Amish Rough-Cut Lumber
This post is all about Amish rough-cut lumber – what makes it different from big box lumber, how to find it, what to know when ordering, and some things to know when doing business with the Amish.
Because of its rustic appearance and much more reasonable price tag, rough cut lumber has been the perfect choice for quite a few projects around the camping cabin cluster. Amish sawmills are definitely not the only option when purchasing rough- cut – there are other amazing lumber mills out there – but for this post we’ll be focusing on our experiences with the Amish.
Information in this post can help you decide if Amish rough- cut lumber is the right choice for your project and how to get it if it is.
What is rough cut lumber and how is it different from lumber from a big box store?
Picture going into the woods, cutting down a live tree, and running it through a gas powered saw mill. One pass. No drying. No planing. It’s rough surface, with some pulliing and blade marks, can make it a rustic, very cool looking material choice.
The boards you get from the big box stores are kiln dried, rated for strength and quality, planed, smooth finish and about three times the price. This can be a good choice when considering the ready-to-use ease, convenience, and finer finish. Personally, I love the way a rough-cut board and batten building looks, like it could have been built 200 years ago, but it isn’t my go-to for every project. Theres more to know when deciding if Amish rough-cut lumber is the best choice for what you’re working on.
Amish rough-cut lumber price
Price is a BIG plus when using rough-cut. This can vary from region to region and mill to mill, but rule of thumb for us has been Amish rough-cut being about one third of the price compared to what we would have spent in a big box lumber yard.
Appearance
Rough cut looks how it sounds. Pretty rough. Cut with a coarser saw and not planed, the surface is rough to the touch. The grain of the wood shows through well, but definitely not ideal for a fine finish look.
It’s dimensions can also be a perk, especially for 2 by (two inches thick – more on that below). This can give a project a non-standard and unique feel (the bunks pictured below were made from rough-cut and took A LOT of sanding).
For some projects I’ve combined pressure treated, KD lumber, and rough cut. This is to get a rustic effect, keep the price down somewhat, and to build a structure that will last a very long time. An example of this is the firewood shelter built in close proximity to the firepit (in the photo above). It’s not stained yet but gives us a perfect place to always have dry firewood ready!
Dimensions
Rough cut measurements are true. Meaning a 1 inch board is actually one inch thick, a 2 inch board is actually 2 inches thick, etc. A 1- inch board bought at a big box is actually ¾ inch thick. A 2- inch board is 1 and a half inches thick.
The same goes for width. An 8 inch rough cut board is really 8 inches wide. An 8 inch board at a big box is 7 and a half inches wide. This is basic information for folks with wood buying experience but maybe not common knowledge across the board (see what I did there? 😊 )
8 feet long means 8 feet long in both worlds, although you will see more variance with rough cut. Big box boards run just a little long (by an inch or so) giving a little leeway to square off ends if needed. Something else to keep in mind is that the dimensions of rough cut are close but not exact. You will want to measure to see if thickness and width are uniform. This can vary from one end of the board to the other by a considerable amount so it’s a good idea to double check.
Moisture Content (and challenges it could cause)
This is a big one. Rough cut lumber is cut from logs that have recently been living and growing. When boards and dimensional lumber are cut, the moisture content is usually extremely high. What does this mean?
Rough cut lumber is A LOT heavier than kiln dried lumber. It also tends to warp and to crack more as it dries.
If stacking before using, it’s a great idea to put spacing sticks between boards. This encourages air flow – which allows for drying and also cuts down on mold growth. Off the ground, stacked with spacers, and protected from rain and scorching sun is your best bet. We learned this one the hard way, when green and black mold began to grow in less than a week between boards we had stacked without spacing.
The Amish are known to build with wet wood, with the trick being to assemble and secure with nails and joinery before wood has a chance to warp. Our two camping cabins were framed this way – a few boards cracked over time but nothing that couldn’t be fixed with a few extra nails and a tube of caulk.
