New to the Forum

Biocmp · June 14, 2012, 11:45:18 AM

Hello all!

I'm new here and I just wanted to drop in and say hello. I'm probably the typical new guy: disgruntled businessman who is looking to create a life he enjoys living. My day job is business/computers and I am burning out quick. I'm tired of working hard for someone else, I'm ready to work hard for myself. Anyways, I have an exit strategy planned out for the next 3-5 years (depending on how long the market will offer my current wages). In that time, I hope to assemble a nice collection of support equipment as well as purchase my first mill and begin milling for myself, friends and family.

Because I expect it to be a weekend thing for the first couple of years (at least), I'm looking at the WM 35/40, hydraulics are important. I currently live in Colorado but will be moving back to the midwest in the next year. I have a few markets identified and don't intend to make this a sole source of income.

I could write pages of my amenable business dreams but I started this post to say hello! I look forward to meeting everyone and acquiring some of the vast amount of knowledge I've seen on here.

Misfit · June 14, 2012, 12:02:38 PM

Welcome Biocmp. You'll find a lot of kindred spirits here, myself included. Although I'm more than twice as long in the tooth as you, I too am fed up with the corporate life and am planning a similar exit strategy.

I'm curious to know what part of Colorado you're currently in as that state is high on my list of places to relocate to. In fact, we booked our flights to Denver today for a trip in September.

As you've already noticed, there's a never ending supply of information here and many knowledgeable people willing to share. Wishing you all good things for your future plans!

Jeff · June 14, 2012, 12:19:54 PM

Welcome to the Forestry Forum Biocmp

OneWithWood · June 14, 2012, 01:08:59 PM

Hello, Biocmp.

Your plan was my plan about 10 years ago. The best advice I can give you is to keep your day job while you invest in the equipment you will need for your dream job. the dream is a whole lot more fun and easier to attain if you own the equipment free and clear.

Check this thread out. The pointers I received were right on the money.

https://forestryforum.com/board/index.php/topic,1400.0.html

Magicman · June 14, 2012, 02:32:18 PM

Welcome to the Forestry Forum, Biocmp. Growing into any business is much better than paying someone interest on a loan. It is nice to hear that you are thinking smart and using the largest muscle that we have....your brain.

It will be enjoyable to follow your progress.

Biocmp · June 14, 2012, 02:42:59 PM

Thanks for the warm welcomes from everyone!

TheCanuck,

I'm just to the west of Denver. I think it is a beautiful place to live but I've only been here around a year. It's been everything I could hope for. 300+ days of sunshine a year, mostly 4 seasons and humidity is very low (which is a plus in my books). Being in the mountains is a great way to spend a weekend, but sawing up some lumber ain't bad either

I hope you enjoy it out here, if I weren't in a developing relationship and thinking about my future family, I'd likely stay here the rest of my life. Lands a bit pricier but not outrageous. We want to be close to our families in the event we begin having children so we'll be moving away. Denver has good people and a big open sky. I hope you enjoy your time out here.

OneWithWood,

Very inspiring thread! Your executed plan is very similar to my dream

I have a question regarding your kiln: what kind of electric expenses do you have if leaving it in full-time operation through a month?

I have a friend who owns a welding shop and I'll be showing him your cart and tracks, I hope you don't mind if I borrow your designs.

Also, I still haven't seen the email that confirms I've been approved for this forum. Since I am posting, can that be taken as an approval? I've also located a nearby member who is on here IMERC...I've been trying to send him a PM but I do not have privileges for that. How can I send him a PM?

redbeard · June 14, 2012, 02:57:03 PM

Welcome Biocmp, Colorado is one of my favorites love the four corners area. We went on road trip few years ago and ended up staying in Durango most of our vacation had a blast.

Magicman · June 14, 2012, 03:22:12 PM

I'll be back in Montrose in October.

wwsjr · June 14, 2012, 04:13:26 PM

Welcome to the Forum. I lived in Colo Spgs 4 years and Pueblo for 6 years. I wanted to stay in CO but family and cost of living after I retired were to factors to return to the place where I grew up. Being your own boss and sawmilling to me is living a dream.

Biocmp · June 14, 2012, 05:01:40 PM

I'm pleased to see so many people who have also enjoyed Colorado, it's a very nice place.

