Contact Me
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Call/Text:(352)870-7775
Yes, I happily accept text, and may respond quicker.
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Frequently Asked Questions.
sawmilling
Q: Is your mill mobile?
A: Not yet. I plan to be mobile in the future.
for now, I do offer pickup service for up to 3000lbs to help you get your logs milled.
for large loads I can refer you to a third party company who operate a grapple truck capable of filling most needs.
for now, I do offer pickup service for up to 3000lbs to help you get your logs milled.
for large loads I can refer you to a third party company who operate a grapple truck capable of filling most needs.
Q: Will you barter?
A: Part of my mission is to make the art of woodworking more affordable for hobbyists and working craftsmen alike. Bartering is one way I can do just that. I maintain a list of items I could use to grow or maintain my business. You can trade items that may otherwise be gathering dust to offset your price. See my bartering page for more info. I am always open to trade offers for items you think I may find useful in my craft, but always reserve the right to decline. (All lumber trades are valued at $2.50/bf[green] and $4/BF[seasoned] and services at list prices)
Q: Will you mill in trade for some/half of the yield?
A: Generally not for local species. I am open to the practice for walnut, mahogany, and various other subtropics or exotic species.
Q: How big should I cut my logs?
A: Ideally, good milling logs are between 8-10ft. It is good practice to cut logs about 6” longer than desired lumber length. Log must be between 5-12.5ft for milling.
Q: Can you mill logs under 5ft?
A: For logs to safely clamp onto my equipment it must have a length of at least 56”.
Q: Can you mill me disks or tree cookies?
A: I am definitely willing to mill slices, however slices start to crack very quickly and need to be properly treated with a preservative or stabilizer. I do not generally carry these products so I do not offer drying; nor can I guarantee quality of product or conditions between milling and pickup. Jobs are accepted on a case by case basis And special arrangements are generally made before milling. I recommend customers do their own research to inform themselves on presearvative options and the drying process.
Q: Can you cut me a mantle?
A: I am more than happy to cut your log into any dimensions possible. However, I stress that properly seasoning or drying a piece as thick as a mantle is no short term project. Due to space limitation in our kiln, I do not currently offer the long term kiln drying that this requires.
Q: Does it really take that long to dry?
A: Short answer is yes, it can. Wood, if not properly cured, maintains a moisture swollen center as the outside dries and shrinks around it. The stress this produces can cause mantles, shelves and counters to split nearly in half overnight. Sometimes months after installation. Though due to our climate, some lumbers can definitly dry faster than this, and there are ways to bring this dry time down by controlling the condition in which it is drying, however special care must be taken to monitor lumer so that it is not exceeding the safe drying rates for that species.
Q: Do you buy logs?
I have recently begun to buy logs brought to me. This is primarily offered to tree services, but anyone with the means to haul logs to me are welcome to contact me. Logs are preferred to be 8ft or longer for purchase and relatively straight. Some logs may not be worthy of milling.
generally I am willing to pay up between $35-$50 per ton for mill quality logs depending on demand for that species.
a convenient log weight calculator can be found at woodweb.com.
find it here:
generally I am willing to pay up between $35-$50 per ton for mill quality logs depending on demand for that species.
a convenient log weight calculator can be found at woodweb.com.
find it here:
Q: What is “BF and “LF”?
Board foot(BF) and Linear foot(LF) are two separate ways that lumber is measured. Linear feet are feet along the length of a board. For example an 8 ft board is 8Lf.
Boardfeet are increments of 144 cubic inches.this is the volume of a 1” thick sqft.
BF is a common way that rough cut lumber is sold by total mass. We use both in our pricing. With custom milling, selling by the linear foot is a better representation of time and effort of each pass of the sawmill. For precut lumber, a board foot pricing is better for factoring in the handling, hauling, marketing, storing and other costs involved in any given quantity of wood.
Boardfeet are increments of 144 cubic inches.this is the volume of a 1” thick sqft.
BF is a common way that rough cut lumber is sold by total mass. We use both in our pricing. With custom milling, selling by the linear foot is a better representation of time and effort of each pass of the sawmill. For precut lumber, a board foot pricing is better for factoring in the handling, hauling, marketing, storing and other costs involved in any given quantity of wood.
Q: How do I apply a bf price to the size I need?
This can be calculated in several ways, but the easiest formulas are (H” x W” x LF)divided by 12 or (H” x W ” x L”) divided by 144 to get the board footage of any given piece of lumber.
To find out how much any given piece will cost per Lf when price is based on Bf, use the equation (H”xW”x12) then divide by 144, multiply this number by current bf price.
To find out how much any given piece will cost per Lf when price is based on Bf, use the equation (H”xW”x12) then divide by 144, multiply this number by current bf price.
Q: I have a tree I want milled. Will you help me cut it down?
A: The Florida Woodsmith is not a tree service. I do not have the experience nor the equipment to safely fell any tree. Once the tree is on the ground I can work to help you process your tree how you see fit. I also do not limb trees, top trees, or haul off brush. I am not an emergency tree care company, so I do not clear trees from roads, roofs, or power lines. For any jobs that require these skill sets, check out the community partners page where you can see what companies I work with enough to earn my recommendation.
