If you are close by, or I will be in your area, I am
happy to stop in and give a free estimate. Otherwise, I like to talk
through details either on the phone or by e-mail to save on driving. I
want to make certain first of all whether I can do the job. You will
doubtless want to have an idea what it will cost. I care about that too - I want to provide you good value. Log diameter, length, amount,
species, dimensions of lumber, whether logs need to be moved, access
issues and other variables influence how long it will take, how much
wood you will get and what it will cost.
Most of my work is done at an hourly rate with a certain minimum number of hours, plus a mileage charge. Charged time is the time I am working
for you. It starts when we are ready to saw, and ends when we are finished. I subtract time taken for breaks and any down time due to my equipment or mistakes. I don't charge for my driving time, setup time, or the time it takes me to pack up my equipment after sawing is finished. Mileage is round trip to your site from my location in Mystic, CT.
Customer-provided help is welcome and shortens the time it takes to saw your logs. There is a lot of manual labor in sawing wood; scraps
and boards must be carried from the mill, logs must be rolled on to the
loading arms, and sometimes moved into position. One helper makes the most difference but I can often keep
two or three people busy.
I am willing to saw by the board foot or fixed rate. Usually I need more detail to make an agreement than by the hourly rate. Please understand it is much faster to saw a thousand board feet of 1" thick random width wood out of straight, defect free 16-24" diameter pine logs which are 16 feet long than to deliver the same boards from wavy 8' oak logs which are 8-12 inches in diameter. Don't be afraid to ask for a board foot rate, but please be prepared for more questions.
Other charges are $5-20 for hitting metal or foreign objects which dull or ruin a bandsaw blade. I also provide Anchorseal at $24 per gallon for the actual amount used (you can get it yourself postpaid at www.uccoatings.com or from Woodcraft Supply).
If I have stickers, I will sell these too usually around 40 cents each.