Quote from: wwsjr on June 14, 2012, 04:13:26 PM
Welcome to the Forum. I lived in Colo Spgs 4 years and Pueblo for 6 years. I wanted to stay in CO but family and cost of living after I retired were to factors to return to the place where I grew up. Being your own boss and sawmilling to me is living a dream.

WWSJR, family and cost of living can have that affect. It's what I anticipate moving forward so I'm going near the place where I grew up as well. I hope to be living that dream with you. I'll delay my gratification until I am able to pay things off but trust me, you have a fellow sawyer in the making

Thanks again everyone for the warm welcome.

OneWithWood · June 14, 2012, 07:53:00 PM

Bio,
Feel free to copy the design. I got it out of the Nyle instruction manual.
The kiln costs about $300-350 to run for a solid month. I try to run full loads of 3000 bdft so it comes out to about $0.10 in electricity costs per board foot.

WDH · June 14, 2012, 09:03:30 PM

Quote from: Biocmp on June 14, 2012, 02:42:59 PM
Also, I still haven't seen the email that confirms I've been approved for this forum. Since I am posting, can that be taken as an approval? I've also located a nearby member who is on here IMERC...I've been trying to send him a PM but I do not have privileges for that. How can I send him a PM?

You are approved or you would not be posting. Go to IMERC's profile. On the left side of the page you can see where you can choose to send him a PM.

Shotgun · June 14, 2012, 09:22:47 PM

Look at Reply #2 above. That's as high as it gets. Jeff is da Boss, head honcho, site owner, cook, head administrator, and chief pig roaster.

Welcome aboard Biocmp.

Shotgun

dblair · June 14, 2012, 10:50:11 PM

Welcome to the forum , just an old retired guy myself with a hobby mill or two . hope you can turn it into whatever you want for the future .

sandhills · June 14, 2012, 11:12:03 PM

Welcome to the forum, everything starts with a plan! I get to go to Estes park for 5 days for my sis in laws wedding in about 10 days and can't wait (although I do wish I had another month to get things done first :

).

customsawyer · June 15, 2012, 03:30:04 AM

Welcome to the forum. I grew up in Monte Vista Co. I think it is one of the most beautiful States that we have. Just darn hard to make a good living.

Biocmp · June 15, 2012, 01:30:45 PM

Thanks for more replies and warm welcomes.

OneWithWood,

How deep did you pour your footers? I couldn't find that. I have a very similar vision except there will likely be a few small changes: I'll have a shop with some older,heavier equipment so I believe that'll add a few inches of depth for the footers. I want to create a second level to house an apartment for me and the LOML. She said she's willing to live above the shop "as long as it's cute". Not quite sure what that means but I'm sure me and my wallet will find out when this project begins

That will obviously require some unique changes to the shop/barn. I like the idea of running piping in the slab for a wood burning stove in the shop (and I may add one in the apartment above).

I realize this is very ambitious but I don't see any other way to make my dream come true than to focus on the first building, create a place to live and house the equipment, then move on from there. One of the products I'm hoping to offer is flooring, I have a contractor friend who will be willing to refer me for some jobs so hopefully that will provide some income while I am milling, building, farming and the billion other tasks I see laid out before me.

The plan will likely change many times but I'll keep asking questions. Thanks for any and all replies.

OneWithWood · June 15, 2012, 01:48:03 PM

The footers will be dependant on the ground conditions and frost depth of where you settle. I poured a 6" slab that I am confident can withstand any equipment I might put on it. The slab under the kiln is isolated from the rest of the structure by rigid insulation. Hydronic heating is something I thought about and many times wish I had done. We heat our house and my wife's 30x96 greenhouse with an outdoor boiler. OWB take a lot of wood and I wasn't sure I could keep up with two units.

Biocmp · June 15, 2012, 02:52:41 PM

Thanks for the reply OWW, is the greenhouse connected to your house? I guess that could be a whole other topic, but the young lady I am with wants to turn our land into a homestead and a greenhouse will be on the short list.

Does the OWB pipe into both structures, how big is it?

thecfarm · June 15, 2012, 10:05:09 PM

Biocmp,welcome to the forum. Watch out for any shows that will sawmills there. It's always great to look and learn. Good luck with your dream. I'm close to what I want now.

OneWithWood · June 16, 2012, 11:33:52 AM

The greenhouses are separated from the house. We use a Central Boiler CL7260, the largest boiler they made at the time. The house run is about 200' and the separate run to the large greenhouse is about 100'. There are two separate circuits running from the OWB.