More and Less Productive Jobs

[Okrafarmer]

I had to step back and swoon a little when I saw them coming in on the trailer.  I asked myself, "What have I done?"  .

You have done a good deed.  :-\

[Magicman]

I seldom if ever charge for doing stuff like that.  I have said "no charge" and then been tipped more than I would have charged.   ;D

[Okrafarmer]

I seldom if ever charge for doing stuff like that.  I have said "no charge" and then been tipped more than I would have charged.   ;D

I've generated a fair number of tips in my time. Not sure if it's my good looks or my cynical outlook... or just a commitment to making them happy.  :

I get a lot of tips when I'm bulldozing, or selling lumber. I've had people round up when paying me many times. Being a New Englander by birth, I don't know how to say no, graciously, but only how to say thank you graciously.  ;)

[Red Pill]

Thanks for the responses, folks.

[Migal]

I rarely custom saw because I am not set up for it.  I have done it a few times for people I know, more as a favor, than for money.  I have one elderly old friend that can barely get around that wanted me to saw some cedar for him that another fellow gave him.  I told him that I would do it.  This is what he brought me  .  This will be one of my less productive jobs.



 

I realize that this is pitiful.  I would not do it if he was not such a good friend and on the short end of his last woodworking days.  I probably won't even charge him.  I am not sure that I envy you custom sawyers  :D.

Is it just Me or do I see the heart in there!

[Okrafarmer]

Usually if I get somebody face to face, they just want to buy something from me, even if it isn't what they originally came for. Like the guy who came wanting pine and cedar, and left with ambrosia maple!

Part of this kind of sale is, you have to LOVE the product or service you are offering. If you love it, your love for it will be contagious.

[Meadows Miller]

I had to step back and swoon a little when I saw them coming in on the trailer.  I asked myself, "What have I done?"  .

Your doing  good deed there Danny ;) ;D 8) 8)

The "What have I done " part has happened to me afew times mainly on recycled the worst part of that is its usually two plus Semi loads  people tend to send alot of pics of the good ones they want cut Mate   ??? : ;) :D :D :D :D

[Meadows Miller]

I will also add We will be most likely running a couple of different rate structures both for Production Contract milling and Custom milling on both the Bandmill and the Circular mill we will have $220 to $260 per thousand on the Circular Mill at home and Large Portable Jobs  ;) and about $350 per thousand on the Band mill for portable jobs ill also give customers with smaller volumes the choice of bringing the logs into us to be sawn on the Circular mill at the lower rate  on the circular ;) ;D 8)

Regards Chris

[FeltzE]

For on-site sawing I always go check the job before I accept it. Often offering advice on the quality, quantity, and utility of the logs. This allows for me to asses the job and in some cases talk the owner out of wasting their money on garbage logs, other times advising the owner how to deck the logs and the following lumber. It also gives me a chance to give an estimate and answer all their questions. The time it takes is not billed, often excessive and always productive.

We saw by the finished bf, under 1" lumber gets billed at 1" rates, everything over 1" billed at actual eg. 1 1/2 billed at 6/4, 2" billed at 2", 5/4 billed at 5/4, 1/2" billede at 1".

Tramp metal events $20 each, that covers the blade cost and changing time.

This year we are setting new rates,
   on site is one flat rate, unless you don't have someone to stack.
   in my yard, solid stacked lumber one rate, stickered lumber a higher rate
   minimum on site rate $200

[paul case]

I have had a few of those wooly boogers like WDH's pic show up and thee first time I say, ''Ya need to dehorn them a little closer'' and usually the next time they are a lot better.
Good for you Danny, but remember no good deed goes unpunished. For each charity case I have had I get 2 or 3 well abled men wanting a handout. PC

[Ga Mtn Man]

Hey Meadows Miller,

Are you next door to me in AL or "down under" as the member's map shows?

I'm trying to get a sense of the "local" milling rates. 

[Magicman]

I'm not in either, but I would say that $225-$250 would probably be about right.  Certainly no less.

