3 things to know when buying a sawmill

Due to increasing demand for lumber and the growth in the popularity of DIY projects, many people are choosing to buy their own sawmill, which enables them to make their own lumber. According to a recent report, the portable sawmills market has substantially increased in growth from 2017 to 2022. Additionally, the compound annual growth rate (CAGR) for the global portable sawmills market is expected to hit 1.2 billion by 2028.

If you are someone who is thinking about buying your own sawmill and want to turn it into a business, there are some things you’ll need to think about first.

Here are three things to know when buying a sawmill.

1. Know What Size You Need

The first thing you’ll need to determine is the size of sawmill that suits your needs. In order to do this, you’ll need to know the diameter of log the sawmill is capable of cutting. Most large trees are at least 20 inches in diameter. Smaller sawmills cut trees that are 22 inches in diameter. Larger sawmills cut trees that are up to 36 inches in diameter.

These large sawmills cost much more than the smaller ones. For this reason, you might be tempted to go with a smaller sawmill. This is fine if your trees aren’t going to be that large and you won’t be using your sawmill on an everyday basis. However, expert sawyers recommend going a little larger than what you think you might need. This is especially the case if you plan to use your sawmill more often.

Besides size, though, you’ll also need to figure out how much horsepower you’ll need. Expert sawyers will tell you the more horsepower, the better. Generally speaking, the more horsepower you have, the quicker you can cut a log, plus the end result might be better. The sawmills that cut smaller logs generally have less horsepower than the larger sawmills.

The final factor when choosing a sawmill is whether you’ll need a portable or stationary sawmill. A portable sawmill allows you to take your sawmill with you wherever you go. You can load a smaller portable sawmill into the bed of your pickup truck. You could also tow a portable sawmill on a trailer. If you don’t need to transport your sawmill, you might be better off with a stationary one. One major advantage of a stationery sawmill is that you can keep it indoors and use it no matter what the weather conditions. A stationary sawmill is a great option for sawyers just starting out.

Small sawmills cost around $4,000. The much larger sawmills cost over $70,000. This gives you a wide range from which to choose when you’re trying to determine the size, horsepower, portability, and the price of your sawmill.  If you’re still unsure of what size sawmill you need, a sawmill manufacturer can help.

2. Know Where to Get Your Logs

If you have a lot of trees on your property, you won’t have to think too much about where your logs will come from. You will need to have a way to take them down, though! For others who might not have direct access to logs, there are other ways to attain them.

One idea is to ask other property owners to sell you their logs. Another way to attain logs is through simple word of mouth. Tell your friends, neighbors, business owners, and everyone else you know that you are in need of logs to feed your sawmill. There is a really good chance that someone you know knows someone who needs to get rid of their logs.

It’s also important to establish relationships with those in the logging and forestry industries, as well as tree service companies and farmers. All of these people can be an excellent source of logs. You can also place a “logs wanted” ad in your local agriculture magazine, local newspaper, or utilize social media to find logs.

3. Know How to Build Your Customer Base

Once your sawmill is up and running and you have logs coming in like crazy, you’ll need to build your customer base. Your customers are those who are going to buy the lumber that your sawmill produces. To find those customers, you’ll want to use some of the same strategies you used to find your logs. For instance, through word of mouth, advertising, and on social media. You could even hold an open house to let people see your sawmill in action. Having a website is also a great way to get customers.

After you find your customers, the important thing is to retain them. The most important way to do this is to sell a high-quality product. You will also want to saw according to what your customer needs. For instance, they might want a certain type of wood, length, or thickness. Since there is a larger market for kiln dried lumber than green lumber, think about investing in a kiln.

No matter what, you will always want to listen to your customer, be a problem solver for them, and guide them through the process. It also helps to be on time, on schedule, and maintain a professional image. You should also offer fair prices for your services and products. To keep your prices fair for both yourself and customers that you saw logs for, you may want to consider charging by the hour instead of by the board foot. This makes it easier to get paid for all the work you do, as sometimes customers add more work than what was originally agreed upon. The most important aspect of building your customer base and retaining customers, though, is treating them with respect.

Once you buy your sawmill, attain your logs, and get your first few customers, you will be well on your way to having a successful sawmill.