Sawmill ?

[LRTX1]

Here's the deal, I am planning on building a Pole barn (on a tight budget) in the near future. 30' x 40' x 10' Definately want it closed in.

My choices for siding would be used (remember budget) 5v tin if I can find enough. Then I thought about Sawing a few of the many cypress logs that I have on my place and doing a Board and Bat. Bonus here, all of the other buildings and house are board and bat heart pine, and that would keep the same general appearance to the place.

The question is, What would be a fair deal? I have considered asking a few local sawmills to cut on halves. They get half and I get half of the logs I provide. Cypress is going for about 2 dollars a board foot here. It seems like that would be more than a fair deal for the sawmill. I don't want to give away more than I have too.

What do you think would be fair?

Anyone in the Gainesville Fl. area interested in working something out?


Layne

 

[SPIKER]

try asking here http://www.forestryforum.com/board/index.php/board,3.0.html


there is a wanted section too to ask about share cutting
mark

 

[rambler]

Would it be terribly rude of me to go off topic & suggest you make it a bit taller so you can get an actual 10 foot door opening? You'll really appreciate that in the next few years when you look back. Seriously.

--->Paul

 

[LRTX1]

Paul,

Not rude at all. Haven't put too much thought into that aspect yet. I will probably build doors that slide back and forth and not a garage type overhead door.


Nobody has any opinion's on whether cutting on halves would be a good deal?

 

[theboman]

Cutting on the halves seems kinda steep too me. I a paid $175 per thousand to get my wood cut. I needed about 800 board feet for an all wood 16 X 24 shed (see the Iron Hill Shed Project). I had about 1100 foot cut and it'll take every bit to get the 800 needed because of the scrap, small boards etc.

If you've got a lot of wood it may be a good deal but I think you cut, stack, sell and come out a head.

 

[20 20]

ANother option, buy a small mill cut what ever you need, then cut extra. When done sell the lumber not needed and sell the mill????

 

[theboman]

I can't see that being an option for him.... The experience factor on running a sawmill is as important as the mill itself!

 

[LRTX1]

Basically, the goal here was to not have anything out of pocket. I am just looking for a round figure on what it would be worth to have logs milled. 1/3rd for the mill, 2/3rds for me? I don't want to get hosed because I don't know what it's worth, or insult the sawmill guys.

Selling the extra is a good option.

 

[20 20]

The only problem maybe be that the mill guys need money right now. Cutting on shares allways seems like a good deal, especially for the land owner. I have cut on shares before, there is a lot of work involved. Even if you give the guy 3/4 of your wood supply, it takes $$$$ to run these machines. I'm not saying you don't have the right idea, but that'll have to be between the guy that owns the mill and you. I have cut on a 50/50 split but not sure I'd do it again????We can give you advice until we're blue in the face but if your mill guy doesn't agree with TBN'ers what could have we done?

 

[LRTX1]

I agree. I just wanted to know what it's worth. I dont have a lot to choose from in mills. I guess I will have to approach all of them and take the best option.

Is $175 per thousand board feet a good average cost of paying the mill for cutting cypress?

Layne

 

[schmism]

unless the sawyer is intrested in cypress... most of the guys over on the forestry forum suggest you just pay per hr. at the end of the job if the sawyer wants some cypress you guys agree on a price per board foot and make that deal AFTER the sayer has been payed for his time.


then everyone feels like they get what they want. the sawyer gets paid what he normally gets paid, and you dont feel like you got ripped off with give away a bunch of wood that you needed.

Is $175 per thousand board feet a good average cost of paying the mill for cutting cypress?

Layne

a price per board feet is generally per board foot no matter what he saws. oak, cypress, pine etc.

 

[gerard]

Not sure what he paid but a freind of mine paid a portable sawyer to come to his place and cut up a bunch of pines for him. He had a lot of wood to cut to spec. (Enought for a 40 x 40 garage with an attic and another 30 x 30 barn. Think he just paid by the board foot. Seems better than hourly cause you don't have to worry about the guy lounging around. Paid by the foot he's going to be efficient.

 

[schmism]

Think he just paid by the board foot. Seems better than hourly cause you don't have to worry about the guy lounging around. Paid by the foot he's going to be efficient.

depends on what your sawing. if your sawing 4/4 random width i suppose. but say you want a bunch of 8x8 beams or 6x10 beams for a pole barn. 6 cuts to slab one beam out and he's done in 20 min...but still gets paid for an arse load based on board feet?

 

[20 20]

Hourly is how it's done around here also. Most of the portable mill folks will let you help. If you have a tractor you could have the logs staged and ready to go. Again each mill operator is going to be different. Then there are those that give a deal,.,.,.,.,. and oh what a deal it is {if ya catch my drift}. Schmism, makes a good point, in order to swap wood you'll need to find a miller that wants wood, and the type you're offering.

 

[LRTX1]

Well thanks for the help, I guess at least I can go into this not expecting too much. Cypress around here is in pretty good demand, always has been.

Layne

 

[gerard]

depends on what your sawing. if your sawing 4/4 random width i suppose. but say you want a bunch of 8x8 beams or 6x10 beams for a pole barn. 6 cuts to slab one beam out and he's done in 20 min...but still gets paid for an arse load based on board feet?

I suppose theres some truth there. Just know when I go to the local sawmill to buy roughcut (his wood), I pay by the boardfoot and it's not any less if I buy bigger pieces. I guess they figure they make a little better margin on the bigger stuff, little less on the 1x stuff but it averages out. Figure if you're building a barn you're going to need a mix of sizes so it would all average out but I understand you have to go by whatever is done in your area.

 

[PILOON]

I have hired portable saw mills a couple of times.
Once a 30 inch white pine was sawed for me yeilding close to 1000 bd ft at a net cost of about $150.
They charged 'by/hr' with min 1/2 day and sheduled when other jobs were close by.

I'd say book a mill for a day and have all your logs neatly accessable and sell off your surplus needs after the project is finished.
Most sawers will let you assist in remouving and stacking etc as it saves them time.
Have the logs clean, wash, hose them as the sawers will charge U blades that get damaged.
They also like wet or green wood VS dry as it is easier on the blades, so watering helps.

Just have your needs listed and let the sawer cut his way as he knows best.

They hate 'yard trees' as they usually have imbedded nails etc that ruin blades.
A ruined blade will generally be charged to you.

 

[Carykong]

I have a portable log mill and do occassional professional milling. If the cedar is of good quality, you will be better served just paying for the mill service with dollars and keeping 100% of the yield. My mill,for example, is on the low end for production speed and will produce about 200bd ft/ hr with proper set up. That means,if the cedar is worth $2bd ft. You are paying the operater around $200 hr for his mill operation. You can contract a portable mill service in the $50 to $100/hr plus travel. Because of the value of your cedar,as you stated, a 2 to 1 split might be more appropriate if you can talk the mill operater into share contract.

 

[20 20]

Well thanks for the help, I guess at least I can go into this not expecting too much. Cypress around here is in pretty good demand, always has been.

Layne

Don't take the post as a negative, more of a realistic point of view The old saying is "It never hurts to ask". I'd ask around you never know you may end up with a pleasent story worth sharing.

 

[LRTX1]

Don't take the post as a negative, more of a realistic point of view The old saying is "It never hurts to ask". I'd ask around you never know you may end up with a pleasent story worth sharing.

That wasn't taken in a negative way. I was sincere when I said thanks for the help.