question on milling clap boards

[beav39]

i have a guy that wants me to mill 6500lineal feet of clapboards how do others charge for this ?by the hour?if so what is everyones average hourlyrates i saw by the bdft most of the time just not sure what a fair hourly rate is    thanks    scot

[bandmiller2]

Beav,to start with by the hour until you get a good feel for production,then offer by linear feet or board feet same thing for you but folks like options.Like shingles its very time consuming alot of loss and handling by the hour is best you can't loose.Frank C.

[beav39]

thanks frank,i was thinking by the hour is the best         scot

[ErikC]

  If you charge by the bf, or if they would rather you did,  I would scale it all as 1". By the hour is definitely more of a sure thing.

[beav39]

what do most guys consider a fair rate?just curios   thanks     scot

[cheyenne]

I would see what lumber yards are getting and go from there. Just make sure you make money....Cheyenne

[DR Buck]

what do most guys consider a fair rate?just curios   thanks     scot

I think it's all a matter of what your market will bear and what you value your worth at.   Here in Northern VA and DC area I won't saw by the hour for less that $65.   Note, I said less than.  ;)

[moonhill]

What size and flavor are the logs?  Size does matter.  What is the procedure you are planning on using?  Tapered? Do you have a jig?  You could saw them not tapered.   

Tim

[Gilman]

Are you going to make the clapboard without a resaw attachment?  I always charge by the lf for siding but have FF member Duncan's attachment to use.  I wouldn't consider making it without one. Duncan has cut a lot more clapboard siding that I have, I'll email him and see he he'll chime in.

[beav39]

moonhill,ill be sawing eastern white cedar,fairly good stuff,ido have a siding jig for my wood mizer.usally only saw for myself when i need siding?  do you charge for the cants plus siding or two separate charges?thanks    scot

[moonhill]

scot, I use both cedar and white pine.  I saw the sap wood into boards leaving a heart wood cant which is split up into 5" thick chunks and resawn into 1/2"x5" clap boards.  I don't have a jig.  If they are your logs charge what the building supply stores charge or more if it is a better grade.  As cheyenne said, "Just make sure you make money....  or you are giving to a charity, then deduct on your taxes.   

Tim

[beav39]

moonhill,do you saw full time ?where do you buy your cedar from   local?

[moonhill]

beav39, I use local cedar.  I saw full time when I am sawing.  If I am not sawing I am building timber frames.  If I am not framing I am dealing with blueberries.  If I am not dealing with blueberries I am either sawing or building.  I don't saw much for others, small jobs, most if it is for the clients I am building for. 

We used to pick berries down your way, in Otisfield, we would swim daily in Saturday pond. I ran a small crew, 10-12 of us, we would them move over to the New Hampshire border.

Tim