Portable Sawmill Services
Due to the demand of our on site sawmill and kiln services, we have put a pause on our portable sawmill services. We may open up this side of our business in the near future.
With portable sawmill services, we bring the sawmill to you. The most common times we do this are when someone has taken down a large number of Pine or Poplar trees and wants to build a barn or outdoor structure. The home owner is responsible for the stacking and stickering of the milled lumber and allows the lumber to air-dry on their property. Pine and Poplar both air-dry fairly fast. Since the wood will be outside anyways, it does not have to be kiln dried, because its moister content will equalize with the surrounding air. If the lumber was going inside of a house, however, then you should consider kiln drying your lumber. You can find out more about that on our kiln drying services page.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost?
We charge $125 per hour for our portable sawmill services, which includes the labor of two people. If the sawmill blade strikes metal, there is a $35 charge to cover the cost of a new saw blade. Metal destroys the saw blade.
How long does it take?
There are several factors that impact the time, including: 1. The size of the logs, 2. what we are cutting (4×4’s will take less time than 1×10’s for example), 3. the condition of the logs, 4. how much help can the home provide, and 5. the overall area in which we are working. If we are working in a tight space, it will limit how fast we can move around. If the logs are in the woods and we have to pull them out, that will take more time. One of the greatest variables is the time it takes to get the log to the mill and the time it takes to get the finished wood off the mill.
What do you need in order to mill?
We need an area that is relatively flat and 28 feet x 28 feet. We also need either a tractor or track loader to move the logs to the mill and the finished lumber off the mill. If the home owner does not have this machinery, we can bring a tractor for a flat fee. In some limited circumstances, you can have the logs placed in a certain way where you do not need the machinery and the sawmill can pull up next to the logs and load them on the mill.
What can you mill?
We have two sawmills. Our primary sawmill is hydraulic and can mill a log up to 20 feet long and up to 36 inches in diameter. Most of the time, however, you are better off keep the logs to a more manageable length. We will have hydraulics to help us move the logs and lumber. When we leave, the home owner will need to be able to move the wood. A ‘green’ piece of lumber is very heavy, because up to 50% of its weight can be made of water. Our secondary sawmill is a chainsaw mill and is all manual. This is used for those rare logs that are greater than 36 inches in diameter. It can handle logs up to 68 inches in diameter.
When should I use portable sawmill services over your onsite services?
We found the best use for our portable sawmill services is milling up pine trees that will be used for an outdoor project like a barn or shed. If you are looking to turn your logs into furniture that will be inside your home, then we recommend having the logs brought to our property. The reason is that wood going into your home should be kiln dried. It gets the wood to its lowest moister content faster than air-drying alone and it kills off insects and any insect eggs that may be dormant in the wood.
Is there a minimum fee?
Because of all involved in the set up and transportation of the sawmill, we do have a minimum 8 hour charge.