Processing & Milling
From raw salvage to finished product — our fully-equipped facility transforms reclaimed wood into premium building materials, all under one roof.
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Our Capabilities
We invested in best-in-class equipment so you don't have to compromise on quality when choosing reclaimed. Every process is performed in-house by our experienced team.
De-Nailing & Metal Detection
Every board passes through our metal detection system and is hand-inspected for embedded nails, screws, and hardware. We remove all metal before any milling begins, protecting both the wood and our equipment.
Kiln Drying
Our on-site kiln brings reclaimed lumber to a stable 6-8% moisture content — the industry standard for interior use. Kiln drying also eliminates insects and mold, ensuring clean, ready-to-use material.
Planing & Surfacing
We surface reclaimed boards to your desired thickness with smooth, consistent results. Choose skip-planed for a lightly cleaned look that preserves character, or full S4S for a clean, contemporary finish.
Ripping & Resawing
Need non-standard widths or thinner stock? We rip and resaw reclaimed lumber to exact dimensions, maximizing yield from every board and minimizing waste.
Custom Profiling
From shiplap to board-and-batten, bevel siding to wainscoting profiles — our moulding machines cut custom profiles that turn reclaimed stock into installation-ready material.
Tongue & Groove
Our precision tongue-and-groove milling transforms reclaimed boards into flooring, wall paneling, and ceiling material. Available in standard and wide-plank widths.
Sanding & Finishing
Wide-belt sanding to 120, 150, or 220 grit — your choice. We can also apply pre-finish treatments including oils, stains, and sealers for fully finished, ready-to-install product.
Process Workflow
Every piece of reclaimed lumber follows this proven path from raw salvage to finished product.
Intake
Raw salvaged lumber arrives and is inventoried by species, dimension, and condition.
De-Nail
All metal is detected and removed. Boards are inspected for structural integrity.
Dry
Green or wet lumber enters the kiln. Target: 6-8% MC for interior, 12-15% for exterior.
Mill
Planing, ripping, profiling, and tongue-and-groove — processed to your exact specifications.
Sand
Boards are belt-sanded to the desired grit for a smooth, consistent surface.
Grade & Ship
Final inspection, grading, and packaging. Ready for pickup or delivery.
Our Equipment
Purpose-built for processing reclaimed wood. Our facility handles everything from rough-sawn barn boards to precision-milled architectural elements.
- Industrial metal detector (inline)
- Pneumatic de-nailing station
- Dehumidification kiln (5,000 BF capacity)
- 20" four-head planer/moulder
- Resaw bandsaw (36" capacity)
- Table rip saw with laser guide
- Custom profile moulder
- Wide-belt sander (43" capacity)
- Radial arm saw for cross-cutting
- Dust collection system (zero waste)
Our processing generates zero waste. Sawdust becomes animal bedding and garden mulch. Off-cuts are repurposed for small projects. Nothing goes to the landfill.
Before & After Transformations
The transformation from raw salvage to finished product is dramatic. Here are five real examples of lumber that passed through our facility and what it became.
Barn Oak Beams to Fireplace Mantels
Rough-sawn white oak beams pulled from an 1890s dairy barn in Cerro Gordo County. The beams were covered in dirt, embedded with over 200 nails and lag bolts, and showed heavy surface checking from a century of exposure. Original dimensions: 8x10 inches, 12 feet long.
After de-nailing, kiln drying to 7% MC, and careful planing on three sides (leaving one original hand-hewn face intact), each beam was transformed into a stunning fireplace mantel. The checking was stabilized with clear epoxy, edges were eased with a light chamfer, and a penetrating oil finish brought out the rich golden-brown grain. Final dimensions: 7x9 inches, custom lengths cut to order.
Industrial Fir Timbers to Exposed Ceiling Beams
Douglas fir timbers salvaged from a 1942 warehouse in Waterloo, Iowa. The timbers were black with decades of accumulated grime, marked with bolt holes from steel connections, and had surface areas stained by machine oil. Original dimensions: 8x16 inches, up to 24 feet long.
Our crew de-nailed and cleaned each timber, then ran them through the planer to reveal the gorgeous amber heartwood beneath the grime. Bolt holes were left as-is to preserve character. After kiln drying and a final light sanding to 120 grit, these timbers were installed as exposed ceiling beams in a Des Moines brewery taproom. The warm fir tones contrasted beautifully against the white-painted drywall ceiling.
Weathered Pine Siding to Shiplap Wall Paneling
Original exterior pine siding from a collection of 1920s farm outbuildings near Austin, Minnesota. One face was silver-grey from weather exposure; the reverse was honey-gold from being protected from the elements. Boards were warped, cupped, and riddled with old nail holes. Widths ranged from 8 to 12 inches.
After de-nailing and kiln drying, we ripped each board to a consistent 7-1/4 inch width, planed them to 3/4 inch thickness, and milled a shiplap profile on the edges. The weathered face was lightly wire-brushed to clean off loose fibers while preserving the silver patina. The result was 3,200 square feet of installation-ready shiplap paneling that sold out within two weeks to homeowners building accent walls and bedroom feature walls.
