making lumber, finally $2,500/board foot.

[radioman]

actually, that doesnt seem like a bad way to go. spend the retirement money on physical things like tractors and implements to have something to do instead of sitting in a rocker.

 

[newbury]

actually, that doesnt seem like a bad way to go. spend the retirement money on physical things like tractors and implements to have something to do instead of sitting in a rocker.

But I consider it sitting in a rocker mounted on my ATV, and my ATV has a FEL and a backhoe.

 

[Botabill]

So after spending about $20,000 I've finally gotten two planks, net cost about $2,500/ board foot. (pic 4)

I expect cost/bf will drop rapidly


That makes me feel better. With all the machinery I bought to play in my garden I've got the cost of carrots down to $42 each.

 

[forgeblast]

on the alaskan mill did you have a hard time setting it up? also did you have to buy a different ripper chain?

 

[czechsonofagun]

on the alaskan mill did you have a hard time setting it up? also did you have to buy a different ripper chain?

Alaskan mill is rather easy. To set it up, tape meassure is all you need. RIpping chain, I got two from commercial cutters before they retire out of business. It was worth it - and $20 for 2 is not a bad price.

 

[alchemysa]

$2,500/board foot? Who-da-thought that making your own lumber would be cheaper than catching your own fish?

Right on. Hey, maybe he could build a boat with the lumber.

 

[Taylortractornut]

Newbury, the man that owns the chicken farm on the other side of the landfill I run is in the same situation. Two years ago he sold all his hay equipment fed up with the fact he was raising chickens, and haying all together. He hired it out the next year then this spring he bought a new cutter, rake/tedder, and baler. I dropped a load of shavings there last week and he loaded me a bale in my dumpster and told me be proud of that bale, at the moment it had cost him 3500 to make that first one.
Like others said its worth it to occupy yourself and have something useful to. I think thats the biggest reason my dad has 4 Farmall Cubs and 2 Pasquali's and lives on 2 acres.

 

[jimmyj]

Great story. Keep us posted on your lumbering and what you do with it.

 

[newbury]

on the alaskan mill did you have a hard time setting it up? also did you have to buy a different ripper chain?

Very well thought out piece of equipment, slaps together in about 30min from opening a beverage and the box.
The most difficult thing in setting it up to cut is getting your thoughts together and your rail system. My FIRST tree cut took me 30 minutes to get ready for, my second tree about 10 minutes.
Did not HAVE to buy ripper chain, but did.
Got's to have the HP to run the width of the cut.
At 14" cut width my 4.7HP saw was fine, at 20" it was bogging down.
There are two other forums I'd recommend if you are interested in making big wood into small wood like a bureaucrat (they cut red tape lengthwise) :
Arboristsite and Forestryforum, they both have good milling advice, Aboristsite is more chain saw oriented.

 

[Steve C]

$2,500/board foot? Who-da-thought that making your own lumber would be cheaper than catching your own fish?

wow you are right! I got about 40 pounds of fish for $14,000

$350 per pound