New to forum, what to charge for boards.

nhhunter2010 · July 23, 2011, 10:27:17 AM

Hello All, I am new to the sawmill lifestyle. I bought a mill in the end of May, and have been playing (cutting) around the house. I have a bunch of pine on my land. I have been approached by town people to sell some of my very clean pine, I was wondering what the going rate is in the North East for clean pine. Or where I could look it up, I am aslo looking for different prices for the different species in the North East. (is there a standard somewhere that everyone works off of).
I love this site, it has awnsered many questions that I had, and many I never thought of. I have a Hudson Oscar 230 with the extension to cut 20' logs. I love it, and with my jobs schedule, it may be turning into a nice second income.

Magicman · July 23, 2011, 03:47:44 PM

First, Welcome nhhunter2010, to the Forestry Forum.

I seldom sell lumber, but when I do, I go to a building supply store and price their lumber. For green/undried lumber, I like to be somewhere in the 75% range. I like for the customer to get some sort of a bargain.

Bibbyman · July 23, 2011, 07:06:35 PM

It's kind of like my cousin's advice on how tight to tighten lug nuts. "Tighten them until they twist off and then back off a little."

I don't think you can compete with common size lumber. But if you are supplying the customer with something he can't get somewhere else, then you can charge more than what the lumber yards charge.

Pine? I don't do pine so I don't have a clue.

bandmiller2 · July 23, 2011, 07:48:00 PM

Welcome NHhunter,I'am no authority but I usally charge 50 to 65 cents a bf for common pine boards,right around a dollar a bf for oak.Unusual stuff a little more, big order a little less.I always give the customer "full measure pressed down and running over".Do you sharpen your own bands?? Frank C.

red oaks lumber · July 23, 2011, 07:53:19 PM

welcome
i sell eastern white pine green .65b.f. air dry .75 b.f. kiln dry .98 b.f. any beams bigger than 6x6 it goes to 1.15 .bf

Ernie · July 23, 2011, 09:31:37 PM

First Welcome nhhunter2010

Second, are you aware that we like mill and milling pictures. Actually almost any pictures ;D

Third How deep are your customer's pockets. In NZ clear pine milled to customer's specs is very worthwhile doing.

Did I mention, we like pictures?

paul case · July 24, 2011, 09:13:13 AM

welcome to the forestry forum.
i sell my oak lumber out the door for $.60 but the markets here dont pay that much for it unless it is fas.
well there ya go. i answered a question you didnt ask.
my advise, get as much as you can get.

i also price the lumberyard stuff. a customer called with an order for serveral lengths of 1x6 for fence boards a while back. the 12' ones i cut cost$3.60. lumberyard price was $9. it made me some money and he thought he got a good deal , and he did. pc

nhhunter2010 · July 24, 2011, 10:47:47 AM

Thanks for the comments.. I am sure I will have more questions. I do not sharpen my own blades, My local hardware has a guy that comes weekly and picks them up and returns them a week later. I will work on the pics. My next project is making a saw shed on my property, I will post my progress.