Schoolhouse Maple Flooring to Butcher Block Countertops
Rock maple strip flooring pulled from a 1940s elementary school gymnasium in Cedar Rapids. The flooring was heavily marked with polyurethane finish, gym line paint (red and blue), scuff marks, and adhesive residue on the undersides. Individual strips measured 3/4 x 2-1/4 inches.
We ran the strips through the wide-belt sander to remove all old finish and paint, revealing dense, tight-grained hard maple underneath. The strips were then edge-glued into panels, planed to a uniform 1-1/2 inch thickness, and sanded to 220 grit. The finished butcher block panels measured 25 inches wide by 8 feet long — dense, durable countertop material with a subtle warmth and history that new maple simply does not have.
Railroad Bridge Timbers to Restaurant Table Tops
White oak bridge timbers from a decommissioned rail crossing in Bremer County, Iowa. These massive 12x12 timbers were black on the exterior, deeply checked on the end grain, and had bolt holes every 24 inches where the rail hardware had been attached. The wood was soaking wet at 30%+ moisture content when it arrived at our yard.
After a slow, 6-week kiln drying cycle to bring moisture down to 8% without introducing new cracks, we resawed each timber into 2-inch-thick slabs. Planing revealed stunning quartersawn figure — tight, straight grain with prominent medullary rays. The bolt holes were filled with black epoxy for a modern industrial look. These slabs became table tops for a farm-to-table restaurant in Rochester, Minnesota, each one a unique conversation piece.
Quality Standards: 8-Point Inspection
Every piece of lumber that leaves our facility passes through an 8-point quality inspection. This checklist ensures that what you receive meets the grade, dimensions, and finish you ordered.
1. Metal-Free Verification
After de-nailing, every board passes through our inline metal detector a second time. Any remaining embedded metal — broken nail tips, staple fragments, or wire — is located and removed. We guarantee metal-free stock for safe milling and installation.
2. Moisture Content Check
Using a calibrated pin-type moisture meter, we verify that every board falls within the target moisture content range: 6-8% for interior applications, 12-15% for exterior use. Boards outside tolerance go back into the kiln. We stamp the verified MC on the end of each board.
3. Structural Integrity Assessment
Each board is visually and physically inspected for rot, insect damage, excessive checking, and hidden voids. We flex-test dimensional stock and sound-test beams for internal decay. Any piece that does not meet structural standards for its intended grade is downgraded or culled.
4. Dimensional Accuracy
Thickness, width, and length are measured with calipers and tape at multiple points along each board. We hold a tolerance of plus or minus 1/32 inch on thickness and width for surfaced stock. Tongue-and-groove profiles are test-fitted to confirm snug, consistent joints.
5. Surface Quality
Surfaced boards are inspected for planer marks, snipe, tear-out, and burn marks. We check both faces and all edges under strong directional lighting that reveals defects invisible under overhead fluorescents. Any board with visible milling defects is re-run or culled.
6. Profile Accuracy
For moulded profiles — shiplap, tongue-and-groove, bevel siding, board-and-batten — we use profile gauges to verify that the cut matches the specified dimensions. We run test fits on every batch to ensure field installation will be seamless.
7. Species Verification
Our graders verify species identification on every lot. Mislabeled species is one of the most common issues in the reclaimed lumber industry, and we take it seriously. If there is any doubt, we use end-grain magnification and reference samples to confirm identification.
8. Grade Assignment
Each board is assigned a grade based on NHLA standards adapted for reclaimed material. Our grading accounts for character marks (nail holes, saw marks, patina) that are expected and desirable in reclaimed wood while maintaining structural and dimensional standards. Grades are clearly marked on each piece.
Turnaround Time Guide
Processing timelines depend on the scope of work, kiln availability, and current shop load. Here are typical turnaround times for common processing requests.
| Processing Service | Typical Volume | Turnaround |
|---|---|---|
| De-nailing only | Up to 2,000 BF | 3-5 business days |
| De-nailing + kiln drying | Up to 2,000 BF | 2-3 weeks (kiln cycle is 10-14 days) |
| Planing / surfacing (S2S or S4S) | Up to 1,000 BF | 2-4 business days |
| Ripping to custom widths | Up to 1,000 BF | 2-3 business days |
| Tongue-and-groove milling | Up to 2,000 BF | 5-7 business days |
| Shiplap or bevel siding profile | Up to 2,000 BF | 5-7 business days |
| Full processing (de-nail, kiln, plane, profile) | Up to 2,000 BF | 3-4 weeks |
| Wide-belt sanding (120-220 grit) | Up to 1,000 BF | 2-3 business days |
| Pre-finish application (oil or stain) | Up to 1,000 BF | 3-5 business days (includes dry time) |
| Resawing heavy timbers to slabs | Up to 500 BF | 3-5 business days |
Rush processing: If your project timeline is tight, ask about rush processing. For an additional fee, we can prioritize your order and reduce most turnaround times by 30-50%, subject to current shop capacity. Rush processing does not apply to kiln drying, which requires a minimum cycle time to ensure proper and stable moisture reduction.
