How dangerous are portable sawmills?

How dangerous are portable sawmills?

According to the U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Administration, operating a sawmill is one of the most dangerous jobs in the country. Massive weights of logs being milled combined with the nature of sawmill equipment can cause lacerations, severed fingers and blindness.

Is a saw mill a good investment?

A portable sawmill can be worth the investment. It can provide a source of wood for your own projects and give you a side business. For a source of lumber, as well as a profitable business, a portable sawmill can be a key piece of equipment on your farm.

Is Saw Mill profitable?

Sawmilling can be a profit-making business as long as the owner has a plan and can stick to it long enough to streamline the business, create efficiency, increase productivity and generate a profit. Like all businesses, this will require time and patience but the rewards are fulfilling to those who are willing to wait.

How much does a homemade sawmill cost?

The cost of a portable mill is about $1,500 for the base mill, plus an optional $500+ for a mechanical jack-hoist to get the logs up on the bed. A stationary mill, with all components but the engine bought new, would cost $5,000 or $6,000, and about half that used — and you still have to install it.

How much does a portable saw mill cost?

New portable sawmills range in price from less than $4,000.00 to over $80,000.00 depending on the amount of production you need.

Is it cheaper to mill your own lumber?

In the end, only you can decide if milling lumber from your own property is worth it. Because every job is different, we can not tell you the actual amount of money you would save or not save. Generally, it costs 5-10% more to have your lumber milled on-site.

Is lumber cheaper at a sawmill?

Though it may not appear bad, the cost of lumber in big box stores is VERY expensive. Buying your lumber directly from a sawmill can be significantly less, though there may be additional preparation needed before it can be used as we will see below. Buying from a mill may seem overwhelming at first.

Can I buy lumber from a mill?

Buying wood directly from a mill is not something everyone can do, even if you have sawmills in your vicinity, but it is available for many woodworkers and for those who belong to clubs and associations, it’s even possible to get together and do “group purchases”.

Is owning a lumber yard profitable?

You can expect to see a profit margin for much of your lumber stock in the 15 to 20% range. Hardware and accessories have a much higher margin and require less manpower to stock. A small lumber yard can see a net profit of $50,000 to $100,000 while a large yard in a busy area can see a million dollar annual profit.

Can you make money with a small sawmill?

A portable sawmill using either a bandsaw or a large circular blade can create an income. Because it’s portable, the sawmill can potentially travel to a customer’s location and mill their lumber onsite.

Should I let logs dry before milling?

Lumber does not dry properly “in the log”, only “in the board”. Leave your logs standing as trees until you need them, and then get them milled and stickered quickly. One caveat; if you want spalted lumber you need to let the logs sit for a while – usually through at least one hot summer.