Dark Days Ahead... we lost our local bandsaw mill...

texican · #1 03/02/10, 11:25 PM

I got some awful news this afternoon, while voting in Texas primary elections. Our local fella with a bandsaw mill finally found someone to buy him out, lock stock and barrel... problem is, they moved it several hours away, over in Louisiana.

And, I've been needing several thousand board feet of lumber sometime this year... reckon I'm in trouble. Might have to start looking at getting my own...

All of the local folks that do any kind of farm building, carry their logs to him to get them milled. I've got over tens of thousands of board feet of his lumber in my barn, most cut on halfsies. Cant tell you how many tons of 'burn wood' I've brought home. Someone wanted ten foot 1x12 or other dimensional wood, and a defect only allowed nine foot??? into the burn pile. Got several outbuildings built completely out of his scraps.

In the grand scheme of things, this is probably unimportant.... however, locally, it's devastating. Only other fella that has a small mill is sorta touched... (not that there's anything wrong with being touched... heck, some folks say I'm touched

) and as far as I know, he's never cut for others.

What do you do when an essential service suddenly disappears from your area??? If I did get one, everyone I know would want me to cut their wood... which would be great, if I had the time, and the knees, to do it.

.....I've been so shocked by this news, I haven't even checked to see who won the primaries......

rambler · #2 03/03/10, 12:12 AM

I lost the local welder sorta that way. Was a family partnership/ownership and the non-welding half decided they wanted their money, sold off the land, and that was that, out of business. Got storage buildings put up where the shop was.

There are other welders in the area, but not like he was. Heck of a guy, and fair priced.

I understand the loss.

--->Paul

Forerunner · #3 03/03/10, 01:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by texican

.....I've been so shocked by this news, I haven't even checked to see who won the primaries......

At least you've got your priorities straight.

Ken Scharabok · #4 03/03/10, 03:07 AM

I have friends in IN who purchased a bandsaw mill. He was so busy within three years they had paid off all of their debts and had started buying property in the area.

However, he did have a nice advantage in that a neighbor is in the tree trimming business and would bring from bores for free (although Robert would occasionally slip some nice money in his pocket. He does a lot of swapping with sized wood and side slabs. One I remember is he traded several wagon loads of side slabs for a vehicle.

Through contacts he started supplying several haulers of round rolls of steel with stringers (4" x 4" x 48" with one side notched out). They also require a rubber pad. Through contacts at coal mines he brings home used conveyor belts exactly the width needed. He hires part time help to cut them into strips. His original mill is used for the notching and a second for production work.

The weak economy did have an impact on him and he now operates the mill only part-time, having gone back to work as a heavy machine operator for a local coal minning company. Since he can operate any of the equipment they have, he is moved from mine to mine as needed. When he was interviewed he was asked for three reason why they should hire him. He replied he could pass their pee test, could operate any item of equipment they had and shows up for work on time.

His isn't a machine intensive operation with the most frequently used equipment being a skid loader equipped with either forks or a bucket.

I believe he bought the first smaller mill new and the larger second one used.

Wisconsin Ann · #5 03/03/10, 06:22 AM

Starting up your own mill would be a great way to keep things local. If you have neighbors who need logs sawed(n?) there would be plenty to keep the mill busy.....perhaps go in partnership with a young "got no money but is plenty willing and able" guy? Invest in the future of your local area...AND get your lumber done on your place. You provide expertise, he provides the labor, with an eye toward buying you out in a year or so.

There is a pair of brothers here who have one of those big mobile units. Mounted on a 10ton trailer, it goes to where the wood is. They have a good reputation for getting in, getting the logs done, getting it done fast and accurate.

nc_mtn · #6 03/03/10, 07:32 AM

I know people that bought a sawmill just for 'personal' use. One guy bought one with sawing lumber for his barn in mind, saw him a year or more later, and asked how it worked out. His response was he never sawed the lumber for the barn. His mistake? He showed it to a neighbor who (like most neighbors) had logs to saw, who bragged to a friend that had them also..... on and on it went and this 'poor' guy never had time to saw his on.

