Wood Products & Processing
Mobile Timber MillingTurn Your Tree IntoUsable Lumber.
We bring the sawmill to your site and convert your felled oak, ash, sycamore or other timber into usable boards for worktops, shelves, mantelpieces and DIY — no waste, no hauling.
✓ Unique local service · Save 70%+ vs bought timber · Fully insured
What is On-Site Timber Milling?
Most felled trees end up as firewood or chip — but the larger trunks contain valuable hardwood timber that, properly milled, becomes worktops, shelves, mantelpieces, table tops and structural beams. Our mobile sawmill comes to your site so the timber stays where it grew.
It's a service almost no other tree firm in Staffordshire offers, and one we've built a reputation on. Bring us your felled oak, ash, sycamore, beech or sweet chestnut and we'll convert it into the boards you specify.
Milling on site means no lorry charges, no kiln fees if you're happy to air-dry, and a unique provenance — the wood in your kitchen worktop literally grew in your garden.
Who It's For
- Homeowners with a felled or felling-due hardwood tree
- DIY enthusiasts wanting unique timber for projects
- Cabinet makers and joiners sourcing local hardwood
- Estates with windblown veteran timber to preserve
When It's Needed
- Mature hardwood is being felled or has been windblown
- DIY project (worktop, shelving, table) is planned
- Veteran tree timber needs preserving rather than wasting
- Local-source provenance timber is valued
What Happens If You Leave It
A mature oak burned as firewood produces about £200 of fuel value. The same tree milled produces 100+ board feet of usable timber worth £1,500–£3,000 — and the firewood comes from the offcuts. Most trees are being burned that should be milled.
Buying equivalent milled hardwood from a timber merchant costs 4–6× the milling fee — and lacks the provenance of timber from your own land.
Our 5-Step Process
Free Site Inspection
We visit, listen and assess access, hazards and surrounding structures before quoting a single penny.
Written Diagnosis & Quote
You get a clear scope of works, fixed price and method statement — usually within 24 hours of the visit.
Scheduled Visit
We agree a date that suits you, confirm the day before and arrive on time with the right kit and crew.
Safe Execution
Risk assessments and permits handled. Roping, rigging and cutting carried out to NPTC and BS 3998 standards.
Clearance & Sign-Off
All arisings removed (or chipped/logged for you), site swept clean, photos sent and invoice issued.
Why Choose RJ Hutchinson
Save 70%+ Vs Merchant
Milling fee is a fraction of buying equivalent boards.
Mobile Service
Sawmill comes to you — no haulage of round timber.
Custom Sizes
Boards cut to the dimensions you specify.
All Hardwood Species
Oak, ash, beech, sycamore, sweet chestnut, walnut, etc.
Provenance & Story
Timber from your own land — uniquely valuable.
Felling-To-Lumber Package
We can fell, mill and stack ready for seasoning in one visit.
On-Site Timber Milling: The Full Detail
Milling Process & Board Sizes
Round timber is set up on the mill bed and sawn into boards using a horizontal bandsaw blade. Standard board thicknesses are 1" (25mm) for shelves, 2" (50mm) for worktops and tables, 3"+ (75mm+) for beams and slabs.
Maximum log diameter we mill is 80cm; maximum length 4m. Larger or longer can be split or quartered first. Specialty cuts (quarter sawn, rift sawn) available on request.
Drying, Seasoning & Workability
Freshly milled boards are 30–50% moisture content. Air drying takes approximately 1 inch per year (i.e. 2" worktop boards = 2 years to reach equilibrium moisture for indoor use). Stack with stickers between boards in a covered, ventilated location.
For faster turnaround, we can route boards to a kiln-drying facility for a small additional fee — typically 6–12 weeks for full kilning.
Every job is covered by £5m Public Liability Insurance and carried out under method statements and risk assessments tailored to your site.
On-Site Timber Milling — Frequently Asked Questions
Can you mill my felled tree?+
If it's hardwood with sound trunk over 30cm diameter, yes. Soft or rotten wood doesn't mill well.
How much does milling cost?+
From £150 per visit + cutting rate by board foot. Highly variable by job.
What can I do with the boards?+
Worktops, shelves, mantelpieces, table tops, beams, cladding, beanpoles — anything.
How long do boards take to dry?+
Air drying: 1 inch per year for outdoor use; kiln drying: 6–12 weeks.
What size boards can you cut?+
Up to 80cm wide, 4m long, any thickness from 1"+.
Can you fell and mill in one visit?+
Yes — felling-to-lumber as a single package, often most economical.
Is my tree species suitable?+
Oak, ash, beech, sycamore, sweet chestnut, walnut, cherry, elm all mill well. We'll advise.
Do I need to be home?+
Helpful for spec discussion but not essential if specifications are clear.
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Ready For a Free Quote on On-Site Timber Milling?
Free site visit, fixed-price written quote, no pressure. Call directly or send a few details — most quotes back within 24 hours.