Take it...to the limit, one more time.

[POSTON WIDEHEAD]

A customers came and picked up Pine boards this evening. He called me at lunch and wanted to know if I had an Oak slab for a counter top. He is building a bar in his barn for dances and get togethers for watching football games....and yes, in the barn.
The bar will be 2 levels. Oak?...Red or White, he did not care.

I found a 10 foot log I had......off the ground, I have been storing for 2 1/2 years.

The width of the butt was 26 9/16" at the widest part. The other end was 25 1/4" wide.
I opened the blade guide as far as it would go and while sawing, I literally had to push the head/blade the first 28-30 inches. This was my mills limit on width but she she sawed a smooth face.
I don't mind telling....I sold 2 Red Oak Slabs for $600.00. Both slabs were 2 1/2" thick and took both of us to load them. The pictures don't show the full beauty but these were some very nice grained bar top slabs.



  

  

  

  

  

 

[SAWMILL BUDDY]

You did good David.

[loggah]

Nice !!! ;D but it looks like there might be a little metal in that lower side of the log ! Don

[POSTON WIDEHEAD]

Nice !!! ;D but it looks like there might be a little metal in that lower side of the log ! Don

You better watch yo mouff Don.  :D :D :D

[loggah]

When ever i see a bit of blue stain i get nervous !!! :-[ Don

[POSTON WIDEHEAD]

When ever i see a bit of blue stain i get nervous !!! :-[ Don

Makes the hair stand up on my neck! 
I see the stain, about 4 inches East of the pith.

[WDH]

2 slabs for $600  ???.  I need to talk to your marketing agent. 

[sawmillhand]

Very nice. I had some old hard wood logs on my place nice ones that was left on a thinning but mine had what i call the sponge effect. The inside core was solid but the outside was rotten.

[POSTON WIDEHEAD]

Very nice. I had some old hard wood logs on my place nice ones that was left on a thinning but mine had what i call the sponge effect. The inside core was solid but the outside was rotten.

Please believe me, the spalted sap wood on each side of the heart wood was as solid as a rock. This guy went over these with a fine tooth comb. These were 2 slabs with some very nice character.
But I do know what your are saying Sawmillhand. I have seen plenty of the spongy sap wood.

[loggah]

Yup,  i know sometimes when i was dragging oak out behind my skidder the whole butt was blue from pounding against the fenders ,dont take much to make stain. hopefully theres nothing in there!! Don

[Peter Drouin]

600.00 for two slabs. Good for you , there's one born every day  :D :D :D :D

[customsawyer]

I have a couple of slabs I will sell you for $400.00 and you can have what is left over. ;D

[WDH]

Hey, I will sell some to you for just $300 and you can double your money.

[customsawyer]

I was going to sell him yours and we could have split the extra. Now you come in and under cut US. :D

[POSTON WIDEHEAD]

Wow....under cutting your neighbor  , selling something that's not yours  :, trying to squeeze in on my racket....... >:(
what kind of crooks are ya'll?
Sounds like I'm gonna fit right in at the Sycamore Project.  :D :D :D

[red]

I think its great you still print CSA paper money

[Ga Mtn Man]

Way to make it happen David!  I've always admired the way you make do with the tools you have. ;D

[scully]

Love it ! I knew I was cheap on my walnut slabs ! More proof that grade aint always king !

[WmFritz]

When ever i see a bit of blue stain i get nervous !!! :-[ Don

Makes the hair stand up on my neck! 
I see the stain, about 4 inches East of the pith.

David, don't take anymore chances on the rest of that tramp-metal filled log. Just to help you out , I will take it off your hands and dispose of it properly. No thanks needed.  ;D

[clww]

Very nice looking slabs you milled there, David.
Tell your customer I have some that are 56"-51" wide X 138" length X 3" thickness. I'd let them go for a small fortune if he's interested.

[POSTON WIDEHEAD]

David, don't take anymore chances on the rest of that tramp-metal filled log. Just to help you out , I will take it off your hands and dispose of it properly. No thanks needed.  ;D

I know....you're doing this because you like me.  ;D I'll be playing golf tomorrow and the rest of the log is on the mill. Just don't make a mess.  :D :D :D

[WmFritz]

 :D :D :D

[schakey]

Well this proves it,he really is the most interesting man(sawyer) in the world

[Seaman]

David, that is a fair price for the slabs, at least in the WNC market. These goons are just jealous of big wood. : Wait, that didn't sound right....you know what I mean. Good job on the sale.
Frank

[Peter Drouin]

goons ?

[Jemclimber]

I've got a bunch (maybe that's an understatement) of slabs and even the wood hoarder I am I think I'd be willing to sell every one of them at a price like that.   :D
Well, maybe.... I sure do like collecting boards.

[woodweasel]

Shucks I thought mine was big :D :D My cedar that is ;D

[WDH]

goons ? x 2

[red oaks lumber]

it seems like more pictures get taken than work getting done :D

goonies x 12

[bugdust]

2 slabs for $600  ???.  I need to talk to your marketing agent.

And to think I was satisified making $650 for 500bdft of quarter/rift red oak. Wonder if the guy will give me a do-over?

[drobertson]

Almost seems like this post should read "stick it to the limit, one more time"  some folks have more money than good sense, at least you were on the big side of the wish bone,   david

[POSTON WIDEHEAD]

I've never stretched the truth unless I can get a laugh.  :D But my top grade slabs are high! And I get it.

But where I live, I am close to Charlotte, N.C. There is money in Charlotte. People will spend it and are looking to spend it.
A lot of times a customer will call me and tell me what he will pay for something and then ask me if I have it.
A pick up load of Oak firewood sells for $150.00 in Charlotte. I think that is high.
I had a builder pick up a Cedar Mantle this morning 5 inches thick x 8 inches wide x 6 foot long.
I sold it for $300.00.
There are so many band mills around me that are just sitting. And the ones that saw don't understand why they don't get customers. THEY DON'T WORK THE MARKET!
My secret.....I am prompt. If I can make a fast dollar doing a good job, I will move logs out of the way just to saw 1 slab for a man who needs it tomorrow.
There are sawyers down here that will tell customers they will have something ready by a certain day but will not come through.
Keep your word, saw a smooth board, shake a hand and take interest in what a customer is saying,(even if you hate to hear about his grand kids singing in a play) and the money will come. Trust me!
Sawmills will make you money.......customer service will make you rich!

[Peter Drouin]

You are 100% right on that take care of the customer.

[Brucer]

... some folks have more money than good sense ...

Never forget, the value of a product is determined by the customer.

If your asking price is higher than the value the customer places on your product, you won't sell any -- to that customer. This is the key to marketing. A different customer might gladly pay your asking price and think he or she got a tremendous deal.

The value that a customer places on your product is partly a result of how you present the product. A "mantle" is worth a lot more to some folks than a "slab of wood". Air-dried "brace stock" is worth more to some timber framers than just a "timber".

[Seaman]

Gentlemen,,,,
I meant "goons' in the most affectionate and friendly way possible!!
Humor is difficult when typing, I certainly did not mean to rise a hackle.
Frank

[WDH]

Gentlemen  ???

That is better  :D.

[Raider Bill]

I can't believe he called you guys Gentlemen :D :D

[Stephen1]

I've never stretched the truth unless I can get a laugh.  :D But my top grade slabs are high! And I get it.

But where I live, I am close to Charlotte, N.C. There is money in Charlotte. People will spend it and are looking to spend it.
A lot of times a customer will call me and tell me what he will pay for something and then ask me if I have it.
A pick up load of Oak firewood sells for $150.00 in Charlotte. I think that is high.
I had a builder pick up a Cedar Mantle this morning 5 inches thick x 8 inches wide x 6 foot long.
I sold it for $300.00.
There are so many band mills around me that are just sitting. And the ones that saw don't understand why they don't get customers. THEY DON'T WORK THE MARKET!
My secret.....I am prompt. If I can make a fast dollar doing a good job, I will move logs out of the way just to saw 1 slab for a man who needs it tomorrow.
There are sawyers down here that will tell customers they will have something ready by a certain day but will not come through.
Keep your word, saw a smooth board, shake a hand and take interest in what a customer is saying,(even if you hate to hear about his grand kids singing in a play) and the money will come. Trust me!
Sawmills will make you money.......customer service will make you rich!

I agree do what you say when you say,, the word will spread.
Where and how are you advertising?
Being close to a big city also helps, they do not have acces to a big supply of products from a mill. Where else would u buy 2 matching slabs? Not home doppy.
Great work 8)

[POSTON WIDEHEAD]

I can't believe he called you guys Gentlemen :D :D

Do you know something we don't know? 

[POSTON WIDEHEAD]

Don may be right. I DO thing this logs has a little metal in it. If it does, I got lucky. I sawed all these slabs at 2 1/2"s thick. I must have went over the top and under the metal.  Close call!



  

 

[Peter Drouin]

WE are ALL gentlemen here on the FF. :D :D ;D

and ladies  ;)

[drobertson]

David, I've done it once, (premium pricing) but it was from a tip, a large one, if you can get it, mize well, be as stupid not to as it is to pay that much ;D  Happy for you man, no doubt there have been bumps that did not pay this much,  david

[WDH]

I must have went over the top and under the metal.  Close call!

Hopefully your customer won't hit it with his planer  .

[barbender]

I'd be nervous around Poston, I think he could talk me into paying him $500 for a pickup load of sawdust. I don't know if he's just that slick or folks feel sorry for him with that homely mug of his ;D "He had a face only a mother could love, and she didn't even like it that much." -Patrick Mcmanus :D  Seriously, good for you for making a few bucks, those folks all made it from someone else. I have to push myself to charge enough, I seem to like to work for free :

[WDH]

I raised prices today  .

[Magicman]

Da heat is getting to you eh??

[Ga Mtn Man]

I raised prices today  .

Cancel my order. >:(

[WDH]

I am learning.  A man needs to keep learning. 

[Magicman]

Nothing wrong with learning, it's just who you are learning from.   :P   :D

[WDH]

 :P :P :P.