Byng Inlet
Logging & Lumber Co.
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Byng Inlet Logging & Lumber Co. |
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What is BILLCo?
BILLCo was established in 2003 to engage in the salvage and processing of timber that lies on the bottom on Byng Inlet, on Georgian Bay in Ontario, Canada. BILLCo is a small local company that values the history of Byng Inlet and Georgian Bay. In compliance with the most strict regulations and oversight of the Ministry of Natural Resources, the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, the Ministry of Environment, and the Ministry of Labour, BILLCo locates and retrieves logs that sank while enroute the the Graver-Bigwood Lumber Company - once the second-largest sawmill in Canada. Prior to its closing in 1926, Graves-Bigwood produced between 200,000 and 250,000 board-feet of lumber per day. Have a look at the history page to see the scope of the mill that once operated here.
What Does BILLCo Sell?
BILLCo offers milled lumber in a variety of species cut to a broad selection of thicknesses, lengths, and widths. This material is ideal for the manufacture of flooring, furniture, cabinetry, and architectural detailing. Additionally BILLCo offers specialty furniture made from this rare wood.
What's the Big Deal About BILLCo's Wood?
Softwood lumber is more popular today than ever. But today's wood resembles old wood only on a genetic level; the appearance and character of wood that was milled prior to 1930 is vastly different from the material cut in today's forests. The reason for this is the circumstances under which the trees grow and grew. While today's forests grow quickly, the trees of Canada's original boreal forest grew slowly, competing for light and water under an immense canopy of branches that took thousands of years to evolve. The result was timber that grew straight and tall with a very dense ring structure. Today's typical pine has a ring count of about 7 to 10 rings per inch, where the old-growth trees had ring counts in excess of 20 per inch.
The timber that BILLCo retrieves are a sort of time capsule. These are true old-growth logs from the virgin forest that were lost on the way to the mill during the legendary Spring log drives. Back when the forest industry in Canada was first established, the timber rights seemed endless and the logs that were lost were considered of no consequence. And so they have lain on the bottom of Georgian Bay for decades, preserved by the cold and dark water. The density and grain of the wood are visually very appealing, and they are enhanced by the remarkable streaks of colour in the wood - a result of years of mineral-laden water saturating the logs and reacting with their natural chemical composition.
Is the Wood Expensive?
No, it isn't. Our present pricing for pine and hemlock lumber ranges from $2/board-foot up to $4/BF in Canadian Funds. This is competitive with lumberyard pricing for contemporary pine. The difference is that our lumber is largely of select or better quality, with much of it clear of knots altogether. We mill our lumber using a minimal-waste bandsaw mill, and yield lumber in various widths ranging from 4 inch to 10 inch, in thicknesses of 4/4, 5/4, and 8/4. We can also custom-mill to a client's requirements, provided that the order is received at the beginning of our yearly retrieval cycle. The best part is the fact that - wherever possible - we leave our lumber at log-length. This means that typical boards are between 14 and 16 feet long, and we don't charge extra for long stock. Find a modern lumberyard that will do this!
Please contact us by phone at 705/383-0068 to discuss your lumber and furniture needs, or e-mail us.