Product: Dry balsam cants
Cants from Our Smithers Sawmill
Cants are our bread and butter. We mill dry balsam into squared timbers across seven cross-sections and lengths from 8 to 20 feet, graded and banded for long-haul transport.
What a cant is, and why ours are different
A cant is a log squared on its sides, ready to be remanufactured into finished lumber. Ours are cut from dry balsam: timber previously burnt or left in the bush that larger mills will not take. We give that wood a second life as solid, usable cants.
Most of our cants travel south to a remanufacturing partner in Langley. A portion goes direct to local customers in northern BC.
How our cants are graded and shipped
Every cant is squared on four sides, graded, and banded into lifts for long-haul transport. Lift counts vary by size: smaller 4x4 cants stack 70 to a lift, while heavy 12x12 timbers run 8 to a lift. The full size list, with pieces per lift and board feet, is below.
Need a different spec or a larger run? Ask us: we are small enough to pick up the phone and figure it out.
Cant sizes and lift quantities
Every cant is dry balsam, squared on four sides, graded and banded for long-haul transport. We cut seven cross-sections from 4x4 up to 12x12 inches, in lengths from 8 to 20 feet. Standard lift counts and board feet per lift are listed below. Need a length or run that is not on the list? Ask us: we are small enough to cut to order.
| Cross-section | Length | Pieces per lift | Board feet per lift |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4x4" | 8 ft | 70 | 746.67 |
| 10 ft | 70 | 933.33 | |
| 13 ft | 70 | 1,213.33 | |
| 16 ft | 70 | 1,493.33 | |
| 4x6" | 10 ft | 49 | 980 |
| 12 ft | 49 | 1,176 | |
| 13 ft | 49 | 1,274 | |
| 16 ft | 49 | 1,568 | |
| 6x6" | 8 ft | 35 | 1,050 |
| 10 ft | 35 | 1,050 | |
| 13 ft | 35 | 1,365 | |
| 16 ft | 35 | 1,680 | |
| 6x8" | 10 ft | 25 | 1,000 |
| 13 ft | 25 | 1,300 | |
| 16 ft | 25 | 1,600 | |
| 8x8" | 10 ft | 15 | 800 |
| 12 ft | 15 | 960 | |
| 13 ft | 15 | 1,040 | |
| 16 ft | 15 | 1,280 | |
| 10x10" | 10 ft | 12 | 1,000 |
| 12 ft | 12 | 1,200 | |
| 13 ft | 12 | 1,300 | |
| 16 ft | 12 | 1,600 | |
| 12x12" | 10 ft | 8 | 960 |
| 12 ft | 8 | 1,154 | |
| 13 ft | 8 | 1,248 | |
| 16 ft | 8 | 1,536 | |
| 20 ft | 8 | 1,920 |
Board feet shown are per full lift. Partial lifts and custom lengths are available on request.
Common questions
Good to know.
What dimensions of cants do you mill?
Seven cross-sections: 4x4, 4x6, 6x6, 6x8, 8x8, 10x10, and 12x12 inches, in lengths from 8 to 20 feet depending on size. See the size table for lift counts and board feet.
How many cants come in a lift?
It depends on the size. 4x4 cants run 70 per lift, 4x6 are 49, 6x6 are 35, 6x8 are 25, 8x8 are 15, 10x10 are 12, and 12x12 are 8 per lift. Partial lifts are available on request.
Can I buy cants directly in northern BC?
Yes. While most of our cants ship to Langley for remanufacturing, a portion goes direct to local customers. Contact us with your sizes and quantities.
What is dry balsam?
Balsam timber that is dry: often previously burnt or left in the bush. It is wood that is no longer a fit for a larger mill, which is exactly what we want.
Keep exploring
Related pages.
Need cants milled and banded?
Tell us your dimensions, lengths, and quantities. We cut dry balsam cants to order on Highway 16.