selling lumber

treebing · Nov 20, 2006

I have accumulated over the past few months a significant, at least in my eyes a reasonalbe amount of lumber and intend on coming across more. Lots of ash, some oak, cherry, and pretty much anything that comes my way, that has to come down I am milling. Its wierd that I have been so upset about all the good wood getting wasted in chip mills and that I have become obsessed with processing everything fully. Well as you can imagine, its a lot of work and I a have no idea really if I am going to find any return on my investment. Any suggestions or experience? Its funny but since I spend so much time dealing with the "waste products" of tree care (lumber-- firewood-- woodchips--- leaves) that when I climb trees now I feel like I am harvesting resources rather than doing someone a sevice. I understand that is a corrupting situation to be in as well. Strangely, it has also led me to take removal jobs where "if I dont do it someone else will" I used to hate that mentality. But now I look at the tree, If i dont do it, someone else will and I know they will most likely throw the whole tree away. They will throw the whole thing away. But maybe I am ignorant, it makes no economic sense I wont be able to compete with the 30$ eight foot 4/4 oak boards at home depot?

I would love to hear the experiences others have had in trying to find good respectable homes for their wood -products. boards? what do people want?, tables? clocks? carvings? compost?

Bergsteiger · Nov 21, 2006

I say good on ya for trying to reuse as much as possible.

huggybear · Nov 21, 2006

Try woodworking websites and forums. Usually those guys are pretty helpful and may offer some good ideas and may buy some of your lumber. I would love to mill some of the stuff we remove but lack of equipment (and time) to process it breaks my heart sometimes to see it go somewhere else. Good luck.

Steve

Cameron · Jan 8, 2007

I feel your pain. I have accumulated thousands of board feet of all types of hardwoods. Even built this 18'x28' garage for storage. Also have another stack of lumber over my parents barn of similar size. I have yet to market it. I did find a couple of mills to take my logs now, but they only cut the wood for trailer boards, shoring, or bender board. Almost seems a waste for such a beautiful resource.

jonseredbred · Jan 8, 2007

we have some, maybe alot of 5/4 walnut, cherry, and oak. airdrying in a barn.

Piles is fotta be 30 yrs old now. never used a stick of it.

Marc_H · Jan 8, 2007

Try targeting the hobby woodworker or people that are into turning bowls and things. Wood carvers are another group to consider. I sold a fair amount of Basswood blocks to carvers. There is a lot less milling needed for carving or turning stock and it can comand a high price.

If you are just plannig on selling lumber you may want to team up with a woodworking store/ club or speciality hardware store.

Cameron · Jan 8, 2007

I do plan on using some of it. Here's a picture of some red oak I just planed over the weekend for some trim work for inside the house.

Cameron · Jan 8, 2007

While I was out there, thought I'd take a pic of the wood shop.

Cameron · Jan 21, 2007

Need walnut boards anyone? I had planed these boards for a guy who seemed interested. He was more interseted in me joining his wood workers guild. Hopefully some luck there with liquidating some of this lumber.

Jamin_Mayer · Jan 21, 2007

I love the grain of walnut.

Kevin · Jan 22, 2007

I mill anything of decent size that people don't want themselves.
Maybe your local school would want the wood for their shop class.

treebing · Jan 22, 2007

thanks everyone. The biggest success I have had is oddly enough Ailanthus wood. A fellow from germany wanted 600 feet of ailanthus for an art installation. Wasnt interested in any of my quatersawn oak or 14 inch cherry boards. artists what can I say. The instalatoin will be displayed across europe and then come back to Detroit for a brief tour. I will post pictures. Ailanthus by the way is a cool wood. Very light and very hard.

Marc_H · Jan 22, 2007

Walnut is great for making gun stocks. You might look for custom stock makers in your area or talk to some gunsmiths. I don't know what the deminsions are but it should be less work than planing down lumber.

treesandsurf · Jan 22, 2007

cameron, did you mill that stuff yourself, looks like a lot of work went into all that. what type of mill do you use and how do you normally dry the wood out?? is there a good book out there or resources to learn how to make your own lumber??

jp

Cameron · Feb 5, 2007

We have a guy that comes here with his wood mizer portable bandsaw mill. He charges $45 an hour and $25 for damadged blades by hitting metal. We are able to cut 2-3K board feet a day with me, the sawyer, and two employees. We only cut a couple times a year, just the real nice stuff. I did by a book about a inch thick all about cutting and drying lumber. I know sherrilltree sells a book about urban lumber, but do not have that one. I look to find the name of the current book I have and see where you might be able to get it. All our wood is air dried to about 6 to 8% moisture. We bought a moisture meter for all our testing.