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[Ianab]

I am really thinking about starting a small logging operation and milling all my own lumber. Is this a dream that wont come true?

I see no reason it can't as long as you are realistic about what to expect. You have time, you have some basic experience with cutting trees, I assume you have some income to live on while you do this etc. Because of this you aren't under the production pressure that a commercial logger is.

I'd suggest you start in small stages. Get an all weather road into your site as a first step. Just that for stage one. OK that's doable, right?

Then I'd look for a hobby size sawmill and some basic machinery that can move logs etc. A farm tractor might not be the best tool for the job, but they are easy to find, and are multi purpose. A tractor with a loader, and a logging arch and you can log. Not quickly, but it's a hobby right? Yes this will cost a little, but offset against the value of the house etc, it's just a necessary investment. You might hire in some gear for specific jobs like the track and building site earthworks, but the logging / milling / building side is a long term project. Get your own gear for that part.

Next operation is to clear a small site and get up a shed / cabin / workshop type building. Build this green with the rough sawn lumber off the mill. There are some things to consider when you are doing this, but nothing that makes it impossible. Nothing fancy, but some place with power, plumbing etc so you can stay while you are doing more work. It's not your final abode, but now you have a comfortable place to stay and work on site. Later it can become a workshop, or a guest house or whatever. So plan the site with that in mind.

Now you are set up to clear more land, mill more wood, and build a more substantial structure in your own time. You have the experience of building your cabin, so you now have an idea of what to expect. How long it's going to take to harvest logs, mill them, drying etc. A house can also be built in stages with some clever planning. Get the different sections closed in and finished as you go.

Working out what trees you have may influence the house design a bit, but there are very few trees you absolutely can't build from. Otherwise it's a matter of taking stock of the various woods and working out which are the best for different applications.  Strength, durability, appearance etc.

Good luck, and feel free to keep asking questions.  It doesn't really matter what exact operation you are planning, someone here will have tried it, and either found the pitfalls, or worked out ways around them. There is also seldom only one way of getting something done.

Ian

[terry f]

    That's a lot of work to get done in a month, I don't see how a disabled person could do it by hand, without a lot of help, but I commend you for trying. Do you have someone to do the heavy lifting and cutting for you?

[MyLabHunter]

Ian your on my page brother. That is some great advice. I have been thinking hard on the equipment i need. Money wise we are ok for a while. I have about 10k i can put into equipment. Maybe more if i get a good price for the wood. I have been researching some used machines but i am having a hard to choosing that one machine to do a number of tasks.

For clearing to get building going in a timely fashion i was going to rent a 20 ton or bigger excavator like you said. Their is no way i can buy what i need to do that much clearing in a timely manner. And that hurts because i will be dumping 3k into rental and then another 10 into buying a smaller machine like a tractor with a bucket and a backhoe or a skid steer with tracks. Ultimately the excavator is the way to go but they come with a hefty price tag. I could justify that 2 years into living there but right off the bat thats a lot of cash. Any other recommendations machine wise? Is their a logging machine that i might be able to find to do multi tasking? Thanks again Ian.

Terry my job description was pretty long and physically demanding to say the least. At 38 years old they gave me an option to choose another job but that was not for me. My wife made that choice after my 4 months in the hospital and 3 surgeries later. I am far from 100% but im good enough. After cheating death as a father things change. I do have family and friends that are skilled and will help. I will hire some locals as well to make some friends and contribute as a new neighbor. I bet i could clear the .2 mile road and the area to build in 3 weeks with the rental machines and 1 other operator aka my cousin who only needs beer and fishing as payment. Cutting will never be a problem for me but heavy lifting will. The rental machines should assure i am not moving too much by hand. The dr said i need to get out of the house and move. So i guess this is by drs orders right? Kidding aside i know this will be brutal and i think it will be worth it. I dont know how to fail.

[MyLabHunter]

Here are some free publications to read up on forestry.  They're aimed at the non-professional:

http://extension.oregonstate.edu/catalog/results.php?cat=Forestry+%26+Wood+Processing

There's one on forest measurement in there. 

Do you guys have land grant colleges back there, that are required to have extension services?

