Going in a different direction

[Patrick NC]

The last 6 months or so I've been doing a lot of grading work with my mini excavator and tractor. Still running the mill in the evenings and on days when it's too wet for grading. To make a long story short, the grading and excavating thing has quickly taken off and it has become time to add a skidsteer or CTL. In order to do that and still have some working capital I have come to the conclusion that I have to sell my mill. It's been a tough decision, but in the end I'm only 1 man and can't do both. I'm not going to completely abandon milling,  but need to concentrate on building my business first. 
 My mill has been listed in the appropriate section with the forum to receive its commission if it sells. 

[barbender]

Tough call, bold move. Are you thinking about going completely on your own eventually, or a side gig?

[rusticretreater]

You can always buy a mill later when you sell your business and retire.  America needs growing businesses. Good luck to you sir.

[Patrick NC]

Tough call, bold move. Are you thinking about going completely on your own eventually, or a side gig?

Right now it will be a side gig.  Could turn into something bigger though. 

[PoginyHill]

Seems as there is always a shortage of dirt workers - particularly those willing to do smaller jobs. I'm toying with a similar idea for my "retirement". Slowly working on collecting equipment as I do my own projects in the meantime.

[Mooseherder]

Between a Sawmill and an Excavator.  Excavation is more fun in my book. 
Best tooyl ever.  I need a dump trailer next.

[mudfarmer]

At this time there are 6 bandmills -that I know of- on my 9 mile road. Woodmizer, TK, Norwood. New neighbor says he wants to buy a mill :D There are not .666667 excavators per mile, that's for sure. Good on ya

[mudfarmer]

.7777778 per mile, I forgot one that just showed up last year :D

[Old Greenhorn]

Mudfarmer, I get your point, but I think your math needs checking. If you have 7 mills on a 9 mile road, that is 1.29 miles per mill. My road is 2.7 miles long and we have .54 miles per mill. But I can't count excavators on my road, with 3 construction outfits on my road there are too many to count and most are out on jobs most of the time. If I had to guess, I'd say probably close to 20ish.

[moodnacreek]

Mudfarmer, I get your point, but I think your math needs checking. If you have 7 mills on a 9 mile road, that is 1.29 miles per mill. My road is 2.7 miles long and we have .54 miles per mill. But I can't count excavators on my road, with 3 construction outfits on my road there are too many to count and most are out on jobs most of the time. If I had to guess, I'd say probably close to 20ish.

On the road to camp in the Adirondacks about every fourth house has a Woodmizer. The full time guys have circle. The mini excavator craze has not started up there yet.

[Resonator]

Selling a mill can be a tough call, but you do what you have to, to keep the business successful.

One of my goals is to get an excavator of my own, as it is one of the handiest machines out there for doing a number of different paying jobs. A skid steer also is good purchase as it can pay for itself, especially with different attachments for different jobs. Build a reputation as a good operator, and you'll have plenty of work.

[moodnacreek]

Having sawed for 43 years, the first 20 part time, and outlasted the other small mills i can say it is hard to make a living with just a sawmill. You need another income, something to sell besides your lumber or a rental even just space for trucks to park. I tried selling logs on a small scale a few times , just enough to see how the market can crash. My second income was my wifes county full time job. Without that this ride would of crashed a long time ago.  Seems like all those young guys with a skid steer/ mini excavator are getting bigger and I am sure it will work for Patrick also.

[Crossroads]

I went full time with the sawmill 2 years ago with the excavator and skiddy on the side. In 21&22 the sawmill dominated my business. This year is different, I'm doing less mobile milling and more custom milling from home. Also the excavation side of things is starting to take off. I've had a new mill on order since 1/22 and now I'm having doubts about receiving it. Best wishes in your journey 

[thecfarm]

I bet it will work out well for you.

[mudfarmer]

Mudfarmer, I get your point, but I think your math needs checking. If you have 7 mills on a 9 mile road, that is 1.29 miles per mill. My road is 2.7 miles long and we have .54 miles per mill. But I can't count excavators on my road, with 3 construction outfits on my road there are too many to count and most are out on jobs most of the time. If I had to guess, I'd say probably close to 20ish.

I'm just getting to my coffee but now my head hurts. mills per mile vs miles per mill. 7 mills in 9 miles = 7/9=.7778? 9 miles with 7 mills = 9/7 = 1.29 ??? You got my point that's the important part haha

[barbender]

 Patrick, you and I have a lot of similarities in ways. I worked on a paving and gravel shaping crew for many years. I used to do some gravel work to the side, and I've thought of getting back into that. I think I can make more money, for less effort than I do with the mill and firewood. A lot of days when the weather isn't ideal, and I'm out making firewood bundles or stacking lumber, I think to myself, "it's a lot easier running skid steer!". I'm almost 48 and I'm out there working like I'm 20😬😂

 All of that to say, I think I understand your move.

[WV Sawmiller]

Patrick,

   Just to ease your mind - even if you sell your mill, we will still love you. :D

    However, looking into my sawdust clouded, smokey crystal ball - I see a time in the future when you are out there doing site prep work in what was formerly a heavily wooded area pushing over prime sawlog trees and the customer is going to tell you "Take them to the dump or just push them over in the burn pile" and you are going to wake up screaming every night for weeks to come. :

   Do you know of any other mill owners nearby you can partner with for sawing when you encounter good sawlogs in your new endeavors?

[fluidpowerpro]

Didn't you just add hydraulics to your mill? 

[sealark37]

Break a band mill: $$.  Break an excavator: $$$$$.

[richhiway]

Good luck! If you do quality like I know you will, you will be busy. Like sawmills everybody has a excavator but most of them are what I call Wal-Mart Contractors. I see  a lot of poor work on my day job. Also a lot of them turn a new machine into total junk in a year or two with zero maintenance and using a mini excavator like it is a D 8.
My uncle ran a two man excavation company for 40 years, many years ago I rebuilt his gas engine Diamond Reo tandem dump truck. It had about 250k miles on it and I put the original clutch back in it as it was still like new.  

You can make a lot more profit if you take care of your tools.

[SawyerTed]

Gotta make hay when the sun is up!  An entrepreneur has to see where the opportunities are and make choices.  

Demand is high for quality grading especially if you can do the smaller jobs.  I know you will not need it but I wish you all the best luck.

Stick around here too, please.  

[Resonator]

Also a lot of them turn a new machine into total junk in a year or two with zero maintenance and using a mini excavator like it is a D 8.

Those are the machines you see come up for auction that have been trashed by "operators". Worse yet they take a couple "good" pictures of them and sell them online. Then the buyer buys it site unseen, and gets a rude wakening when it's delivered.  :

[barbender]

There are so many of those guys around, I don't know how they get financing? But they really don't know what they're doing, but go full tilt like they do🤦

[SawyerTed]

And beware of DuPont overhauls on those second hand machines!  

A new paint job is deceiving to some.   

[Resonator]

"Good from afar, but far from good." (Old saying). ;)