Slabbing vs Dimensioned Lumber

[Baron]

A rather successful friend told me that, in this economy, Dimensioned Lumber way outsells Natural edge slabs. He said that you'll have your occasional windfall on some slabs but that the dimensioned lumber is steady and profitable. What are your experiences?

Baron

[scsmith42]

I would say that your friend is correct.  For every slab sale, there are probably one million + dimensioned boards sold.

[Baron]

Well, being new to milling, the thing I don't quite understand is when you you see dimensioned lumber for sale it is even widths, 8 10 12 and so forth. When I cut I don't come up with even widths but rather random widths. So in order to sell easily, and in bulk quantities, do i need to edge for even widths?

[beenthere]

Hardwoods usually are random width for factory grade lumber, but 2" nominal widths for dimension lumber.

Tell us a bit more about what you are doing, as well as fill out your bio in your profile. That will help answer your questions..   ;)

[Baron]

Hey Beenthere,
Still learning the terminology and so forth, "nominal" is a word I'd forgotten, I have a small mill in eastern PA and will be re-purposing responsively harvested urban lumber;)

When I cut lumber for my own use I will indeed slab. When I saw really nice stuff I want to sell to anyone that wants it but I have to be able to quantify what it is so that they are satisfied. If I can end up with 11" boards And I have an order for 1x10's do I really want to cut off that extra inch. I'm sort of confused as to how it works out to nominal sizes without wasting allot. How should I be looking at this?

[Baron]

Beenthere,
My Background: I forgot to say that I do have a very rudimentary understanding of lumber. I'm not entirely new to woodworking. I was a climber and tree trimmer for years and have used allot of lumber for furniture and farm. I am completely new to milling.

Best!

Baron

[beenthere]

When I saw really nice stuff I want to sell to anyone that wants it but I have to be able to quantify what it is so that they are satisfied. If I can end up with 11" boards And I have an order for 1x10's do I really want to cut off that extra inch.

What I read into what you said, you will saw and sticker your "nice stuff" which likely will be the clear or mostly/nearly clear boards at 1" thickness. That air-drying stack of stickered 1" would have random widths in it, I'd think.

Now for the "have an order for 1x10's", I'd suggest you don't go there. You sell 1" random width by the bdft and let the customer remove or glue up if he/she wants 10" width.

Otherwise, you will be faced with stockpiling 6", 8", 10", and maybe 12" widths in 1" oak, cherry, pine, etc. by lengths of whatever.

Unless you plan to be a lumber yard for customers, I'd pick a length (8' if I'd be doing it) and cut and stack by thickness (1" and maybe 2") and species for air drying. Sell by the layer(s) and hope that it works out with reasonably good sales.

[WIwoodworker]

The question isn't which market it larger, it's which market can you profitably serve in your area? One reason to do natural edges and random widths is it gives the woodworker more flexibility in how to use a given board. The downside is that not everyone has the tools or desire to work with lumber that way. Some people just want to get a 1x8 or a 1x12 because that's a size their project calls for and that's what they're used to seeing at places like Home Depot, Lowes, etc... I deal with both kinds of woodworkers all the time.

I'd start out doing what beenthere suggests and maybe have some live edge slabs around just because. After all, you can always make a slab into boards if it doesn't sell. Good luck!

[Baron]

Sound advice. I want to slowly pick up clientele that is more interested in board feet than exact widths and Lengths. At first I was paying a neighborhood guy to mill for me. I asked him to cut everything long as possible. Now I have several hundred boards that I can't lift by myself and this is not conducive to affordable shipping.
So, Beenthere, to start out, everything will go to random width, 8' and 12' lengths. When I find a prize natural edge slab I'll save it for whomever can afford it. This will also make it easy for sticking for the kiln as all the random width lumber will palletize nicely and neatly. The slabs will only air dry for now.
I prefer to work with 5/4. Is it unwise.

The attachment is of 2 1/2" x 18' sycamore. Beautiful but I can't lift it with two people.

Thanks all,

Baron