Thread: NZ Sawmill

gday
whats it cost and when/where can i get one.
cheers
shep

Hi HSV,

I tossed up whether to move this thread to "Polls" but since you've included an announcement and put it in the right area i've left it...

TO answer some of your questions:

Yes many users in Australia of this forum attend the capital city wood show in each state. This is a topic of much discussion at the time... many of the members meet etc.. etc...

If you bring this beast to Australia you are up against some serious competiton in the form of a similar unit called the LUCAS MILL which already shows at the shows I speak of above. There are other similar units also... so the market here is seemingly quite competitive.

If you'd like to ship one to me I wold be happy to review it for you. altermatively you could donate one to our members prize draw

Cheers, welcome.

Hi Shep,

Now that's a great reaction. Thanks.

It is $4600 NZD and around $4000 USD.
Australian price hasn't been cemented yet though... suggestions??

The Australian launch is in the process of being verified, looks like it could be the National Farm Equipment Show in Toowoomba, Qld, 5th 6th and 7th September. If they can fit us into this show, you will be able to purchase one after the 5th Sept. We are in the process of contacting prospective dealers at the moment. I'll keep everyone updated now I am a member of this (cool) site.

Hi Zed,

Thanks for the great welcome.

I'm pleased I posted in the right place, I haven't spent too much time on forums in the past, so wasn't sure where to plant myself!

Great! I've come to the right place then, it will be great to get to know some of your members, especially the ones who attend shows.

I am familiar with Lucas Mills, the company who produces the Skillmill is Peterson Portable Sawmills, who have exhibited alongside Lucas and other portable mills for years.

I see what you are saying, the portable market is expanding all the time. Fortunately, the Skillmill isn't headon competition for the likes of Lucas, or even Peterson's own range of commercial swingblade mills. It is truly in a league of it's own, so I am pleased to promote it. I have become very passionate about it in fact (for a lipstick and nailpolish girl that's saying something!). 18 different angles at 5º incriments is certainly a world first.

"If you'd like to ship one to me I wold be happy to review it for you. altermatively you could donate one to our members prize draw"

Should I reply to that one?? umm... Ouch! Finger cramp... gotta go!

Hi Folks

Had a good look at that new little machine at the Fieldays.
Very Cute
Personally it's not for me, just not big enough to handle my logs, and I've got an 8" cut Peterson already. But for the people that are looking at chainsaw mills or breaking down logs with workshop bandsaws, it would be ideal.
Yes the basic idea is similar to the Lucas mill if you have seen those running. Just a Mini-Me version

Some pics of Jake doing his demo at the Fieldays attached.

Cheers

Ian

The specs say it can cut 4 x 4 with a single cut or
4 x 8 with a double cut.

Does that mean you could cut only 8 x 4's from a log
OR
does it mean that you could cut a few pieces of 8 x 4 but most of the log can't be any bigger than 4 x 4

If I decide to get one can I buy now if I pay $nz plus shipping.
I expect it shouldn't have nz GST as the sales outside nz so it must be about $4k nz plus freight.
Please quote the frieght cost.

Does that mean you could cut only 8 x 4's from a log
OR
does it mean that you could cut a few pieces of 8 x 4 but most of the log can't be any bigger than 4 x 4

You can make one double cut for each vertical drop.
So if you had a 16" wide surface on the log, you can cut 1 x 8" board and 2 x 4" boards.
You can also cut 1 full width slab by sawing 2/3 of the log, then rolling it over and sawing from the other side untill you are left with a thin full width slab.

The size of the cut is probably the major limitation on the wee beastie, but it's not designed to do everything a full size swingmill with a 20hp gas engine can do. If it did.. well it would need more than a single phase power cord, and it wouldn't fit in a car boot.

It's not a high production machine, but it is pretty simple / easy to use, well compared to any other 'sawmill' you could buy for the money

Cheers

Ian

Hi there echnidna,

"you could cut a few pieces of 8 x 4 but most of the log can't be any bigger than 4 x 4"

This machine is more suited toward cutting smaller logs, as well as having the ability to cut larger logs. With a small 10" log, you will only have the ability to get 1x 8" board out of it anyway with the one 4" drop (4" maximum vertical cut, 8" horizontal with a double-cut). So your answer is question #2, dependant of course, on the log size. Also, please bear in mind, an Alaskan or Westford chainsaw mill can be fitted to the Skillmill frame also, to allow slabbing.

Re: Purchasing.
Officially, Skillmill orders cannot be placed until the release at the beginning of September. The only way you can receive a mill earlier than anyone else, is if you sign as a Representative. Pricing and Freight can be discussed then.

