Replies

1. 
   Biscardi | Apr 16, 2002 02:13am | #1

   Frankly, I detest milling huge quantities of lumber. Then again I am a hobbyist who makes a few pieces a year. I'd rather make a nice dove tail or cockbead then run endless boards thru a  screamingly loud , dusty machine.

   I'd hire it out. Those guys have power feeders and big stable machines and work for a reasonable price. Everybody has got to eat. Besides, if you mess it up your contractor wil not be happy.

   Spend your time on something you are particularly good at or enjoy.

   Just my 2 cents.

   Frank

1. 
   fdampier | Apr 16, 2002 07:19am | #2

   And from the other end of the spectrum, I bought rough green wood from the local sawmill and have been turning it into my timberframe.   I bought the shapers/saws/etc. and have been having an absolute blast  turning low cost wood into high value home.

      Is it hard work?  yep! Is it dusty, demanding and potentially dangerous?  Oh Yeh ain't it wonderful?  Life is grand and  I love doing it!

     For what it's worth I am building a timberframe using the highest quality wood,  the best construction techniques, and highest energy efficency possible.   Black walnut, Cherry, hardmaple, white Oak, hundreds of bd. ft. of burl Oak etc.  I'm building a double timber frame IE one that has a frame both inside and outside with SIPs in between.   The finished home will be nearly 5000 sq.ft.  28 foot ceilings and timbers as large as 12"x12" x22 feet. 

     So far the west wing is just about roughed out (will be in the next two weeks) with the great room  timbers already started.  I'll be enclosed well inside one year from the date the excavation was started.   My budget for materials is slightly over $30,000 with hiring subcontractors etc. a little over that number.  So far I'm well inside of that and only a little behind schedule.

      Yes I'm using a lot of the "old" house to do this, yes I'm not done yet.  Sure  every one else is right and I'm absolutely foolish to think it can be done,  but I'm doing it.

2. 
   ElGrandePapa | Apr 16, 2002 09:24am | #3

   If you have never used a big bit on a router or a shaper then the word you are looking for is SCARY. Unless you have a use for these machines after you are done.....wait a second, I started channeling my wife there....pure guy point of view"BUY THE TOOLS,THE BIGGER THE BETTER.GO SHAPER WITH A POWERFEED."....

   Common sense approach..."Job it out" enough said.

1. 
   fdampier | Apr 17, 2002 06:06am | #4

   I've bought some timber working tools that I know I won't have any use for when finished.  Things like a chain morticer, a wire chase router, 6 1/4 inch wide hand held power planer , 16 inch circular saw, etc..  That's what E Bay is all about.  when I sell these the next timberframer will pay about half of what a new one costs and get tools that have had only one use.   I checked and the demand was so great that some were paying very near new costs for stuff that was several years old.

     Compare the cost of buying and reselling to renting or evan worse hiring it done. Wood that I paid 17 cents a bd.ft. for  sells for 8 to 9 dollars a bd. ft. once it's surfaced on 4 sides and sold at the wood working store.  The differance doesn't sound like a whole lot untill you realize that I've got close to a quarter of a million dollars worth of wood for about $18,000.  So I guess I can stand to run a few feet thru a shaper.

1. 
   ElGrandePapa | Apr 17, 2002 08:10am | #5

   Then by all means a shaper with a power feed is the way to go. Hand feeding all that wood would make for a lot of waste(mistakes) that would eat into your costs.  Sounds like you've got a handle on the tool thing. Sounds like great fun, do a Tom Sawyer and invite a few buddies over to play with your new stuff. That usually works, just don't break out the beer and pizza too soon. Or contact the local shop teacher and see if some students want to earn some extra credit.

1. 
   SlyCook | Apr 18, 2002 05:19am | #6

   And don't get the little boy powerfeeder either. For serious production, you need the big wheels,connected to the big motor, connected to big mast, connected to the big base. HHelen

3. 
   Mcdaddy | May 11, 2010 06:33am | #7

   Just make sure the wood is already treated before using it to assemble.termite control

1. 
   RalphBarker | May 12, 2010 10:27am | #9

   dates

   Note the date on the original post - 2002.

1. 
   Eef | May 12, 2010 12:13pm | #10

   ralph,

   "note the

   ralph,

   "note the date..."

   that's one of the weird things about this new forum.  it's like talking to ghosts and thinking everything's just fine,  looking up, seeing what time it is and realizing you're all by yourself...

   eef

1. 
   RalphBarker | May 12, 2010 12:27pm | #11

   recollections and ghosts

   As I recall, we had the same "problem" on the old forum - usually the result of the responder sauntering through the archives without realizing that's where they were, and not noticing the date on the original post. A malfunction in the dust collector can sometimes be confusing.  ;-)

4. 
   popawheelie | May 11, 2010 11:51pm | #8

   building big yourself

   My brother built his own house and it is beautifull. Sure it took a while. But when he was done there is no comparison to other houses.

5. 
   BruceS | May 12, 2010 03:40pm | #12

   Not knowing exactly what you want for profiles.  But you might want to think about the Jet molder/planer JPM-13CS for about $1000 plus the knife profiles you want.  Way less expensive in the long run over a shaper and power feeder.

   Personally,  I would find a local mill.   Doing a little quick math.  $4120  if yo buy it premade.  About $2700 If you buy the lumber and tools and make it yourself.   Is the time worth $1400+

   If you go the shaper and power feeder and cutters  you might break even.

   EDIT-EDIT

   OOPS.  OOPS.

   Just did a little research and found out that Jet has discontinued ALL of the profile knives for that planer.  Sorry!!!