Request a Free Quote
Describe your project — profile, species, dimensions, and quantity — and our milling team will prepare a detailed quote. Email info@boston-lumber.com or use the form below.
Our Capabilities
Milling Services
Our facility is equipped with industrial resaws, helical cutterhead planers, four-head moulders, shapers, routers, and a commercial dehumidification kiln. We handle everything from basic surfacing to complex custom profiles — all in-house, with no outsourcing.
Resawing
We resaw reclaimed timbers and thick planks into thinner boards to maximize yield and produce material for paneling, veneers, and thin-stock applications. Our band resaw handles stock up to 24 inches wide and can produce boards as thin as 3/8 inch with consistent thickness across the full length. Resawing is particularly valuable for reclaimed timbers that have beautiful interior grain hidden beneath the weathered surface — opening up a beam or thick plank reveals fresh color and grain patterns while preserving the reclaimed provenance of the material.
Planing & Surfacing
Surface one side (S1S), two sides (S2S), or all four sides (S4S) to your specified thickness. We use helical cutterhead planers for tear-out-free surfaces on figured and reclaimed grain. The helical cutterhead design uses dozens of small carbide inserts arranged in a spiral pattern, which produces a shearing cut rather than a chopping cut. This results in dramatically smoother surfaces with virtually zero tear-out, even on difficult grain patterns common in reclaimed wood such as interlocked grain, bird's eye, and crotch figure.
Tongue & Groove
Precision-cut T&G profiles for flooring, wall paneling, ceiling planks, and shiplap. Our moulder cuts both the tongue and groove in a single pass, ensuring perfect alignment and consistent fit across every board in your order. Standard and custom profiles available. End-matching for flooring is also offered — we cut a tongue and groove on the short ends of each board, allowing end joints to fall anywhere rather than requiring joints to land on joists.
Shiplap & V-Groove
Rabbeted shiplap and V-groove profiles for interior and exterior cladding. Clean overlap joints that accommodate wood movement while maintaining a tight visual line. Shiplap uses a rabbeted edge that overlaps the adjacent board, creating a self-aligning joint that naturally accommodates seasonal expansion and contraction. V-groove adds a chamfered edge that creates a visible groove line at each joint, adding visual rhythm and shadow definition to wall and ceiling installations.
Nickel Gap & Channel Rustic
Nickel gap profiling creates a deliberate, uniform gap between each board when installed, producing a clean, modern appearance popular in contemporary interiors. Channel rustic creates a deeper, more pronounced shadow line between boards, inspired by traditional Western siding profiles. Both profiles are milled with a tongue-and-groove or shiplap interlocking edge for easy, self-spacing installation.
Mouldings & Trim
Custom-run mouldings from reclaimed stock: baseboards, crown moulding, casing, chair rail, picture rail, and custom profiles. We match existing profiles or create new ones from your drawings. Our moulder accepts custom knife sets, allowing us to replicate virtually any moulding profile. For historic restoration projects, send us a sample of the existing trim and we will create a matching knife and run your material from reclaimed stock of the same species.
Edge Profiling
Router-cut edge profiles for stair treads, countertops, shelving, and tabletops. Standard profiles include bullnose (full and half), ogee, chamfer, roundover, and eased edge. Custom profiles available. Edge profiling transforms raw reclaimed planks into finished architectural elements ready for installation. We can profile one or more edges of each piece, and can combine profiles (for example, a bullnose front edge with an eased back edge on a stair tread).
Kiln Drying
Our commercial kiln brings reclaimed lumber down to 6-8% moisture content for interior applications. Proper drying eliminates insect activity at all life stages and reduces the risk of warping, checking, or cupping post-installation. Our kiln operates at 130-140 degrees Fahrenheit for a minimum of 24 hours at target temperature, which meets ISPM-15 heat treatment standards for pest elimination. We use a dehumidification kiln design that dries wood slowly and gently, minimizing the drying stresses that cause checking and end-splitting in fast-drying conventional kilns.
16 Standard & Custom Options
Available Profiles
We maintain tooling for 16 standard profiles and can create custom knives for any bespoke profile you need. Each profile is described below with typical dimensions and applications.
