Anybody Making Battens for sale?

[WV Sawmiller]

   I had a lady at a Primitive store where I had some benches on consignment order some rough 1X12's from me then she asked me about making some thin 2" wide strips like old plaster laths for some craft project she makes. She said she was considering making them on a table saw from 2X4's. I told her I could make something along those lines.

   I got an order from a repeat customer for a few 8' poplar 2X4s so yesterday between thunderstorms I cut a scrappy tree and got 2 small logs then cut them into 19 - 2X4's and 2 -1X6's. On the 2" flitches less than 8" between the bark that would not make 2-2X4s and on 4" cants to get to my mark I set my SimpleSet to 1/2" which left nice 2" or 4" wide 3/8" strips. I split the 4" pieces in half. When I finished I had 3 dozen 2" X 3/8" X 8' strips for the lady. My customer came this morning to get his 2X4s for a shed he is building and saw the strips and asked about then for battens. I told him I could make all he wanted and off the cuff I told him 50 cents each. I may have to rethink that for future sales but we will see. It is more labor than wood cost. Would be real easy to mass produce standing a gang of 2X12's on edge. Takes more time but sure does not leave much wood for the scrap pile. I may try setting a few more aside in such cases. I stickered these just like 4/4 lumber with a row or two of other wood on top for weight. They should air dry really quick.

   Do any of you make such ahead of time and if so how do they sell? What kind of prices do you get for them?

    I know 2" is a little narrow for battens but some people may want that. We will see.

[paul case]

We make a lot of 3.5x1.25 for pallet parts. I would not cut any board for less than what they cost and that is $1.60 each. One company we supply buys about 1200 a month and another would buy all we can make but I dont ever seem to have enough to sell them some. 

I think the last battens we sawed were 7/8x3.5.

 PC

[petefrom bearswamp]

I keep 4/4x3" battens in stock in 8 10 12 14 and 16' lengths.
I make these from side lumber when I have enough 6" and 8" boards and from shaky hemlock.
I charge .15 per lineal foot for these.
They sell pretty well.
I have no experience with thinner stuff.

[caudlefarm]

Paul

What length is that for a $1.60

[WV Sawmiller]

   I was wondering the same thing since the most common pallet I am familiar with is 40" X 48".

[Peter Drouin]

I don't cut them. Most times the customer wants them in one piece. With a 1" or more knot, the thing will fall apart.
I need a good log for good batts.

[paul case]

8'.
The one company cuts them to 48'' for stringers. The other company uses all sorts of lengths of them to make framing around fiberglass truck hoods and engines and other parts.
They are the same as 4/4.
PC

[WV Sawmiller]

   Sounded a little high but actually looks to be about $.55/bf so pretty reasonable especially if cutting them at 5/4 as I read it.

[Oliver05262]

  Popular size around "here" is 3/4" X 2 1/4". Wacky size I know, but they do a good job of covering the cracks between the boards, and don't stick out too much, or create too much of a shadow.