Our Process

The Midwest Millworx Way!

Welcome to Midwest Millworx! Our meticulous process for transforming trees into usable wood slabs and timbers for your custom projects involves several intricate steps that demand dedication, time, and skill. We take pride in our attention to detail at every stage, ensuring you receive the highest quality product while maintaining a commitment to sustainability and eco-friendliness. Here, we will guide you through each step of our comprehensive process, providing insight into the time, effort, and cost involved in crafting our premium lumber products.

Tree Removal

Our skilled team carefully selects and removes trees using best practices and the latest equipment to minimize environmental impact. This process typically takes 1-2 days, depending on the size and location of the tree.

Hauling

Once the tree is removed, it is transported to our milling facility. The hauling process requires specialized equipment, like log trucks and trailers, and can take several hours to a day, depending on the distance.

Preservation and Pre-Milling Preparation

Upon arrival at our facility, we preserve the logs using appropriate methods to prevent decay and infestation. The preservation process can take a few days, followed by additional preparation, such as debarking and trimming, which may take 1-2 days.

Milling

Our state-of-the-art sawmill equipment ensures precise cuts and minimal waste. The milling process can take anywhere from a few hours to several days, depending on the size and complexity of the logs.

Stacking and stickering for air drying

After milling, the lumber is carefully stacked and separated with stickers, allowing air to circulate evenly and promoting gradual moisture loss. This air-drying phase typically lasts 6-12 months, depending on the wood species and thickness.

Vacuum Kiln Drying

Once the lumber reaches an optimal moisture content through air drying, it is transferred to our vacuum kiln for further drying. This process takes 1-3 weeks, depending on the species and thickness of the wood. Our advanced vacuum kiln technology offers superior moisture control and eliminates pests, mold, and mildew.

Acclimation

After vacuum kiln drying, the lumber is allowed to acclimate to room temperature and humidity for 1-2 weeks, ensuring it adapts to its new environment and retains its stability.

Final milling

The acclimated lumber is then milled into usable wood slabs and timbers, customized to meet clients’ specific requirements. This stage can take a few hours to a few days, depending on the size and complexity of the order.

Sizing, jointing, and planing

Our skilled craftsmen meticulously cut the lumber to the desired size, followed by jointing and planing to achieve precise dimensions and a smooth surface. This stage usually takes 1-3 days.

Sanding and finishing

Finally, the wood is sanded to a flawless finish and treated with high-quality finishes to enhance its natural beauty and protect it from wear and tear. This process can take a few days to a week, depending on the complexity of the project.