Woodworking equipment appraisals.
A woodworking equipment appraisal from Lukes & Lukes is an independent, USPAP-compliant opinion of value for the cabinet, millwork and panel-processing floor: CNC routers and machining centers, sliding table and panel saws, edgebanders, wide-belt sanders, moulders and finishing lines. European machines hold value that entry-tier imports do not, CNC value follows the controller and software, and dust collection rarely returns what it cost to install. We sort that out machine by machine. Built to withstand lender, SBA, IRS, audit and legal review.
What we appraise
The shop floor, machine by machine.
We value the full woodworking line, from a two-saw cabinet shop to an automated panel-processing plant, and we inspect each machine for the brand, controller, tooling and condition that actually set its price.
- CNC machining: CNC routers, nested-based machining centers and point-to-point machines.
- Sawing and sizing: sliding table saws, vertical and horizontal panel saws, beam saws.
- Edge and surface: edgebanders, wide-belt sanders, moulders, planers and jointers.
- Joinery and assembly: dovetailers, dowel and boring machines, case clamps.
- Finishing and air: spray booths, flatline finishing systems and dust collection.
What drives the number
Brand tier, controller generation, and what the tooling can do.
Brand tier sets the baseline: European machines from makers like Homag, SCM, Biesse, Altendorf and Martin hold value on a deep resale market, while entry-tier imports depreciate fast and resell thin. On a CNC router the controller generation and software support count as much as the iron, since an unsupported control that cannot run current nesting software cuts the machine's market sharply. Edgebanders and moulders trade on capability rather than age: the stations, feed speed and tooling spread they carry. Dust collection is installed infrastructure, ducted into the building, and it returns little once removal cost is subtracted. A cabinet or millwork shop's fleet is often worth more as a working line than as scattered single machines, so the report states which basis applies. Hours, spindle condition and maintenance records settle the rest.
Which value applies
The right premise for the situation.
The same shop carries different numbers depending on why you need the appraisal. We determine and defend the premise your situation requires.
Common questions
Answers, up front.
What drives a CNC router's value?
Controller generation and software support, first. A machine whose control still runs current nesting software holds value; one stranded on an unsupported control loses much of its market. After that: brand tier, table size, spindle hours and condition, tool changer capacity, and vacuum pump health.
Why do European machines appraise higher than similar-looking imports?
Because the resale market treats them differently. Makers like Homag, SCM, Biesse, Altendorf and Martin have deep dealer networks, parts availability and proven service life, so buyers pay for them used. Entry-tier imports sell cheap new and cheaper used, and the spread between the two tiers is often the largest single factor in a shop's total value.
Is dust collection worth much in an appraisal?
In place, yes; at removal, very little. A cyclone or baghouse system is installed infrastructure, ducted through the building, and the cost to dismantle, transport and reinstall it consumes most of its resale price. It supports a going-concern value but contributes little at liquidation, and the report states both.
Are these appraisals accepted by lenders, the SBA and the courts?
Yes. Reports are USPAP-compliant, prepared by a NEBB-certified Machinery & Equipment Appraiser (CMEA), and built to withstand lender, SBA, IRS, audit and legal review.