lumber size when someone asks you to cut their logs into boards

[forrestM]

Hey Folks,

When someone asks you to cut their logs into boards, but doesn't specify dimensions, what is the best approach? I guess i am wondering what thickness is, generally, most useful to have them cut into? These particular logs are all Ash, and none of them are larger than 12-14 inches in diameter. 

Thanks,
Forrest

[Chuck White]

I think that if I were doing the sawing, I would say "do you want inch" (using the 4/4 scale), or do you want me to use the "inch scale" on the right which will yield about 7/8"!

[POSTON WIDEHEAD]

When talking lumber with a customer and he owns the logs..... never ever let a blade touch the logs without a cut list.

[WV Sawmiller]

   I would never cut someone's wood until we had an understanding of what I was to cut. 

   If the customer does not have a cut list I discuss the options with him. If he says he wants about half as 2" and the rest 1" I can work with that. I tell them it will be a full 1 or 2 inch unless he wants me to add 1/8 or 1/4 or such to each.

  I also ask what is the narrowest board they want me to save. I usually suggest 4" but sometimes they say nothing less than 6". If they are doing B&B they often like the narrow boards and may even want me to cut a supply of them once they see how much faster and easier it is than them cutting them on a table saw.

   Once we agree then I can start sawing.

[WDH]

If it is hardwood for furniture, 1" thick is too thin . 

Sawing Too Thin in Sawmills and Milling

[Dave Shepard]

When talking lumber with a customer and he owns the logs..... never ever let a blade touch the logs without a cut list.

I agree. I had an order for 20 random width boards, "full 4/4"x14'. Let's try that again. Turns out he wanted 7/8"x15"x14'. That's better.  :D

[Peter Drouin]

Always have a cut list or no cut.

[Nomad]

     Something I hear a lot (and I hate it.)  When I ask a customer what size lumber he wants from his logs and he says "whatever you think is best."  Nope.  I want a size, or number of sizes, of lumber you want.  I won't touch the throttle switch until I get an answer.
     I'm happy to talk it over with him; I'll reluctantly give him advice if he insists, but HE's making the final call.
     A case in point is cutting mantels.  Three times now I've cut mantels for customers out of their logs to their dimensions, only to have them tell me to cut another one 'cuz their wife didn't like the size or style they instructed me to cut.
     On Monday I'm cutting another one for the guy I'm currently working for.  He's only got one log he wants it cut from.  I strongly suggested he have his wife on site when we cut that log, because we're only gonna get one chance to get it right!

[OffGrid973]

Make a basic contract in word and send it over stating everything will be cut 5/4 and then during your handshake agreement (which is most important) mention you will have plenty of table legs (3'x3') and some slabs for table tops.  This usually keeps em happy and allows for some unusually cuts to complete the order.

[scsmith42]

I educate the customer about drying related shrinkage and thickness required for millwork, and help them to make an informed decision that will result in them receiving the material that they need for their project.

Typically we do not cut 4/4 for boards wider than 10" or so, rather we recommend 5/4 in order to ensure that the wide boards will fully clean up in jointing and planing.

[YellowHammer]

I get a fair amount of customers like that, they just want "boards" out of their logs, but don't really know what they want.  In those cases, I try to guide customers to let me cut their boards right.

I get requests for "wide as possible" and "I want stuff to make furniture" so I just educate them a little and then ask them if they want me to saw their logs for quantity or quality, i.e. do they want dog house wood or dining room table wood?  Then I tell them unless they tell me different, I will cut the board to standard hardwood scale thicknesses, for example, at 1 1/8" if they want 4/4.  I will also saw to our standard internal and optimized widths.  Most of the time customers summarize with "Saw them as if they were yours" because they can see the end result on the racks in our showroom.

Of course, some folks know, or think they know, exactly what they want and give me a very specific cut list, and I will follow it, unless it is ill advised.