Showing reviews 1 - 10 of 11
|
|
Lucas 827
|
|
Posted by: Ricky H from Oklahoma on 5/18/2008
|
Rating: 
|
|
I've had my Lucas mill for three years and have sawn everything from pine and cedar to oak, hickory and even osage orange, which is the hardest wood I know of. I have had very few problems with my mill. I live in town and do all my sawing on location. Portability is very important to me and the Lucas mill is very portable. The video says that set-up takes just ten minutes, but it usually takes me fifteen to twenty minutes alone. I had a broken rail lock but had no difficulty in getting replacements under warrenty. I mill mostly large logs, the largest a 54 inch diameter red oak. I use notched skids for holding smaller logs and usually don't have problems with them moving. Turning the head to mill wider than 8 1/2 boards is difficult with one person and cumberson with two people, and slows down production. Over all I am well pleased with the Lucas Mill and it is one of the few products that I've purchased that does what was advertised.
|
|
285 people found this review helpful.
|
|
Was this review helpful?
Yes
|
| |
|
|
Lucas 830
|
|
Posted by: Shelby J from FL on 5/17/2008
|
Rating: 
|
|
I have a Lucas unit that I have used very little less than thirty hours and Kiln system. We processed the wood that we wanted to and now wish to pass the equipment on to another hobbiest. The units worked quite well for us we especially enjoyed the portabillity of the lucas.
|
|
411 people found this review helpful.
|
|
Was this review helpful?
Yes
|
| |
|
|
Urban logging
|
|
Posted by: Blair G from CA on 5/17/2008
|
|
Rating:
|
|
As the owner of Saratoga Tree Service and an avid woodworker, I find the Lucas mill to be a valuable asset to my company. I have owned the 8 for over 10 years and have milled hundreds of thousands of board feet. I get some really big, old growth redwood logs from time to time and some huge fir logs. If the log is fat enough and 20 feet long, I can produce as much as 3000 bd. ft. in a day with a strong helper. My real value with this mill is when I get logs in backyards of high hardwood value. Woodworkers will pay high prices for quality Black Walnut, Black Acacia, Silver Maple etc. Most of the oak in California is of low quality but sometimes I find some real good logs. Knowing how to deal with the lumber after it is milled is the secret to making money with any mill. I have even used the mill in disposal situations. Big dead Montery Pines in a back yard can be expensive to dump big rounds. But if you mill up long 4x6 trash lumber, it chips easily and can be dumped for free as clean mulch. I own the slabbing rail as well and have made some big money with huge slabs of wood. The lumber selling business is not easy and it takes a long time to build up clients who come to you. Great machine. Dangerous machine if you are not careful. Nails are expensive to blades and down time so choose your logs with care. Milled about five thouisand bd. ft of Montery Cypress for a client who wanted it for deck and rail wood for his house. I finish processed this lumber and made even more on the project. Owning a wood chipper is a good addition to a mill because you end up with mountains of slash from every job. I have been asked to sell my machine but would only sell it if I get too old to enjoy using it. It keeps me young and fit doing this type of work.
|
|
443 people found this review helpful.
|
|
Was this review helpful?
Yes
|
| |
|
|
OneManMill
|
|
Posted by: Steve R from Canada on 5/16/2008
|
|
Rating:
|
|
I have been operating a Lucas 8 mill for 3 years and have cut many hundred thousand board feet. Overall I am very pleased with the mill's design and performance, and with Bailey's aftermarket support. Much of my work has been for a firm manufacturing Douglas Fir flooring and the Lucas Mill's ability to easily cut edge grain lumber is to great advantage. I am able to cut very large old-growth logs with little difficulty as well. The flexibility of the mill's independent end frames gives excellent recovery possible from logs with center rot or from tapered logs.
The few problems I have encountered include a dead tach/hour meter, several snapped cam-locks and a disintegrating clutch plate in the cranking mechanism. All have been quickly addressed by Bailey's. I think the instruction manual could be made more thorough, with more detail given to the saw adjustment procedures.
Overall the Lucas Mill is an excellent machine and I am very happy with my investment.
|
|
410 people found this review helpful.
|
|
Was this review helpful?
Yes
|
| |
|
|
Lucas Mill model 825
|
|
Posted by: Jody L from Carolina on 5/16/2008
|
Rating: 
|
|
My father Rodney Lawrence and I bought the mill about 7 years ago after already having a bandmill. We got tired of the wavy lumber often associated with the bandmill and thought we would try the Lucas Mill. We used the mill mostly just for hobby sawing and sawing for the occasional customer. We were very pleased with the mill power and everything. My dad passed away about 3 years ago form a brain tumor and I let the mill sit for about 2 years, just changing the oil and filters once a year. I finally got the urge to start sawing again about a year ago an was afraid the mill wouldn't run. I put a new battery in it and it fired right up and I've been sawing about 2 weekends a month ever since. The only problem I have with the mill is that the two main drive belts have stretched and I'm having a hard time figuring out how to replace them. I would highly recommend anybody looking for a portable mill to look at the Lucas Mill for reliability and durability.
