portable mills - Woodworking Talk

Leakygoose · 04-16-2009, 12:00 AM

How many of you guys hire someone with a portable saw mill to cut lumber for you?

Just curious ,I have been seriously considering buying a mill and setting up a side business as a sawer. The carpentry business here in Michigan has become stagnate and we don't expect it to come back for a long time to come .

Other business ideas are floating around ,but all have their pros and cons ,this one [a saw mill] has a high start up cost .

Gerry KIERNAN · 04-16-2009, 09:03 AM

Hi Leaky
The guys you really want to talk to are Daren, and Texas Timbers. There are several other active sawyers on the forum as well. Things have slowed down some for them too.

Gerry

Julian the woodnut · 04-16-2009, 09:13 AM

Leaky, I usually go to a retired farmer with a bandmill. He only charges 25 cents a foot, as long as you listen to his stories....

Nate1778 · 04-16-2009, 09:21 AM

I hire a guy close by with a mobile Woodmizer, think he is in the .35 a board ft range. I only hire him when I have logs though which is not all the time.

**Daren** · 04-16-2009, 09:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Leakygoose

. The carpentry business here in Michigan has become stagnate and we don't expect it to come back for a long time to come .

Not to sound discouraging...but so has the sawmill business...the upside I know where plenty of portable mills with low hours on them are for sale in your area.

Those guys went in full tilt and can't feed themselves now doing it, but as a "side job" I am sure there is a little extra money to be made at it.

drcollins804 · 04-16-2009, 09:37 AM

I have a 16 ft trailer and take a load to the mill whenever I get a load together.

I have at least two loads stacked right now and will probably have another two

before I get a chance to make a trip this year. Still have lots of Ice Storm damage to clean up.

I have at least 6 more cedar's to cut plus another hickory and a couple of ash, maybe more.
David