I know, a sob story where a guy can't play but has to work and make money...

All kidding aside, I'd hate to think I didnt have access to one. It's nice to go out and cut even that one board you need.

Wayne02 · #7 03/03/10, 10:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by texican

What do you do when an essential service suddenly disappears from your area???

- When the mill closed we purchased our own small mill to make the boards, or have the ex mill worker who now has a small mobile mill cut our stuff. If it is a larger job that needs done on a time schedule we drive to the town with the larger mill.

- Our cpa retired two years ago I have not been entirely happy with the new one. Our old cpa had done the family and business taxes for more than a generation and knew our history and such.

- Same deal with our attorney, he is looking to retire in the next 5 years and while we don't use him very often at all, he knows our family history and is a familiar face when the need comes up.

- My barber moved to another state which set a momentary panic throughout the community. Now my wife cuts my hair and we save a few bucks.

Thank goodness my doctor and the liquor store are still around.

Jolly · #8 03/03/10, 10:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by texican

I got some awful news this afternoon, while voting in Texas primary elections. Our local fella with a bandsaw mill finally found someone to buy him out, lock stock and barrel... problem is, they moved it several hours away, over in Louisiana.

And, I've been needing several thousand board feet of lumber sometime this year... reckon I'm in trouble. Might have to start looking at getting my own...

All of the local folks that do any kind of farm building, carry their logs to him to get them milled. I've got over tens of thousands of board feet of his lumber in my barn, most cut on halfsies. Cant tell you how many tons of 'burn wood' I've brought home. Someone wanted ten foot 1x12 or other dimensional wood, and a defect only allowed nine foot??? into the burn pile. Got several outbuildings built completely out of his scraps.

In the grand scheme of things, this is probably unimportant.... however, locally, it's devastating. Only other fella that has a small mill is sorta touched... (not that there's anything wrong with being touched... heck, some folks say I'm touched

) and as far as I know, he's never cut for others.

What do you do when an essential service suddenly disappears from your area??? If I did get one, everyone I know would want me to cut their wood... which would be great, if I had the time, and the knees, to do it.

.....I've been so shocked by this news, I haven't even checked to see who won the primaries......

I'd say you need to do some research on the Forestry Forum.

I see hard work, sawdust and money in your future.

Those Lucas Mills do intrigue me....

timfromohio · #9 03/03/10, 10:30 AM

Texican - I understand your shock, but this sounds like a great opportunity and good excuse to get your own mill. Check out:

http://www.sawmill-exchange.com/

texican · #10 03/03/10, 10:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wind in Her Hair

oh no -I wonder if Keith Keeling MD there in Carthage might not have an answer - or a sawmill. I know he used to have a specialty wood shop in Deadwood? and that was expanded a while back. Might be worth a call.

or it might be time for you to get saw mill.

I got wood from him (cypress) back when he was right out of Carthage, on the Hills Lake Road. Will have to check and see if he's still in business.

**Cabin Fever** · #11 03/04/10, 08:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by timfromohio

Texican - I understand your shock, but this sounds like a great opportunity and good excuse to get your own mill. Check out:

http://www.sawmill-exchange.com/

If Texican was gonna buy a band saw, he'd probably buy from this company ==> Log Master. The company is practically in his backyard.

FarmboyBill · #12 03/04/10, 08:53 AM

I know whatcha meanT> There used to be a grocery/feed/hardware/ auto small engine shop in 2 buildings owned by one family in Kellyville, 10 miles away. Well, The dad died, and after a year or 2 one brother decided he wanted to do plumbing, and not the grocery end, so they closed the grocery and expanded the auto/hardware end. Well after 10 yrs or so the udder brudder wanted out, and it closed down. I hear Bama wants to see small mom and pop grocerys open up around the country. I didnt care much about loseing the grocery as they were kinda higher than WM. Id sure buy from them now. specially if they still had the auto/hardware/feed/small engine repair business going along with it. I got to buying grocerys at WM as they were cheaper, and u could see alla the women and girls in shorts there in the summertime lol.