Which dedicated wide slabber?

[Squaredy]

I am looking to buy a dedicated wide slabber as soon as possible and would appreciate the benefit of experience and knowledge of fellow Arbtalkers.  I have just sold my Lucas Mill with the slabbing attachment, so I am aware of the capabilities of this (too slow for regular use on wide logs).  What I really need is to be able to compare the capabilities of the Peterson Dedicated Wide Slabber, The Lucas Dedicated Slabber, and even possibly the Turbosaw Slabber which launched last year.  To my amazement there is even a Lucas Slabber which has a 9ft cut width!  I do not need that, but up to around 5ft would be good.

 

With the proceeds of my Lucas Mill and my bounce back loan I can spend £10,000 or more if necessary.  The Lucas slabber is just under £10,000 the Peterson is £14,500.

 

Or I could even keep the cash and hire in a miller as and when, but looking at my yard at the moment I currently have about 20 days work for a wide slabber, so what is the point in paying a specialist about £7000 when I could buy the mill and use it whenever I need.  I do regularly get large logs and have the market for the slabs.

 

Before Big J says, I know all about the difficulty in handling and stacking large slabs, and how they distort when drying.  I have the logs, I have the customers, I just need the means to convert the logs.

Edited June 6, 2020 by Squaredy

[Squaredy]

Well this is a turnip for the books....No Arbtalkers have anything to say about this...!?

[se7enthdevil]

i've only just seen it but can't comment that much as i don't have much info on mills.

 

i presume a good wide bandsaw would be ideal for wide logs? does anyone still make them that wide? the WM1000 cuts up to 1.7m.

[Squaredy]

1 hour ago, se7enthdevil said:

i've only just seen it but can't comment that much as i don't have much info on mills.

 

i presume a good wide bandsaw would be ideal for wide logs? does anyone still make them that wide? the WM1000 cuts up to 1.7m.

Yeah I have looked into the wide bandsaws, and most are prohibitively expensive (WM1000 I believe is £50,000 plus) but there are cheaper ones from Cooks and Hudson, but they are generally limited to 1.2m.  1.2m is not bad but I currently have about ten logs in my yard over that size.

 

Thanks for your input Steve.

 

 

[trigger_andy]

I can really offer much help, but if you're not planning on doing a significant amount of big logs have you considered the Logosol offering? 

 

Big Mill Wide Slabber | Wide Slabber Sawmills | Sawmills | LOGOSOL

WWW.LOGOSOL.COM

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We at Logosol offers the best woodworking machinery, with a wide range of saw mills, band saws, planers and other joinery...

 

[se7enthdevil]

51 minutes ago, Squaredy said:

Yeah I have looked into the wide bandsaws, and most are prohibitively expensive (WM1000 I believe is £50,000 plus) but there are cheaper ones from Cooks and Hudson, but they are generally limited to 1.2m.  1.2m is not bad but I currently have about ten logs in my yard over that size.

 

Thanks for your input Steve.

 

 

yes it was at least 44,000 when i checked on the net but that is probably the basic model.

 

i wonder if it would still be a viable option if you think about resale value, milling for other customers with big logs and just how many logs you have of that sort of size???

 

you know more than me so other than the chainsaw slabbers what other options are out there at the moment???

[Squaredy]

46 minutes ago, trigger_andy said:

I can really offer much help, but if you're not planning on doing a significant amount of big logs have you considered the Logosol offering? 

 

Big Mill Wide Slabber | Wide Slabber Sawmills | Sawmills | LOGOSOL

WWW.LOGOSOL.COM

---

We at Logosol offers the best woodworking machinery, with a wide range of saw mills, band saws, planers and other joinery...

 

Actually I hadn't really considered this option.  It is a lot of money mind, £5000 + VAT or so once you factor in the Stihl Ms880.  But thank you Andy I will look into it.

[trigger_andy]

Actually I hadn't really considered this option.  It is a lot of money mind, £5000 + VAT or so once you factor in the Stihl Ms880.  But thank you Andy I will look into it.

It is a lot of money and its put me off getting one. I fail to see why it costs £5000 when their B751 Bandsaw with the engine included is just another grand on top. Looks very portable though and then also easy to put away and not taking up much space. logosol really do seem to build quality stuff.

 

Heres a pic of one thats been modified. 

[Squaredy]

6 minutes ago, se7enthdevil said:

yes it was at least 44,000 when i checked on the net but that is probably the basic model.

 

i wonder if it would still be a viable option if you think about resale value, milling for other customers with big logs and just how many logs you have of that sort of size???

 

you know more than me so other than the chainsaw slabbers what other options are out there at the moment???

Well yes I think chainsaw slabber is the way to go.  The difficulty is knowing how they compare.  If they were cars I would simply take them all out for a test drive.  As it is, I can't even see them all running.  For the most part you have to place an order based on a few Youtube videos and tech specs.  Hence my question asking for experience of Arbtalkers who may know some of these machines.

[Johnsond]

59 minutes ago, Squaredy said:

Well yes I think chainsaw slabber is the way to go.  The difficulty is knowing how they compare.  If they were cars I would simply take them all out for a test drive.  As it is, I can't even see them all running.  For the most part you have to place an order based on a few Youtube videos and tech specs.  Hence my question asking for experience of Arbtalkers who may know some of these machines.

I’d be seriously looking at fabricating something along the lines of the Logosol item which Andy put the link up to. The kit is probs well made but start putting the price of a saw etc etc ?. The set up  is not rocket science and the amount of different profiles and bearings/carriers out there in the marketplace makes most things viable nowadays. Would you be working alone or with help??. 
The double header set up would be a asset id say if it’s constantly gonna be pulling through big logs.