Processing & Custom Milling for Reclaimed Lumber
We transform rough reclaimed timber into precision-milled materials using industrial equipment designed to handle the unique challenges of salvaged wood — hidden metal, irregular dimensions, and decades of character.
What We Can Mill
Whether you need rough timbers planed smooth or custom profiles milled to match historic millwork, our shop has the equipment and expertise to deliver.
Planing & Surfacing
We surface rough-sawn reclaimed lumber to your exact thickness specifications using our industrial planer. Single-side (S1S), two-side (S2S), or four-side (S4S) surfacing available.
Capacity: up to 24" wide, 8" thick. Tolerance: +/- 1/32".
Resawing
Our wide-belt resaw slices thick timbers into thinner boards, maximizing yield from large reclaimed beams. Perfect for creating matching sets of panels, veneers, or thin stock.
Capacity: up to 20" wide, 12" tall. Minimum thickness: 3/8".
Tongue-and-Groove
We mill precise tongue-and-groove profiles on reclaimed boards for flooring, wall paneling, and ceiling applications. Multiple profile options available.
Standard profiles: 3/4" and 1" T&G. Custom widths from 3" to 10".
Shiplap & Lap Siding
Create clean shiplap or lap-siding profiles from reclaimed boards. Our moulders produce consistent rabbets for seamless installation on accent walls and exteriors.
Standard reveal: 1/2" or 3/4". Board widths: 4" to 12".
Custom Moulding & Profiles
Match historic moulding profiles or create entirely new designs. We can replicate any profile from a sample piece or from architectural drawings.
Custom knife grinding available. Minimum run: 100 linear feet.
Edge Jointing & Glue-Ups
Straight-line rip and joint edges for glue-ready surfaces. We also provide panel glue-ups for tabletops, countertops, and wide panels from reclaimed stock.
Panel widths up to 48". Edge joint tolerance: 0.002".
Custom Profiles & Surface Treatments
We offer a wide range of profiles and surface finishes to transform raw reclaimed stock into exactly what your project demands. Here's a detailed guide to each option.
S4S (Surfaced 4 Sides)
All four faces planed smooth with uniform thickness and width. The most common processing request — ideal for clean-look applications where consistency matters. Edges are sharp and square unless a slight eased edge is requested.
S2S (Surfaced 2 Sides)
Top and bottom faces planed smooth, edges left rough or natural. Preserves more of the original board width and character on the edges. Common for tabletops, shelving, and applications where the edge will be visible and adds character.
Rough / Skip-Planed
A single light pass through the planer that removes high spots and dirt while leaving much of the original rough-sawn texture. Shows blade marks and saw patterns from the original mill. Popular for rustic accent walls and ceilings.
Hand-Scraped
Each board is hand-scraped with a draw knife to create a subtly undulating surface that mimics the appearance of hand-hewn lumber. Extremely labor-intensive and produces a warm, artisanal finish. Best on wider boards and tabletops.
Wire-Brushed
The surface is mechanically wire-brushed to remove soft grain while leaving hard grain raised. Creates a deeply textured, tactile surface that accentuates the wood grain. Excellent for flooring, wall panels, and furniture where texture is desired.
Tongue-and-Groove (T&G)
A tongue milled on one edge and a matching groove on the opposite edge, creating interlocking boards for flooring, paneling, and ceilings. Standard 3/4" or 1" profiles, or custom tongue/groove dimensions for specialty applications.
Shiplap
A rabbet cut on the top of one edge and the bottom of the opposite edge, creating an overlapping joint. The reveal (the visible gap between boards) is adjustable — standard 1/2" or 3/4", with custom reveals available. Self-aligning and easy to install.
Bevel / V-Joint
A slight chamfer or V-groove milled along the long edges of each board. When installed, the V-joint creates a defined shadow line between boards. Available as a stand-alone profile or combined with tongue-and-groove for interlocking V-joint paneling.
Channel Rustic
A profile with a flat face and a channel (concave groove) at the overlap, creating a deep shadow line. Originally common on exterior siding in the upper Midwest. We mill this profile from reclaimed boards to match historic building exteriors or create dramatic interior feature walls.
Custom Moulding Replication
We can replicate any moulding profile from a sample piece, a drawing, or a photograph. Our custom knife grinder creates matching tooling for our four-side moulder. Common requests include crown moulding, baseboard, window casing, and chair rail from reclaimed stock to match historic interiors.
De-Nailing & Metal Detection: The Critical First Step
Every piece of reclaimed lumber that enters our mill passes through a rigorous de-nailing and metal detection process before any blade touches the wood. This is not optional — it is the most important step in our entire operation.
Hidden fasteners in reclaimed wood can destroy expensive carbide blades, cause dangerous kickback, and leave metal fragments embedded in otherwise perfect material. Our multi-step approach catches what the human eye misses.
