Demand for small bandsaw mills?

[Big J]

I've been looking around the web for small bandsaw mills and they all seem to come out of the US. Bringing one over isn't really economical, so it would make sense to fill a container with them. The intention would be to source a mill with a 30 inch throat or thereabouts, 10-20hp engine and static (so not on a trailer). Looking at the importing costs, I think we can do this for under £5000 (and possibly without VAT).

 

If this were possible, how much interest would there be for this? Consisting that the cheapest petrol mills are over £7000, I would hope that they could be considered good value!

 

Jonathan

[scraggs]

I might have been interested if they were mobile, but thats a big "might"

The only problem I see with this is that I would be suprised any of the well known brands are going to want to upset thier distributors here in the UK by bypassing them and selling a load direct, so that leaves you with the not so well known brands which may cause parts issues later down the line imo.

When I was looking at bringing a few over Baker seamed quite interested and gave what I thought was a decent price (quite a while ago now so can't remember exactly how much) they might be worth an email.

Edited December 30, 2011 by scraggs

[old hand]

Hi I worked for M. Large when they were importing the Lumbermate sawmills. You will have to pay duty (fom Canada) which used to be 7%, you will also have to pay vat before goods will be released by customs. You will also have transport to the docks at their end , customs clearance at his end plus transport from the docks. The biggest problem is CE marking which most US and Canadian companies will not have in place. You cannot legally sell machines which are not CE marked. Also if you ask someone to work with a machine which is not CE approved you will open a big can of worms with insurers if an accident occurs.

[aswales]

There are several firms allready selling small bandmills in the UK

Woodmizer do the LT 10 and LT15, Logosol for the norwood lumbermate etc, artcom tradebridge do the ones previously sold under the Jonsered badge, just saws are selling the hudson oscar etc units, saws uk for forestor, timberking from Frank Gamwell, mlarge have a locally produced mill. There are several for around £5000

Must be CE marked as old hand says, cannot be sold on without and employees not covered by insurance and you will be dealt with by HSE if their is no CE marking and an incident/accident.....

[Big J]

Thank you all for the very useful advice!

 

The CE Mark is something that I must admit slipped my mind. I will ask my friend who brings in a lot from China (and a bit from the US) what he does about it.

 

Regarding competition, I would bring in a mill that isn't distributed here but with the express intention of sourcing parts there after.

 

Lots of food for thought though......

 

Jonathan

[aswales]

One other thing I would say, is there room in the market place for yet another small bandmill in the UK ? I would imagine that the currently players in the market don't sell that many units a year.....!!! Woodmizer, Logosol with their recent relationship with norwood offering lumbermate and lumberlites and their marketing, have a lot of it covered.

[twmarriott]

i would buy one if it was any good and at the right price.

all of the small horizontals i've used have been to be honest good ideas but in practice not up really to the job.

so i've a rack saw and a stenner band rack now,

not portable but certainly better than any thing else i've seen,

best idea was the trekker saw, but bands all broke up in the gullet, could be maybe cured by better blades or larger pullies but i expect the blade technology or pulleys were not right, If and its a big if i could find somthing like a trekker that was reliable and worked i'd buy it.

[timbersaw]

i have been using a petrol engined bandsaw that i had built through a contact in china ,i specified a beefy kholer engine same as the wood mizers and it uses the same sized ripper 37 blades as the lt15. the saw has performed without any glitches for nearly 3 years. i use it to mill a lot of the timber i use in my business. the saw has created a lot of interest and lots of requests to hire [not my thing} i am seriously thinking of importing these saws though. ithink there would be a demand for an accurate reliable saw retailing round 5k

[Goaty]

Please note Timbersaw this thread is getting on for three years old.

However interest will be shown (I looked at it) Welcome to the Forum. Lots of good stuff is to be gained here.

[gobbypunk]

Hi guys I would defo go for a band mill under 5G espicially if there was a trailer option maybe as an extra since getting my alaskan I am hooked so go for it

Cheers Mark