(#1 Secret of the Pros) Quit Losing Money With a Sawmill

Quit Giving Away Sawmill MONEY! Do you know how much your logs are worth?? Learn how to scale logs and estimate their value for a professional. I'm Robert Milton, a professional sawmiller and business owner and teach sawmill tip and tricks to make your lumber as good as ours at Hobby Hardwood Alabama - ranked as producing the highest quality wood in Alabama, if not the country. kzbin.info/door/QZVCF-iUJrfWxpnXif1EFA. I am a retired aerospace engineer, my wife is a retired engineer at NASA, and we are a multimillion dollar, Dunn and Bradstreet listed, A+ rated BBB business. We used to build very high end houses and furniture using our lumber, but now sell it retail all over the country, and teach others to do the same.
We started with a chainsaw mill, upgraded to a portable manaul sawmill, then a production bandsaw mill. We are not a video company, but we are a real lumber company, and want to show others some of our money making and business sawmill techniques. This video is another example of sawmilling for our business, Hobby Hardwood, Alabama. We show how we mill logs, dry them and other things on our outdoor farm.
#sawmillprofessor, #woodyoda , #sawmill, #planer, #woodworking,#lumberkiln, #Hobby Hardwood, #hobbyhardwood, #Logrite
Joe Maine [phone] makes my bands for me, using WM Turbo Silvertip stock, 0.055" x 1.5". He is in Georgia but can ship anywhere. The best I have used.
Go check us out on our other pages! Mail Address: 237 Shady Trail, New Market, Al, 35761 Email for Business Inquires: [e-mail] OUR WEBSITE: www.hobbyhardwoodalabama.com PRODUCTS WE USE: www.hobbyhardwoodalabama.com/st FACEBOOK:

[@michaelohalloran7381]

Nice video-very informative. Perhaps Part II could get into how to decrement board feet from that initial scaling based on sweep, cracks, knots, and other imperfections.

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

Sounds good!

[@SheratonParkFarms]

Very valuable info for a new saw mill owner! Thanks Professor.

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

You are welcome

[@stevek5988]

Professor Milton, next video, could you show what a defect in a log before sawn would look like , cat face, lightening strike, etc.

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

Great suggestion!

[@KPVFarmer]

That’s a great suggestion, I’ll look in a few minutes if the professor already has that one (original comment is 3 weeks old)

[@austinrehl8545]

Thank you professor. Until class is in session again I’ll get to work using what you’ve taught me.

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

Thanks!

[@robertpowell2735]

Thank you for sharing your knowledge and your skills, very much appreciated. 👍

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

My pleasure!

[@KPVFarmer]

Thanks again professor

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

Thanks for watching

[@Woodruffsawmill]

A log scale is a must have if you are purchasing logs. You wouldn’t buy a good steak by guessing at its weight. Good video as always.

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

Thanks 👍

[@johnwoody4905]

good video i get spam calls all day i wish i could get rid of it. just got one now. take care, be safe a nd well.

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

Good to hear for you. Spam calls suck.

[@lornesteed2417]

I have a hobby sawmill on Vancouver Island and saw softwoods ( cedar, fir , spruce ) for myself. I still love watching your videos and have learned a lot. I just wanted to again thank you for taking the time to video these tips.

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

Cool, thanks

[@gregwitkamp5583]

Thank you for sharing your knowledge

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

Thanks for watching!

[@lotsapots2pn]

Good one! You learned me something.

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

Glad to hear it!

[@kitb9948]

Excellent video! Super helpful as always.

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

Thanks!

[@antibureaucrat]

This will help me when I buy sawed lumber too. Love your dry humor too

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

Thanks 👍

[@wranther]

Not only is this an enjoyable video, but this video is information packed on the small scale of great importance behind the scale stick! Have only viewed a couple of your videos, and after this one, with its information, its humor, and your good nature, you have earned another subscriber!! -Bob...

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@SawMillJunky-]

A must have tool when buying logs. I agree 💯%. I hate when the seller tries to throw a large number at you to get rich lol. Great video Robert.

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

Yes, I agree.

[@chrislangdell117]

So you have shown how to use a scale stick. Very informative. You also made the comment that this isn't a 5 dollar a board foot log. Some are this one isn't. What is it that causes that determination. Is it because it's a small or common log diameter. Say a 36 inch log would have a higher green board foot value then an 18 inch log. I didn't see any obvious defects in the log but I'm a novice so that doesn't mean much. Looking at green board foot prices all up and down the east coast and the independent Sawyers are all over the place in their pricing. Sometimes 200 to 300% for sawn green lumber select grade. More common grade. Looking at the way some of it is sawn I think alot of them don't have a clue. Just by judging where the grain patern lies inside each piece of sawn lumber. Some of the stuff is so messed up when cut that it instantly twists right off the mill. Pretty crazy I guess. Not everyone is a skilled sawyer

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

Learning to grade logs is a necessary skill to be profitable, and it exactly equates to how the wood will grade to NHLA standards. A log that will only produce No 1 common lumber and lower is a No 1 common log and prices as such, and a log that will produce FAS is graded and priced appropriately. Once a log goes over 30”, its price per bdft will drop, and so will logs typically under 16”. What you are describing as sawmills charging all different numbers is what I’m talking about in the video. A pro lumber buyer can spot that a mile away, like stink on a skunk, recognizes the sawyer or mill as not aligned with the true lumber commodity market, not sawing to NHLA grade rules, may not even know the grade rules, and simply won’t do business with them. I did a video on that very thing as I get these calls all the time and I ask what kind of wood the mill produces and I get the answer back “Real good.”. What the heck does that mean? Nothing. So sawmills like that will only sell to the unprofessional, Craigslist style market and will never sell to the big boys so will not make the big time. Basically, it’s the story of Pros deal with Pros and Joes deal with Joes. That is also why their lumber is so bad, they don’t know NHLA grade rules and so don’t know how to grade saw. A Pro lumber buyer will never buy from a Joe sawmill simply because there is too large a knowledge and skill gap. However, a Joe sawmill can bring his game up and become knowledgeable and educated and then a whole new world will open up for them.

