The Florida Woodsmith prides itself on being the area's premier sawmill services for woodworkers, contractors, and do-it-yourselfers alike. We carry both hardwoods and softwoods from an ever changing supply of locally and sustainably sourced logs.
Along with providing lumber cut from our logs, we are happy to collect your fallen or service felled trees and deliver quality lumber milled to your specific needs. Do you have a tree scheduled for removal? Have you dreamed about building benches out of 2 inch slabs? From Shelves, to tabletops, to mantles or furniture, that old tree has alt more to offer than just mulch or firewood.
Along with providing lumber cut from our logs, we are happy to collect your fallen or service felled trees and deliver quality lumber milled to your specific needs. Do you have a tree scheduled for removal? Have you dreamed about building benches out of 2 inch slabs? From Shelves, to tabletops, to mantles or furniture, that old tree has alt more to offer than just mulch or firewood.
Preparing your log for the mill:
-Cut to length.-
Logs should have a diameter of at least 10 inches, and should be cut to standard lumber lengths between 6 & 12 feet, with an extra 6 inches added to account for end checking during the drying process. If you do not have the means to cut the log to length, Our friendly technician will happily trim logs for you for an additional $5 per log. Logs shorter than 6 foot may not be able to be milled, and our equipment has a max length of 12ft 8in.
-Seal the ends.-
Immediately after being cut, your log will start to Quickly loose moisture from the cut end. This flash drying causes uneven stress due to the varying density of the growth rings, allowing cracks to form radiating out from the heart. These cracks, also called checks, can form within hours of cutting. To help prevent these check, one should immediately clean any dirt from the cut ends and apply a thick coat of paint or end grain sealer to its surface. If you do not have the means to do this yourself, your tech will come fully prepared to seal any log for an additional $2 per end to be sealed. During a consultation end grain sealer may be available upon request.
-Schedule pick up-
When your logs are ready to be milled, you have a few options. If you have the means to bring them to our mill site, you could minimize your investment. Otherwise, with one call we will schedule your pickup and a friendly tech will come to load your logs. Our truck and trailer can safely haul about a ton. The pickup fee is $35 per trip up to 40 miles from our mill-site with low additional fee of $.40 per mile one way after the initial 40 miles. For large jobs that require multiple trips, a custom price can be quoted to reduce this expense.
Logs should be placed in an area where they are easily accessible for our truck and trailer to pull up beside the logs, with 5 feet clearance for our ramps. Logs should be placed in a way that they sit parallel to our trailer. For any onsite time needed for preparing the log to load, a charge of $50/hr in 15 minute intervals will be charged.
Logs should be placed in an area where they are easily accessible for our truck and trailer to pull up beside the logs, with 5 feet clearance for our ramps. Logs should be placed in a way that they sit parallel to our trailer. For any onsite time needed for preparing the log to load, a charge of $50/hr in 15 minute intervals will be charged.
-Milling your logs-
Milling price is currently set at $1.25 per linear foot for boards up to 12 inches wide. $1.40 per linear foot for boards from 12 -22 inches wide. The Florida Woodsmith will do our best to mill within your exact parameters. Many factors will effect how well your needs can be met. These factors include but are not limited to log size, sapwood to heartwood ratio, wood rot, bends in the log, knots, end checking, and foreign or embedded objects.
We have found many things embedded in logs from nails to metal roofing. Dog lead cables, chains, bolts, and field fencing are just a few other examples of potential objects that can be embedded in a tree. Some small objects such as nails can instantly dull a blade rendering it unable to cut. A resharpening fee of $15 per instance will be charged upon hitting any object that causes premature dulling.
Larger objects such as bolts, fencing and cables can break or otherwise destroy a blade. In this situation, a $35 blade fee will be assessed for replacement of broken or permanently damaged blades. In either situation, your sawyer will do his best to remove the object before milling will resume. This MAY cause a reduction in lumber yield, but will help to prevent further damages and fees. Inspecting a log with a simple metal detector can prevent unwanted fees.
We have found many things embedded in logs from nails to metal roofing. Dog lead cables, chains, bolts, and field fencing are just a few other examples of potential objects that can be embedded in a tree. Some small objects such as nails can instantly dull a blade rendering it unable to cut. A resharpening fee of $15 per instance will be charged upon hitting any object that causes premature dulling.
Larger objects such as bolts, fencing and cables can break or otherwise destroy a blade. In this situation, a $35 blade fee will be assessed for replacement of broken or permanently damaged blades. In either situation, your sawyer will do his best to remove the object before milling will resume. This MAY cause a reduction in lumber yield, but will help to prevent further damages and fees. Inspecting a log with a simple metal detector can prevent unwanted fees.
-Pickup or delivery-
For orders of 400 linear feet or more, delivery of green lumber within 40 miles of our milling site is free. For orders under 400 feet delivery is $25 within 40 miles of our milling site. An additional fee of $.25 per mile after the initial 40 is applicable. As always, pickup is free. upon completion of milling, an email notification will be sent either stating that your order is ready for pickup, or to arrange a time for delivery. To reduce the cost of your order you may choose drop off service in which a trailer will be left for a period of 48 hours for unloading. if you would prefer to not unload it yourself, please have an area prepped that is under protected from rain and direct sunlight, and has enough room on all sides for adequate airflow. For stacking and unloading, a fee of $50 per hour based in 15 minute intervals will apply.
-Drying-
Drying quality lumber can be a long and tricky process. The Florida Woodsmith is here to help in many ways. A knowledgeable tech will happily walk you through the process of stacking and drying your lumber to help you achieve the best yield. Stickering is the process of separating rows of lumber using small spacers (stickers) to allow enough airflow to dry all boards evenly. Along with answering any questions you may have, The Florida Woodsmith also offers a wide array of products to help you dry your lumber properly from stickers, foundation beams, tension straps, to metal roofing.
Just In...
The General Tool MM8 digital pinless moisture meter is the easiest and most accurate way to monitor the drying progress of your lumber. With a bold, easy to read LCD read out and simple settings for reading softwoods, hardwoods, you’ll always know your measurements will be correct.
Unlike pin-type meters, which only accurately read as deep as you can press the pins in, the deep sensing MM8 reads the highest moisture content within 3/4” into your slabs without leaving any blemishes.
Whether your purchasing green lumber, milling, or firewood, add one to your order today for a price that’s is matched to the local box stores,
Unlike pin-type meters, which only accurately read as deep as you can press the pins in, the deep sensing MM8 reads the highest moisture content within 3/4” into your slabs without leaving any blemishes.
Whether your purchasing green lumber, milling, or firewood, add one to your order today for a price that’s is matched to the local box stores,