“In our business, we go ‘tree-to-tie’ – we turn standing trees into railroad ties. We go into the woods to cut trees. We skid them out, haul them back to our yard where we run them through our TimberKing mill and turn them into railroad ties.
We don’t do custom cutting the way some yards do. We’re strictly into production — railroad ties and pallet lumber. We sell directly to railroad tie yards. We saw about 15,000 to 18,000 board feet a week — red oak, black oak, white oak, cedar and more. Business is good, in fact we have everything sold before we cut it.
Why’d I choose TimberKing? The truth is, I shopped around. TimberKing’s 4-Post Head is what it’s all about. It’s a much better setup than other mills. I live quite close to where another brand of sawmill is manufactured but TimberKing had a better machine, better deal, and better financing. With a few thousand down, I had the mill.
As a small business owner, it was very helpful not to have to put much money up front. TimberKing was more affordable than others, not nearly the cost of other brands. I’m doing the work I want to do at less cost than other mills.
Logging from the ground up
I was always into logging. Then I bought a tractor-trailer and started hauling lumber for sawmills. I had four trucks, four drivers. Eventually, I decided to mill lumber myself. It’s four years now and we’re going strong.
I started by getting my TimberKing Sawmill. Then I got a TimberKing Talon Edger, then a TimberKing Resaw, then another TimberKing Edger. I have a Woodmaster Molder/Planer, too!
We’ve really worked this mill hard. It has over 4,000 hours on it and it’s still going strong. Nothing has ever broken, it’s never broken down. It ran 2,000 hours before any wearing parts ever needed replacing.
2-Day Parts
When it comes to Customer Service and parts, I don’t see how it could get any better. I make a call, talk to Matt or Jason, they look up the parts, and I usually have them in 2 days. Parts are available and replacing wearing parts is no big deal. In fact I keep an inventory of wearing parts and just swap ‘em out as needed. TimberKing guys know their mills inside and out. I just have to make a phone call.
If you have half a brain you can saw with a TimberKing. It’s simple — chains and hydraulics. The only complex part is the Computer Setworks and even that’s not difficult. Maintenance is simple and this bandsaw makes very little waste so I’m making more money.
Production line setup
Here’s how we’ve set things up. We cut the slabs off a log with the TimberKing sawmill then start cutting boards. Meanwhile, we send the slabs through the TimberKing Edgers to straightedge them. Then we put them through the TimberKing Resaw to reclaim slab wood that would otherwise be thrown away.
I’ve invested only half the amount of money other yards have so I’m making more money, more profit — that’s more money in my pocket. It doesn’t take a genius to see that TimberKing’s equipment formula works. Those guys have it all figured out.
4 guys count on me, I count on TimberKing
In this business, I’m a small fish in a big ocean. I count on these machines to make my living, and I have 4 guys who count on me. I have a lot riding on TimberKing and we work every day. As with any machine, you keep up the maintenance and everything clicks along.
If anybody’s thinking about getting into a sawing business, here’s what I’d say. Do your homework, be sure you have a place to sell — have customers lined up. Your lumber must look good, that’s what everybody wants. When you get TimberKing equipment, listen closely to what they tell you about setup and operation. They’ll explain everything about running and maintaining it.
Anybody who’s ever come by our yard has been impressed with our setup, including sawmill owners who own million dollar machines and in really big production. For the money, you just can’t beat TimberKing!”
— James Tuttle, James Tuttle Enterprises, Ironton MO — TimberKing Mill, Edger, Resaw Owner
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