Does anyone know a source for info on current hardwood log prices? I did some quick checking online at the forestry service sites but they don’t have much “up to the minute” pricing info.
I stopped by a construction site and spoke to the guy clearing the lot and taking the logs away. There were a few really choice cherry logs I wanted to get my hands on. The guy is mostly a firewood processor but sells some of the decent stuff to mills. We chatted for a while and he said he would have to check the current prices and get back to me. Just off the top of his head he figured $2.50 to $3 a log ft on average. One was 21″ at the stump end and veneer quality striaght. The other 3 I was interested in were 16 – 20″ and a little more bumpy so would have some beter figure. These were all solid and sound and some of the best looking cherry I have seen around. I am just trying to figure out a fair price, as this would be the first time for me actually paying for logs to have milled.
Any input would be appreciated.
Andy
“It seemed like a good idea at the time”
Replies
here's a google search result - http://www.srs.fs.usda.gov/econ/data/prices/
offer him $50 each and see what he says -
David,Thanks for the link. I had actually checked there already. No prices listed for NY, but I did check the surrounding areas. I was hoping to find something more like daily spot prices I could use to figure to the nearest board ft. It seems that unless you are doing the buying in quantities that will set the market price it is hard to come up with a number. I'll just have to get back in touch with him and see what he is looking for.Andy"It seemed like a good idea at the time"
...something more like daily spot prices I could use to figure to the nearest board ft...
ya - that's not the way it works - timber buyers know their market and all the other factors -
in this case, your firewood processor (that sells the nice stuff on the side), has a relationship with a mill or three - but it's not a powerfull relationship - most mills are not that interested in an occasional log or three of uncertain provenonce -
so, hang in there, flash a little cash, and you'll likely get what you want -
remember, log diameter is measured at the small end, and 16" is generally considered the commercial minimum - google 'doyle scale' and get a chart of bdft/diameter/length, tho a bandsaw mill will recover 10% or more over those figures - (the bigger the log, the greater the increase in recovery) -
good luck -
"there's enough for everyone"
Depending upon the blade and quality fo the log I can get up to 20% recovery over doyle on my Woodmizer. International is the closest to actual yield. Log prices are creeping up especially for #1 prime white oak logs. they are actually higher than walnut in this area.
When I went to the NHLA lumber inspection school we also spent a few days on how logs were graded. When the logs were graded and then sawn and the lumber was graded the price worked out to be about what one common lumber prices were at the time for green lumber.
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