Quote Originally Posted by Frank S View Post
Highs is my name for lowes, the nearest 84 lumber is nowhere to be found anymore, there are no Minnards, the only other places are a Higgenbotham's and rarely any bargains to be found there it Seams that Pate's hardware& lumber are direct competition for ACE and TrueValue 'novalue' that leaves only Builder's Supply. but that is a 230 mile drive 1 way I have mesquite trees that are 40 feet tall or more with 12" trunks but they don't grow straight enough to make lumber out of so I haven't bothered building a saw mill for that reason. I'm content in burning 2 to 3 cords every winter from just the dead ones.
OK makes sense. I grew up in a similar area in Manitoba. There's only one large city in the whole province. And we were 72 miles from the outskirts.

I have 7 acres here. Fully wooded. Some poplar, cedar, a few Oak, many Ash that are dying from the emerald ash borer, and Sugar Maples. I am contemplating making a mill. So many ash are sitting and almost dead. I worked on a mill as a young man. ANd periodically on my current property with a contract sawyer.

Kind of special to make your own lumber and use it. But as you say it has to be worth doing it.