Help before it’s too late!

[CumberlandChris76]

Hey yall, greetings from Middle Tennessee. I have been reading the forums for about a week trying to gather some information and I just need some direction. A little about me and my situation. I've done alot of different jobs in my life from heavy equipment to factory work to logging. The last several years I've been in investment real estate and have pretty much retired from a day job. My wife and I own 250 acres of hardwood timber with the bulk being white oak. The rest is a mix of hickory, red oak, poplar and gum. I have a tractor with all the attachments, just about every tool a man could want and a bunch of free time. Would it make sense to get into milling? I already know that I would enjoy it. My hang up is I just can't get a direction on a business model. I don't want to just start taking down trees and milling them into something that is not going to be worth much. I'm only 48 and have all the time I need to devote to building a hobby that can make a few bucks. I'm thinking about buying a hydraulic mill along the lines of a lt40 or a timber king 1620 but haven't completely decided on that just yet. Maybe a Cooks. Anyway, if you were in this same situation what would be your plan? Any advice and direction would be appreciated greatly. Thanks and it's good to meet y'all.

[teakwood]

I'm only 48 and have all the time I need to devote to building a hobby

Sorry, can't help with a intelligent answer, our northern members who know the markets there will do that.

but dang do i hope i can say that phrase someday in the next 15-20 years, would be nice to have a hobby.

can i count work as a hobby?!  

[doc henderson]

How do you know you will like it?  Can you find a mill near you to help at for a day?  I looked for 15 years before I bought mine.  Sounds like you have the time, land, equipment, money, and presumed support from any partners, spouse or otherwise.  I have a timberking 2000 and would go for a 2020 if I were doing it now.  The 2500 only gains you about 3 inches cutthroat and more power.  the 2020 was redesigned and has a e more cutthroat inches than mine.  I am impressed with Woodmizer as well.  there are pros and cons, and you end up loving what you have.  The midsized mill will do most anything for less money than the giant mills, maybe just not as fast.  The 70 wide would be great but more money.  TK is great to work with, and I always start with Matt.  The WM folks I have met, are great also.  Marty.  good luck and nice position to be in.

[doc henderson]

To add, they are all sponsors, and if you call, please let them know you are a member of the forum and sought advice.  It is good for the sponsors to hear that their support is appreciated.

[scsmith42]

If I were you, I'd consider using some of that material to build your own timberframe home on property that you intend to keep long term.  By all means acquire a strong, hydraulic sawmill.  In addition to Timberking, Cooks, Baker and Woodmizer all have some excellent offerings.  Woodmizer in particular has a system where you can add extensions onto the mill for milling long beams, versus most of the others that are limited to whatever bed length that you purchase.

Swing blade mills are easy to extend, but very manual in terms of operation.  Trust me.... if you're going to mill a lot you want a hydraulic mill.

Re timberframes, Thomas Massie is currently a congressman representing Kentucky who built his own off-grid timberframe home about 20 years ago.  This was before he joined congress; he was a successful engineer who sold his company before building his home.

His user name here is Thomas-in-Kentucky and he has some great posts about living off-grid and building his home.

https://forestryforum.com/board/index.php?topic=20534.0

Just something to think about...  Welcome to the FF and best of success to you.

Scott

[Sixacresand]

Just be careful not to turn a large fortune into a small fortune.  I would start off with a  multi purpose FEL tractor and a hydraulic sawmill. 

[GAB]

Woodmizer in particular has a system where you can add extensions onto the mill for milling long beams, versus most of the others that are limited to whatever bed length that you purchase.

CC76:
As an FYI if you purchase a WM mill and plan on adding extension beds to saw long timbers make sure and tell the WM personnel up front, because mills with cat tracks can only use part of a 6 foot extension bed, so I'm told.  Extension beds are available in 6', 12', and 24' lengths.  WM sold a mill with four  24' extension beds to the US Navy.  They were building a replica of a ship and needed to be able to saw masts.
With accessory equipment you could saw shingles and clapboards with a WM.  I have no experience with the other brands and I don't know if they can.
It all depends on what you desire to do with your mill.
GAB  

[fluidpowerpro]

Get your feet wet before jumping in.
Lots to learn.