what would yall charge?

wlf89 · August 10, 2016, 04:20:54 PM

i just got done sawing 75 pine logs 16ft long for a log cabin for a guy. i normally charge by the bft but cant do that on these since i just took off 2 slabs off each log and left 2 natural edges. im in Tn and he supplied the logs. what would yall charge if it where you doing it?

WV Sawmiller · August 10, 2016, 04:33:09 PM

What did you discuss with him up front? That is what you are obligated to charge IMO.

If you did not discuss up front what is he offering? If he tells you to set the price and I interpret this as the client's logs and you provided the sawing service. If I had done that I would have charged my hourly rate ($60/hr) plus my mobilization/mileage charge if I moved the mill to his location. I also have a minimum fee of $300 if I move the mill. If he brought the logs to my house no minimum, just the hourly rate.

terrifictimbersllc · August 10, 2016, 04:43:20 PM

You could charge by bf if you wanted to. You might want to change the bf rate.

I charge hourly with a minimum number of hours increasing with distance, plus a mileage rate for all miles driven. I'm 100% portable with no employees and depend on the customer for material handling which s/he usually willingly does to get more for the money paid.

If one has enough experience judging the situation and can guess well about how long a job will take, a fixed rate or volume rate works well often to your advantage. But I find it takes too much discussion and setting of expectations to pull this off, and I've stuck to hourly.

For swing milling and chain slabbing I've done well with log scale or square foot area sawn charging, respectively, but this takes clear setting of expectations about material handling, accessibility and log size and readiness.

derhntr · August 10, 2016, 04:46:40 PM

Standard $75 a hour for me and the mill and $85 with helper

losttheplot · August 10, 2016, 09:13:35 PM

Decide how many BDFT you would normally saw in an hour.

Times that by your BDFT rate.

use this as a base for your hourly charge.

Add or subtract for how badly you want to do certain things for certain people.

LTP.