sawing heavy trailer decking

welderskelter · September 05, 2020, 11:01:50 AM

My former boss wants me to saw some white oak logs for him for his dozer trailer. App about 2 and a half in thick what would you guys charge him? He is going to have to help or send help as I cant handle these this big. He is furnishing the logs also. Just wondering.

KenMac · September 05, 2020, 11:46:44 AM

If you have a saw fee for sawing other peoples' logs, then that is what I would charge (mine is $0.40 Board foot plus $35 per damaged blade). Extra help is a good thing for heavy stuff. An hourly fee could also come into play for jobs like this. Mine is $75.

welderskelter · September 05, 2020, 12:07:04 PM

That does sound reasonable. My blades only cost about 23 so I could cut him some slack there. I am probably going to get some 1in from this as I cant see him taking it home. I buy iron from him once in a while and he doesnt seem to cut me any slack tho. Thanks KM.

Ljohnsaw · September 05, 2020, 12:29:58 PM

Quote from: welderskelter on September 05, 2020, 12:07:04 PMMy blades only cost about 23 so I could cut him some slack there.

Plus shipping and the trouble to change the blade, hence the $35/blade. Former boss. I was going to ask, was your separation amicable? That could affect the sawing price! ;)

Southside · September 05, 2020, 12:53:43 PM

Quote from: welderskelter on September 05, 2020, 12:07:04 PMI buy iron from him once in a while and he doesnt seem to cut me any slack tho. Thanks KM.

Business is business to him, so treat it the same.

terrifictimbersllc · September 05, 2020, 12:57:05 PM

This sounds like a standard portable job to me. I have the expectation stated in advance that the customer hast to handle the lumber as I saw.

welderskelter · September 05, 2020, 01:11:41 PM

My mill isnt portable and probably never will be. I do this as a hobby and my own lumber. But he has been after me to saw some for him ever since he hauled a load of logs over to a circle saw mill and got back a bunch of wedges. Some were 3in. on one end and 1in. and a half on the other end. He was complaining he couldnt even use all of it.

terrifictimbersllc · September 05, 2020, 01:16:29 PM

Got it thanks

Magicman · September 05, 2020, 03:39:14 PM

For me that would be a standard hourly rate job beginning when the first log is loaded and ending when the last board was sawn.

welderskelter · September 05, 2020, 06:35:38 PM

I dont feel good about sawing by the hour. I have multiple myeloma which is in remission but I think it is my meds that cause my muscle fatigue. I run down eventually and not that fast to start with anymore. So I dont care to just saw a big pile of lumber for anybody. There is a large Cooks mill about 3 miles from here let him do it. So what can a guy pay an old codger for sittin on his butt restin? :D

terrifictimbersllc · September 05, 2020, 06:42:26 PM

I get $85/hr :D :D :D

barbender · September 05, 2020, 07:05:54 PM

Well, how good of a bargain was it for him to have it sawn by that hack job with the circle mill? He's begging you to do it, charge him for it! Look at it this way- even if you charged him $100/hr, and produced 100 board feet, that's a buck a board foot. Trailer decking can go for more than $2/board foot. I'd say tell him $75/hr and stick to it, and go a steady speed to produce a good quality product. He hasn't been able to procure what he's looking for, at any price.

tmbrcruiser · September 06, 2020, 09:45:06 AM

I have a lot of my own logs to saw and really don't want to custom saw. A few weeks ago I had a call about sawing some 4"x 6"x 8' and 6"x 6"x 8' oak, quoted $1.00 per bf and he said, great I'll bring the logs. My new wisdom is "careful what you say someone will take you up on it".