Buying new vs. used portable sawmill: What you need to know

Owning a portable sawmill can be a great way to get lumber for your next construction project, or to start a small business selling slabs or dimensional lumber.

Some sawyers do look at used sawmills as a way of saving money when making that investment. In the Woodland Mills Product Owners and Community Facebook Group, some sawyers will even put their portable band sawmills up for sale if they've recently upgraded to a higher capacity model.

But there are advantages to buying new. If you're considering buying new or used, keep some things in mind as you consider your purchase.

A sawmill is an investment into toolset, you're buying a bandsaw mill that's capable of providing many services, from giving you lumber in whatever dimensions you need, to slabs, cookies or any other cuts of wood you need for your projects, whether you're constructing buildings or making desks, tables or other projects.

With that information in mind, you should think carefully about the pros and cons of new versus used. For example:

New

• • You know the condition of the mill out of the box

  • You build the mill yourself and get a detailed understanding of its parts and features

  • You'll have the warranty to assure a swift response should any issues arise

  • You'll have hour meter starting at zero, and can better keep track of the mill's condition over time

  • You have the option of adding any additional accessories you want with your purchase

Used

• • You could potentially save money by getting a deal from someone selling their mill

  • No assembly required, the mill may theoretically run fine from the start

  • If they come with them, you may be able to get accessories like track extensions, the Power Head or blades from the former owner at a great package rate

However one of the downsides of buying the mill used is you may not get it in its original condition. You may be required to do some legwork to get it like new so you can be running your mill and generating lumber.

But there are people online who are selling their mills. Keep an eye out for Facebook Marketplace posts, or in the Woodland Mills Product Owners and Community Facebook group, and you may be able to spot a deal ready for pickup.

If you do opt for a second-hand mill, here are a few things to keep in mind:

Woodland Mills offers a number of accessories to help you achieve your sawmilling goals, whether that's with trailer packages to help get your sawmill wherever you need it, to other add-ons like the Power Head to make operating your sawmill more efficient.

Used sawmills may come with some of these accessories, so ask the seller if the machine is coming stock out of the box, or if they've made any customizations or additions to it.

You may find yourself a great deal by buying a used sawmill with some additional accessories for a great price.

Also check and see if they're also selling their spare blades or belts. These are items you can buy yourself, but it may save you some money if they have a few to toss in for free or for a cheap price.

As a buyer, it's your responsibility to ask these questions, so you don't lose out on freebies like some spare blades.

Depending on where you live, the trailer for a portable sawmill may be road legal, but check your local laws before hauling it onto the roads just to be safe.

Make sure the sawmill comes with its manual, but if it doesn't, all the paperwork that comes with the sawmill is also available on the Woodland Mills website.

One important thing to note about the warranty is that it does not transfer between owners. Please take this into account if you are buying a used sawmill, as you will not be able to rely on the warranty for replacement parts.

This is why, depending on the cost of the mill and the amount of repairs necessary, it may be more beneficial to buy new. But look at the cost of the sawmill, the amount of work you think it needs and make that decision for yourself.

The great thing about the Woodland Mills community is that they're extremely helpful in providing advice to help sawyers get their mills restarted fast, and our technicians can help over the phone to walk through any issues you may be having, even if you bought one used.

If you have any questions about buying a used portable sawmill, or about how to fix one, give us a call at +1 855-476-6455 and we'd be happy to help.

Woodland Mills sawmills are built to last. Whether you buy new or used, expect to get years of use out of your portable sawmill equipment, and be turning logs into usable lumber for your next project.

Here are a few things though you may want to consider as you navigate the buying of a used portable sawmill:

• Is the condition of the sawmill a deal breaker, is it in great shape or does it require some work?

• How much use has the sawmill seen? Did someone take it out of the box and never use it, or was it seeing use every day from an avid sawyer?

• Where was it stored? Was it kept safely underneath a cover in a sawmill shed or on a busy job site exposed to the elements?

• Is the price worth it, or should you make the investment to buy new instead?

Ask these questions and see if purchasing a used sawmill is the right decision for you.