Dennis Miller is a skilled, full time mechanic whose gig is fixing submarines and ships for the US Navy. At the same time, he’s building a self-sufficient lifestyle — he’s building a homestead, raising some livestock, and creating a future business opportunity for himself.
Dennis’ brand new TimberKing 2000 Diesel sawmill is the centerpiece of his self-sufficient lifestyle plan. Though this is his very first mill, and he’s just getting started, he’s not a bit nervous. Here’s his story…
“I work full time fixing Navy submarines and ships. I’m sort of a Jack-of-all-trades. I’ve had mechanical skills all my life and I like to say, ‘If it’s man-made, I can fix it.’
Though I work full time, you never know what’ll happen so I’m building something to fall back on. I’m building a homestead. I’m raising some livestock and sawing my own lumber. I’m using the lumber to build outbuildings and I plan to run a sawmill and lumber business out of those outbuildings.
No worries
I’m brand new to sawing but I knew I’d enjoy it. I’m passionate about it! My TimberKing 2000 is the first saw I’ve owned. My goal is self-sufficiency; doing the best I can to be able to live and survive off the land I have.
For me, buying my first sawmill was not a leap of faith. I really wasn’t worried. It was more like taking an opportunity. I know what my skills are and that I could work it out. I knew that if I do this right, it’ll all work out. I looked around a lot, visited the TimberKing site, and watched the videos. All that helped me decide on TimberKing.
I run big equipment all the time and I know…
People who haven’t run equipment might get nervous about hydraulics and so on but I can tell you the TimberKing is a simple concept and simple setup. I run equipment all the time and I knew this mill would work hard for a long, long time.
And I knew that if I changed my mind, a TimberKing mill has an awesome resale value. It’s a functional machine that holds its value. It’s made to make money! Someday, I can use it to make money all day long. I figure if somebody has the drive, the mill is always there, always ready to make money.
Heavy-duty industrial standard
I chose the TimberKing 2000 because that’s the industrial standard. That’s the minimum size model that’s recommended if you want to run a business. It’s very user-friendly and has a lot of great features like full hydraulics, log loaders, a digital readout for the setworks. That computer makes everything easily adjustable. Yes, you can adjust the cutting manually but the computer setworks are more precise.
Why’d I choose the 35HP diesel engine? Diesel runs forever. It’s simple and low maintenance. Everything about a diesel engine is better quality and heavier duty than a gasoline engine. Everything’s made to last. Choosing diesel is a no-brainer. No worries about missing spark or something else going wrong. If you can turn that bitch over, it’ll start!
I did look at TimberKing’s 2200 but it’s out of my price range right now. If I ever do take a step up, it’ll be to a 2200.
TimberKing tech drove my mill to me, offered to stay as long as needed
I ordered my mill by phone. I called TimberKing and talked to the sales guys. The whole buying process was simple. We talked awhile, they had all the components I needed, told me what was in stock, and so on. By far, the sales guys knew their stuff.
I ordered it in late December and had it by the end of February. A TimberKing tech drove it from the factory in Kansas City to where I am in Virginia. The truck arrived and the tech helped me get it set up and gave me good information, tips, and pointers. He offered to stay and help me as long as I wanted, even to stay for days if I needed it. But I only kept him a few hours. He helped me set it up, level it, showed me how it works, how to operate it.
Of course it was 90% set up when it arrived. You just hook up the water tank, some hoses, put in fuel, that sort of thing, do a maintenance check.
Operating it’s a cakewalk
Running it is a cakewalk. The only thing you need to do is remember which lever to pull to control what action. Now that I’m running the mill, I’m cutting a lot of red and white oak. I’m making new decking and ramps for trailers, sawing wood for outbuildings. I’ve had customers already, I’m sawing up logs that other people need cut.
There’s a lot of lumber coming off that mill very quickly so having a good loading/offloading system is a good idea. I have a Bobcat with forks but any kind of good, user-friendly front-end loader with good hydraulics would work.
If you see one, you’ll buy one
My plan is first to build big buildings to hold lumber, then stockpile it and sell it. This is horse country and a lot of folks want roughcut lumber for horse fences and buildings that will last. They like the rustic look of roughcut lumber. People have told me they’ll take all the horse fencing I can make. I just have to find the time to cut it!
My advice for anybody thinking about getting into sawing is this. Call TmberKing and see if anybody near you has one. If you see one in action, you’ll end up buying one. Everybody who sees mine sees dollar signs – the dollars they could be making if they had a TimberKing!
This is a very good product and there’s no reason it won’t work well and earn money for years to come. It’s almost too good — no need to replace it unless you upgrade. If I had to purchase again, I’d buy another TimberKing. Someday I’ll be getting one of their resaws or edgers. It’s just a matter of time.”
— Dennis Miller, TimberKing 2000 Diesel owner, Gloucester VA
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