Thinking hard now....

[unclemoustache]

Well, thanks to semotony, I seriously got the milling bug. So much so that I'm VERY seriously considering a Woodmizer. I've already sent some inquiries to the company, and have a friend who is willing to help - in that he has the land and lots of outbuildings. I own the mill, he owns the building and land, and we both use it when we want. If things go south, I take my mill and we're good.
That was really my big issue - no place to mill, store logs, etc.

My wife says I won't get my money back on this investment - she's probably right, and I don't have much use for the lumber and boards I can get out of it. Hopefully sell some stuff, but there are already a number of millers in the area.

However, I just got a call tonight from a friend who bought a little shed for his mower, and he wants me to build a ramp for him. And not only that, but the guy he bought it from is looking for someone to build ramps for the sheds they sell, since they get so many requests for that. Gee - suddenly I could use a whole bunch of rough cut lumber for making ramps!

Well anyway, I'll keep thinking about this. It's a very spendy investment, and I barely have enough in reserve to buy what I'm looking for.

My big question now is how can I make some decent money with it? What's the market?

We have two fireplace/stove places nearby. I could build and finish some nice mantles and bring them to the companies and see if they would be willing to work with me on selling those. That's about the only good idea I've had so far.

 

[cantoo]

Live edge shelving can be a good money maker. Slab tables etc are flooding the market and you need the right buyer to spend that much money for your time invested. Anyone can afford some nice shelving. Outdoor tables, small sitting benches and pool chairs can be made easily and don't have to be flawless to for most buyers. Kids water tables and some kids kitchen cabinets using real wood that will last outside. Don't even consider making framing type material with a manual mill you will kill yourself trying to give it away. There is no way you can compete with box stores on it. Stick to cutting stuff they can't get at a box store. I'm just starting a project that will likely kill me or my wife.

 

[kyle1!]

I am with your wife...er er I mean listen to her. You are trying to start out big before you even know if the plan will work. Go small.

Buy some milled lumber off of these area millers, make your product and see if you can make some $$. If yes than think about the woodmizer.

I unload freight at Menards. The truck driver started talking about making chairs (think NY starts with an A) and dog ramps out of free pallets/osb that he got from Menards etc.. The carpeted dog ramps were for fido to walk onto the bed instead of having to jump. Must be for the small yappers everyone has. Anyway he charged like $140 per chair and $80 for the dog ramps. It was a nice side gig for him not much tool investment just time/labor.

 

[unclemoustache]

Hmm. That's good advice. I'm looking into a smaller mill now. Why break the bank over this? No need for a 32" cut. 28" is good too.

 

[unclemoustache]

This one is certainly within my price range.

 

[lone wolf]

With Covid right now and people eating outside a lot picnic tables should sell like crazy i am sure.

 

[Justsaws]

The market around here is fairly saturated with rough cut lumber. Prices are all over the place. I would recommend doing some serious research as to what is availible in your area. Lots of folks looking for a cheaper source than what they currently have, does not mean you want to be that source.
A couple years ago, rough cut, air dried, whatever hardwood could be had for a $1.00 to 2.00 a board foot if I was willing to drive an hour to get it. That fellow had a lot lumber to move out that did not meet his regular customers specs, so it went out the door cheap. He was not the only person doing that, just the most pleasant to deal with.
No way I could justify the expense and time of a bandsaw mill with prices like that. Let alone the additional expense for the equipment to move the logs and stacks of lumber.

 

[KiwiBro]

Buy the lumber and make the ramps. If you can make money doing that then a mill is justified, otherwise you married well.

 

[lone wolf]

Unc just start making outdoor tables from lumber and post on Facebook.

 

[Haironyourchest]

Problem I foresee is people going to want cured lumber. That requires a massive shed or maybe open air yard for covered stacks, and machinery to move the board stacks, and a time lag of a year or two before sale. I know a few guys with woodmizers. One has a well payed job and Mills as a hobby, also lotss of space. The other specialises in "exotic" lumber for small batch supply and builds bespoke carpentry.

