How To Prepare Your Logs

Here are some common answers to questions regarding how to prepare your logs for milling.

How should I prepare my logs for milling?

Trim branches off your sawlogs before bringing them to the mill. Dirty logs cost more to mill, due to the wear and tear on blades, so cleaning them off is a nice-to-have, not a need-to-have. For fine hardwoods, you can seal the ends with AnchorSeal or old exterior house paint to slow the drying and prevent checking.

I have lots of logs. What length should I cut them?

We recommend that you cut logs at consistent lengths to make stacking and kiln-drying easier. Cut logs to 6” longer than the length you will eventually need. The most popular lengths are 8’6” and 12’6”.

What logs are worth milling?

Logs are worth milling if you will use the lumber and it means something to you. From a Return-On-Investment perspective, the break even point is usually 13” in diameter and 8’ long. (Meaning, you’re likely to get at least $105 in lumber value for the $105 milling cost). The value of the lumber increases exponentially as your logs get larger than 13” in diameter and over 8’. 

There’s evidence of rot in my log. Should I mill it?

Send us a picture for a quick assessment. It depends on the species. Sometimes hickory/pecan, maple, oak, and cedar can have isolated rot with other areas of the log still viable. Ash, if it has been dead for a while, is almost never worth milling if there is rot/dry. 

How do I sell my lumber once it is cut?

The best place to sell local lumber is Facebook Marketplace or via the online NC Woodworkers Facebook group.

I have more logs than I need. Can I send them all to you, then pay you to mill only what I need?

If you only send commercially-viable logs –over 13” in diameter and over 8’6” long– then yes, we will likely take your extra logs and charge you only for what you need (provided your project requires at least three hours).