Not Graded
A lot of rough cut lumber is up to the challenge of being build- worthy, but not all. Some lumber will be frail and will crack, depending on the tree and the portion of the log it was cut from. Buyer beware on this. Big box isn’t infallible but is graded, which indicates it’s suitable for building.
Not Insect Resistant
It’s amazing what a carpenter ant or a carpenter bee can do to a piece of rough cut. Especially prior to being stained or painted, rough cut can be a delicious snack for insects. Not thinking things through completely, I insulated the two cabins that had been built with Amish rough cut with spray foam. Basically, I recreated a dead tree with a soft and squishy interior – a perfect bug home. Luckily the ant colonists were discovered early on and a fantastic exterminator took care of things.
How to Find Amish Rough-Cut Lumber
If you decide that Amish rough cut lumber might be a good choice for a project, the first challenge will be finding an Amish lumber mill.
Most Amish don’t use electricity in the home and definitely aren’t on the internet. They also don’t have phones in their homes or businesses, which can also make things difficult. Because of similarities in appearance and lifestyle, it is easy to confuse Amish with Menonites. Menonites tend to embrace more aspects of the modern world and are a bit easier to get ahold of.
A few doors down from the Amish saw mill where I buy the bulk of my rough cut, there is a phone mounted to a utility pole. The phone is in the name of another friend of mine, who isn’t Amish. So by the letter of the law, there isn’t a phone in an Amish home, but the clan all have a phone to use. John, my Amish friend and wood supplier, could call me but I couldn’t call him (which is brilliant when you think about it).
To find John in the first place, I talked to my neighbors who had building projects of their own going on. I stopped in Amish vegetable stands, and asked where I could find a mill. If there is a region near you that’s known for horse and buggy traffic, chances are there will be a sawmill not too far away.
Navigating a Different Culture
When I went to John’s saw mill for the first time, I may as well have been in a different country. I was politely but cautiously observed as I approached. Children and dogs came out to greet me. The Amish are private and they express their faith in their day- to- day living. I think it was important that I respected this, along with John’s home and place of business. A friendly but to- the- point approach worked well.
As we did more and more business together, John and I formed a friendship and he shared some aspects of being Amish.
Like everyone in his fellowship, John went to school until the 8th grade. Church services are held in one another’s homes. He doesn’t use electricity or power tools when working on his home but will use other people’s power tools and electric when working for someone else (who isn’t Amish).
Doing Business
I’ve found that there are some basic differences when buying rough cut from the Amish. First, it’s cash or check only. I’ve always paid for Amish lumber and labor with cash, getting a written receipt as needed.
Second, there are times when business won’t get done.
Sundays are for worship, and business of any kind doesn’t happen.
I’ve also arrived at the sawmill when several horses and buggies were lined up by the barn. This was a gathering of one kind or other and I ‘ve learned to respect the Amish community’s privacy and come back at another time.
I’ve also learned that John has a lot more to do besides selling me lumber. I avoid milking time in the morning and the evening. I also know he may be working in the fields or off helping a community member.
I’ve learned to be flexible and our business relationship works well.
Ordering Lumber
I ‘ve learned to speak the wood ordering language fairly well over the last few years (although I’m far from an expert). If you’re ordering boards, you will want to know your board width and length and ask what they’re getting for a board foot. You will also want to know basic dimensions of your project. John has always been willing and able to help with the math and to come up with a cut list.
As far as transportation, John made the 10- mile trip to my property via horse and buggy a few times when working on a project, but more often than not I would drive to his sawmill to pick him up. He had an arrangement with a neighbor with a flatbed truck to deliver larger loads, and I would transport smaller loads in the back of my truck. We have a great business relationship and I’m looking forward to heading to John’s sawmill when it’s time for the next project.
Happy Building!
Hopefully this blog about buying and building with Amish rough- cut lumber provides you with information that you can use. Please don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions or comments.
Happy building!