Thank you for your interest, if there is anything else you need, I will be happy to help.

Hi all, the poll looks interesting so far, I hope to see more votes! Feedback on the site and the product is very much invited.

Just for the 'maybes', I wondered if you could tell me why maybe? Is there something missing from this product, or perhaps the information given about it? It would be great to hear your thoughts.

Totally unrelated: I've been looking around this forum and it's great! There is a lot of information to be found here, it looks like a great site for new woodworkers to get helpful info. So I have a question for the Forum Administrators: I would like to link your forum to our Skillmill Site when we get out links page up and running, would I be able to get a banner from you at some stage? Who do I speak to about that?
Thanks

HSV,
I'm interested but sceptical about its market appeal. For around $8K (probably more now) I can get a Lucas saw which will do an 8" cut and runs on petrol. So for half the price I can get a machine that has half the capacity, but needs to be plugged into a power point. One of the big drawcards for the Lucas is that if you drop (or find) a big tree in an inaccesible spot or don't own an excavator or log skidder you can set the mill up over the log and break it down where it lies.

So the buyers of your machine will either have to buy/own a suitable generator as well (how big would you need?) or have/have access to some earth moving equipment or similar. If you limit the logs to what could be manhandled out of the forest and onto a ute or trailer by two blokes with basic gear then you're getting down to a size where a large workshop bandsaw with suitable jigs and feed tables would suffice for a bit over half the cost of your set up.

Having said all that I am interested in owning one. I'm often offered logs but the cost of transporting and milling them can be prohibitive. If I could plug your machine into my generator and break the log down on-site it might just be worth my while. You mention that a chainsaw mill can be attached, does this mean complete with a chainsaw powerhead or can you utilise the Skillmill's motor with a bar. (if not you should consider this as an add-on)

Regarding signing on as a representative, will you be appointing exclusive territories and directing consumer enquiries to their local sales rep? I reckon I could cover from Innisfail to Mossman quite easily, possibly further afield. Unfortunately you're too late for the local show circuit and the rural field day was a while back too. Please PM me.

Mick

Edit:
Okay so I didn't read the slabbing section of the website, you need to use your own powerhead. Now you may want to consider making a bar attachment to suit the Skillmill motor as I know a few blokes who find hanging off the end of an Alaskan to be tedious to say the least. I know the revs are probably not ideal, but it hasn't stopped the Lucas saw people.

Hi Mick,

I will attempt to respond to your concerns.

Firstly, the entry-level Lucas Mill is priced at around $8200 I believe, and will do a 6" cut with 13hp. Yep it runs on petrol, but the Skillmill can be powered by a 5KVA generator (around $1800 NZD) for portable applications.

The Skillmill is produced by Peterson Portable Sawmills, who already have a great range of portable sawmills that are powered 13hp and up, have 6" + blades and clip-on slabbing units (which is what Lucas use also). All perfect for semi-commercial, commercial and large log use.

The Skillmill was designed for DIY/backyard handymen, small land owners, woodworkers and those who wanted a cheaper sawmilling option - hence the smaller blade, the extreme portability and yes, electrically powered. Typically these kinds of customers live in urban areas, and a noisy petrol motor will p*** off the neighbours.

The Skillmill was designed for your backyard or garage, but with the ability to take it out to a fallen tree beyond the 20m cable reach, with a generator.

We would not add a chainsaw bar to fit the Skillmill motor, as there simply isn't enough power to run all those teeth, like there is with Peterson's more commercial mills and their clip-on slabber attachments! There is however, enough power to cut hardwoods with the swingblade that is currently fitted to the motor.

There are upsides and downsides with all portable mills, it's just a matter of finding one that suits your needs. The Skillmill has been proven to be practical, affordable and versatile according to those who have purchased one already.

Thank you so much for raising your concerns Mick. If I haven't addressed all your questions, please let me know, I will PM you shortly, regarding Representation.

The designer of the Skillmill, Jake Peterson, has informed me that he is working on a planer blade/finishing blade attachment for the Skillmill. I will keep you all updated as more news comes to hand.

Australian Release Information:

I am pleased to announce that the Skillmill Release Roadshow begins in Toowoomba, Queensland at the Heritage Agricultural Show, from the 5th-7th Sept, with the Canberra Woodworking Show to be the next stop, from the 8-10th Sept.

There will be around five other opportunities during September to see the Skillmill for yourself, and meet some Representatives (excluding me unfortunately, I've been put on the US Roadshow scheduled for October), PM me for more information.

What sort of blade is on the skillmill.?

Is the blade bolkted to a hub like the Lucas mill?

Will it handle the hard oz timbers or is it a softwood mill only?