| Profile | Application | Dimensions | Complexity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tongue & Groove (standard) | Flooring, wall and ceiling paneling | 3/4" x 3" to 8" face | Standard |
| Tongue & Groove (thick) | Heavy-duty flooring, deck boards | 5/4" x 4" to 6" face | Standard |
| Shiplap | Wall cladding, ceilings, exterior siding | 3/4" x 4" to 8" face | Standard |
| V-Groove | Bead board, wainscoting, ceiling panels | 3/4" x 3" to 6" face | Standard |
| Nickel Gap | Modern wall paneling, contemporary ceilings | 3/4" x 4" to 6" face | Standard |
| Channel Rustic | Interior/exterior wall cladding | 3/4" x 6" to 8" face | Standard |
| Board & Batten | Exterior siding, interior accent walls | 3/4" boards + 1/2" battens | Standard |
| Crown Moulding | Ceiling trim, cornice details | Custom profiles from 2" to 6" | Custom |
| Baseboard | Floor trim, base moulding | 3/4" x 3" to 8" height | Standard/Custom |
| Casing | Door & window trim, frame trim | 3/4" x 2-1/2" to 4" | Standard/Custom |
| Chair Rail | Wall division trim, wainscoting cap | 3/4" x 2" to 3" | Standard |
| Picture Rail | Wall-mounted art hanging system | 3/4" x 1-1/2" to 2" | Standard |
| Bullnose Edge | Stair treads, countertops, shelf edges | Full or half bullnose, up to 3" thick | Standard |
| Ogee Edge | Countertop edges, decorative shelving | Traditional ogee profile, up to 2" thick | Standard |
| Wainscot Panel | Wall paneling, architectural millwork | Custom panel dimensions | Custom |
| Custom Profile | Your design, our machines | Per your specifications | Custom |
Planning Your Timeline
Lead Times
Turnaround times vary by service complexity. Rush processing is available for most services at the surcharge listed below.
| Service | Standard | Rush | Rush Surcharge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Planing / Surfacing (S2S or S4S) | 3-5 business days | 1-2 business days | 25% |
| Resawing | 5-7 business days | 2-3 business days | 25% |
| Tongue & Groove (standard profile) | 5-7 business days | 3-4 business days | 25% |
| Shiplap / V-Groove / Nickel Gap | 5-7 business days | 3-4 business days | 25% |
| Custom Moulding (existing knife) | 7-10 business days | 4-5 business days | 30% |
| Custom Moulding (new knife required) | 10-14 business days | 7-8 business days | 30% |
| Edge Profiling | 3-5 business days | 1-2 business days | 25% |
| Kiln Drying (added to any service) | +7-14 days | Not available | N/A |
Order Planning
Minimum Orders
| Profile / Service | Minimum | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Planing / Surfacing | 50 BF | Low setup requirements allow smaller minimums |
| Standard T&G, Shiplap, V-Groove | 100 BF | Standard tooling, efficient to set up |
| Nickel Gap, Channel Rustic | 100 BF | Standard tooling with specialty cutters |
| Standard Moulding (baseboard, casing) | 100 LF | Uses common profile knives |
| Custom Moulding (new knife) | 200 LF | Custom knife setup cost amortized across order |
| Edge Profiling | 25 pieces | Quick setup, low minimum |
| Resawing | 100 BF | Band resaw setup for efficient runs |
| Kiln Drying | 200 BF | Kiln charges are partial-load or full-load based |
Technical Knowledge
Wood Movement Considerations
Understanding how wood moves in response to humidity changes is essential for choosing the right profile and planning a successful installation. Our milling team accounts for wood movement in every custom order.
Understanding Wood Movement
Wood expands and contracts in response to changes in ambient humidity. This movement occurs primarily across the width (tangential and radial) and is minimal along the length. Understanding wood movement is essential for custom milling because the profile you choose and the installation method you use must accommodate seasonal dimensional changes. Ignoring wood movement leads to gaps, buckling, and joint failure.
Movement by Species
Different species move different amounts. White oak is among the most stable hardwoods (3.5% tangential shrinkage from green to oven-dry). Heart pine is also relatively stable due to its high resin content. Douglas fir is exceptionally stable for a softwood. Red oak moves more than white oak. Maple and hickory are moderate movers. Our team can advise on expected movement for your specific species and application.
Profile Considerations
Tongue-and-groove profiles accommodate movement naturally — the tongue slides within the groove as boards expand and contract. Shiplap overlaps absorb movement at the rabbeted joint. Nickel gap profiles are designed with a built-in reveal that masks seasonal width changes. Glued-edge panels and wide solid surfaces require breadboard ends or floating-panel construction to prevent cracking.
Moisture Content Targets
We mill reclaimed lumber to your target moisture content specification. For interior applications in the Northeast, we recommend kiln-drying to 6-8% MC before milling. For exterior applications, 12-15% MC is appropriate. Milling at the correct moisture content means the profile dimensions will be accurate at installation and the material will experience minimal movement after installation.
From Spec to Shipment
Our Milling Process
Consultation & Specification
Share your project specs — species, dimensions, profile, quantity, and timeline. We review feasibility against our current reclaimed stock and advise on species and grade options. If you have drawings, samples, or reference photos, share those too. The more information you provide, the more accurately we can quote and plan your order.
Stock Selection & Grading
We pull raw reclaimed material from our inventory that matches your species, grade, and dimensional requirements. Each board is hand-inspected for suitability. If we do not have sufficient stock on hand, we source from our network of salvage partners, typically within 1-2 weeks.
De-Nailing & Metal Detection
Every board passes through our de-nailing station and industrial metal detector. Embedded nails, screws, staples, and wire fragments are the biggest risk to tooling and to the quality of your finished product. Our de-nailing crew uses pneumatic nail pullers and pry bars, followed by a pass through our metal detector that identifies ferrous and non-ferrous metal down to 1/16 inch diameter.
