Mill use

biziedizie · February 27, 2003, 05:21:13 PM

I was reading that latest mag about wood and I was amazed about how many mills aren't used everyday.
  22% of mill owners use their saws once a week or more. 39% use their saws once or twice a month. 28% use their saws about 3 times a year and 11% only run their saws once a year.
  I wish I could afford a mill and only use it once a year!
  Also they say that 74% of sawmill owners don't use a kiln. How many of us here own a kiln or use a kiln service?

   Steve

Minnesota_boy · February 27, 2003, 05:35:17 PM

I'd probably use my mill every day, but I get so tired after sawing for 5 days that I need the weekend to rest up. :

redpowerd · February 27, 2003, 05:41:47 PM

were tripping over amish mills up here, so i saw for myself and whoever has a log in my yard. some like to watch, most like to help. most of the time i saw for logs, keeps me at the mill and out of the woods, but thats why i have it. if someone wants it done quick, i do it and i usually get something extra for my time, but its mostly for hobby.

Tom · February 27, 2003, 05:44:55 PM

Although I've thought about a kiln and have threatened to build one several times, I don't have one. As it turns out, I don't need one but could offer the service to maybe 10% of my customers

I think the that reason mills don't get used is because people buy them after listening to the sales talks and it sounds like easy money. Most quit after 6 months or so and the mill is parked in a garage. Why they aren't sold, I haven't figured out.

Many of the smaller mills are owned by back yard cabinet makers who only cut enough for their own inventory.

When I am sawing, it seems that there aren't enough days in the week. :D

biziedizie · February 27, 2003, 05:45:16 PM

Yeah I get where you're coming from! In the construction business I deal with customers and I don't work that hard but the sawmill is hard work and I really enjoy it! It is nice to take a day off when I can but that doesn't happen every month.

Steve

RMay · February 27, 2003, 06:58:54 PM

I was looking at building a kiln but we have a big kiln owner that is drying for people at 15 cents a BF . When my customers need a kiln I have them call him . I do portable custon sawing and at times I could saw every day and at times it is slow . 8)

biziedizie · February 27, 2003, 07:07:35 PM

I've always been amazed at the amount of mills that just sit and do nothing. When I was looking for a used mill there was nothing around but yet I saw alot of mills under tarps that looked like they have never been used more the once or twice. More then once I have asked people if they want to sell their mills and they don't or they want what they paid for it. Like what's that all about?

Steve

Jeff · February 27, 2003, 07:16:05 PM

I have a frien in the U.P. with an LT40 Hydraulic. Never been outside. I think its a 92, but I could be wrong, maybe 94. I looked at the hour meter and it has only a little over 200 hrs on it. Looks BRAND NEW! He sawed his house out on it. He had built a special place in his barn for it before he even got it. The side door opens, he puts up some ramps and rolls the logs in. Other then sawing a little for a friend here and there it never gets used. I sure would like to buy it. I'd give him what he paid for it.

He says he's going to keep it in case his son wants to saw out a house someday.

Bibbyman · February 27, 2003, 07:18:20 PM

When we bought our first mill back in 94, a guy I worked with in the office thought I was nuts. "How could you possibly use a mill enough to put $12,000 into it?" About the same time he bought a big round hay baler for about the same investment. I asked him how he could possibly afford to buy a bailer for the amount of use he would have for it.

His hay season came and went and he put up a total of 100 bales for himself and father-in-law that season. He could have paid to have it done for $700 and set on the porch and sipped ice tea.

I'd come in about every Monday morning and tell him we made $300 to $400 custom sawing over the weekend and ask; "And how much did you use your baler?". Didn't take long before it became a sore point.

I know one family just south of us that has an early Wood-Mizer mill. They have a couple of large farms. They refuse to saw for anyone. They will collect their logs over time and will drag out their mill a couple of times a year and saw them up. They use the lumber for typical farm construction, I hear. It is apparently enough justification for them to own one even though they only use it a hand full of days a year.

RMay · February 27, 2003, 07:21:01 PM

Steve thay can always say there sawmillers if thay have a mill ha ha :D

Jeff · February 27, 2003, 07:26:41 PM

I say the only justification you need to own one is that you want one and can make the payments.

