I've been thinking about wide slabbing a lot lately. The big ash I sawed last month could have been wider with a bar type mill. I may stretch my mill 6" someday, as that can be done easily with Wood-Mizer parts. That would make a lot of situations easier. The wide slabber would be great not only for slabs up to 75", but also for breaking down long logs for the Wood-Mizer, and for sawing curves and crotches for timber framing. The wide slabber, a Peterson DWS does have a few limitations. It can only saw 9" thick at full width, and 12" at reduced width, so no quartering 48" logs. It is a portable design, so sacrifices ruggedness for light weight. Don't get me wrong, they are brilliant at doing what they are designed for. With extra bed sections and all the accessories and spares, it's a $30k machine. I've been moving a lot of surplus industrial parts around lately, and I'm seeing the beginnings of an industrial wide slabber. I have a nice little 3 cylinder Kubota diesel engine. I beams. Some structural steel. Some hydraulic parts that may, or may not, be of use. This is mostly just something to think about, but could become a reality some day. Not super complicated, but there are a few big ticket items. The bar is $1,200, for instance. I'm not only looking to do my own stuff, but custom work as well. There is a demand for quality, reliable, reasonably affordable milling in this area. There is a place near here that has a Wood-Mizer WM 1000 with a 67" cut. Sadly, they offer all but three of those qualities.
When you are hiring someone to mill logs that you have paid a premium for, you go back to the guy who didn't mess up your last log. People are finding out that I'm milling again, I know several that will definitely be calling when they have logs. I have a bunch coming soon from one of them already, and am just finishing up some locust from a long time very reliable customer.
I know this is a long term goal, but like I said, it's something to think about. I think not much will happen right away, but once the dam breaks, it will build into something quickly.