[Meadows Miller]

Gday

Ga_Mtn_Man  Im not at Home in Alabama with My Girls like I bloody well should be by now  :( :'( just had to help my parents with some issues they needed help to deal with here :( its been driving us both up the wall but we will get there  ;) ;D The good news is The block here is sold and settlement is before the 22nd of march so Ill be there as soon as I can to be with My girl and will be cashed up to get stuck into setting things up for us strait away  ;) ;D ;D 8) 8)

Is this your first mill ?? My suggestion is do as many searches you can relative to your area to get a feel for who else is out there are you planing on this been your full time income ??? as you will come across all sorts of different rates across the USA as they are very area specific and what the market can bear and alot also depends on your equipment at hand as everyone has said if you dont come across many millers in your area its safe to say you can start a touch higher and feel the water same been said if your just learning to use your sawmill and just starting out you can start a little lower and work your prices up as your skill and production rises as Magic said $225 to $250 for a start but no less Mate ;)

With Our Pricing #1 is my skill as a Sawyer #2 is equipment selection with the Circ my production will be higher per hour and costs lower per thousand but the mill wont be as portable ;) with the Band mill doing portable which will be a manual mill we will be doing it on site and production will be lower  ;) My ideal situation will be to have the mills in sheds either getting logs delivered or going out picking up the customers logs on the truck bring them home and mill them in comfort apart from taking the band out on small 2 to 10 log jobs  ;) im only 31yo in afew days but im getting over standing out in the elements Rain hail or Shine while sawmilling in 104 in the shade sawing my last job here in full sun and it aint fun  ;) :D ;D

and Welcome to The Forum if I have not already welcomed you Mate  ;) ;D ;D 8) 8)

Regards Chris

[j rock]

Custemsawer, If i had a moble mill when i was your age ;) i would,-could, saw out 3000 ft.per.day. But like Magicman, 1500 is a good days work. :)Some jobs i have lots of help,some jobs not so much. how far i have too travle plays in how hard i"m going to work. It"s great being your own boss.  8)   .J

[customsawyer]

J Rock it has nothing to do with age but with good equipment. On portable jobs I use the LT70 remote with a edger. I also take a tractor with a grapple and pallet forks. These pieces of equipment have a tendency to raise production. I would like to take credit but most of that goes to what I use.

[Peter Drouin]

J Rock it has nothing to do with age but with good equipment. On portable jobs I use the LT70 remote with a edger. I also take a tractor with a grapple and pallet forks. These pieces of equipment have a tendency to raise production. I would like to take credit but most of that goes to what I use.
[/quote]  Nice equipment you have. How many men does it take to run all that equipment ?

[customsawyer]

Most times it is just me and the wife on the portable jobs.

[1woodguy]

If you cut on halves and person wants 1 1/2x3 1/2 and you want full size 2x4and 2x6 and one by is this ok ?
Question is their two bys are smaller but that's what they wanted

[beenthere]

If you cut on halves and person wants 1 1/2x3 1/2 and you want full size 2x4and 2x6 and one by is this ok ?
Question is their two bys are smaller but that's what they wanted

Among one of several problems when cutting on halves.
Try dividing the logs in two piles and cut one pile to your specs and the other pile his specs.
Should make for much happier campers.

[Peter Drouin]

customsawyer I am impressed of the amount of help your wife gives you on a portable job and I mean it 3000bf a day , good job very good job, she must be quite a lady. your a lucky man. 

[Magicman]

The very few times that I have sawed on shares, we divided the logs.

[customsawyer]

Peter I am a lucky man. There are a few on the forum here that have been blessed with meeting her. Most of them had to sit down to some kind of home cooking.
When it comes to the milling along with the extra equipment I also carry a couple of 3' long roller tables to put at the front of the mill. These reduce the amount of work that the person doing the stacking has to do. The main way that they help is by letting the stacker only have to handle one end of the board. This reduces the amount of weight that this person has to handle.


 



 

These pics show how I place the roller tables. Maybe WDH will chime in here and share how they help.

[Magicman]

I am on a low production job now.  16'-17' logs, but he wanted the butts cut to 10'.  :-\  That means handling those 6'-7' sticks.  Then there were two 20' SYP logs so the operator's seat had to come off.  There is no help, so it's only me working and 20' 2X12's are heavy.  Hourly rate is the only way to bill it.

[ladylake]

Looks like most on here charge by the actual bf  a 1-1/2  x 3-1/2  x 8' is 3.5 bf   a full 2  x 4 x8 is  5.33 bf which is good and almost all under 1"  is 1"    Steve

[Magicman]

Actually that has already been addressed.  Personally, I review this with the customer before sawing begins.  If he wants actual sized 2X4's than that is what he gets.  If he wants "store bought" sized 2X4's, then that is what he gets, and he gets more lumber from his logs.  The price per 2X4 is the same.  As Customsawyer indicated, if both you and the customer are satisfied with the billing arrangement, then all is OK.