a big hello
i'm new here, but far from new
my oddesy into the world of wood began as just an idea, man i should of layed down till that idea passed
back in 1998 i bought a new 4 sided planer, set out to seek my fortune after some very humbling months (not much work) i really was second guessing my plan. if spending 80 plus grand on new equipment wasn't enough i decided to build a big shop and put in a kiln. going into winter i was 165 grand up to my eyes in debt
once word got out about my kiln, the phone started ringing and people started stopping, the dream was coming awake! throughout the first winter things really started hoping. spring came i built a big storage building and bought a bandmill. things kept growing adding employees buying more equipment. the only advertising was word of mouth.i averaged over 600 customers per year. my services were,custom sawing k.drying and machining lumber. all the while selling my own products.
the business got to the point we were shipping finished flooring to several differant countries as well as most states in the usa. in 2012 my health had started going down hill (3 types of arthritis) so,the decision to shut the business down was a very hard and painful one. in the spring of 2013 i was still finishing the last of the remaining orders.one saturday my son was just hanging out at the shop,he use to work for me a few years prior but, went to work else wheres. anyway, he asked me what my plans for the business was. nothing i told him ,i'll shut the doors and figure it out later,the business didn't cost me anything so i didnt need to sell.we talked and he asked me if he could take over the business? i told him the first thing he needed to do was change the answering machine.
in 2014 he has completly bought me out and now i'm an advisor and teacher. the list of equipment is still impressive 5 head moulder,4 sided planer, gang rip saw, end matcher, 15,000 b.f kiln and the list goes on. yearly production is around 1 million b.f.
when i'm not helping in the shop i farm, 45 beef cows, 65 bison ,farrow to finish hogs and grass finish my beef steers. running 750 acres.
if i can offer any help to people just starting or have questions thats my way of paying it forward. thanks for taking the time to read my rambling