Step 1: Visual Inspection
Every board is visually inspected for visible nails, screws, bolts, staples, and wire. Obvious fasteners are removed by hand using nail pullers, pry bars, and end nippers.
Step 2: Handheld Metal Scan
A handheld metal detector is swept across each board face to locate embedded fasteners that are not visible from the surface — broken nail tips, buried screws, and old wire.
Step 3: Industrial Metal Detector
Before reaching any cutting station, every board passes through our industrial metal detector. This catches anything the previous steps missed — including non-ferrous metals like copper wire and aluminum.
Step 4: Extraction or Routing
Detected metal is extracted using magnets, awls, and careful drilling. If extraction is not possible without damaging the board, the affected section is marked and the board is cut to avoid the embedded object.
Milling Reclaimed Wood Is Not the Same as Milling New Lumber
Reclaimed timber comes with hidden fasteners, irregular dimensions, stress cracks, and decades of character that new wood simply does not have. Processing it requires specialized equipment, slower feed rates, and craftspeople who understand the material.
Every piece that enters our mill passes through an industrial metal detector first. Hidden nails, screws, and bolts are located and removed before any blade touches the wood. This protects our equipment and ensures a clean, consistent result.
Metal Detection First
Every board is scanned for hidden fasteners before it touches a blade. No exceptions.
Slower, Careful Feed Rates
We run reclaimed stock at reduced speeds to prevent tearout and account for grain irregularities.
Character Preservation
We mill to spec while preserving nail holes, patina, and saw marks that give reclaimed wood its soul.
Species-Specific Settings
Old-growth oak behaves differently than heart pine. We adjust blade speed, depth, and angle for each species.
In-House Kiln Drying for Precision Applications
Most reclaimed lumber arrives air-dried at 8-12% moisture content (MC), which is suitable for the majority of applications. But for fine furniture, hardwood flooring, cabinetry, and other precision work, kiln-dried material at 6-8% MC is essential to prevent shrinkage, warping, and joint failure after installation.
Our in-house dehumidification kiln handles the job without the excessive heat of conventional kilns, which can cause checking and stress in old-growth wood. The gentler process preserves the integrity and character of the reclaimed material while achieving target moisture levels.
Kiln Specifications
- Capacity: 2,000 board feet per load
- Type: Dehumidification (low-heat, gentle drying)
- Target MC: 6-8% (adjustable to project requirements)
- Typical schedule: 7-14 days depending on species and thickness
- Species-specific schedules for oak, pine, fir, maple, and exotics
- Moisture verified with pin-type and pinless meters at multiple points
When you need it: Kiln drying is recommended for hardwood flooring, fine furniture, cabinet components, and any application where the finished piece will be in a climate-controlled environment. For accent walls, exterior applications, and structural beams, air-dried material is typically sufficient.
Industrial-Grade Shop
Our Minneapolis mill is equipped with commercial-grade machinery capable of handling the demands of reclaimed wood processing at scale. Every machine is maintained daily and calibrated for the specific challenges of salvaged lumber.
Industrial Planer (24" Wide-Bed)
24" wide-bed planer with segmented infeed rollers designed for uneven reclaimed stock. Handles cupped, twisted, and rough-sawn boards that would jam a standard planer. Carbide cutterhead for extended life against hidden mineral deposits in old-growth wood.
Wide-Belt Resaw (20")
Precision bandsaw resaw for slicing thick timbers into thinner dimensioned boards. 20" throat capacity handles the largest reclaimed beams. Variable feed rate for optimized cut quality across different species and grain orientations.
Four-Side Moulder (Weinig)
Six-spindle Weinig moulder for tongue-and-groove, shiplap, bevel, channel rustic, and custom profile milling. Capable of producing complex multi-feature profiles in a single pass. Quick-change spindles allow rapid setup between different profile runs.
Straight-Line Rip Saw
Laser-guided rip saw for perfectly straight, glue-ready edges. Cuts a reference edge that is true within 0.002" over 16 feet. Essential for edge-glued panels and tabletops where invisible glue lines are required.
Industrial Metal Detector
Full-board scanning metal detector positioned before every cutting station. Detects ferrous and non-ferrous metals (nails, screws, staples, wire, and even broken drill bits) down to 1mm in diameter. Prevents blade damage and ensures clean milling results.
Wide-Belt Sander (36")
36" wide belt sander with dual-drum configuration for finish sanding on boards and panels. Variable grit stages from 60 to 220 grit for any desired finish quality. Produces surfaces ready for direct finishing without hand sanding.
Table Saw (14" Cabinet)
14" heavy-duty cabinet table saw with sliding table for crosscutting and precision ripping. Used for final dimensioning, angle cuts, and specialty joinery operations that require exact tolerances.
