Custom Milling
Transform rough reclaimed lumber into precision-milled material. Whatever profile you need, our mill can produce it.
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Reclaimed lumber rarely arrives ready to install. It needs to be re-sawn, planed, and profiled to meet the specific requirements of each project. Our milling facility houses industrial-grade equipment operated by craftsmen who understand the unique challenges of working with aged, dense, and character-rich wood.
Old-growth Douglas fir is dramatically harder than modern plantation fir. A century-old beam may contain imbedded fasteners that snapped flush below the surface. Reclaimed wood can be twisted, bowed, or checked in ways that require adjusted setups and operator judgment. These realities mean reclaimed milling is not interchangeable with green lumber milling — and our team has spent two decades learning the difference.
Milling Services & Profiles
S4S (Surfaced Four Sides)
All four faces planed smooth and square. The standard for visible framing, shelving, and furniture components. Dimensions are precise; character and patina from the original lumber are preserved on face grain.
Tongue-and-Groove (T&G)
A projecting tongue milled on one edge interlocks with a groove on the adjacent board. Used for flooring, ceiling planks, and wall paneling. We mill standard 3/4" x 2", 1" x 4", 1" x 6", and 2" x 6" patterns, or custom dimensions from your specifications.
Shiplap
Rabbet cuts on opposing edges of each board create an overlapping joint with a consistent reveal gap. Traditional shiplap uses a 3/4" rabbet for a flush face; nickel-gap (also called shadow-gap) shiplap uses a 1/4" reveal for a modern horizontal line. We produce both.
Beadboard (V-Groove)
A narrow V-groove routed along the center of each board face creates the visual rhythm of traditional beadboard. Popular for wainscoting, cabinet backs, and porch ceilings. Available in single-bead and multi-bead patterns.
Custom Crown & Base Molding
Multi-head moulder cuts complex curved profiles for crown molding, baseboard, door casing, and chair rail in a single pass. We can match existing historic profiles from a physical sample or cross-section drawing, or produce original profiles from your DXF file.
Live-Edge Slab Finishing
CNC router sled produces reference-flat surfaces on irregular slabs up to 48" wide. After flattening, we sand from 80 to 180 grit and can apply Rubio Monocoat, Danish oil, or leave unfinished for field application. Natural edges preserved with light sanding to remove bark pockets.
Dimensional Tolerances
Reclaimed lumber milling operates within wider dimensional tolerances than new-wood manufacturing because the input material is inherently variable. Understanding these tolerances helps you plan your project correctly. For critical installations where tight tolerances are required, contact us to discuss pre-sorting and premium processing options.
| Operation | Standard Lumber Tolerance | Reclaimed Tolerance | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| S4S Planing (thickness) | +0 / -1/32" | +0 / -1/16" | Reclaimed lumber may have slight bow or twist affecting pass consistency. Multiple passes reduce variance. |
| S4S Planing (width) | +0 / -1/16" | +0 / -3/32" | Width tolerance is wider for reclaimed stock due to original non-standard dimensions and residual surface variation. |
| Re-Saw (thickness) | ±1/16" | ±3/32" | Bandsaw drift and variation in stock density affect re-saw consistency. Bookmatched pairs have tighter mutual tolerance. |
| T&G Profile (tongue fit) | ±0.005" | ±0.010" | Fit tolerance verified with go/no-go gauge on sample pieces from each run. Field fit adjustment may be needed. |
| Length Cross-Cut | +1/8" / -0" | +1/4" / -0" | Longer pieces cut to ordered length or longer, never shorter. End-trimming to exact length is available. |
| Squareness (end grain) | ±1° | ±2° | End-grain square cuts depend on stock flatness. Pieces with significant bow are pre-flattened before cross-cutting. |
| Slab Flattening (CNC sled) | ±1/32" across full face | ±1/16" across full face | Final flatness depends on slab rigidity. Slabs with significant internal stress may re-cup after processing. |
Equipment
Our mill is configured specifically for the demands of aged, dense, and character-rich reclaimed wood.
Wide-Capacity Bandsaw
24" throat, 12" max cut height
Primary re-sawing of timbers and thick stock. Bookmatched pairs, slab slicing from wide beams.
Four-Head Moulder / Planer
24" max width, 0.375" min thickness
S2S, S4S surfacing, and profile milling (T&G, shiplap, beadboard) in a single pass.
36" Wide-Belt Sander
36" max width, 80–220 grit
Final surface preparation for flooring and paneling. Consistent finish scratch pattern.
Industrial Table Saw
16" blade, 6" max depth
Ripping boards to precise widths, breaking down rough stock, specialty cuts.
