Can you really earn big money with a Timberking?
“I’m making $200 an hour sawing with my TimberKing 2020 sawmill and loving it! I’ve been involved in many business ventures — my newest business is bulding axe throwing targets using wood I saw on my TimberKing. I sell these targets to over 35 locations like amusement parks, fairs, and fun centers all across America.
I build most of our targets out of cottonwood; an excellent choice for axe throwing targets. It’s relatively soft and straight-grained so axe blades stick in and stay put. And when you pull the axeblade out, the cut ‘heals’ itself like dartboards do. Each is 2 inches thick and can be flipped over to double the utility .
How to get logs at low cost or even free
Where do I get my logs? From tree removal companies. Out here, cottonwoods were planted 80 years ago in miles of ‘wind shelter bed’ rows. As they die out, companies remove them.
Aaron’s first sawmill was the cheapest he could find
We own 10 acres of woods in North Dakota – all ash trees. It can be windy enough to knock them down. We need only so much firewood so I got my first sawmill — a little one — to do woodworking projects. That one was the cheapest sawmill I could find. It could barely handle a 22” diameter log.
His second sawmill was bigger but just hobby quality
Then I upgraded to a larger Norwood® mill. It was really a hobby-grade mill and it had problems right away. The kit they sent me had two right legs! They have zero customer service. I’d be on hold for an hour and end up fabricating my own parts.
Can you make a living sawing with a manual mill?
That Norwood was a manual mill. Can you make a living sawing with a manual mill? Well, you can, but it sucks! I retrofitted hydraulics later, but the pump went out. I hooked up my log splitter and ran the Norwood’s hydraulics with it for two months waiting for them to send me a new pump.
He kept searching and finally found TimberKing
So I upgraded a third time. to the TimberKing 2020. It can handle massive, 39” diameter logs. And it has computer-controlled setworks for milling boards at accurate thicknesses.
I looked at several mill brands but all the manufacturers I talked to were a year out from delivery. Then I checked in with the guys at TimberKing and they had a mill I wanted, built and ready to go, It’s road-towable, has massive sawing capacity, and computer setworks for sawing accuracy, And it has ‘drag-back fingers’ – optional Board Draw Back feature – that bring the boards back so I don’t have to walk down the mill to get each board.
I talked with my wife and we decided we could make it work. We drove to Kansas City, picked it up, and towed it home. TimberKing has been fantastic to work with. I’ve had no issues.
High production without increasing overhead
I got the 2020 and have hit my production mark without raising overhead. I’ve put on 500 hours this year and have milled 150,00 board feet of lumber. I’m doing it solo though I have some part-time guys.
It’s not just the big features that set TimberKing apart. It’s little things, too. The fenders are strong. The taillights are shielded. It comes set up. And it works great even at 20 degrees below zero! Doesn’t even blink.
Aaron’s business success tip
And here’s a tip for others: if you’re going into business with a sawmill, it’s best to have a niche. Mine is axe throwing target boards, a real niche-of-a-niche market.”
— Aaron McWilliams, Owner, McStash Mills ,Hillsboro North Dakota
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