| 1 |
See it in action. You wouldn't buy a car without a test drive. The same principle applies to sawmills. |
| 2 |
Get a reference. Talk to someone who owns the mill you're interested in. Ask about the quality of the mill and about the company's customer service and support after the sale. |
| 3 |
Ask about expertise. Find out how many band sawmills the company has made. There's no substitute for experience in designing a quality sawmill. |
| 4 |
Ask about manufacturing. A lot of people can throw some steel together, stick a blade in there somewhere and call it a mill (and many do). There are also some companies that don't even manufacture the mills they sell. Good luck getting service from them. |
| 5 |
Insist on a refundable deposit. Things happen. People change their minds. Make sure you can get your money back if you happen to be the one changing your mind. |
| 6 |
Insist on a money-back guarantee. If you find out you bought something you really don't want, you'll be far happier dealing with a company that will give you a full refund. |
| 7 |
Compare warranties. You're buying machinery. Parts will wear out over time. Make sure you're covered well. |
| 8 |
Compare resale values. The day may come when you'll want to sell your mill (possibly because you want to upgrade your operation). It would be good knowing what you can get for it. Look in some of the industry's classified magazines to see what the various brands of used mills are selling for. Then you'll see which mills hold their value. |
| 9 |
Compare models and engines. don't get stuck with the wrong mill. Make sure you have plenty of options so you can get the machine that will do what you need done. |
| 10 |
Ask about service locations. If you're in Oregon and the company's only location is out east… It's just much easier when the service team is nearby. |
| 11 |
Make sure it's orange. Then you'll know you made the right decision. |