[@TheOldManAndTheSaw]

Good video. Thanks.

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

Thanks!

[@MrMrkody100]

Always enjoy watching; learn something new every time. Nice to see your techniques with the fancy hardwoods. Would like to see any special treatment for structural lumber, if you do.

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

I do but I have so much grade sawing to do, that't pretty much why my videos reflect it.

[@willcoe8419]

Good stuff professor. Way easier than using a tape.

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

Sure is

[@throngcleaver]

Great stuff, Robert!

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

Thanks!

[@ronnielloyd4514]

I don’t have a sawmill but I might buy me a scale stick anyway

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

Sure, Why not?

[@Will-No-Co]

Nice.👍

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

Thanks!

[@attechoutdoors5893]

You do mean 8 ft X 18 inches… I just subbed you and like your videos.. If I could ever meet you I would buy you a can of spam….😂 Keep up the good work and you are helping me a lot. Thanks and God bless you and family.

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

I’ll take you up on it! I just saw a Spam commercial the other day!

[@user-pu9ks7fk3x]

I see this question asked below but I too am curious how you stay on top of the price per board foot in our area?

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

I will cover it in the next video, I believe.

[@R.L.woodbaron]

Great information for a new hobby sawyer that hopes to make some money with my mill. How do I know what the BF price of a given species log should be? Secondly how much do I sell the sawn log/lumber for? In other words how much does the BF price change from log to lumber?

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

Here is a good start on the answer: kzbin.info/www/bejne/fWeciH2Fq51ra5Y

[@R.L.woodbaron]

Awesome! Exactly what a newbie like me needed. Love all the useful info in your videos!

[@b.ellison396]

Hey Robert! I primarily saw pine, fir, and a little larch. Since these are mostly softwoods...except maybe the larch, what scale would you recommend?

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

Depends on the size, Scribner is popular here of softwoods, especially cedar and smaller pine.

[@gslope1]

Is there a site or somewhere that says what the price per bdf is currently running (if I'm asking that right)?

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

Yes, I will discuss it next video.

[@royramey5659]

What do you sell walnut for? If your buying logs at $5 a BF then are selling them $ 10 a BF.

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

It depends on grade, width and how many secondary process we send it through. The better the resulting boards from a log, any log, the more secondary finishing process we send it through, so the the highest grade boards from a log go through the most process, and gain the most value and the lower grade boards from a log will stall out in value after a certain number of processes. Each process increases its value, all the way up to ready to use, kiln dried, planed, surfaced four sides (S4S) zero bow, which is FAR in excess of NHLA standards. Thats why it's so important to get the best wood out of every log.

[@royramey5659]

@@HobbyHardwoodAlabama So here we sell between $4 and $24 a BF so i can't see paying $5 a BF if it ends up only worth $4 a BF and you and i know we don't know what it's worth till we open it up.

[@codypinkham349]

Hey Robert, do you pay $5 for walnut green? I was thinking it was less than that. What is a good way to figure out pricing in my area. Thanks

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

I paid a range of $3.50 to $5.25 for walnut on the log just this week. I will cover pricing in the next video or two.

[@dxhhhped]

"A Doyle scale must you have." - Wood Yoda

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

Correct you are!

[@tennesseebuck1604]

Hi Robert. I found the video to be very informative. Being new to milling lumber I have not yet established a working relationship with loggers in my area. My plan is to selectively harvest trees from my property to gain experience with the mill and its operation. I'm sure I will want to purchase logs at some point to streamline my operation. Logs being a commodity that has board foot prices often changing concerns me. Is there a reliable established resource that lists green log prices? Thanks

[@andrewupson2987]

Depends on your state but many that have a large timber economy, the DNR will publish lumber prices. This is for Washington state. www.dnr.wa.gov/programs-and-services/product-sales-and-leasing/timber-sales/timber-sale-querylog-prices

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

Yes, I will discuss it in my next video or two.

[@andrewupson2987]

KZbin must have deleted my comment because it had a link. At least some states DNR publish timber prices. Washington does. Replace spaces with a . when you paste into your browser. I added a couple other spaces to keep it from being deleted as a link. https :// www dnr wa gov/programs-and-services/product-sales-and-leasing/timber-sales/timber-sale-querylog-prices

[@stevewesley8187]

Figures don't lie but liars can figure .............

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

Dang right.

[@jacksonbaer9814]

How do you tell how much per board foot a log is worth?

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

Video is coming next.

[@jacksonbaer9814]

Thanks!

[@BissellMapleFarm]

(O)Doyle Rules!

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

Yes it does!

[@user-mh2nw9bs6s]

I’m thinking with all the engineering skills in your family y’all should develop an app that calculates that stuff from simply taking a picture of the log. If you see a snake you throw the phone at it!!😅😅

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

I can pretty much do it blindfolded by now, but I hate to not have my snake stick handy.

[@ronnielloyd4514]

Guess work never works

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

Yep,