Band Saw (24" Resaw)
Dedicated 24" band saw for resawing operations on smaller stock, curve cutting, and specialty breakdown work. Variable speed for optimal cut quality on different species.
Jointer (16" Long-Bed)
16" long-bed jointer for flattening one face and truing one edge before planing. An 8-foot bed reference surface produces flat, twist-free faces on boards up to 16 feet long. Critical first step for warped or twisted reclaimed stock.
CNC Router (4x8 Bed)
4x8 foot CNC router for precision joinery, mortises, tenons, and decorative elements on custom pieces. CAD-driven for exact repeatability on complex cuts. Also used for sign carving and inlay work on custom fabrication projects.
Kiln (Dehumidification)
In-house dehumidification kiln with 2,000 board foot capacity. Brings reclaimed lumber from air-dried (8-12% MC) down to kiln-dried levels (6-8% MC) for interior applications requiring tight moisture control. Standard schedule: 7-14 days depending on species and thickness.
Dust Collection System
Central dust collection system with 5,000 CFM capacity serving all shop stations. HEPA filtration captures fine particles down to 0.3 microns. Collected sawdust and chips are bagged for composting, animal bedding, and biomass fuel — nothing goes to waste.
Maximum Dimensions We Can Handle
Planing (thickness)
8 inches thick, 24 inches wide, any practical length
Resawing
12 inches tall, 20 inches wide
Moulding / Profiling
10 inches wide, 4 inches thick (profile-dependent)
Straight-Line Rip
Any width, boards up to 16 feet long
Jointing
16 inches wide, boards up to 16 feet long
Panel Glue-Ups
48 inches wide, 16 feet long, any practical thickness
Sanding (wide belt)
36 inches wide, 4 inches thick
CNC Routing
4 feet x 8 feet working area, 6 inches thick
Minimum Run Sizes by Service
S4S / S2S Planing
10 board feetNo setup charge for standard planing
Resawing
10 board feetBlade change charge for species switch
Standard T&G or Shiplap
50 linear feetUsing standard tooling already on hand
Custom Profiles
100 linear feetMinimum covers custom knife grinding cost
Custom Moulding Replication
100 linear feetIncludes template and knife setup
Wire Brushing
25 square feetPriced per square foot
Hand Scraping
25 square feetLabor-intensive; priced per square foot
Panel Glue-Up
1 panelPer-panel pricing based on size
Before and After: What Processing Achieves
Here are some common transformations our mill performs daily — turning rough, weathered salvage into beautiful, usable material.
Barn Beam to Mantel
Before
A 10" x 10" hand-hewn white oak barn beam — dirty, covered in cobwebs, with old mortise joints and surface checking. 140 years of weathering and agricultural use.
After
After de-nailing, light wire-brushing, and a satin oil finish, the beam becomes a stunning fireplace mantel. Axe marks and mortise joints are preserved as character features. Ends are squared and a hidden mounting cleat is routed into the back.
Factory Floor to Dining Table
Before
Reclaimed maple factory flooring strips — 3/4" thick, 2-1/4" wide, with old polyurethane finish, adhesive residue, and nail holes from the original installation. 80+ years of industrial foot traffic.
After
Strips are de-nailed, resawn to remove the old finish, edge-glued into a solid panel, planed to uniform thickness, and sanded to 220 grit. The result is a butcher-block style tabletop with warm amber tones and subtle wear marks from its factory life.
Pine Siding to Shiplap
Before
Weathered pine barn siding — rough-sawn, gray and silver on the exterior face, with original nail holes and saw marks. Boards range from 6" to 10" wide with irregular edges.
After
After de-nailing, we rip to consistent widths, plane the interior face smooth (preserving the weathered exterior face), and mill a shiplap profile on the edges. The finished product installs cleanly for accent walls with the original weathered face showing.
Fir Timber to Flooring
Before
A 12" x 12" Douglas fir timber from a Minneapolis warehouse — structurally sound but too large for its intended use as flooring. Estimated age: 100+ years, with tight old-growth grain.
After
The timber is resawn into 1" thick planks, revealing the stunning vertical grain interior. Planks are planed to 3/4", milled with tongue-and-groove profiles, and kiln-dried to 7% MC. The result is wide-plank flooring with cathedral grain patterns that are impossible to source from new timber.
Processing Timelines
We balance speed with precision. Rush orders are available for most services at an additional fee.