Sincerely,
Jody Lawrence
|
|
415 people found this review helpful.
|
|
Was this review helpful?
Yes
|
| |
|
|
Lucas Mill
|
|
Posted by: Chris J from VT on 5/16/2008
|
|
Rating:
|
|
Performs great once set up. Instructions and manuals were terible, however. No one to call for tech support. Am worried about spare parts on wear items going forward.
|
|
444 people found this review helpful.
|
|
Was this review helpful?
Yes
|
| |
|
|
A great portable saw
|
|
Posted by: Barry B from Oregon on 5/16/2008
|
|
Rating:
|
|
I have used the Lucas 830 mill for about 3 years and have cut several thousand board feet of Fir and Oak. Log diameters have varied from 12 to over 60. The saw is easy to set up and use and cuts a nice board. I have cut most of the wood by myself. The Lucas mill has been problem free and proven to be a good investment. I am using a lot of the Oak in a new river front home currently under construction. I bought a circular mill instead of a bandsaw because some of the Oak logs weigh in at 9,000 lbs and are over 5'' in diameter. I am very pleased with my purchase. -Barry Burnsides, Grants Pass, OR.
|
|
404 people found this review helpful.
|
|
Was this review helpful?
Yes
|
| |
|
|
lucas 838
|
|
Posted by: allen j from Iowa on 5/15/2008
|
|
Rating:
|
|
had mine twelve years- first thing that shelled out was the tach/hour meter- obviously not built for the elements- next problem- steel bolts holding valve covers on go into aluminum heads- did I say galling? these bolts are not easy to remove to change fuel pump- bolts broken off- not a good thing- some minor electical problems with safety switches-- that''s the bad stuff- now for the good- I love this mill- it is very accurate and mostly built for the long term- very portable and is light years ahead of the old circular mills in ease of use and portability- bandsaws I am not impressed with- this lucas really does cut accurate lumber- I would buy another if this one ever craps out.
|
|
390 people found this review helpful.
|
|
Was this review helpful?
Yes
|
| |
|
|
830 Lucas
|
|
Posted by: Richard C from VT on 5/15/2008
|
|
Rating:
|
|
I bought this to develop another hobby during my retirement in a few years. After a few weekends of use, I find myself churning out 12 foot 4x8 oak joists, 12 foot 3x5 purlins, and a few thousand board feet of siding for a new barn addition without stress. So far, calls to Bailey's have been answered satisfactorily and the one warranty job needed on the engine happened successfully without a hitch. It sharpens quickly, and I have learned to re-tip the blades. Once I have finished the lumber for the barn addition this summer, it will have paid for itself. No complaints. It has been enjoyable outdoor work, and the lumber looks great.
|
|
422 people found this review helpful.
|
|
Was this review helpful?
Yes
|
| |
|
|
827
|
|
Posted by: Drew B from Canada on 5/15/2008
|
|
Rating:
|
|
My mill has 150 hours on it and I've cut from 6'' diameter to 16. I've had to go with a Mobile Dimension log dog on a wooden 6x6 frame to keep the logs from moving. I've had trouble with the blades wandering off to the right in a vertical 8 cut in Douglas Fir. I'd like to try a cam lock for the trolley rather than the existing trolley lock device which I find only works sometimes this lock keeps the trolley from rolling when adjusting height of mill. I think water onto the blade in the vertical deep cuts would be better placed where the blade enters the cut: i.e. at the end of the blade furthest from the operator. This would require some linkages in order to move the water tube out of the way when swinging to horizontal but seems to me to be worth the effort. I have not had the time to play with this. I've changed the transmission oil several times more than recommended but have a noise from that area that gives me a little concern. When cutting large beams it is difficult to match up cuts accurately. The instruction video and booklet that comes with the machine is really second rate and you should have your butt shanked for not putting more effort into this and I've been milling part time for 20 years! The sidewinder was a vast improvement and I was surprised it took so long to develop. I've been satisfied with the customer care and responses to my inquiries and some of the difficulties encountered. When I have a choice to mill with my band or the Lucas I choose the Lucas 80% of the time due to less problems and usually quicker. Outside of the wandering blade I'd have rated the machine a 4 as it does what is advertised.
|
|
448 people found this review helpful.
|
|
Was this review helpful?
Yes
|
| |
|
Showing reviews 1 - 10 of 11
|
Lucas Model 830 Portable Sawmill Package Includes:
