Milling and selling RR ties

[RPowers]

I tried the search feature and it returned 0 results, so I hope this isn't a repeat....

I have a WM LT28 coming around Oct, and am wondering if milling and selling ties would be a good use for my mill, among other things. For anyone in this part of the world doing it I have a couple q's. How do I locate a tie buyer, or do you know of one in the AR-OK-MO area? What species will they accept for ties? What standard sizes are ties cut to lxwxh ? I am assuming that for larger logs getting better grade lumber on the outside and then boxing the heart would be a good way to get a tie and some good boards from a single log. Any info about your own experiences would be helpful.

RP

[dgdrls]

http://www.rta.org/

follow the link,  this is probably the source for what the RR wants in their ties
There are posts here related to RR ties just search a bit.

I will say RR tie work looks like heavy work on a manual mill,
if you can find a local yard and saw a load over time you will
probably be O.K. you can do it but you will be working!!

I love this video and I suspect this is how the majority of ties are sawn. (vid. 2 changed)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rkzm5N5UQW8

DGDrls

[WDH]

I suspect that you will starve cutting ties on a manual mill unless the logs are free.  A very competitive commodity business. 

[drobertson]

RP, this is not a bad option for you, just remember it is a volume base market.  If you have a tie buyer near by and can move the ties and one inch then I would say go for it.  The only draw back is getting the grade for the 1" lumber, many times you will spend more for a tie log than the tie will bring.  This is a tricky market,  In my opinion, if you can supplement your custom work and cutting ties and lumber for $250 a thousand then I would go for it. otherwise It could be a brutal proposition.  The market for flooring is up so this would be the time to try it.  Just saying you need to have a buyer for the 1" and ties relatively close, unless you have a trucking company.  Don't forsake the slabs and dust, this is a clear profit if you can move it, otherwise you will wind up with a pile of debris that builds up quickly.    david

[GAmillworker]

Here is an interesting link on rr ties I found

https://forestryforum.com/board/index.php/topic,64407.msg960033.html#msg960033

[beenthere]

In addition to the other posts, do a search on "ties" under the member name "bibbyman" and you will get a lot of great information about tie markets and tie production methods, plus several "ins and outs" to read about.
You will get about 4 pages of results (not sure what you searched to get "0" results ;) )

[RPowers]

Thanks for the replies, guys!  A co-worker is select timbering a piece of land he just bought in order to help make the payments. He is selling his highest grade sawlogs to a guy out of Joplin, MO and then taking the smaller logs (minimum 12" DIB) to a local man who mills them into pallet/packing material and ties. He said he is getting 200-250MBF for the tie/pallet logs. I have 28 acres that needs serious thinning and stand improvement, so taking smaller or misshapen trees and getting some free tie/pallet material was what I had in mind, plus I know guys with tree services that I can probably get alot of free logs from, or near free anyway. I'm mostly interested in building a custom-sawing business for the mill, but in the meanwhile I don't want to just twiddle my thumbs.

What is a good slab/dust market? I was thinking firewood for the slabs, but sawdust leaves me guessing, other than as mulch for my garden, .

Thanks again, RP

[thecfarm]

Sawdust,horses. Or in my area it is.

[Magicman]

Sawdust needs to compost before garden use.

[GeneWengert-WoodDoc]

Here is a link to a great article on producing ties and marketing by the univ of KY
http://www2.ca.uky.edu/forestryextension/Publications/Railroad%20tie%20pub.pdf

[grweldon]

WOW!  That video was an eye opener for me!  How could anybody with a bandmill compete with that?  Thanks for the link DGDRIS!

[drobertson]

this is a good video for sure, and shows just how fast these circle mills can process a log. These logs shown were the perfect scenario for tie cutting.  And this sawyer was clearly very experienced, this said, after my experience last winter running an Lt-70, I can testify that most tie logs of this size can be processed within a two min time frame, with the right set up an personnel.  The only question is where are the ties going, where is the lumber going, and is the lumber bringing a higher price,  and what is the cost of the logs.  There are so many logs sold for tie prices, $300/th.  where in fact only a 4x6 and some 1" is produced.  This is not very profitable,  david