Planing & Surfacing
For orders under 500 board feet
Resawing
Depends on timber size and quantity
Tongue-and-Groove
Includes setup for profile tooling
Shiplap Milling
Standard and custom reveals
Custom Profiles
Includes custom knife grinding if needed
Panel Glue-Ups
Includes 24-hour cure time
Kiln Drying
Depends on species, thickness, and target MC
Wire Brushing / Hand Scraping
Labor-intensive finishing process
Full Custom Projects
Complex projects receive a detailed timeline
Sawdust & Byproduct Management
Processing reclaimed lumber generates sawdust, planer shavings, offcuts, and end-trims. We believe in the same zero-waste philosophy for our processing byproducts as we do for the lumber itself. Here is where every bit of waste goes.
Sawdust & Shavings
Composting, animal bedding, garden mulch. Bagged and available for pickup at our yard.
Usable Offcuts
Distributed to small woodworkers, artisans, and woodworking schools for small projects and practice stock.
Wood Chips
Chipped for biomass fuel, landscape mulch, and composting. Partnered with local landscape suppliers.
Metal Removed
Sorted into ferrous and non-ferrous bins. Recycled through local scrap metal processors.
Bring Your Own or Buy From Us
Process Your Material
Have your own reclaimed lumber that needs processing? Bring it to our shop and we will mill it to your specifications. We charge per board foot or per linear foot depending on the service, with transparent pricing and no hidden fees.
Get a processing quoteBuy Pre-Milled Stock
We keep a selection of pre-milled reclaimed lumber in stock — planed boards, T&G flooring, and shiplap ready to purchase and install. Or choose from our rough inventory and we will mill it to order before delivery.
Browse our inventoryFrequently Asked Questions About Milling
Can I bring my own reclaimed lumber for you to process?
Absolutely. We welcome customer-supplied material. Bring your reclaimed lumber to our Minneapolis shop and we will mill it to your specifications. All customer material passes through our metal detector before milling — if we find hidden metal that could damage our blades, we will de-nail the affected boards (de-nailing is charged separately). Customer-supplied material is processed on a first-come, first-served basis alongside our own stock.
What happens if your metal detector finds nails in my wood?
If our metal detector flags a board, we pull it from the run and hand-inspect it. In most cases, the fastener can be located and removed quickly. If the metal is deeply embedded (broken nail tip, old wire, etc.), we will notify you before proceeding. Boards with unremovable metal can be resawn to avoid the embedded object, or set aside. De-nailing service is available at an hourly rate for customer-supplied material.
How much material do I lose to planing and processing?
Plan for approximately 1/8" to 1/4" of thickness loss per face when planing, depending on how rough the starting surface is. For tongue-and-groove, the tongue and groove consume approximately 1/2" of the board width in total. Resawing has a kerf loss of approximately 1/8" per cut. We always discuss yield expectations before processing and can run a test piece first if you are concerned about material loss.
Can you match a historic moulding profile from a sample?
Yes. Bring us a sample piece (even a short cutoff) and we will trace the profile, grind a matching knife, and run the moulding on our four-side moulder. We can also work from architectural drawings, photographs, or digital profiles. Historic profile matching is one of our specialty services — we regularly reproduce crown moulding, baseboard, window casing, and chair rail for restoration projects across the Twin Cities.
Do you offer kiln drying, and when is it necessary?
Yes, we have an in-house dehumidification kiln. Kiln drying is recommended when reclaimed lumber will be used in climate-controlled interiors where tight tolerances matter — fine furniture, hardwood flooring, cabinetry, and precision joinery. Air-dried reclaimed wood (8-12% MC) is suitable for most applications including accent walls, shelving, beams, and exterior use. Kiln drying brings material to 6-8% MC and takes 7-14 days depending on species and thickness.
What is the difference between S2S, S4S, and skip-planed?
S2S (Surfaced 2 Sides) means the top and bottom faces are planed smooth while the edges are left rough or natural. S4S (Surfaced 4 Sides) means all four faces — top, bottom, and both edges — are planed smooth with consistent dimensions. Skip-planed is a light single pass that removes high spots and dirt while leaving much of the original rough-sawn texture visible. Each option has a different cost and aesthetic.
Can you process very large timbers, like 12x12 beams?
Yes. Our resaw handles timbers up to 20 inches wide and 12 inches tall. For timbers larger than that, we have a large-capacity chainsaw mill for initial breakdown before processing on our stationary equipment. We regularly process barn beams in the 8x8 to 12x12 range, and we have handled timbers up to 16x16 from industrial buildings.
What do you do with the sawdust and waste from milling?
Nothing goes to waste. Sawdust and planer shavings are collected by our central dust collection system, bagged, and distributed for composting, animal bedding, and garden mulch. Larger offcuts and end-trims are sorted — usable pieces go to small woodworkers and artisans, while the rest is chipped for biomass fuel or composting. Our goal is zero processing waste to landfill.
Transform Raw Reclaimed Timber Into Something Extraordinary
Send us your dimensions, profile requirements, and species — we will provide a detailed quote within one business day.