First Paying Job?

dirtymartini · June 23, 2019, 08:43:01 PM

One of my neighbors stopped by and asked if I would be interested in sawing some EWP 1" x 8" x 12's for his garage. I have been mostly sawing for myself for the past year and am not sure what to charge. The logs are mine. Any idea what I should charge a board foot? I'm in the northeast corner of PA.

WV Sawmiller · June 23, 2019, 09:20:59 PM

Are they your logs or his? Is he providing a helper or are you providing all the labor? How far away is he - sounds like he is pretty close. Are you moving your mill or is he bringing logs to you? If his logs I would suggest an hourly rate vs bf for cedar. I don't see what type mill you have. If hydraulic you should be able to charge more per hour. For your region I'd suggest start with about $60-$70/hr for use of a hydraulic mill and you sawing with him or his provided helper stacking. Maybe $45/hr if a manual mill. Good luck.

dirtymartini · June 23, 2019, 09:25:07 PM

My logs. I have a WM LT 28 with power feed. He will pick up the boards when it's ready. I don't have to move the mill.

Woodpecker52 · June 23, 2019, 09:46:07 PM

Check the price at lowes and undercut it 30% and see if its worth your trouble.

WV Sawmiller · June 23, 2019, 09:49:44 PM

I misread about the cedar. With Pine I'd just quote him a bf price. i sell my pine for $75/bf in my area.

dirtymartini · June 23, 2019, 09:54:05 PM

Quote from: WV Sawmiller on June 23, 2019, 09:49:44 PM
I misread about the cedar. With Pine I'd just quote him a bf price. i sell my pine for $75/bf in my area.

Thanks, I was thinking somewhere around .75

barbender · June 23, 2019, 10:29:55 PM

$75/bf, WV? I wish I could get that!😁 Dirtymartini .75/bf is pretty good. It comes down to how much you have into your logs, and your sawing rate. White pine is pretty good going.

WV Sawmiller · June 23, 2019, 11:13:38 PM

Barbender,

Any less than that is not worth the time and effort IMHO. I'm not going to be like the local moron who used to buy a 5 pack of gum and sell it for 5 cents a stick.

Southside · June 23, 2019, 11:41:51 PM

Quote from: WV Sawmiller on June 23, 2019, 09:49:44 PMi sell my pine for $75/bf in my area.

I just loaded up my trailer with all the pine lumber I can fit on it and am headed to West Virginia. Cha Ching!! Cha Ching!! Cha Ching!! Called the wife, told her to sell the farm and the cows - we be headed to the hills!! :D

barbender · June 24, 2019, 12:19:07 AM

WV,

I think you are missing my humor here...unless you are actually getting $75 per board foot like you wrote (an 8' 1x6 is 4bf, so $300?😁)

47sawdust · June 24, 2019, 05:43:27 AM

barbender,
Happy Birthday go easy on the bars today and hard on the cake!
The local mills sell green off the saw pine for .75 bf. here in Vermont.I would never sell a stick if I tried to get that price for mine.Everybody and his brother either has a mill or a large pile of lumber for sale here.It all depends on the area you live in and what your customer is willing to pay.If you can get your target price more power to you.

Chuck White · June 24, 2019, 06:59:05 AM

At the local Amish mills in this area, you can get EWP at $.43/bf, and several mobile FF members charge $.30+/bf for sawing and $.78/bf, so $.75/bf is not out of line!

WV Sawmiller · June 24, 2019, 07:12:22 AM

BB,

Okay - I missed it. Yes it helps to add that decimal.75 cents/bf is my price. Happy birthday.

Ed_K · June 24, 2019, 03:59:36 PM

I got .50 on the last w/pine sold but I had to listen about my neighbor was getting .35 but didn't have any.

WV Sawmiller · June 24, 2019, 04:07:15 PM

Ed,

I always tell those kind of customers mine is 25 cents/bf when I don't have any.

PAmizerman · June 24, 2019, 08:53:35 PM

$0.65 green
$0.70 air dried
West Central PA

olcowhand · June 25, 2019, 04:01:53 AM

Quote from: WV Sawmiller on June 24, 2019, 04:07:15 PM
Ed,

I always tell those kind of customers mine is 25 cents/bf when I don't have any.

"Mine's free when I don't have any, and 2X regular price when He doesn't have any....."

dirtymartini · June 25, 2019, 08:45:55 PM

Quote from: PAmizerman on June 24, 2019, 08:53:35 PM
$0.65 green
$0.70 air dried
West Central PA

Thanks for the local price PAmizerman. I told the guy I would do it for $0.65, since he's my neighbor.

barbender · June 26, 2019, 02:05:02 AM

As my birthdays continue to add up, I'm gradually getting better at not working for free or too cheap. I've been continually pushing my prices up, but to be honest, I don't saw all that much. With what sawing I did this spring, I was selling pine 1x material for .75/bf, and Red oak for $1/bf. I used to think about pricing like "how much could I get it for at Home Depot?" but anymore, I'm always short on time and I'd rather burn my logs and go fishing with my kids, then work for $10/hr. I'm just trying to keep it to products that you can't get anywhere else, and price it where it's worth my while. Otherwise, my mill is paid for and is just swell for personal use only😊