Thanks for this info. I am not too sure what an extension service is. By grants you mean tax credits then yes. Another member from WI messaged me advising me to ask my forester about that. The great info keeps coming.

That link is awesome. Thanks again Enigma.

[GlennCz]

I came into a similar situation 17 years ago, but I didn't have the heavy equip experience that you have.  It is absolutely worth your while to have a Forester do a professional estimate of your timber.  How many board feet of harvestable species and the approximate value of it.  It may be worth much or less than you think. 

If you cut and sell it yourself you are going to save money.  It is going to cost you 30-50% of the value of the timber if someone else does it for you.  And that is if you get don't taken advantage of in some fashion.  Placing value on timber is like an amateur placing value on a diamond stone.  It's a very specialized skill that takes extensive experience to master.  You can't possibly learn to value timber by reading a book or online articles.  When you sell the timber you will be trusting someone to place the true value on it, either someone you hire like a Forester who is looking out for your interests or a log buyer if you harvest and haul the timber out yourself.  If it is only you, the "dumb novice" between your timber and a log buyer, it is always possible that the amt you save in professional harvesting costs could be eaten up by receiving a lower price for your logs.

IMHO if you don't have enough timber where it is worth to buy your own machines, then I have to question whether it worth it to do it yourself.  Renting equip to sell your own timber doesn't seem right to me.

Harvesting trees is dangerous business.  I'm tempted to do it myself, but when I see those trees crashing down, hitting other tops and stuff flying around, I'm glad that I'm standing way back.  Every so often my logger tells me about a tree that got away from him and didn't fall like he thought it would.

Another problem is bucking or cutting the trees up right for market.  You would have to have at least a basic idea how turn a tree into logs ready for market. 

Another issue which is more of an art than science is what trees do you cut down to get the highest long term return on your trees.  Is that nice looking tree more valuable on the stump to grow in size and grade($/bdft), or is it rotting inside and actually loosing value left alive. 

[beenthere]

I am not too sure what an extension service is.

http://forestandwildlifeecology.wisc.edu/extension-resources-links

Also
http://dnr.wi.gov/topic/forestlandowners/otherassist.html

[glassman_48]

Mylabhunter,
I had a buddy of mine that purchased a new chain saw last year for his 18 year old son.  They were going to cut a bunch of trees and sell them to a sawmill themselves.  I got some good advice in this forum, which was dont cut anything down until you have a forester or buyer look at your trees.  I advised the young man not to cut down any trees until they had everyone and everything in place and lined up timewise to sell the logs.  The dad called a sawmill and they gave him a rough idea of what so many trees would be worth.  Most of the loggers that I know in the area were at least a month behind with other properties. They cut the trees down anyways the day after calling 1 sawmill.  They called me and I hauled the trees out for them and put them up in a line for the sawmill to come and pick them up.  The logs werent cut to get the maximum board feet, the sawmill wouldnt give them anywhere near what they first thought.  The other loggers were to busy to come and haul the logs to the mill so they sat and he probably turned them into firewood.  I think you need to feel comfortable with the forester and research which mills are the best to sell what species to etc.  Different times of year seems to have different species that sell for more or less depending on what the market is doing at the time.  You could also consider logging part of your acreage, cut your tops up for firewood.  If you cut the whole acreage it would be difficult to cut and store that much firewood before it starts going bad unless you can sell some.  I have a bunch of friends that logged off so much wood that they couldnt get all the tops cut up before they rotted.  Then there is the liability problem of having friends on your property cutting up your tops too.  I am betting that after talking to your forester you will have a better path to follow.  good luck, thanks for your service and keep us posted on your progress.

[OneWithWood]

Even with the experience you have with chainsaws, I would recommend you seek out a chainsaw course.  Usually your state forestry department can give you a lead on a course.  These are the same courses professional loggers attend to learn the latest and safest techniques for felling and bucking trees as well as dealing with dangerous situations such as heavy leaners and spring poles.  The courses are taught by trained professionals who may very well be able to give you some tips to help you avoid a lot of heavy lifting or tugging on a pinched bar to free it.
After completing the course you will be able to answer your feasibility question with a lot more data.
Good luck!