If you have logs larger than 36” in diameter, I can mill them using my Lucas Slab Mill (with a 74” wide capacity). When using the Lucas Slab Mill or the chainsaw mill, I charge $100 per instance of hitting a metal object. If there is $1000 worth of lumber in your log, an additional $45 is not too onerous a fee. The possible presence of metal should not necessarily dissuade you from having your log milled. If I hit an object, such as a rock or nail, then I charge $45 per instance to recoup the damaged blade’s cost. I also use a debarker to clear the blade’s path on dirty logs. I use a metal detector to check for objects in yard trees, but its range is limited to 4” deep. My sawmill is designed to process clean logs. I can clean this up for you, but I would do so at my regular milling rate therefore, I recommend that you do it or hire someone to save money. Also, after milling, there will likely be a pile of edging material (flitches or slabs) and sawdust. If we are processing your lumber on my main sawmill (LT-40) the boards will be likely be coming off the mill faster than you or helpers can stack it- so it’s OK to pile the lumber on mill day then stack it after I leave. If you are going to buy them, I recommend kiln-dried, untreated 1x2x8 “furring strips.” Here is my overview about how to stack your lumber. We can cut these from softwoods on your property or you can buy them at the hardware store. Unless you are using your lumber immediately, you will need “stickers” or thin wood strips that go between your drying lumber. You can keep your costs down if you or a helper pull the lumber off the mill. When you consider costs of speciality hardwoods, such as walnut for $7.50/bf, you can see how it’s easy to generate thousands of dollars worth of lumber in a day.Īll sawmill services are for processing only. With pine prices at $1.25/bf currently, it’s easy to see how a portable sawmill can generate between $500 and $750 worth of lumber per hour. Larger diameter oaks can yield this much or more. This is especially the case with large diameter softwoods, such as pine. My sawmill can process between 250 and 500 board feet per hour. However, in most cases, it’s safe to assume a ballpark of 45 minutes per log.Įstimating Project Yield and Profitability A hardwood that has been down over a year may require an extra blade change. Anything over 36” in diameter can get complicated. If I have two helpers pulling the slabs off the mill as soon as the blade exits the log, I can work way quicker. The fewer cuts I have to make, the faster I go (cutting four 6圆s from a 12x12 cant goes a lot faster than cutting twenty-four 1圆s). A 24” diameter 10’ pine log might take me and my mill 20 minutes to process. Some general rules of thumb are as follows: the cleaner, greener, softer, and more cylindrical a log, the faster I can go. I’ve also spent an entire morning quartersawing one oak log. And, unfortunately, it’s highly variable: If everything is stacked well, I can process a log every 10 minutes. Many people ask me how long it takes to mill a log. The $25-per-blade charge allows me to differentiate between those jobs that may require only one blade per day (softwoods, such as cedar and pine) and those jobs that may require one blade per log (3-year-old 36” wide hickory). ![]() I do not charge for time related to machine down-time, set-up, consultations, breaks, or mechanical adjustments. The hourly milling rate begins when the sawing begins and it ends when I shut the engine off. Set-up includes setting up and taking down the mill. Sometimes folks set a budget and I work within that figure.Įach portable mill job includes three costs- mobile set-up fee ($150), milling by the hour ($105/hr), and blade cost ($25/blade). I do not have a minimum fee, so you can choose to do as little or as much of your project as you like. I can then provide you with a rough estimate of your trees’ value, the project costs, alternative options, and the timeframe when you can expect to have them milled. When we talk on the phone, I will ask you about the dimensions of the trees you wish to have milled, their condition, your project goals, and your site. If you need an arborist, see my Local Contacts page. Please note that I do not cut down trees and I do not barter milling services for lumber. My cell is 91 and you can call/text me anytime.īelow, I’ve provided a basic overview of my pricing. In that call, I’ll let you know if I need to do a site visit prior to milling. Each milling job is unique- based on site accessibility, lumber type, and desired dimensions- so I like to chat on the phone before any milling takes place. I offer portable sawmill services to folks located within 25 miles of Fireside Farm -which includes most of Durham and Chapel Hill, and stretches north/south from Burlington to Pittsboro.
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