The New House – Episode 3 – milling logs for lumber

 

We started with a pile of about 25 logs in the 9-13’ range that came from 3-1/2 trees on the property – one that fell onto the gazebo last winter, two 100’ers that were in front of the new house location, and 1/2 of a tree remaining when the top broke off in a storm.

Planning to use this milled lumber for the new house, we hired Mark who owns a “Lucas Mill” which is a swing arm mill. It has a large blade with an 8” cut depth that can cut in both directions, coming and going. Previously, we have hired guys with band mills – like a huge band saw on it side.

 

Here is a YouTube video showing how the Lucas Mill works.

Lucas Mill video

Mark brought his two sons with him to help mill and sling the wood around. The kids get a cut of the proceeds too. We pay .25 per board foot for the milling service, which includes “stickering” the finished wood into various piles to air dry. .25/bd ft means an 8’ 2x6 costs me $2. At Lowes Depot that board would be about $4.50. The larger lumber is more expensive at the yards, so I also had him mill 2x8, 2x10, 2x12’s and a pile of beams and post material.

 

 

One unique thing he milled for us are a bunch of 4” thick x 12” wide natural edge beams that we’ll use for stair treads on log-style stair cases. We’ll need (28) 3’ wide treads.  You can’t buy those at Home Depot!

 

…  a boring 4x12 10’ would cost around $50 each at a store. Mine cost $10... plus they’re cooler.

100 Douglas fir 2x6’s stickered (small slats separating the rows) to dry.

Once done, we ended up with 2500+ board feet of good lumber for about $600... a saving over lumber yard costs of over $1500.

I bought a new toy …er tool to gauge when the new lumber is ready to use – a moisture meter. Framing with green wood is a gamble. Since the project has launched itself full force, I’ll have to buy quite a bit up front and use the milled stuff down the road.

Next post: foundation