CNC Router Sled
48" x 144" work area, 3-axis
Live-edge slab flattening. Perfectly flat reference surfaces on stock too wide for the planer.
Solar-Assisted Kiln
25,000 BF capacity, 60–180°F
Drying to stable MC for interior or exterior application. ISPM 15 heat treatment.
Wood Movement Considerations
Wood is a hygroscopic material: it absorbs and releases moisture with changes in ambient humidity, and its dimensions change as a result. This is not a defect — it is a fundamental property of all wood. Understanding it is essential for successful installation of milled reclaimed lumber.
Tangential vs. Radial Movement
Wood expands and contracts more tangentially (perpendicular to growth rings) than radially. In flat-sawn boards, this means the face width changes with humidity. A 6" flat-sawn oak board may move 3/16" between summer and winter in LA’s climate. Quartersawn material moves roughly half as much across the width.
Moisture Content at Installation
Installing wood at the wrong moisture content guarantees problems. Interior flooring and paneling should be at 6–8% MC when installed in a conditioned space. Material installed wetter will shrink and gap; installed drier it will expand and buckle. We provide moisture readings with every delivery so you can verify.
Acclimation Requirements
Even kiln-dried reclaimed lumber should acclimate in the installation environment for 7–14 days before fastening. Stack material with sticker spacers to allow air circulation on all faces. In high-humidity environments or large commercial spaces, acclimation periods up to 21 days are advisable.
Reclaimed vs. New Lumber
Old-growth reclaimed lumber — particularly dense species like heart pine, Douglas fir, and redwood — is dimensionally more stable than modern plantation-grown wood. The dense, tight growth rings have less void space and absorb moisture more slowly. This is one reason reclaimed old-growth species are preferred for high-performance flooring installations.
Gapping for Flooring
Tongue-and-groove flooring is typically installed with tight joints, relying on the T&G profile to manage expansion. Wide-plank flooring (5"+) may benefit from a 1/16" expansion gap between boards. Perimeter expansion gaps of 1/2" are required against all fixed walls regardless of board width.
Exterior Applications
Exterior siding and decking experience much larger moisture swings. Target MC for exterior installation is 12–15%. Allow for 1/8" expansion gaps in horizontal siding and deck boards. Species selection matters enormously: redwood, cedar, and tropical hardwoods have natural extractives that resist decay; pine and fir require regular finishing maintenance.
Minimum Orders & Lead Times
Milling minimums exist because each operation requires machine setup, tooling configuration, and quality verification. Below a certain run length, setup costs exceed the value of the work. These minimums represent the threshold at which we can provide quality work at fair pricing.
| Service | Min. (BF) | Min. (LF) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| S4S Planing only | 100 BF | — | Single species and thickness preferred; mixed runs priced per setup |
| Re-Sawing | 150 BF | — | Minimum 10 pieces per thickness to justify bandsaw setup |
| T&G or Shiplap Profile | 250 BF | 200 LF | Moulder setup fee applies below 500 LF |
| Custom Profile (new knife grind) | 500 BF | 400 LF | Knife grinding adds $200–$600 one-time tooling fee |
| Beadboard / V-Groove | 250 BF | 200 LF | Standard bead patterns in stock; custom bead requires tooling |
| Historic Profile Match | 500 BF | 400 LF | Physical sample or drawing required; $300–$800 tooling fee |
| Wide-Belt Sanding | 150 BF | — | Final grit specified at order; re-sand to different grit incurs additional charge |
| Live-Edge Slab (CNC sled) | — | — | Minimum 1 slab; $45–$95 per slab depending on size |
BF = Board Feet. LF = Linear Feet. Lead times are from receipt of dry, de-nailed material ready for milling. Toll processing (we process your stock) and production milling (we supply and mill) are both available.
Request a Milling Quote
Provide your species, rough dimensions, finished profile, quantity, and any profile drawings or samples. We will return a detailed quote within 2 business days. Contact us to get started.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you match an existing historic profile?
Yes. Provide a sample or drawing and we can grind custom knives or adjust tooling to replicate the profile closely.
Do you mill customer-supplied reclaimed lumber?
We offer toll milling. Material must be de-nailed and metal-free; we can perform de-nailing and metal detection for an added fee.
What moisture content do you require before milling?
For interior use we target 6–9% MC. We can kiln-dry your reclaimed material before milling to reach spec.
How long are typical milling lead times?
Most runs ship within 5–10 business days after receiving material, profile approval, and deposit.
Can you provide a test run before full production?
Yes. We can run a small sample set for fit and finish approval prior to completing the full order.