Wow.... what a debacle! As someone who is looking to add a bandsaw mill to my arsenal along with my chainsaw mill I appreciate you warning us of your experience...
I wouldn't wish that ordeal on anyone. The only positive in this experience is I know more now about exactly what makes a good mill tick. I think it made me a better tinkerer
I’m sorry to hear about all the wasted time, money, and frustration through this ordeal but thank you for taking the time to inform and educate, definitely missed your content
It has been a nightmare, but with this video I can move forward and not feel like I left something "undone". This frees me up to make content forward now that the mill has been properly introduced.
Dude, that sucks! So sorry! When I've dreamed about having a sawmill, I figured I'd pay to have someone good fabricate one based on Matt Cremona's plans. I'm guessing that ain't cheap though. Anyway, glad you are back!
Geez! I had my issues with my new Woodmizer (mostly QC) but nothing like what you went through! Now I'm really glad I went with WM. If it sounds too good to be true, yada, yada, yada...
Yeah woodmizer didn't even take my name or put me on the list it was so bad. I guess if I look at it in the right light, I still wouldn't have a woodmizer even if I had gotten on the list. Truly it had been a nightmare but I'm glad I'm actually making lumber now though.
man this sucks, I feel like the ease of "social media businesses" to screw people over has only gotten easier. I remember my parents dealing with a landscape architect who stole money from them and cut corners everywhere. also that image of the ants at end panicking and trying to pull their eggs out it great. looking forward to more vids
I thought the ants were cool too! I could watch them do their thing for way too long. Social Media has been an amazing way to connect people around the world and I feel like it's connected communities of like-minded people all over the globe. BUT it also brings the shills and charlatans. I got burned on this one, but I'm making it better and it's taught me the nitty gritty details that make a difference in sawmill design. Speaking of your parents and a landscape architect. There was a "contractor" doing some work on the house a few doors down. Rented a mini-excavator and skid-steer. It sat on that job for weeks. I thought "man that's a long time to have a rental and not use it that much. That's got to be really expensive". Another friend down the road was having the same contractor do work for them as well. He tried to sneak in the rental bill from one job onto the invoice of the other and got caught. I don't understand why some people just try to cheat their way through life, when if they put the same effort into just doing a good job, they'd have a lasting business and something to be proud of.
This is what I would do is use this as a cost of learning how to operate a business and now make sure that after paying dearly for the lesson you get the full benifit by never doing this type of deal again and checking the background of any who will supply you with their custom machinery. This way you move forward and put this incident in your rear view mirror knowing this will not happen to you again. Good luck, when fixed mill will likely be productive and you will have expertise to DIY any needed repairs. Ray Stormont
Glad you're back, sorry to hear you were ripped off. After all is said and done, it looks like you probably could've built (or had built) a better one cheaper yourself.
Oh absolutely. I was trying to avoid another big project and let someone else do the work, but I could have made a better mill for cheaper with all I know now.
This sucks but, at the same time, with the experience you had here, have you thought about perhaps making your own sawmill brand? it seems like you have learned a lot about them and you know what they need and how they need to operate and output, especially since you found a local shop that can do good steel work.
I actually have thought about it and have joked with my business partner that we could make one hell of a mill with everything we know now. I truly enjoy the milling side and spending time outside on the farm though. We have plans of making a dedicated wide cut stationary slabbing mill at some point and maybe upgrading our mobile mill to something with hydraulics. We're still planning outbuildings, drying sheds, kilns and more equipment, etc. One day maybe.
@@wmwalkerco You know, that's actually a fabulous idea when you consider that reputable companies are citing a 70-week lead time... you've got a good entry point there with at least regional markets.
The reason was it was an 18 hour drive and their sales pitch is they deliver them wherever you are. Clearly, I overestimated the quality of the thing that would arrive.
Yikes. There has definitely been an explosion of demand for sawmills the last few years. Less than honest people capitalize on that. I bought my mill a couple years ago based on online feedback that the company had great customer service. Yes, it is manufactured in China, but backed by a company that stands behind it's products 110%. I say 110% because they made an upgrade to something after I bought the mill, and sent it out to existing owners for free.
