn't a down side :2tsup:

The mills operation is so simple, and there is just so few things that can go wrong. Blades and carriage rollers can wear out, little things like that. You can saw into a nail, but thats bad no matter what saw you have. Add a metal detector to your list unless you KNOW where the logs came from (since the trees were small)

I would recommend going with the Alaskan sawmill attachment, so you can cut some good sized slabs as well as the dimension timber. I guess it depends what you are sawing and using the wood for, but I just like big wide boards ;)

Using it with a decent Geni is a good plan, they set up pretty easy. Quicker to set up the mill in place than to manhandle a heavy log.
The electric power does make it better for slicing up small logs in the back yard though.
Also, consider making a mount for your router on it as well, make it into a router bridge surface planer too.

Cheers

Ian

[Wild Dingo]

Cheers Ian

Ive spent a fair bit of time now looking into Petersons mills had quite a few phone conversations with them over the last year in particular... missus was baulking badly at the price especially as I felt I needed a few "extras" which is the way I always go since its always something that you dont have a spare of that goes assup somewhere out in the bush... so she would initially give a tentative nod to "look into it" but baulk at the last minute... was driving me nuts... as usual :roll:

But this little fella gets her nod of approval as long as we can keep it and the "extras" along with landing it here under 8000 shes not baulking too badly... every day she looks up the back at the stack of logs out there and wonders when Im going to do something about it... "when I gets a mill love when I gets a mill" I always answer... she mutters something about getting a house first then wanders away... sheilas have no sence of true priorities eh! :doh:

Anyway cheers
Shane

[Wild Dingo]

DAMN!!! Wouldnt you know it? I missed DJs post :doh: so now Im over on your thread having a gander and readup

Sorry DJ missed it mate but Ive caught up now :2tsup:

[jandc]

hello,

Ianab do you have some more pics of the Skillmill?
About the speed, was is slow slow or ?
like this or half of the speed for the same lenght

YouTube - Milling Wide Boards with Peterson Portable Sawmill

I'm thinking of buying a skillmill for about 3400 NZ $

a good deal?

jandc
belgium

[echnidna]

I think they've been withdrawn from the market

[weisyboy]

they will be coming back out soor or may have just been made avalable give peterson global sales a call.