Custom Processing FAQ
Answers to the most common questions about our processing services.
Can I bring in my own reclaimed lumber for processing?
Absolutely. We process customer-supplied lumber at the same rates we charge for our own stock. Just be aware that we will need to de-nail and inspect all material before it goes through our planers and moulders. If we find metal during inspection, we will remove it, but this adds time and cost. Lumber that is heavily contaminated with metal or has hazardous coatings (like lead paint or creosote) may require special handling at additional cost.
What is the minimum order for custom processing?
Our minimum for custom processing jobs is 100 board feet. This ensures an efficient use of setup time for our equipment. For smaller quantities — say, a handful of boards for a furniture project — we are still happy to help, but there is a $75 minimum shop charge that applies.
Can you match an existing profile from my house?
Yes, we do this regularly. Bring us a sample piece of the existing trim, flooring, or siding profile and we will set up our moulder to replicate it. We maintain a library of common historic profiles and can usually match within 1/32 inch of the original. For truly unusual profiles, we may need to have a custom knife ground, which takes an additional 5-7 business days and costs $150-$300 depending on complexity.
Do you offer toll milling by the board foot?
Yes. For customer-supplied lumber, our standard toll rates are: de-nailing at $0.35/BF, kiln drying at $0.50/BF, planing (S2S) at $0.40/BF, planing (S4S) at $0.60/BF, tongue-and-groove milling at $0.75/BF, and wide-belt sanding at $0.30/BF. These rates apply to volumes between 100 and 2,000 BF. Larger volumes receive discounted per-foot rates. Contact us for a custom quote on orders above 2,000 BF.
What happens to the waste from processing?
Nothing goes to landfill. Sawdust and planer shavings are collected by our dust collection system and donated to local farms for animal bedding and composting. Off-cuts longer than 12 inches are saved and sold as craft packs for small woodworking projects. Short end pieces go into our kindling bundles, which we sell at the yard. Even the bark dust from kiln-dried material is composted on site.
Can you kiln dry green or freshly milled lumber?
Yes, our dehumidification kiln handles both reclaimed and green lumber. For green wood starting at 25%+ moisture content, the kiln cycle takes approximately 3-4 weeks to bring it down to 6-8% MC for interior use. We monitor kiln conditions daily and adjust temperature and humidity to prevent checking, case hardening, and other drying defects. Our kiln holds up to 5,000 board feet per cycle.
Environmental Processing Practices
Sustainability is not just about using reclaimed wood — it is about how we process it. Our facility is designed to minimize environmental impact at every stage.
Zero-Waste Processing
Our facility sends nothing to the landfill. Every byproduct of the milling process is captured, sorted, and repurposed. Sawdust becomes animal bedding. Planer shavings are composted. Off-cuts become craft wood. Short ends are bundled as kindling. Even the metal we extract during de-nailing is recycled at a local scrap yard.
Energy-Efficient Kiln Drying
Our dehumidification kiln operates at a fraction of the energy cost of conventional steam kilns. By recirculating heat extracted from the moisture in the lumber, the system achieves target moisture content using approximately 60% less energy than traditional drying methods. This translates to lower carbon emissions and lower processing costs that we pass on to customers.
Dust Collection & Air Quality
Our centralized dust collection system captures particles from every machine in the shop, maintaining indoor air quality for our team and preventing sawdust from becoming airborne waste. The collected material is filtered, bagged, and distributed to local agricultural operations for beneficial reuse rather than disposal.
Low-VOC Finishes
When we apply pre-finish treatments — oils, stains, and sealers — we use low-VOC and zero-VOC products whenever possible. Our standard finish options include natural tung oil, hardwax oil, and water-based polyurethane, all chosen for minimal off-gassing and environmental impact. We maintain a well-ventilated finishing area with activated carbon filtration.
Water Conservation
Our processing facility uses no water in any milling operation. The dehumidification kiln is a closed-loop system that condenses moisture removed from lumber and routes it to a holding tank for landscape irrigation. We estimate this system recovers over 2,000 gallons of water per year that would otherwise go to waste.
Carbon Offset Documentation
For customers pursuing green building certifications, we provide documentation of the carbon offset associated with using reclaimed lumber instead of new-growth timber. Every board foot of reclaimed wood we process represents approximately 1.1 pounds of CO2 that stays sequestered in the wood instead of being released through decomposition in a landfill. We issue carbon offset statements on request for LEED, Living Building Challenge, and other certification programs.
Need Custom Processing?
Whether you need a few boards planed or a full container of tongue-and-groove flooring milled, we have the capacity and expertise. Let's talk about your project.