Running a Small-Scale Sawmill Business

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PHOTO: MOTHER EARTH NEWS STAFF
It's hard to overlook the fact that—even if you cut the highest-quality lumber and sell it at low prices—you darn well better advertise if you want to get customers.

A few brief profiles of folks who have been successful in the small-scale sawmill business.

If you’re the type of person who prefers the clean smell of fresh sawdust to the scent of expensive cologne, if you can imagine the beauty of the sudden quiet when a saw is shut down after a long morning’s workout, and if you like the idea of pocketing an honest profit as a happy customer drives away with a pickup load of lumber . . . then it might be worth your while to explore the possibility of owning and operating your own family small-scale sawmill business.

Don’t be mistaken, though . . . sawyering is not an easy profession to take up. Far from it . . . it demands muscle-straining, back-taxing work! Still, since it does allow you to be your own boss–and to earn as much (or as little) as your energy, ambition, and luck will permit–cutting lumber for a living can sure beat the heck out of working for someone else . . . either in a stuffy factory or an air-conditioned office.

Furthermore, despite the weakness of the economy and the mounting power of the large lumber “factories” (which are causing the demise of small operations everywhere), a few well-organized, intelligently run, independent sawmills are somehow managing to remain financially solvent–and even to thrive–during these difficult times.

But why not learn the facts from “them that’s doin’ “? Here are a few brief profiles of folks who are now successful small-scale sawyers . . some observations as to why they’re making a go of it when others are facing bankruptcy . . . and a number of suggestions as to how, if you’ve a mind to, you might do the same.

  • Published on Nov 1, 1982
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