It's something I've debated doing for a number of years now. I'm ready to take the plunge. I'm leaning towards a Woodland Mills HM130 at the moment. I like the wide capacity, and bigger engine, so I can do bigger logs and offer more services down the road for wider boards, table tops, etc. I'd get an extension track so I can do 16 footers. A little about my plan/myself: I work full time away from home. My work schedule allows me three days off in a row per week. (I work longer days the other 4 days). I have 21 acres of mostly woods. My most common saw logs would be Red Oak, and White Pine. I do have other species as well like Black Birch, Hickory, hard and soft Maple, Poplar and Cherry. At first I'd be doing mostly my own lumber to get some long overdue buildings done. Once the "milling operation" was running smoothly, I'd start offering milling services, firewood services, and associated services like chips, cutoffs for syrup guys, and I'm looking to get certified/licensed and get a grading stamp. Then I can grade lumber so it can be permitted in towns. Around here most towns won't allow you to use locally milled lumber unless its graded. Zoning wise the town can't really say anything. It'd be part of my farm, and being over 5 acres it is exempt. I may look into getting farm plates for some of my vehicles to save money. I'm thinking normal rough sawn lumber, as well as milling larger timbers/beams, hardwood lumber and other hard to find items like 2" Oak trailer decking, etc. The mill would be housed under an open sided structure and my driveway allows easy access to the area with room to turn truck/trailers around. The closest neighbor would be about 350-400 feet from the mill, and we get along very well. I'd be loading the mill with my Kioti NX4510. I have forks and a grapple. Hoping to get some opinions on my plan, my mill choice, etc. from more experienced millers.
Very happy with my Woodland Mills Hm122. I just wish I went bigger but still pleased with it. Customer service was good to me , I was missing a box of bolts when I was putting it together and they went above and beyond to make good on it. Takes a little work to get it assembled but the end result is a really nice machine. If you have a tractor with a grapple then you should be all set. I was loading with forks but just this past weekend got my grapple operational and no doubt this will be the go to attachment for loading! Good luck and keep us posted.
Sounds like a pretty good plan to me! Coming from a guy with over 30 years of sawmill experience.... don't try to get into a sawing business unless you really like pain, sweat, and hard work! I've seen lots of folks buy a mill thinking it's an easy way to make lots of money! it's not, it's darn hard work! it's a fine way to make a decent living, but sawmill guys aren't rich by any stretch of the imagination. If you are going to be working by yourself it's even harder, and painfully slow! a good strong helper is almost essential. Milling has always been a family operation with us..... brothers, sons, cousins, nephews, neighbor kids, etc. Nich marketing is helpful, especially with a smaller mill like you are looking at. Focus on things folks can't just buy at the lumber yard.... wide slabs, beams, full deminsion lumber, etc. If you can actually get a grade stamp, that would be very helpful, many people aren't allowed to build with ungraded lumber, thanks to the meddling government. Hopefully there's something in here that's of some use to you, I certainly don't want to discourage anybody from starting a business, I'm totally convinced it's the best way to go! Beat the system any chance you get! Best of luck!
Thanks my friend! That was kind of my line of thought. The 22 and 26 would be good for 90% of the time, but I don't want buyers remorse.
Thanks for the information. I agree, I'd focus on more "specialty"/hard to find items. The regular rough sawn lumber would probably end up being for me and family members. I make good money with my current job, but I don't really enjoy it/don't feel fulfilled at the end of the day, if that makes sense. I do miss working with my hands. My hope is to build some side businesses such as firewood, milling, lumber grading, tractor work, farming, occasional tree work, YouTube, etc and be able to semi-retire in 10-12 years. Hopefully they'll be profitable enough by then, and I'll have a halfway decent pension from my current job, and can do what I want around the property making money. I'm trying to be as self sufficient as possible. The country's headed for tough times. If I have my own milk, meat, eggs, heat, lumber, etc, and am usually home to deal with stuff, things will be a lot easier.
N Ain't nothing like being self employed, I've never had a "real job" and certainly hope I never have to work a regular job. Self employment, and producing your own food is definitely smart these days! We raise our own meat, eggs, and milk, also doing our best to grow garden produce as well.
