How much should I be charging for Kiln Service

[Kedwards]

To put it simple..You must make $30.00 a day profit (full kiln) over costs to be profitable for most kilns. Dr Wengert emailed me with the detailed analysis, but I have found he was right. Right now I am running a job for a customer all wide Red Oak 1x12x8.5 800 BF and I am charging 150.00+ tax + handling fee of 30.00 It was air dried and will take about 4 days to dry to 6%. He wants me to sell it for him too, but I didn't promise anything and he said that I could have 10% on top of the kiln fee if I find a buyer.. but thats a different story

[Frank_Pender]

Mike, I charge by the board foot.  $.50 on a 30 day cycle.   When the lumber leaves my kiln it may range from 6 to 8 percent.  I have a load of Oregon Oak in the kiln at this time.  I will shut down the kiln on Sunday have had the temp at 165* for the previous 4 days.

[Den Socling]

I run a little vac kiln which is different but, for the record, I charge $2.25 per hour. It holds less than a 1000 boardfeet. Drying time can take anywhere from 2 days for Red Oak to 7 days for White Oak. It cost me about $0.63 per hour for electricity and kerosene so it makes about $39 per day. It hasn't been down a full day since I got it running BUT the drying includes companies who want me to 'try their stuff' in a vac kiln.

[Frank_Pender]

Den, just curious, what is the general moisture content of you lumber upon entry into the kiln?  I let all of my Oregon Oak set at least 90 to 120 days before it enters the kiln.   I simply place the lumber in the dark of the forest and put a lid on the top.   I use 1" x 1" stickers for all of my pre and final drying.

[Den Socling]

Oak normally starts at 70%. The fresher the better.

[Don_Lewis]

It is better to charge by time rather than board feet. DH or conventional kilns might not get away with charging by the hour like Den does, but a daily rate makes more sense than a BF rate. For example, if you have a kiln that can dry 4000 BF of Oak and someone gives you 3000BF, the kiln will be tied up the same amount of time and the ownership costs will be the same though you will use some less energy. If people bring you less than a full load, I know a lot of people charge $0.35-50 per BF. I know one customer who charges a buck a bf and sometimes gets it but he mainly does it to discourage people or make it worthwhile when he has to deal with them.

[Frank_Pender]

I have thought of the same sort of idea, Don.   :-/ I am about to raise all of my fees for processing logs. ???   The overall costs of doing business are beginning to cause me to break less than even. :'(  Energy is the biggest bugaboo  in the equation.    :'(