 

[lone wolf]

Problem I foresee is people going to want cured lumber. That requires a massive shed or maybe open air yard for covered stacks, and machinery to move the board stacks, and a time lag of a year or two before sale. I know a few guys with woodmizers. One has a well payed job and Mills as a hobby, also lotss of space. The other specialises in "exotic" lumber for small batch supply and builds bespoke carpentry.

Right so now he needs a building if he already dont have it more money.

 

[Haironyourchest]

Right so now he needs a building if he already dont have it more money.

Right, wasn't there a fellow on here, or maybe it was another forum, who bought a 4 inch ash slab for $600 or something? But most of the cost was the space it took up in a barn for the last twenty years. I suppose there are guys who use green lumber though. Don't the Amish build in green?

 

[grizz55chev]

With Covid right now and people eating outside a lot picnic tables should sell like crazy i am sure.

My buddy and me put rough cut picnik benches together in under 4 hrs from slabs to finished double live edge tables. Customers were paying $400 for our labor!

 

[CentaurG2]

I think you can build with Douglas fur green. Not many mills left around here. The only one I know of cuts beams and planks for the USS Constitution. He sells every scrap from the sawdust (animal bedding) to the slabs. Lot of work running a mill even with the right equipment and they will not touch yard trees.

 

[lone wolf]

My buddy and me put rough cut picnik benches together in under 4 hrs from slabs to finished double live edge tables. Customers were paying $400 for our labor!

Shh!

 

[unclemoustache]

My buddy and me put rough cut picnik benches together in under 4 hrs from slabs to finished double live edge tables. Customers were paying $400 for our labor!

Ah, but you're in Commiefornia. People will pay anything there. Here in the midwest we're cheapskates.

 

[grizz55chev]

Ah, but you're in Commiefornia. People will pay anything there. Here in the midwest we're cheapskates.

duely noted, ya tightwad!

 

[SeMoTony]

Hmm. That's good advice. I'm looking into a smaller mill now. Why break the bank over this? No need for a 32" cut. 28" is good too.

I've enjoyed using up to 60" bars chainsaw milling. $1000 for the 661 was a lot less than the 32" band saw that sold at auction, more mobile, and sharpen my own cutters. Bands get sent away for sharpening. Just a small comparison.
I've got a saw like pictured in use. Can bring it up next time you have a fat log for me to mill lol. We could haggle over value

 

[rarefish383]

Sky is the limit on projects.
Live edge garage shelving.

Live edge bark on mantles. There is one above and one below the fireplace.

Mortise and tenon patio bench. This one was so old it was going on the burn pile.

Rustic fire pit bench.

Another of the bark on mantle.

Fold up dinner table for the hunting cabin.

This last one, my wife asked me to build her a plywood bench for her potting shed. I built a 2X4 frame and lost interest. A year later she said she was going on a girls week end with our church, could I please finish her bench. Now she calls it, " The Taj Ma Bench. Live edge fir. All of the screws are from the bottom, no fasteners seen on top.

 

[rarefish383]

Right, wasn't there a fellow on here, or maybe it was another forum, who bought a 4 inch ash slab for $600 or something? But most of the cost was the space it took up in a barn for the last twenty years. I suppose there are guys who use green lumber though. Don't the Amish build in green?

One of my fishing buddies bought a band mill. I told him to NEVER buy a log. I could get him anything that grows in the Mid Atlantic area free. Next time I saw him he said he got a great deal on two Black Walnut logs, off CL, only $2000. I freaked out on him. Asked him if he remembered what I said? He said , Yeah, but you can't get BW. I pulled out my cell and showed him several cord of split and stacked Black Walnut. I've got so many 12/4 boards stacked around my house that I can't get rid of, I just turn it all into firewood now.