Slatmills?

I am looking to get a slatmill. I have always used carpetmills but i am looking for a slatmill now and am having problems finding some. Ive seen Dogtrotters and RPMills...is there anyone else out there building mills? At a working mans price? 1700 for a mill is high to me! I could build 8 carpet mills for that price.

 

Well build 8 carpet mills then.

 

or just make one, and sell the other 7

 

Im looking for alittle more wind from the slatmills and i already run carpet mills but if you would like Boogie ill sell you a few of them and send the money to Dogtrotter

 

I've looked all over the place myself. Dogtrotters and RPmills are are the only makers unless you find a used somewhere closeby. Is RPmills even are reliable seller anymore? I've heard bad things.

 

I emailed them yesterday and the shipping was going to be 350 and the mill was 950 after the crate and other things....so i might as well go with the Dogtrotter...Now if RPM is a good seller i do not know.

 

TopBox: You could always have a few steel frames welded up by a local weld-shop or a friend - then paint and assemble yourself... keep one sell the other and break even....

Follow this thread and you should be able to mangae a build. Go with the split type go-cart wheels instead og the plastic lawnmower type used....

http://www.game-dog.com/showthread.php?t=35552&page=1

....or you could go with what cutt is trying to say..... build 8 carpet mills, sell them and use the money to pay for the slatmill


Boogie... have you gotten up off your butt and built one carpet mill yet ? ? ? ? ? ? LOL

 

go for dogtrotter, better spend a little more money on some quality

only in the netherlands i know 4 people who build slat mills. how can u not find another in the states?

ps: they dont get much cheaper.

 

6sN7s.... you are not understanding the mans dillema....
If you don't have the cash.... you just dont have it and you need to figure out plan B....
its not down to spending just alittle more for the best.

 

Well said Norseman...I have a problem facing my money on the dogs more than the slatmills...the carpetmills are good but then i spend alot of time hand walking which isnt a bad thing just hard to work two dogs at a time.

 

You could always look into the Dog Trotter kit for 999.00 its at the top of the page

 

TopBox... is your Carpet Mill free turning???? I build one that is real nice and free truning I kept my dogs in real nice shape this winter with four feet of snow and -20 degrees celsius.... I did do some hand walking as well but not everyday and I wouldn't have been able to have them in the shape.

If i were you I would build another carpet mill real free turning and tinker with the one you have and have a crapet mill race going on.... if you have the floor space..... should be fun for the dogs.

Free turning carpet mill = with a good flick of the hand/foot the crapet should revolve a full 1.5 times minimum. Does yours do this???

 

No they arent that free spinning but one makes a good 1 to 1.5 turns the other is one of my first and its the one i use for strenth out of the dogs....The freer spinning mill revolves alot easier with a little wd-40 between the carpet and mill. I have heard countless times that the carpetmills are hard on the dogs kidneys. How do you feel about that norseman?

 

A carpet mill can build wind to, keep what you have and just modify your conditioning.

 

TopBox,

My rule of thumb is "Too much of one thing is no good but plenty is OK."... that goes for anything in my book.
I have only experiance from free turning Carpet Mills and I cann't say I have been plauged with kidney problems or hot feet or any thing else I have hearded mentions. Make note, I have not used it daily in a 40 day keep. More like 3 to 4 times a week in the winter months. Mostly hand walking in the sommer.
Don't use your hard turning one daily just to be safe

Back to your Carpet mill..... well mine accually.... I use industrial type carpet that has thin white felt fabric instead of rubber on the down side of the carpet and I make sure to have a nice slipperey surface on the running board... in the USA Plexiglass is real chaep... or if you have some scrap lynolium type flooring use this... then you could use silicon spray, better than wd40 in this case.
If you cann't get a hold of the felt type carpet I mentioned you could use the carpet rubber side up but it will make a mess... I have never tried this by the way, and I don't think I will either.

I also make sure the carpet has about half an inch of clearance from the sides of the mill frame or side walls however your set is, this to reduce drag, and the rollers have guides on the ends of the to make sure the carpet doesn't slop around from side to side when the dog is running on it.
The rollers without the carpet on them should be really free spinning with the flick of the hand, Mine have ball bearings and spin really well.

What you think?

 

Well i thank the both of yall for the information. Very well put and alot of help....Ive never ran into a problem with my mills that i have and i always hand walk before the mill and make sure the dog empties. I guess its just all the hype about a slatmill compared to the carpet that has me wanting to try one. Was just trying to get alittle more ease on the bulldogs. My dogs have never ran short on time due to wind so i guess ill probably stick with what i have.

 

I agree with you slim the best tool is a lead and sweat....the bond brings heart and wind like no other

 

Well put slim, agree
But its nice to have a mill ready to go as well, especailly in the winter months of when it is pissing down with rain.... LOL

TopBox... will you be making adjustments or modifications to your mill ?