How much should I charge?

I've been milling some apple trees lately and my friend who's family owns the orchards wanted some. I gladly gave him a trees worth.


My question to you guys is this, he showed them to probably everyone he knows and his spray consultant wants a trees worth as well. What would be a fair price? I'm really not sure what to charge.

 

See if you can get a price from a lumber place and take it from there. Those sure look nice. Nice work

 

I use the limb wood for smokin'. We usually cut little hockey puck size pieces.

I don't want to charge retail @ a board/foot rate. But I don't want to give them away either. I'm thinking in the $75 range but don't want to short change myself. I don't think a lot of people will be requesting these.

 

My guy was going to charge about 20 cents/bd ft....back in '08, to mill up a bunch of my logs. Plus, if he bit into a piece of metal, it was on me for the resharpening or replacement.
Luckily, he didn't hit anything.
Those look quite a bit like cedar.

 

That's a great source you have. As far as costs, it could vary by customer. If they were straight with no limb protrusion, they might bring a higher premium for table tops and benches.

I find apple very hard and difficult to work and the smaller pieces seem to twist.

Throw a number and haggle. When you both are happy with the price, then you have an idea on pricing. Apple is a bit more difficult to source, so I would expect a higher price.

$75 seems reasonable for that stock. If the customer is selling finished goods, the higher costs cut into profits. Live edge woodworking is hot, so they should go well. "Bundling" a bunch of slabs together could make a better package deal. I'd throw more cash for a few extra slabs. Good luck!

 

How long does it take to cut out a slab start to finish? Figure in wear/tear on your equipment and your time involved, add some profit and start your negotiation there.

 

Check out Keim lumber and ohiowoodlands websites for slab prices. They sell a ton of live edge slabs. Apple is not common, probably because they are not a very large tree, but you will get an idea of pricing.

There worth more than you think. eBay might be a good choice or even selling turning blanks on eBay?

 

Holy wow! I'm rich, I'm rich!!!!! lol

Cut a bunch more this past weekend.

 

I would think $5-100 for the larger ones.

 

It was supposed to be 50-100

 

That's better, lol.

 

Some really beautiful planks there.

 

I need some advice aside from the pricing. With the temps near or below zero, what do I seal the ends with?

I had to put these in a tight area for now. I really need to re-sticker and get them sealed asap.

 

Anchor Seal is the preferred end sealer, but it is a little pricy. Left over latex paint works too. Either one will be tricky to apply below freezing. Just wait until the next day above freezing. Not much moisture moves when it's frozen

 

Great to know, thanks Mike. I was a bit paranoid that I didn't have the chance to apply anything. Expecting 15-24" of white stuff so it'll be even harder to find it let alone seal the ends!