SERVICES

I generally offer three ways to charge services and will work with you to find a pricing solution that meets your needs and mine. Depending on your location there may also be a travel fee. Each job is different and I try to find a solution that works for everyone.

By the Hour

Using a fully hydraulic mill, without having to manually load, turn or level logs is a huge time saver especially with some of the larger logs we have here on the coast. I charge $100/hr and this includes me, the use of the mill and associated chainsaws and equipment. When I work by the hour I charge from the time I arrive to the time I leave, less time for lunch and breaks. Fuel is included. If there is substantial travel involved I charge one way to the mill (essentially half time). I typically work from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. ($800/day). This is a good way to cut a lot of board feet in a day (eg. milling large dimension timbers). Mill maintenance, or "breakdowns" (which can happen) are not charged.

By the Board Foot

I can also charge you by the milled board foot. In this case I will cut wood to your desired dimensions and use a board foot calculator to determine how much was milled. A board foot is 12 inches by 12 inches by 1 inch. I may charge an additional fee per board foot for smaller dimensional lumber (eg under 2 inches) or for specialty cutting (eg quarter sawn) because of the additional time involved. If you have exceptionally large or complex logs we may negotiate an additional fee. Cutting by the board foot can be a good way to cut a lot of dimensional lumber at a price you can more carefully predict. However, the specific rate I charge for milling your logs will depend on size, consistency and species. I generally try to estimate board feet so that I will still make $100/hr.

Splitting Wood

In some cases, particularly if I am interested in your particular wood, I may trade milling for a 50% share in the final milled wood. This can be a great way for you to trade your logs for milling services. This is also a good solution if you have high quality logs but are on a limited budget. When I know of people interested in purchasing wood this method can work to our mutual advantage. The quality of the wood is a key factor.

If your logs have nails in them or metal such as fencing staples, hitting them will ruin a blade. Each blade is worth $30 and the cost of replacement blades is added to the final bill. It is worth checking your logs for foreign objects to make sure they are clean. All other expenses such as fuel is included in my fee unless specified.

Is that log in my backyard worth milling?