green hardwood lumber

MILL BRANCH FARMS · January 07, 2013, 04:22:54 PM

hello everybody! new guy here with lots of questions! i have a timberking 1600 with a 20' bed, a 4x4 backhoe, a 450 dozer with winch, a 3500 dodge dually, a 32' flatbed goose neck 20,000 gvw, chainsaws etc. my father in law has 60+ acres of prime hardwoods. we need to get some cash flow. where do we look to sell green lumber?

POSTON WIDEHEAD · January 07, 2013, 04:30:27 PM

Howdy and Welcome to the FORESTRY FORUM.

If you could please tell us where you live as in your State, your question could possibly be answered a whole lot easier.

By knowing what area you are in, hopefully another member who lives in your area may know your market better than others.

We are glad you're here. Sounds like you have lots of toys.

How long have you had your mill and what have you been sawing?

Bibbyman · January 07, 2013, 04:49:28 PM

I wouldn't put blade to wood without a market to take it to. Green lumber is like garden vegetables and have to be moved quickly.

The problem with a mill with production levels like ours is producing enough to get a commercial buyer interested. And doing it inside a couple of days in the summer and within a week in the cold of winter.

MILL BRANCH FARMS · January 07, 2013, 04:57:59 PM

I've had the saw a few years now but have only sawed a little for myself. i live on the west side of west virginia (a stones throw from kentucky). yeah lots of toys, that's why i need the cash flow :D

WH_Conley · January 07, 2013, 05:07:57 PM

You might check with some of the White's in Morehead. I have never sold them any myself, I know they buy in small quantities. Where in WVa. are you? Morehead is not far from Huntington, but, a pretty good drag from Pikeville.

POSTON WIDEHEAD · January 07, 2013, 05:13:05 PM

I have to 100% agree with Bibbyman.....I would not recommend sawing a bunch of green lumber unless I had a buyer for it.
Sawing in the blind will get expensive. There may be a good possibility what you saw, nobody wants. You have to have a place to store your lumber out of the weather.

I am in a Pine market. When I first got my mill, THE FIRST WEEK, I went to sawing 2x4's like crazy. Not to long after that, I learned I couldn't hardly give them away. What a waste of time and money. I hope this helps..

MILL BRANCH FARMS · January 07, 2013, 05:15:56 PM

ya. thanks bibbyman, i want to line up buyers first, i live in the fort gay area, across river from louisa,ky.

samandothers · January 07, 2013, 05:24:48 PM

Welcome to ya! Toys are great. Hope you can start the cash flow soon.

schakey · January 07, 2013, 05:37:44 PM

Hello and welcome Mills Branch Farms. smiley_hollywood_cool What part of western Wv ?
We have land south of Huntington, hope to meet you someday and good luck.

MILL BRANCH FARMS · January 07, 2013, 06:01:26 PM

Fort Gay, W.V.

paul case · January 07, 2013, 07:13:05 PM

Look in the yellow pages for outfits that manufacture and sell hardwood flooring. Ya might get lucky? PC

Magicman · January 07, 2013, 08:50:02 PM

Welcome to the Forestry Forum, MILL BRANCH FARMS.

I am no help in the selling market. I only custom saw.

bugdust · January 07, 2013, 09:31:30 PM

MBF, Here in southern WV the market is very limited. About the only green lumber sales will be for the weekend warrior. Since I saw mostly for myself I'm don't advertise, but word-of-mouth brings several customers by. You would be surprised of the individuals who want you to saw and build for them too. Your area is more broad based which would allow advertisement in WV, KY and OH. I suggest you utilize the local advertisement outlets, and maybe stick up a few of your own at places of business dealing with farming, woodworking, etc. Just remember, once you get started you may find it overwhelming. One thing you don't want is to get a good start and find it hard to located logs and maintain inventory. PLAN. PLAN. PLAN. Good luck!

mikeb1079 · January 07, 2013, 10:49:08 PM

one thing you could try is this: post a craigslist ad for hardwood lumber for sale. let them know what you have access to and that you can custom saw whatever they'd like; ie bar tops, mantles, live edge etc... see what folks are after and then quote em your price. not foolproof but perhaps you'd get an idea of who's out there and what to saw without just guessing.

Jay C. White Cloud · January 07, 2013, 11:33:29 PM

That's a good idea Mike1079, when we have extra wood, it goes quick that way.

Chuck White · January 08, 2013, 08:23:16 AM

Welcome to the Forestry Forum, Digger.

dboyt · January 08, 2013, 09:14:01 AM

Welcome to the Forestry Forum. I cut railroad ties on my portable sawmill for a while, and didn't do too badly, until the flooring mill where I sold the side lumber quit buying. Looks like you might have the equipment to handle ties (I didn't, and they get heavy by the end of the day). Might check with Koppers and find out who the local buyer is. If nothing else, it is a good market for the lower grade core lumber, but you still need a market for everything else. If you do a search, you'll find threads on FF about railroad ties. Fencing, barn siding, and trailer decking are other markets I cut for. Put up ads in the local feed stores. Might also think about kiln drying and planing to increase the value of the lumber. A solar kiln has been part of my 3-year plan for the last 8 years.

WH_Conley · January 08, 2013, 09:57:28 AM

I forgot about Kopper's. They buy one day a week in Paintsville. Let me know and I can give you his number.

MILL BRANCH FARMS · January 08, 2013, 12:33:11 PM

thanks everyone! great advice, hope it keeps coming! yes WH please send contact info. i do plan on a kiln. does anybody have plans using a home dehumidifier?

Bibbyman · January 08, 2013, 12:40:45 PM

You may check with your state forestry department. They should have a list of every forestry related business in the state. Also, you may have a forestry association that indexes all their members.

schakey · January 08, 2013, 10:44:27 PM

Digger you are just a stone throw away from our property. It' between
Greenbrier Creek Road and Joel's Branch Road off 37 about 5 miles south
Of Wayne.
My good friend and neighbor used to cut ties and take them to Paintsville.
He also did a lot of portable work in the area.

POSTON WIDEHEAD · January 09, 2013, 07:59:23 AM

Quote from: schakey on January 08, 2013, 10:44:27 PM
Digger you are just a stone throw away from our property. It' between
Greenbrier Creek Road and Joel's Branch Road off 37 about 5 miles south
Of Wayne.
My good friend and neighbor used to cut ties and take them to Paintsville.
He also did a lot of portable work in the area.

Digger, sounds like you're getting warm now.

Good reply Schakey.

Kansas · January 09, 2013, 08:22:13 AM

Think I would first figure out what you have for prime hardwoods. They may be worth more in log form. Doesn't mean there wouldn't be some species or the lower grade end still worth cutting. Had a guy who hauls us in some logs every year, mostly cottonwood and a few others, call and want me to bid on some walnut logs. I checked, and was surprised at how much they have gone up. If you had really good ones of those, it would be money ahead to sell those standing to a good logger, unless you really know how to properly cut a high quality veneer. Same as a white oak. The lesser species and lower grade logs is what you are looking for.

MILL BRANCH FARMS · January 09, 2013, 10:16:02 AM

my father in law has everything but walnut, wish he did cause a guy i know in central ohio timbered a bunch of black walnut 4 years ago and the logger put $80,000 in the land owners pocket! mostly in the 16"-24" range he has red oak, white oak, yellow poplar, beech and sugar maple which i want to keep for a maple syrup venture. he has hickory too