How much would you charge for resaw work?

Redhorseshoe · August 27, 2020, 08:18:59 PM

Was contacted by someone who would like a full unit of 2x4 and 2x6 both resawn into 1x lumber. I don't have a resaw attachment but could do it on the mill. What would you charge for this kind of work?

Thanks

Magicman · August 27, 2020, 08:31:41 PM

Without a resaw attachment to keep it parallel with the blade, personally I would decline to do it.

Redhorseshoe · August 27, 2020, 08:41:09 PM

That's kind of the direction I'm leaning anyway on this. Just out of curiosity, let's say I did have the resaw, how would one charge for that?

Larry · August 27, 2020, 08:42:39 PM

Quote from: Magicman on August 27, 2020, 08:31:41 PM
Without a resaw attachment to keep it parallel with the blade, personally I would decline to do it.

Me also. The reason is the lumber will be thick and thin because the existing boards will have some degree of warp and possible twist. Its near impossible to keep the boards the same thickness. Thick and thin is a reflection on your sawing abilities, even though its not your fault.

I've done jobs like this by sitting a standard shop power feeder right in front of the blade. Fab a bed with HDPE strips. The blade is always in the wood at 30 feet per minute and the job goes most quick. After the first time, the setup is quick and easy. First time it might take a couple of hours figuring it out. It's a money making deal at my normal board foot price.

Southside · August 27, 2020, 08:48:04 PM

Completely agree with Magicman, you won't be able to produce a good product, and there is no way to turn a 2x4 into two pieces of 1" material - the kerf needs to be accounted for. To add to your misery re-sawing dry lumber is a miserable endavor, the blade wanders, waves, and walks all over the place.

I have a re-saw, and don't re-saw dry lumber for a reason.

TKehl · August 27, 2020, 09:43:31 PM

Are the talking quality lumber or box store #2 rejected curly Q's?

Important to have a discussion about expectations. Will they also expect the cut side to be planed? Actual dimensions needed by the customer like Southside said. 1x has fewer knots than framing lumber. Acceptable?

If you can actually do the job, then it's just $.

For quick math, say a 2x6*8' is 8 board feet. Times $0.35/bf e(frequently quoted sawing rate) $2.80 each. Now, long will it take per board and is that rate acceptable to you. If not, adjust numbers according. Frankly, that is still a deal compared to buying 1x lumber, so I'd say the ball is in your court.

Option #2 is offer to cut at $x/ hour. At least you shouldn't have to worry about nails!

Redhorseshoe · August 27, 2020, 10:11:20 PM

I just got some more information. This is pallet lumber. They would bring a unit of 8/4 and need it ripped in half. Said it doesn't have to be percect and variance from 5/8 - 3/4 is acceptable.

Brad_bb · August 27, 2020, 10:30:13 PM

Still wouldn't want to do it. A lot of fiddling around with clamping(difficult). Just don't see how it would be worth while without a re-saw attachment at least.

PC-Urban-Sawyer · August 27, 2020, 10:49:34 PM

Sounds like a perfect job for an "Arky Resaw"...

This is a simple jig created by user Arkansawyer

You can find details here>>>> https://forestryforum.com/board/index.php?topic=38180.msg550131#msg550131

longtime lurker · August 28, 2020, 06:03:20 AM

Hourly rate. ( wages+ consumables+ fixed costs + whatever your service life value per hour is)

dogbo2013 · August 28, 2020, 06:21:49 AM

I would charge by the hour and let them know that it won't be perfect. What ever time it takes to resaw the lumber plus any blades that are damaged by nails or debris. Its money no matter how you look at it.

Peter Drouin · August 28, 2020, 06:27:43 AM

$ 125.00 an hr and Ill do what I can. ;D

customsawyer · August 28, 2020, 06:28:35 AM

I have the resaw attachment. It's hold down wheel is very light duty and it doesn't feed very good. I guess what I'm trying to say is, even if you get a attachment you can still end up with poor lumber.

WDH · August 28, 2020, 06:35:51 AM

I won't do it either. An exercise in frustration.

Satamax · August 28, 2020, 07:07:28 AM

Guys, do you have "hedgehogs" in the US?

In france, that's the typical resaw. That and a fence, on a big wide band vertical bandmill.

RussMaGuss · August 28, 2020, 08:49:58 AM

I tried that last year with a guy's 2" oak on my band mill. ... Didn't work very well ... Now that I have a Lucas I might try it, but I'd want to be halfway through a log to have a true'd surface to work with and clamp to.

scsmith42 · August 28, 2020, 01:20:25 PM

I have a 16" dedicated horizontal resaw (30 hp). It is very precise (usually within a few thousands of thickness across the face of the resawn product.

For a two person team, we start at $125 per hour ($2.00 per minute) for non-veneer grade resawing with a standard carbide band. The process includes face jointing, straight line ripping (if needed), and resawing. I set the price at $75.00 per hour for the first employee and $50.00 per hour for the assistant. Quite frankly, I think that I should raise this rate.

For resawing veneer or anything where a minimal kerf / precision cut is required, the price increases to $3.00 per minute due to the extremely high cost of the Resaw King bands (around $300 each). The smoothness is incredible though - usually we only have to sand .010 or less per face in order to remove the kerf marks.

Redhorseshoe · August 29, 2020, 12:04:24 PM

Thanks everyone for the responses. They're going to bring a few boards out one evening this week and we'll see how they turn out. I'm working on building a resaw sled similar to the "arkysaw". I'll let you all know how it works out!

Banjo picker · August 29, 2020, 03:49:56 PM

This was a 4 1/2 inch thick cant left over from some other order. I needed 2 2bys out of it... it was bowed....of coarse, as some of yours will be. Only way I got it was putting the forks on it and clamping it with the two hydraulic dogs which pushed the cant into the little ears on the Cooks. I done it just to show myself I could and to use a piece that was going to ruin. Not very time effective. Tim

Banjo picker · August 29, 2020, 03:50:51 PM

I forgot the picture.

Stephen1 · September 01, 2020, 09:38:05 PM

Quote from: Southside on August 27, 2020, 08:48:04 PM
Completely agree with Magicman, you won't be able to produce a good product, and there is no way to turn a 2x4 into two pieces of 1" material - the kerf needs to be accounted for. To add to your misery re-sawing dry lumber is a miserable endavor, the blade wanders, waves, and walks all over the place.

I have a re-saw, and don't re-saw dry lumber for a reason.

Now I find out.
I just booked in some cedar 2x6 decking to resaw for paneling on my resaw. I have used it before with reasonable results, but the pine was green. Might be the time to use a carbide blade.

Southside · September 01, 2020, 09:46:20 PM

Cedar, with a carbide I would say you will be OK, dry pine - not so much.

Stephen1 · September 08, 2020, 06:07:40 PM

I did the resaw job on Saturday morning. I used a Bimetal blade. We hit a nail 5 boards from the end. Of course.
580 BD FT in 20 mins. 88 cedar 2x6 $150 + $65 for a damaged blade.
It took longer to set up than it did to actually saw the wood. I have the resaw bolted together now and put it away in the shop all connected. Next time I can forklift it down and mount it in 10 mins.
I just love how fast you can resaw.