I got took for sure. It wasn't until after it showed up that I found more disgruntled consumers. On the flip side, I'd still be waiting on a mill from Woodmizer or the like. The guy sells them like he is really proud of them, and I can't tell if he's delusional or literally just never used or seen another sawmill before.
Oh wow, now thats a story from H@ll! So many different problems. So sorry you had to deal with that! Best of luck in the future! He really laughed? Definition of shyster.
Awful that you have had to go through this experience. I hope you'll be able to get enough out of the lumber you are able to mill on the machine to pay for a better one down the road.
Man there's no way you should have started fabricating anything for that thing you should have gathered up a few of your boys hook that thing to the back of your truck and went and visited that guy at his shop and got your money back and let that thing sitting in his front yard which is probably where he made it
While watching your video I decided that I would trade my nearly new Wood-Mizer LT40 Wide mill for yours. But then you ruined it by fixing it. That being said.............no deal on the mill. Instead of calling it a "sawmill shaped object" it's easier to call it a POS (Pretend Oklahoma Sawmill) Good, but sad, video. Good luck. Dave
I probably should have. Ive tried to use "posts" before on this platform but they never get any responses so it's hard to connect on that level on this platform
And people always want 'Made in America'😂😂 That the table isn't even close to flat is hilarious. Literally no effs given. That the guy sells such junk is unreal. Even the Chinese look at that and say WTF!
Oh man, he pitched the "made in USA" and "we employ veterans" thing really hard. At the time I thought it was a plus. The longer you look the worse it gets.
Will, great cautionary tale, and my sympathies. I've followed you more or less from inception here on YT, and you don't deserve this kind of buttpain. My other thought, for what it's worth and keeping in mind I am by no means a lawyer, you may want to think about either editing this content or taking it down - your statements about Mr. Shady out in OK might be construed as a basis for a defamation suit against you... and I'd be willing to bet he's the type who would do exactly that.
I thought about it long and hard. Nothing I've said here is untrue and I have the text and photo records to show it. My lawyer advised me it was OK. I do appreciate the concern and it was definitely something that crossed my mind. Rest assured I sought council first
That sawmill shaped hunk of steel is an absolute POS. I had a similar experience w/ seqouia sawmills, absolute turds. I spent more time working on the stupid machine than cutting wood. Ended up buying a large TK2400, 70hp kubota diesel, thing cuts like a monster, no down time other than switching blades and occasionally belts etc. Lesson I learned is, buy the largest heaviest sawmill you can afford, TK, cooks, WM, Baker all make good sawmills, I personally like 4 post fully supported hydraulic mills but you pay for it. Hope your rebuilt sawmill works out for you. Hopefully Sean goes bankrupt and stops making sawmills.
That TK2400 is a beast! Yeah this isn't the most efficient mill but at least it's making lumber now. I also like the 4 post design and am baffled you don't hear about more issues with the cantilever WM design.
@@wmwalkerco Yeah, i feel your pain that Sequoia was the same deal, terrible design, cheap parts etc. Im glad your up and running and its cutting flat.
@@wmwalkerco The cantilever WM design is proven and tested, really can't be questioned after 40+ years of their mills being used in production sawing. I'm on my third WM mill and all they need to keep sawing and making money are routine maintenance, wear parts, and occasional alignment.
Too many slick talking salesmen and not enough real craftsmen out there. They took advantage of a shortage and backlog. I hate to say it our systems suck on these type issues with slow uneven courts and a judgement is often just a piece of paper. Might just be best to sell the judgement to a pro and let them try to chase him. That would free you to move on and make the best out of a bad situation. Good luck. Sometimes it is best to put them in the rear view mirror and learn a lesson. At least he did not use some patriotic plea to scam you the way he did.
I've accepted this as a very expensive lesson. I realize I'll probably never see the judgement money. Ive tried to sell the judgment to a few agencies but I haven't found one that will take it because it's less than 6 figures unfortunately. If you know of a service that I could sell to, I'm all ears!
