Milling on shares

[woodfarmer]

I’m supplying the logs and another fellow is milling. What is the general split ratio?

 

[PA Dan]

I’m supplying the logs and another fellow is milling. What is the general split ratio?

I have done 50/50 with the tree owner.

 

[Guido Salvage]

As a mill owner I typically have no use for the wood a log owner might want cut (unless it is unusual or something I do not have). If you are a business owner you want to be paid rather than having to move inventory to recover cash.

That being said, if you are supplying logs it is a cash free way to get lumber. The split is going to partially depend on whether I am doing all the work or if the log supplier is helping.

 

[woodfarmer]

Well that’s a useless contribution to my question!

 

[Guido Salvage]

Well that’s a useless contribution to my question!

Actually it is not… You have failed to supply the group with the following basic information in order for anyone to provide you with a germane response.

1). Are you buying the logs or getting them for free?
2). Are they “yard trees” where there is a probability of hitting metal?
3). Are you taking them to the mill or is the mill coming to you?
4). Who is supplying the labor? You do realize logs have to be loaded and turned and the slabs pulled and the lumber stickered and stacked?
5). Who is supplying the equipment (and operator) for the loader, etc.?
6). What species is being milled? There is a big difference between splitting some pine or some walnut.
7). How many board feet are being milled? There has to be enough volume to make it worthwhile,

 

[woodfarmer]

Logs from my bush 12-16”x 8, 10 &12’s.
Maybe 10-20 Ash logs, who knows.
I will float them down the road 1/2 mile
His labour, my loader tractor.

 

[AKJonsereds]

My father in law built the guest cabin with pine logs. He delivered 1/3 more logs then he needed. Guess it depends on the mill.

He has since bought his own mill since he enjoys that part of the process. I also think it cuts down on labor since we don’t have to haul the logs and cut extra.

 

[RajS]

I usually do 2 boards for me, one for the owner. It's all my equipment, labour and cost.

 

[AKJonsereds]

Logs for that cabin only needed two cuts. Makes sense more processing equals more return for the processor.

If you enjoy processing, you will end up with more getting a mill.
If the wood is just going to rot, anything is better than nothing.

This last year or two, wood prices in alaska made buying a mill well worth the cost.