Jeff · February 27, 2003, 07:27:08 PM

I want one. :-/

biziedizie · February 27, 2003, 07:27:24 PM

Makes me want to go out and buy a new pair of gloves.....won't wear a pair nor have I ever owned a pair but it sure would be nice to say that I own a pair! I wish that I had money to throw around.

Steve

Tom · February 27, 2003, 07:27:34 PM

OH! you're supposed to pay for'em?

RMay · February 27, 2003, 07:51:21 PM

Jeff B when I got my mill my wife said we could make the payments but the mill has paid its on payments 8) go for it

BW_Williams · February 27, 2003, 09:36:28 PM

Steve, I intend on running my mill around 100 hours per year. My theory is this will equal 500 hours of logging and transporting, sticker and stacking, trying to sell lumber, etc. I don't think that's too bad for a hobby. (Still work a regular job, volunteer Fire Chief, coach Little League, finish the remodeling the house, etc) I'm currently constucting a 500 bdft solar kiln from Dr. Gene's plans. Not so much for custom drying, but because the bosslady wants the red oak I sawed for wainscoating in the mud room, and she don't want to wait a year! Oh well, yes dear, I guess I can build a kiln and have it ready sooner. (Got to keep her happy) I also found a couple mills that never seemed to be used much, but no one would part with them. BWW

Jason_WI · February 27, 2003, 09:36:44 PM

He who dies with the most toys wins.

This was the sign in a hobby shop I used to go to when I was into flying RC model airplanes.

I have a gas powered radio control truck that I sunk $1200 into... It goes 60 MPH though

I am going to send a check for $4800 for an edger next week that is only going to be used on the weekends.....

Each his own I guess

Jason

leweee · February 27, 2003, 10:26:09 PM

as one old timer told me.windmill towers you see lots of them few of them are for sale. :(i'am sure sawmills are the same way.it took so long to get it.I hate to let it go. :

must be like a security blanket or sumthin. ;D ;D ;D

EZ · February 28, 2003, 02:34:16 AM

Working at the shop takes away alot of my sawing. The winter months I'll saw for about an hour, if the job is fairly close. It times I wish I had 2 mills to get caught up on the wk end, I would run one & my son-in-law could run the other. Lately I have been getting people that want me to buy their logs, dont no how to do the log buying thing yet. Building these small building & boxes now & its taking away my sawing in the evening. Sometimes I think I'm getting to many hands in the kettle, but love it.
Need a kiln real bad, half the customers want lumber dryed, maybe some day.
EZ

Fla._Deadheader · February 28, 2003, 04:06:46 AM

What's the story on the boxes. Didja make a deal at work??

AJ · February 28, 2003, 07:47:08 PM

I won't get to use my mill as much as I'd like, spending too many hours at my real job. I do intend on building a small kiln, probably 500' capacity, so I can dry some of the lumber to either use myself or try selling.

The theory when I bought it was to sell enough lumber and/or sawmilling to make the payment. At least that's what the wife agreed to...

biziedizie · February 28, 2003, 07:54:59 PM

I get where you're coming from AJ and making the payments are the big thing.I to have a real job......Well I'm self-employed so I guess that counts! lol!

Steve

Paul_H · February 28, 2003, 09:50:34 PM

I would really like to get a kiln too.There are none in town here,the nearest is over an hour away.The one I've used is two hours away and is a Woodmizer DH kiln.It holds 4000 bf and has done a good job on the Fir that we have put into it.

For me to take one load over the hill to get kiln dried really involves a two day trip.But there is nothing closer for the $ so far.

isawlogs · February 28, 2003, 10:27:52 PM

I have a LT40HD that I bought new in 93, it now has well over 4000 HRS. I also bought a portable edger in 94 from enercraft,Would like to saw more often but the winter months here are just to darne cold,As for the kiln, my neibour has a nile that I have acsess to and him being one of my customers I don't think I will soon be getting one. ;D Have had a lot of fun with it over the years met alot of great people and plan on meeting alot more, I don't think that there is a week that goes by without someone asking to buy it...the answer is always the same ...It's mine now why would I sell it ?...

Marcel 8)