Frequently Asked Questions

There are no limits to the different approaches you can use to charge for your cutting services. The three most common methods are to charge by the hour, by the board foot, or by sharing the finished lumber. All three have their place, but the key is to anticipate which method would be the best pricing policy for that specific job. This will be easier to assess as you are exposed to more and more cutting situations.

By the Hour
The most stable or secure method for pricing for the mill owner is a flat, hourly rate. Rates vary from location to location and range from $30-$75/ hour plus extra charges for travel, broken blades, etc. Pricing on an hourly basis transfers all of the risk of daily output to the customer. It encourages the customer to have his logs clean and easily accessible, and to provide a person to help handle the materials to get the most value for his money. Depending on the situation, however, the customer may feel he did not get a “good deal.”

By the Board Foot
Cutting by the board foot is the most common method used in the industry. This pricing method gives you the ability to make the greatest return in a day, but potentially exposes you to the lowest returns as well. This pricing method places all of the risk of productivity on the sawyer since the customer is only paying for the lumber he receives. That is why this method is preferred by a great number of businesses in the industry. Set charges for broken blades, cleaning muddy logs, travel, etc. can be set beforehand.

On a Share Basis
One of the most lucrative approaches to charging for custom cutting can be to accept a percentage of the finished lumber from the owner of the logs. In most circumstances, this pricing method is advantageous to both you and the customer. With this pricing method, the customer doesn’t need to pay any money up front to have his lumber cut. The mill owner, in many cases, can get significantly more money by selling a portion of the lumber on the open market. Generally, the percentage of shares varies with the species cut.

1. The Warranty
   The peace of mind that comes from knowing your mill is backed by the strongest warranty in the industry goes beyond a price tag. And our warranties aren’t just words on a page. We go beyond most manufacturers in making sure you’re pleased with your mill. They feature five years on the bed, two years on everything else accept wear items like belts, and a 30 Day Money Back Guarantee.
2. The Latest Technology
   Our team of 30 engineers is constantly working to improve our world class sawmills.
   • Features – Many of today’s most advanced features are not available on older mills such as the bi-plane hydraulic clamp which was introduced in late 1996
   • Options – Most of today’s options are not retro-fittable on 1996 or older Wood-Mizers. Some are not retro-fittable at all.
   • Revisions – although we’re proud of our 1982 LT40, the 2009 LT40 is a better sawmill. Our customers have provided us with valuable input during our 27 year history and many of their suggestions are now standard on our mills. Wood-Mizer carefully tracks each and every revision, and the LT40 is now on Revision K3.00. To read more about revisions, click here: (put a link to WM’s Revision history here)
   • Longevity – the longer we’ve been in business, the more we’ve learned about building mills that last and last and last. Wood-Mizer has customers that have logged over 20,000 hours on our mills, working 3 shifts, 7 days a week.
3. “Somebody else’s trouble”
   • Maintenance – no two customers maintain a mill exactly alike. Even meticulous written records can’t guarantee that the seller has maintained his equipment the same way you would.
   • Abuse – it doesn’t take long to tear down even the most durable machine if you run over it with a concrete truck! Skid steers and forklifts can also wreak havoc on a sawmill.
   • Alterations – some guys just can’t leave their 8th grade shop class behind! Once a mill is welded on or altered outside of Wood-Mizer specs, it’s no longer something we can help you maintain.
4. Training
   Training by a Wood-Mizer technician is included when you purchase a new or used mill from Wood-Mizer. But you may or may not receive training when you purchase a used mill direct from the owner. Some of our customers are superb sawyers and could doubtless teach us all a thing or two about operating a sawmill. But few if any of them have the training necessary to make sure you understand everything you need to know to get the most out of your mill. If you buy your mill from a private owner you can still get factory training. Schedule a Service Plan with Training Appointment Click here to get your Wood-Mizer checked out by a factory-trained technician. He’ll teach you what he’s doing while he also explains the finer points of good sawyer technique.

Wood-Mizer collects sales tax on purchases shipped to the select states listed below. If you have a valid tax-exemption claim, you must send a properly completed exemption certificate before ordering. For assistance regarding sales tax questions or which form to complete, please contact your State’s Department of Revenue listed below. Once you have contacted your State’s Department of Revenue, complete and send the correct form to:

Patricia Rose
Email: prose@woodmizer.com
Fax: 317-273-7015

State Department of Revenue Links

Arizona

Arkansas

California

Colorado

Connecticut

Florida

Georgia

Idaho

Indiana

Kentucky

Louisiana

Maine

Minnesota

Mississippi

Missouri

Nebraska

Nevada

New York

North Carolina

Ohio

Pennsylvania

Rhode Island

South Carolina

Tennessee

Texas

Utah

Virginia

Washington

Wisconsin

Wood-Mizer accepts the following payment methods:

• Visa
• MasterCard
• American Express
• Discover

Charging Your Credit Card
Your credit card will be charged after completion of checkout. Orders are subject to verification and acceptance before shipping. We are not responsible for typographical errors.

Financing
Wood-Mizer also offers financing options to qualified buyers on a variety of products. Visit Wood-Mizer Financing for more information.

Sales Tax
Applicable sales tax will be charged on purchases, including shipping & handling fees, shipped to: AZ, CA, CO, CT, FL, GA, IN, KY, LA, ME, MN, MS, MO, NE, NY, NC, OH, PA, SC, SD, TN, TX, VA, WI and WA. If you have a valid tax-exemption claim, please see the Sales Tax FAQ above for more information.

Other Equipment
If equipment is not available to purchase online, please give us a call at 800.553.0182 for assistance in placing your order.