Kiln Drying (if specified)
For interior applications, we kiln-dry the raw stock to 6-8% moisture content before milling. This step takes 7-14 days depending on species and initial moisture content. Kiln drying also eliminates any insect activity. We verify moisture content with pin-type meters at multiple points across the load before proceeding to milling.
Milling & Profiling
Your lumber is milled to your exact specifications using our planers, moulders, shapers, and routers. We run test pieces first to verify profile accuracy, dimensional tolerance, and surface quality before processing the full order. Any adjustments to feed speed, pressure, or knife depth are made on the test pieces, ensuring the production run is dialed in from the first board.
Quality Inspection & Grading
Every piece is inspected for dimensional accuracy, profile consistency, surface quality, and freedom from defects that would compromise installation. Pieces that do not meet spec are culled and replaced from backup stock. We verify thickness with digital calipers, check profile fit with a test joint, and visually inspect all surfaces under strong side-lighting.
Packaging & Delivery
Finished material is banded, wrapped in protective packaging, and prepared for delivery on our fleet or pickup at our facility at 37 Linden St, Medford, MA 02155. We use corner protectors and stretch wrap to prevent transit damage. Flooring is end-sealed to prevent moisture absorption during transport. Delivery is available within a 100-mile radius.
Our Promise
Quality Standards
Dimensional Tolerance
Thickness: +/- 1/64 inch. Width: +/- 1/32 inch. Length: +/- 1/8 inch. These tolerances ensure tight, consistent joints and predictable installation. We verify dimensions with digital calipers on a statistical sampling basis throughout each production run.
Profile Accuracy
Tongue-and-groove joints are tested for fit at every machine setup and periodically during production. Tongues must fit grooves with a firm push — too tight causes installation difficulty, too loose causes gaps and movement. We maintain a library of profile gauges for all standard profiles.
Surface Quality
Planed surfaces are inspected under raking side-light to detect planer marks, tear-out, and snipe. Our helical cutterhead planers produce surfaces smooth enough for finishing without additional sanding in most cases. Any boards with defects that affect the finished appearance are culled.
Moisture Content Verification
We verify moisture content at multiple stages: before kiln drying, after kiln drying, and after milling. Final MC is stamped on each bundle. We use calibrated pin-type meters with species correction for accurate readings.
Transparent Pricing
Milling Rates
Material cost is separate unless sourced from our stock. Rush processing: 25-30% surcharge.
Common Questions
FAQ
What is the minimum order for custom milling?
Minimums vary by service: 50 BF for planing, 100 BF for tongue-and-groove and shiplap, 100 LF for standard mouldings, 200 LF for custom mouldings with new knife setup, and 25 pieces for edge profiling. These minimums allow us to set up tooling efficiently and provide competitive pricing. Orders below these minimums may be possible at a premium.
Can I supply my own reclaimed lumber for milling?
Yes. We accept customer-supplied material for custom milling. All incoming stock must pass through our metal detection process (included in pricing). We charge a per-board-foot processing fee. Please note that we cannot guarantee yield from customer-supplied material — hidden defects, metal, or grain issues discovered during milling are the customer's risk. We recommend supplying 15-20% overage.
How long does custom milling take?
Standard turnaround ranges from 3-14 business days depending on the service. Simple planing is 3-5 days. T&G and shiplap are 5-7 days. Custom mouldings with new knives are 10-14 days. Add 7-14 days for kiln drying. Rush processing is available at a 25-30% surcharge and reduces turnaround by approximately 50%.
Can you match an existing moulding profile?
Absolutely. Send us a cross-section photo, a physical sample (a 6-inch piece is ideal), or detailed dimensions with measurements, and we will create a custom knife to match your existing profile exactly. Custom knife setup costs $150-$400 depending on complexity, and the knife remains available for future orders of the same profile.
Do you kiln-dry all custom-milled material?
Kiln drying is optional but strongly recommended for all interior applications. Our commercial kiln targets 6-8% moisture content for interior use and 12-15% for exterior use. Kiln drying also eliminates insect activity at all life stages. Air-dried material at 12-15% MC is suitable for exterior and semi-outdoor applications where precise MC control is less critical.
What happens to the waste material from milling?
We waste as little reclaimed material as possible. Off-cuts and edge trim from milling are sorted and either used for smaller products (trim pieces, samples, plugs) or converted into mulch and biomass fuel. Sawdust from our collection system is composted or used as animal bedding. Our overall waste-to-product ratio is approximately 85:15 — meaning 85% of incoming material becomes saleable product.
Can you mill reclaimed wood into engineered flooring?
Yes. We can resaw reclaimed timber into thin wear layers (3mm minimum) that are then bonded to a plywood substrate to create engineered reclaimed flooring. This process is ideal for wide-plank applications, radiant heat installations, and situations where solid reclaimed flooring movement would be excessive. Engineered production adds 7-10 days to the standard milling timeline.
Do you offer finishing services on custom-milled material?
We offer wire-brushing and pre-oiling services on custom-milled material. For comprehensive finishing (multiple coat applications, custom staining, polyurethane), we recommend having the finish applied on-site after installation for the best results. We stock a full range of eco-friendly finishes in our accessories section that are compatible with reclaimed wood.